Southwest Region Fishing Reports

Fishing reports provide general angling information from KDWPT staff. The department cannot update the reports on a regular, frequent basis. Many factors determine angling success, and fishing conditions and individual fishing success may vary from the report. Anglers are responsible for deciding what species to fish for, what methods to use, and where and when to fish. You can help fellow anglers by sharing successful fishing notes at http://www.facebook.com/kdwpt.

BARBER STATE FISHING LAKE - LOWER - Last Updated: 9/1/2023

Species Rating Sizes Possible Baits, Method, & Location
Crappie Poor to Fair  Up to 12 inches Try jigs & minnows around brush and weeds near shallow structure. 
Channel Catfish Fair  Most in the 1 lb. size range Fishing cut bait, frozen shrimp or stink bait lake wide morning, evening, and night.
Largemouth bass  Fair  Up to 4 lbs. Try using soft plastics, spinner baits, and crank baits near structure in the morning or evening. 
Sunfish Fair  Up to 8 inches Worms under a bobber and small jigs fished vertically around brush.
Walleye Poor Up to 4 lbs Try using large crankbaits or jigs near flats and points morning, evening, and night.

Barber State Fishing Lake and all other public fishing waters in Pratt and Barber counties are now a part of the Cheney district. This district also includes Harper, Kingman, Reno, and Harvey counties. 



CLARK STATE FISHING LAKE - Last Updated: 9/18/2023

 

Species Rating Sizes Possible Baits, Method, & Location
Crappie No report Up to 12 inches

Try jigs or minnows in 6 - 12 feet of water. 

Harvest regulations include 50/day creel limit.

Channel Catfish Good Most in the 1 lb size range

Fishing cut bait or stink bait lake wide.

Harvest regulations - 5/day creel limit.

Largemouth bass Fair Up to 4 lbs

Topwater baits early and late then casting soft plastics, swimbaits and jerk baits around fish attractors, shoreline brush and vegetation along sun-warmed shorelines.

Harvest regulations include a 15-inch minimum length limit and 5/day creel limit.

Bluegill/Redear No report Up to 8 inches

Worms under a bobber and small jigs fished vertically around brush in deeper water.

There are no harvest restrictions at this time.

Walleye Slow Up to 4 lbs

Casting crankbaits and swimbaits over points, shelves, and along rip-rapped shorelines adjacent to deeper water.

Harvest regulations include a 15-inch minimum length limit and 5/day creel limit.

White Bass

 

 

Good Whites up to 17 inches Whites are really schooling and chasing young of the year gizzard shad right now.  Small jigs and spinners should work great!!   Also try windblown main lake points and shelves.  Most of the larger white bass range from 12 to 16 inches.

Water temperatures are starting to fall and should be in the lower 70's. Lake is full with lots of targets in the water.     

These are general seasonal fishing recommendations, no reports have been received from anglers.  You may call the Dodge City Regional office as 620-227-8609 to make a report. 

Please discard of leftover bait in a trash can, even baitfish. Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water!



HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 9/18/2023

 

Species Rating Sizes Possible Baits, Method, & Location
Crappie Good Up to 12 inches

Minnows or  jigs fished in 2 - 6 feet of water near structure or rocks. 

Harvest regulations include 50/day creel limit.

Channel Catfish Good Most in the 1 lb size range

Fishing cut bait or stink bait lake wide.

Harvest regulations - 5/day creel limit.

Largemouth bass No report Up to 4 lbs

Topwater baits early and late then casting soft plastics, swimbaits and jerk baits around fish attractors, shoreline brush and vegetation.

Harvest regulations include a 15-inch minimum length limit and 5/day creel limit.

Bluegill/Redear No report Up to 8 inches

Worms under a bobber and small jigs fished vertically around brush in deeper water.

There are no harvest restrictions at this time.

Walleye/saugeye Good Up to 7.6 lbs

Casting crankbaits and swimbaits over points, shelves, and along rip-rapped shorelines adjacent to deeper water.

