Clinton Reservoir Fishing Information

Counties:

Douglas

GPS:

N38 56.516 W095 21.263

Surface Acres:

7,000 acres

Maximum Depth:

55 feet

Normal Lake Level:

875.5 msl

Current Lake Level:

875.74

Lake Temperature:

View Live Lake Information

5 miles west of Lawrence on K-10

Clinton Reservoir Fishing Report - Updated: 10/21/2024

Species

Rating

Size

Baits, Method, and Location

Zebra Mussels are present at Clinton Reservoir

Be sure to CLEAN, DRAIN and DRY all equipment that comes in contact with the water to keep from spreading them to another lake.

Current Fishing Conditions

Catfish

Good

Up to 40 lbs

Catfish can be found near river channels and wind-blown shorelines. Cut shad is producing the most bites.

Walleye/Saugeye/Sauger

Good

15-18 inches

Walleye can be found on mudflats or rocky shorelines in 10-20ft. Jigs with plastics or crankbaits are producing bites. Walleye may move into shallower areas at dawn and dusk to feed.

Crappie

Good

up to 15 inches

Crappie can be found on brush piles and timber in 6 - 20 ft. Crappie may move into shallower areas at dusk to feed. Jig and small plastics or minnows will produce bites.

White bass/Wiper

Good

0.5-10 lbs

White Bass and Wiper are can be found in the river channels or along the dam 20+ ft. Jigging spoons, plastics, and deep running crankbait will produce bites.

Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass

Good

1-5 lbs

Bass can be found on rocky shorelines and main lake points in 6 - 10 ft. Crayfish imitations or crankbaits will produce bites.

General Comments

Summary:

Fishing conditions have improved now that fall has set in and water temperatures are cooling. The afternoon bite is often better compared to the morning. Target shallow rocky areas that warm quickly. Deep channels and dropoffs can be productive in the morning.

NEW BLUE CATFISH REGULATIONS

10 fish daily creel limit, only 1 fish 30" or longer

Fisheries biologists continue to study Kansas blue catfish and the research is showing reservoirs with lower population densities exhibit the best growth rates which equates to greater numbers of larger fish available to anglers. Growth rates of blue catfish are variable across Kansas. Time required for a blue catfish to reach 30 inches is as short as 8 years at Tuttle Creek Reservoir to as long as 14 years at El Dorado Reservoir. Due to the time required to grow to larger sizes, these older and larger fish are quite valuable. Angler harvest is necessary to provide desired densities and harvest should be focused upon smaller blue catfish, especially those in the 18 to 25 inch range while releasing the larger fish to fight again.

Water Level and Discharge: The most recent water level conditions can be found at the following website:

https://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations/District-Lakes/Clinton-Lake/Daily-Lake-Info-2/

Invasive Species:

Be sure to Clean, Drain, and Dry your boat when you leave to prevent the spread of Zebra mussels. Do not transport live bait captured from Clinton Reservoir.

Fish Habitat:

20 Crappie jacks were placed near Bloomington West Park and should provide good habitat for shore fishing.

Creel Length/Limits

Fishing Population	Creel Limit	Min Length Limit
Bluegill
Channel Catfish	10
Crappie	20	10
Flathead Catfish	5
Green Sunfish
Largemouth Bass	5	18
Sauger	5	15
Smallmouth Bass	5	18
Walleye	5	15
White Bass
Wiper	2	18
Blue Catfish	10	Only 1 fish 30-inches or longer
Saugeye	5	15

* Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted Bass in Combination
** Striped Bass or Wiper in Combination
*** Walleye, Sauger or Saugeye in Combination

Fishing Forecast Information

View Fishing Forecast definitions

+Flathead Catfish Forecast

NAME	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
FLATHEAD CATFISH
	(>20")	(>28")	(>34")	(lbs.)	BR
SEBELIUS	39.62	33.92	27.44	54.65	G
LOVEWELL	31.65	22.93	14.12	56.83	G
KIRWIN	22.99	3.36	2.35	37.09	G
GLEN ELDER	22.15	8.37	4.65	65.29	G
WILSON	18.01	10.80	3.19	46.26	G
WEBSTER	14.41	3.68	1.06	25.33	G
KANOPOLIS	6.88	2.79	0.00	18.00	F
CHENEY	6.08	4.78	2.44	66.74	F
TORONTO	5.88	1.61	0.40	41.59	G
FALL RIVER	3.67	1.41	0.57	32.62	G
CLINTON	0.28	0.19	0.19	66.08	F

