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: 5/23/2019
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, & Location |
| Crappie | No report | Up to 12 inches | Crappie should be about done spawning. Try minnows, small slab spoons, or jigs around brush in 4-8 feet of water. |
| Channel catfish | No report | Up to 5 lbs | Try fishing anywhere water is running in. Try prepared stinkbait, cut bait or liver under a bobber or on the bottom. Also try drifting nightcrawlers. |
| Largemouth bass | No report | Up to 4 lbs | Try spinnerbaits and plastics around the submerged brush. |
| Bluegill | No report | Up to 8 inches | Try small jigs, crickets or worms under a bobber around brush and rock piles. |
| Walleye | No report | Up to 4 lbs | Try curl tail jigs or slim minnow type baits around the dam. |
Water temperatures should be in the mid 60's. Most fish should be about done spawning and moring towards typical summer time patterns.
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!
A Dodge City District newsletter is available. Information about fishing and fisheries management throughout southwest Kansas will be updated at least twice each year. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter you can go to the following link to get on the mailing list. http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Dodge-City-Fishing-District
CLARK STATE FISHING LAKE - Last Updated: 5/23/2019
Work to repair the Clark State Fishing Lake spillway will begin May 20, 2019, weather permitting, and will entail lowering the lake level only about 11 feet. To learn more, CLICK HERE.
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, & Location |
| Crappie | No report | ||
| Channel catfish | No report | ||
| Largemouth bass | No report | ||
| Bluegill | No report | ||
| Walleye | No report | ||
| White bass | No 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!
A Dodge City District newsletter is available. Information about fishing and fisheries management throughout southwest Kansas will be updated at least twice each year. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter you can go to the following link to get on the mailing list. http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Dodge-City-Fishing-District
HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 5/23/2019
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, & Location |
| Crappie | No report | Up to 12 inches | Crappie should be about done spawning. Try minnows, small slab spoons, or jigs around brush in 4-8 feet of water. |
| Channel catfish | No report | Up to 5 lbs | Try fishing the upper lake where water is running in. Try prepared stinkbait, cut bait or liver under a bobber or on the bottom. Also try drifting nightcrawlers. |
| Largemouth bass | No report | Up to 4 lbs | Try spinnerbaits and plastics around cover and the rocks. |
| Bluegill | No report | Up to 8 inches | Try small jigs, crickets or worms under a bobber around brush and rock piles. |
| Walleye | No report | Up to 8 lbs | Try jig and worm, curl tail jigs or crankbaits. |
Water temperatures should be in the high 40's to low 50's. Most fish should begin moving shallower, and feeding heavier, in preparation for spawning.
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!
A Dodge City District newsletter is available. Information about fishing and fisheries management throughout southwest Kansas will be updated at least twice each year. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter you can go to the following link to get on the mailing list. http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Dodge-City-Fishing-District
MEADE STATE LAKE - Last Updated: 5/23/2019
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, & Location |
| Crappie | No report | Up to 12 inches | Crappie should be about done spawning. Try minnows, small slab spoons, or jigs around brush in 4-8 feet of water. |
| Channel catfish | No report | Up to 5 lbs | Try fishing on windblown side of the lake. Try prepared stinkbait, cut bait or liver under a bobber or on the bottom. Also try drifting nightcrawlers. |
| Largemouth bass | No report | Up to 4 lbs | Try spinnerbaits around the brush piles and cattails. |
| Bluegill | No report | Up to 8 inches | Try small jigs, crickets or worms under a bobber around brush and rock piles. |
| Flathead catfish | No report | Up to 40 lbs | Live bait around brushpiles |
Water temperatures should be in the mid 60's. Most fish should be transitioning into summer time patterns.
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!
A Dodge City District newsletter is available. Information about fishing and fisheries management throughout southwest Kansas will be updated at least twice each year. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter you can go to the following link to get on the mailing list. http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Dodge-City-Fishing-District
PRATT COUNTY LAKE - Last Updated: 4/4/2019
As authorized by K.S.A. 32-807, and as further specified under K.A.R.115-7-1, a fish salvage condition will exist at Pratt County Lake as a result of needed repair to the dam infrasturctuee.
It shall be legal to take fish from this project as designated by posted sign. Additional legal means of take include snagging, seine, gig, and hand.
This order will take effect when posted (03/28/2019) and remain in effect until posted notice is removed.
Pratt County Lake will be drained in the spring of 2019 to make repairs to the road and both inflow and outflow structures that were compromised by the flood in 2018. Length and Creel limits will be removed by posted order sometime in early December 2018.
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!
A Dodge City District newsletter is available. Information about fishing and fisheries management throughout southwest Kansas will be updated at least twice each year. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter you can go to the following link to get on the mailing list. http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Dodge-City-Fishing-District
SCOTT STATE LAKE - Last Updated: 6/6/2019
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method & Location |
| Channel Catfish | Good/Excellent | Most in the 13 to 18 inch range | Fishing shrimp, cut or prepared baits up in the creek or toward the upper end of Timber Canyon Cove has been best. Anglers report catching good numbers of fish. Fish of all sizes have been caught even a few in the 10 lb. plus range. |
| Crappie | Good | Up to 13 inches | Jigs or minnows under a bobber in open water off the dam and up in the creek. Anglers report catching good numbers of fish ranging in length from 8 to 11 inches. |
| Largemouth Bass | Good | Up to 5.5 lbs. | Casting soft plastics and slow-rolling spinner baits around shoreline habitat. |
| Sunfish | Good | Up to 8 inches | Worms and small jigs fished around laydown trees and shrubs along the shoreline has been productive for some pretty nice fish in the 6-7 inch range. |
| Saugeye/Walleye | Good | Up to 7 lbs. | Casting minnow imitating swimbaits or crankbaits over points, shallow flats adjacent to drop-offs, and along lines of cattails. Overall, anglers report catching good numbers of fish and a few in the 18 to 23 inch range. |
| General Comments | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Release all walleye/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! Cedar Bluff District Newsletter: A biannual newsletter detailing fishing related projects and activities in the Cedar Bluff District, which includes such waters as Cedar Bluff Reservoir, Sheridan and Scott State Fishing Lakes, Antelope Lake, and other public fishing waters in northwest Kansas are available. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter you can go to the following link to get on the mailing list. The link is: http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Cedar-Bluff-Fishing-District | |||