Harvest regulations include a 15-inch minimum length limit and 5/day aggregate creel limit.

Water temperatures are starting to fall and should be in the lower 70's. Lake is still about 6 feet low.

Water temperatures should be in the mid to upper 80's.   These are general seasonal fishing recommendations, no reports have been received from anglers.  You may call the Dodge City Regional office as 620-227-8609 to make a report. 

Please discard of leftover bait in a trash can, even baitfish. Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water!



MEADE STATE LAKE - Last Updated: 9/18/2023

Species Rating Sizes Possible Baits, Method, & Location
Crappie No report Up to 12 inches

Vertically fishing minnows, jigs, and slab spoons over the tops of the fish attractors or around the shoreline rocks should work.   

Harvest regulations include 50/day creel limit.

Channel Catfish No report Most in the 1 lb size range

Fishing cut bait or stink bait lake wide.

Harvest regulations - 5/day creel limit.

Largemouth bass No report Up to 4 lbs

Topwater baits early and late then casting soft plastics, swimbaits and jerk baits around fish attractors, shoreline brush and vegetation along sun-warmed shorelines.

Harvest regulations include a 15-inch minimum length limit and 5/day creel limit.

Bluegill/Redear No report Up to 8 inches

Worms under a bobber and small jigs fished vertically around brush in deeper water.

There are no harvest restrictions at this time.

Saugeye No report Up to 4 lbs

Casting crankbaits and swimbaits over points, shelves, and along rip-rapped shorelines adjacent to deeper water.

Harvest regulations include a 15-inch minimum length limit and 5/day creel limit.

 

Water temperatures are starting to fall and should be in the lower 70's.   These are general seasonal fishing recommendations, no reports have been received from anglers.  You may call the Dodge City Regional office as 620-227-8609 to make a report.   

Please discard of leftover bait in a trash can, even baitfish. Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water!



PRATT COUNTY LAKE - Last Updated: 9/1/2023

 

Species Rating Sizes Possible Baits, Method, & Location
Crappie Poor to Fair  4-8" Try jigs or minnows near structure.  
Channel Catfish Fair Most in the 1-2 lb size range but up to 7 lbs Fishing cut bait or stink bait lake wide morning, evening, and night.
Largemouth bass Fair Up to 18 inches Try using soft plastics or crank baits near structure in the morning and evening
Bluegill Fair to Good Up to 8 inches Worms under a bobber and small jigs fished vertically around brush and rocks.
Walleye Poor Up to 21" Try large jigs, jerk baits, and crank baits near shallow rocks.
Wipers Poor to Fair  Up to 18" Jigs, spoons, and crank baits around windblown points.

Pratt County Lake and all other public fishing waters in Pratt and Barber counties are now a part of the Cheney district. This district also includes Harper, Kingman, Reno, and Harvey counties.



SCOTT STATE LAKE - Last Updated: 9/21/2023

Species Rating Size Baits, Method & Location
Channel Catfish Fair/Good Most in the 13 to 18 inch range Still fishing cut and prepared baits off the bottom on shallow flats,  up in the creek, and along rip rapped shorelines has been good.  
Crappie Slow Up to 13 inches Fishing minnows under a bobber around deeper brush or drifting jigs tipped with minnows in deep water out on the main lake are the best this time of year.
Largemouth Bass Fair Up to 5.5 lbs. Casting weightless swimbaits and soft plastics around laydown logs or along rocky shorelines.
Sunfish Fair/Good Up to 8 inches Worms under a bobber fished along rip rapped shorelines, edges of cattail beds, or around the brushpiles.
Saugeye Slow Up to 7 lbs. Casting shad imitating swim baits and large sassy shads over points and drop-offs, especially those with gravel bottoms.
General Comments

Release all saugeye less than 18 inches and largemouth bass less than 15 inches.

Please discard of leftover bait in a trash can, even baitfish. Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water!