+Saugeye Forecast

NAME	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
SAUGEYE
	(>14")	(>18")	(>22")	(lbs.)	BR
SEBELIUS	10.67	4.53	0.37	6.38	G
COUNCIL GROVE	3.78	1.80	0.42	6.89	F
KANOPOLIS	2.02	1.07	0.20	6.70	G
POMONA	0.95	0.28	0.00	2.97	G
MELVERN	0.94	0.00	0.00	1.50	F
CLINTON	0.86	0.12	0.00	2.72	F
TUTTLE CREEK	0.75	0.13	0.02	4.81	G
WEBSTER	0.14	0.14	0.06	4.48	F
ELK CITY	0.03	0.00	0.00	1.11	F

+Largemouth Bass Forecast

NAME	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
LARGEMOUTH BASS
	(>12")	(>15")	(>20")	(lbs.)	BR
SEBELIUS	264.55	81.66	1.03	5.24	G
WILSON	49.43	38.12	0.39	5.63	G
WEBSTER	45.72	29.11	0.00	3.80	F
KIRWIN	37.30	28.81	0.00	3.72	F
LACYGNE	35.01	26.89	1.96	7.70	G
BIG HILL	33.15	14.38	0.64	6.81	G
CEDAR BLUFF	18.65	7.00	0.09	5.83	G
KANOPOLIS	17.03	2.14	0.53	4.85	F
MILFORD	10.70	2.81	0.00	4.21	F
GLEN ELDER	10.26	7.17	0.07	4.92	G
MELVERN	8.57	1.89	0.00	2.03	F
EL DORADO	7.93	4.29	0.21	3.94	F
CLINTON	6.09	2.53	0.00	4.75	F
WOLF CREEK	5.61	4.23	0.59	5.49	P
PERRY	3.51	1.74	0.27	6.00	P
LOVEWELL	2.94	2.35	0.00	4.56	P
TORONTO	1.50	1.50	0.00	3.71	P
HILLSDALE	1.47	1.05	0.00	2.99	P

+Walleye Forecast

NAME	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
WALLEYE
	(>15")	(>20")	(>25")	(lbs.)	BR
KIRWIN	4.78	0.56	0.06	8.46	G
MARION	4.74	0.49	0.00	4.65	G
WEBSTER	3.06	0.92	0.11	6.36	G
EL DORADO	2.73	1.00	0.09	7.94	G
WILSON	2.62	1.18	0.07	7.45	G
MILFORD	2.60	0.20	0.00	3.87	F
CEDAR BLUFF	2.15	0.57	0.03	7.93	G
GLEN ELDER	2.04	0.22	0.01	6.61	F
CHENEY	1.20	0.73	0.14	7.54	F
HILLSDALE	1.17	0.31	0.10	7.06	G
LOVEWELL	1.00	0.47	0.00	4.62	F
WOLF CREEK	0.66	0.20	0.02	5.99	F
MELVERN	0.49	0.02	0.00	4.45	F
CLINTON	0.42	0.04	0.00	3.45	F
POMONA	0.38	0.08	0.00	4.16	P
KANOPOLIS	0.12	0.02	0.00	5.83	P
BIG HILL	0.10	0.00	0.00	1.39	F
ELK CITY	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.30	P
SEBELIUS	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.51	P

+Black Crappie Forecast

NAME	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
BLACK CRAPPIE
	(>8")	(>10")	(>12")	(lbs.)	BR
SEBELIUS	26.47	14.00	1.33	1.54	G
CEDAR BLUFF	23.61	4.75	0.08	1.29	G
KIRWIN	9.56	9.15	5.79	2.06	G
LOVEWELL	4.46	0.76	0.05	1.43	F
KANOPOLIS	3.94	3.03	0.44	1.43	G
WEBSTER	3.77	1.75	0.02	1.40	F
MARION	3.33	0.67	0.33	1.09	F
MILFORD	2.88	0.94	0.02	1.06	F
HILLSDALE	1.75	0.32	0.05	1.02	G
CLINTON	1.11	0.70	0.02	0.93	G
JOHN REDMOND	0.75	0.13	0.04	1.29	P
GLEN ELDER	0.73	0.40	0.13	1.11	F
WILSON	0.64	0.24	0.11	1.68	P
PERRY	0.38	0.08	0.00	0.81	P
POMONA	0.34	0.14	0.02	1.44	P
TORONTO	0.34	0.15	0.04	1.19	P
BIG HILL	0.33	0.03	0.00	0.52	F
WOLF CREEK	0.23	0.07	0.07	1.39	P
LACYGNE	0.20	0.11	0.00	0.93	P
EL DORADO	0.14	0.04	0.00	0.60	P
FALL RIVER	0.10	0.08	0.02	1.14	P
TUTTLE CREEK	0.09	0.07	0.05	1.17	P
MELVERN	0.02	0.02	0.00	0.63	P
ELK CITY	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.13	P

+Bluegill Forecast

NAME	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
BLUEGILL
	(>6")	(>8")	(>10")	(lbs.)	BR
SEBELIUS	44.33	9.47	0.00	1.21	G
CEDAR BLUFF	15.12	0.20	0.00	0.40	F
HILLSDALE	6.07	0.05	0.00	0.46	F
LACYGNE	4.39	0.02	0.02	0.31	F
KANOPOLIS	3.78	0.03	0.00	0.39	G
WILSON	3.51	0.00	0.00	0.33	G
WEBSTER	2.94	0.50	0.00	0.50	F
LOVEWELL	2.56	0.05	0.00	0.43	P
BIG HILL	2.37	0.00	0.00	0.36	G
MARION	2.00	0.00	0.00	0.39	F
MILFORD	1.44	0.35	0.00	0.52	P
CLINTON	1.11	0.07	0.00	0.52	F
KIRWIN	0.81	0.06	0.00	0.59	F
PERRY	0.60	0.00	0.00	0.32	P
MELVERN	0.52	0.05	0.02	0.37	P
EL DORADO	0.32	0.00	0.00	0.23	F
TUTTLE CREEK	0.32	0.00	0.00	0.25	P
GLEN ELDER	0.30	0.10	0.00	0.70	P
WOLF CREEK	0.30	0.00	0.00	0.18	P
FALL RIVER	0.29	0.00	0.00	0.26	F
POMONA	0.23	0.02	0.02	0.43	F
COUNCIL GROVE	0.14	0.00	0.00	0.21	P
TORONTO	0.13	0.00	0.00	0.23	P
ELK CITY	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.13	P

+Channel Catfish Forecast

NAME	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
CHANNEL CATFISH
	(>16")	(>24")	(>28")	(lbs.)	BR
LOVEWELL	6.94	0.94	0.11	11.81	G
BIG HILL	6.30	0.73	0.03	9.05	G
HILLSDALE	5.36	0.33	0.05	10.45	G
MARION	4.43	0.23	0.03	5.79	G
KANOPOLIS	3.37	0.43	0.02	9.93	G
WILSON	2.97	0.46	0.03	10.11	G
TORONTO	2.56	1.83	0.47	11.33	G
PERRY	2.45	0.67	0.14	12.70	G
CHENEY	2.45	0.41	0.04	14.81	G
ELK CITY	2.23	0.23	0.00	5.65	G
LACYGNE	2.19	0.02	0.00	7.26	G
GLEN ELDER	2.18	0.46	0.16	16.60	G
MELVERN	2.14	0.27	0.04	8.33	G
CLINTON	1.82	0.12	0.00	6.06	G
FALL RIVER	1.73	1.39	0.64	14.53	G
POMONA	1.55	0.05	0.05	11.96	G
CEDAR BLUFF	1.46	0.32	0.04	14.15	G
COUNCIL GROVE	1.42	0.20	0.09	9.41	F
WEBSTER	1.39	0.11	0.03	10.64	G
KIRWIN	1.06	0.25	0.08	11.23	G
JOHN REDMOND	1.05	0.31	0.07	12.33	F
TUTTLE CREEK	0.95	0.20	0.09	14.31	G
WOLF CREEK	0.70	0.00	0.00	4.12	F
EL DORADO	0.58	0.00	0.00	3.84	F
SEBELIUS	0.37	0.23	0.17	22.56	F
MILFORD	0.35	0.07	0.02	9.23	F

+White Bass Forecast

NAME	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
WHITE BASS
	(>9")	(>12")	(>15")	(lbs.)	BR
GLEN ELDER	18.32	16.17	3.84	3.49	G
MARION	17.06	12.20	0.43	1.87	G
CEDAR BLUFF	10.24	9.28	2.79	2.25	G
PERRY	9.76	5.82	0.22	2.15	G
KANOPOLIS	8.17	6.15	0.28	2.70	G
POMONA	7.40	4.58	0.45	2.20	G
CLINTON	6.88	5.20	1.02	2.32	G
WEBSTER	6.22	3.92	0.08	2.73	G
MILFORD	5.78	4.93	0.55	2.13	G
KIRWIN	5.19	4.22	0.67	2.18	G
TORONTO	5.00	3.00	1.36	2.69	G
FALL RIVER	4.24	2.94	0.94	3.02	G
WOLF CREEK	3.96	2.44	0.32	1.98	G
MELVERN	3.33	2.63	0.43	2.26	G
LOVEWELL	3.25	1.75	0.25	1.85	P
EL DORADO	3.24	1.58	0.36	2.03	F
JOHN REDMOND	3.14	2.21	0.95	3.24	F
BIG HILL	3.00	1.83	0.07	1.73	G
LACYGNE	2.71	1.60	0.33	2.88	G
COUNCIL GROVE	2.47	1.58	0.18	2.23	F
HILLSDALE	2.43	1.83	0.10	1.43	G
WILSON	2.21	2.11	0.86	2.96	G
CHENEY	0.86	0.80	0.33	2.09	P
ELK CITY	0.80	0.40	0.03	1.94	F
TUTTLE CREEK	0.47	0.18	0.02	2.96	F

+Black Bass Combined Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	3 yr avg	Size	Rating
Sebelius Reservoir	267.22	82.69	1.03	5.24	Reservoir	G
Wilson Reservoir	62.91	44.38	0.39	5.63	Reservoir	G
Webster Reservoir	45.72	29.11	0.00	3.80	Reservoir	F
Big Hill Reservoir	38.62	16.46	0.64	6.81	Reservoir	G
Kirwin Reservoir	37.30	28.81	0.00	3.72	Reservoir	F
LaCygne Reservoir	35.01	26.89	1.96	7.70	Reservoir	G
Melvern Reservoir	25.37	6.34	0.00	2.86	Reservoir	G
Cedar Bluff Reservoir	22.06	7.49	0.09	5.83	Reservoir	G
Glen Elder Reservoir	20.90	11.69	0.07	4.92	Reservoir	G
Kanopolis Reservoir	17.03	2.14	0.53	4.85	Reservoir	F
Milford Reservoir	15.89	3.94	0.00	4.21	Reservoir	F
El Dorado Reservoir	12.86	5.36	0.21	3.94	Reservoir	F
Wolf Creek Reservoir	12.44	9.42	0.79	5.49	Reservoir	F
Clinton Reservoir	9.56	3.75	0.00	4.75	Reservoir	F
Perry Reservoir	4.74	2.70	0.27	6.00	Reservoir	P
Lovewell Reservoir	2.94	2.35	0.00	4.56	Reservoir	P
Hillsdale Reservoir	1.77	1.35	0.00	3.01	Reservoir	P
Toronto Reservoir	1.50	1.50	0.00	3.71	Reservoir	P

+Crappie Combined Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	3 yr avg	Size	Rating
Melvern Reservoir	34.23	14.91	1.41	1.61	Reservoir	E
Sebelius Reservoir	28.53	15.00	1.83	1.54	Reservoir	G
Lovewell Reservoir	26.88	10.54	1.02	2.50	Reservoir	G
Hillsdale Reservoir	25.52	11.45	1.52	1.29	Reservoir	E
Perry Reservoir	25.45	14.03	0.38	1.42	Reservoir	G
Cedar Bluff Reservoir	24.71	5.51	0.43	1.80	Reservoir	G
Toronto Reservoir	18.51	5.83	1.91	2.40	Reservoir	G
Elk City Reservoir	15.49	5.57	1.35	2.40	Reservoir	G
LaCygne Reservoir	15.07	5.95	0.45	2.30	Reservoir	G
Clinton Reservoir	10.61	3.46	0.24	1.37	Reservoir	G
Kirwin Reservoir	10.31	9.56	6.06	2.06	Reservoir	G
Wolf Creek Reservoir	8.93	3.27	0.57	1.64	Reservoir	F
Tuttle Creek Reservoir	7.57	4.68	1.05	1.69	Reservoir	G
Pomona Reservoir	7.41	3.11	0.18	1.73	Reservoir	G
Big Hill Reservoir	7.40	3.43	0.27	1.19	Reservoir	G
Marion Reservoir	6.67	2.67	0.33	1.09	Reservoir	G
Milford Reservoir	6.54	3.75	0.58	1.90	Reservoir	G
Fall River Reservoir	6.06	1.85	0.44	2.58	Reservoir	G
El Dorado Reservoir	5.93	2.29	0.82	1.59	Reservoir	G
Council Grove Reservoir	5.89	3.22	1.33	1.87	Reservoir	F
Kanopolis Reservoir	5.67	3.58	0.50	1.43	Reservoir	G
Webster Reservoir	5.38	2.90	0.17	1.79	Reservoir	G
Glen Elder Reservoir	3.33	1.38	0.46	1.91	Reservoir	F
John Redmond Reservoir	1.71	0.79	0.25	3.04	Reservoir	F
Wilson Reservoir	0.73	0.31	0.13	1.68	Reservoir	P

Trout Stocking Information

View Trout Stocking Program Information

+Stocking Schedule Stocking

Department-owned Waters - Trout stockings by KDWP

Southeast Region	Kings Lake Emporia State University	Mined Land WA - Unit #30
1st Stocking	Nov. 18	Nov. 19
2nd Stocking
3rd Stocking


Total Estimated Trout Stocked for 2024-25 Season	1,785 trout	5,100 trout

Community Lake Stockings - Please contact local/city offices for dates of stockings if not listed below

Southeast Region	Garnett Crystal Lake	Cherryvale, Tanko	Coffeyville, LeClere Lake	Fort Scott, Fern Lake
1st Stocking	Nov. 18		Nov. 20	Nov. 18
2nd Stocking
3rd Stocking
Total Estimated Trout Stocked for 2024-25 Season	trout	trout	trout	trout

+Stocking Schedule Stocking

Northeast Region	Fort Riley Moon Lake	Fort Riley Cameron Springs	Tuttle Creek Willow Lake	Eisenhower State Park Pond	Clinton State Park Lake Henry
1st Stocking Dec.	Nov. 19	Nov. 19	Nov. 19	Nov. 19	Nov. 19
2nd Stocking Jan.
3rd Stocking Feb.

Total Estimated Trout Stocked for 2024-2025 Season	4,743 trout	3,825 trout	4,743 trout	765 trout	2,142 trout

Northeast Region	Herington Father Padilla Pond 785-258-2271	Shawnee County Lake Shawnee 785-251-6800	Holton Elkhorn Lake 785-364-2721	Atchison City Lake #1 913-367-5500
1st Stocking	Dec. 12	Nov. 22	Nov. 22	Nov. 22
2nd Stocking

Total Estimated Trout Stocked for 2024-25 Season

Southwest Region	Meade State Fishing Lake	Scott State Park Barrel Springs	Cimarron Grassland Pits	Pratt Centennial Pond	Garden City Finney Co. Wildwood Park
1st Stocking	Nov. 25	Nov. 25	Nov. 25	Nov. 25	Dry
2nd Stocking					Fish will be
3rd Stocking					Stocked in Dodge City
					Lake Charles
Total Estimated Trout Stocked for 2024-25 Season	4,131 trout	2,882 trout	2,219 trout	2,219 trout	trout

Southwest Region	Great Bend Vets Park 620-793-4160	Dodge City Lake Charles 620-227-9323	Syracuse Sam's Pond 620-384-7818
1st Stocking	Nov. 27	Nov. 25	Dec. 2
2nd Stocking
3rd Stocking


Total Estimated Trout Stocked for 2024-25 Season

Northwest Region	Webster Reservoir Stilling Basin	Glen Elder State Park Pond	Kanopolis Seep Stream	Sherman County Smoky Gardens
1st Stocking	Nov. 26	Will not be stocked This year	Nov. 27	Nov. 25
2nd Stocking
3rd Stocking

Total Estimated Trout Stocked for 2024-25 Season	6273 Trout	0 Trout	5,355 trout	1,020 trout

Northwest Region	Colby Villa High 785-460-4400	Salina Lakewood Lake 785-826-7275
1st Stocking	Nov. 25	Nov. 27
2nd Stocking
3rd Stocking


Total Estimated Trout Stocked for 2024-25 Season

South Central Region	El Dorado St Park River Area (no stocking due to repairs)	Wichita O.J. Watson Park Pond
1st Stocking		Nov. 18
2nd Stocking
3rd Stocking


Total Estimated Trout Stocked for 2024-2025 Season		2,550 trout

South Central Region	Sedgwick County Park Vic’s Lake 316-660-1780	Sedgwick County Slough Creek 316-660-1780	Hutchinson Carey Park Pond New location 620-694-1905
1st Stocking	Nov. 18, Dec. 3(make up for die off on initial stocking)		Nov. 18
2nd Stocking	Dec. 12		Dec. 12
3rd Stocking


Total Estimated Trout Stocked for 2024-25 Season

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Clinton Reservoir Fishing Information