Milford Reservoir Fishing Information

Click for Junction City, Kansas Forecast

Counties:

Clay, Geary

GPS:

N39 06.241 W96 53.682

Surface Acres:

16,200 acres

Maximum Depth:

65 feet

Normal Lake Level:

1144.4

View Live Lake Information

5 mi NW of Junction City on US-77

KDWPT is conducting a Walleye tagging study on Milford Reservoir, if you catch a walleye at Milford Reservoir with a tag use the following form to fill out and send to KDWPT. Thank you for your help!

Walley Tagging Survey Report From (PDF 63.20 kB)

Milford Reservoir Fishing Report - Updated: 09/14/2020

Species	Rating	Baits, Method, Location
Catfish	Fair/Good	Channel catfish can be caught on cut bait, worms, and stink bait. Blue catfish are typically caught on fresh cut bait. Target wind blown flats and river channel ledges for catfish. LOOK FOR RECENTLY TAGGED BLUE CATS!!! Blue Catfish...all between 25"-40" must be released...creel limit is still 5, but only 1 can be 40" or longer
Crappie	Fair	10-20ft deep suspended near points, flooded brush, and ledges on jigs and minnows
Walleye	Slow/Fair	Target rocky or wind-swept mud banks with jigs, crankbaits, or bottom bouncers or along dam 21" minimum length limit, 2/day creel limit.
White Bass/Wipers	Fair	Target windy banks and points using jigs on reservoir Wiper creel limit is now 5/day
Smallmouth Bass	Fair
Largemouth Bass	Fair
Outlet	Slow/Fair	Catfish on cut bait; walleye, white bass, and wipers on jigs.
General Comments
*LOOK FOR RECENTLY TAGGED BLUE CATS!!!* *Wiper...creel limit is 5/day* *Blue Catfish...all between 25"-40" must be released...creel limit is still 5, but only 1 can be 40" or longer* CAUTION: DO NOT TRANSFER LIVE BAIT FROM ONE BODY OF WATER TO ANOTHER!!! ALONG WITH ZEBRA MUSSEL INFESTATION, ASIAN CARP ARE IN DRAINAGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE KANSAS RIVER AND CAN EASILY BE MISTAKEN FOR SHAD!!! Blue-Green Algae: Current information listed here: http://www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/algae_advisories.htm WARNING! ZEBRA MUSSELS NOW IN RESERVOIR AND OUTLET! Sign up for the most recent Milford district fisheries newsletter today! Daily water info Daily Lake Information

Creel Length/Limits

Fishing Population	Creel Limit	Min Length Limit
Bluegill
Blue Catfish	5	25"-40" protected slot, 1 over 40"
Channel Catfish	10
Crappie	50
Flathead Catfish	5
Green Sunfish
Largemouth Bass	5	15
Smallmouth Bass	5	15
Spotted Bass	5	15
Walleye	2	21
White Bass
Wiper	5

* 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

+Largemouth Bass Forecast

WATERBODY	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big Fish	Rating	3 yr avg
	(>12”)	(>15”)	(>20”)	(LBS.)		(>12”)
KIRWIN	52.94	3.53	0.00	4.00	E	18.27
LACYGNE	48.00	30.86	2.86	6.70	E	62.56
SEBELIUS	45.88	12.94	0.00	4.45	E	50.13
WEBSTER	41.18	7.19	0.00	3.60	E	16.23
WILSON	32.85	15.71	0.29	5.90	E	21.79
BIG HILL	28.37	10.73	0.00	4.08	E	22.57
GLEN ELDER	10.38	7.96	0.00	3.65	G	15.98
CEDAR BLUFF	2.72	2.17	0.00	2.39	F	11.42
MILFORD*	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	G	12.64
EL DORADO*	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	F	9.26
HILLSDALE*	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	F	8.96
PERRY*	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	F	7.72
CLINTON*	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	F	6.64
MELVERN*	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	F	4.38

* Not sampled in 2019 due to high water levels. Rating is based on biologist's current opinion of the fishery and the three-year average provides density data from past year's sampling results.

+Walleye Forecast

WATERBODY	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big Fish	Rating	3 yr avg
	(>15”)	(>20”)	(>25”)	(LBS.)		(>15”)
WILSON	5.90	4.80	0.33	7.23	G	5.42
GLEN ELDER	4.33	0.94	0.06	6.59	G	4.47
KIRWIN	3.80	0.53	0.00	5.60	G	2.89
WEBSTER	2.08	0.58	0.00	5.92	G	2.50
MARION	2.00	0.13	0.07	6.09	F	2.24
CHENEY	1.80	1.25	0.05	6.62	F	1.35
EL DORADO	1.60	0.87	0.00	5.02	G	3.07
CEDAR BLUFF	1.58	0.04	0.00	4.00	G	4.48
MELVERN	1.19	0.38	0.00	5.16	F	0.65
LOVEWELL	0.83	0.25	0.00	4.40	F	0.96
HILLSDALE	0.75	0.17	0.08	5.89	G	0.67
WOLF CREEK	0.39	0.11	0.06	6.06	F	0.44
COUNCIL GROVE	0.27	0.13	0.00	3.19	P	0.63
CLINTON	0.19	0.00	0.00	2.69	F	0.19
MILFORD*	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	G	2.50

* Not sampled in 2019. Rating is based on biologist's current opinion of the fishery and the three-year average provides density data from past year's sampling results.

+White Bass Forecast

WATERBODY	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big Fish	Rating	3 yr avg
	(>9”)	(>12”)	(>15”)	(LBS.)		(>9”)
KANOPOLIS	25.24	19.06	3.35	3.66	E	13.60
GLEN ELDER	18.11	16.72	4.67	3.06	E	18.01
MARION	13.13	10.93	0.27	1.98	G	8.33
ELK CITY	10.50	8.25	1.42	2.91	E	7.29
MELVERN	9.88	8.75	2.31	2.42	G	5.19
WEBSTER	9.33	8.08	0.00	1.50	G	5.58
JOHN REDMOND	8.65	2.75	0.35	2.82	G	6.44
LOVEWELL	7.58	4.58	0.08	1.73	G	5.58
CLINTON	4.94	4.31	0.88	2.76	G	6.13
LACYGNE	4.88	2.06	0.25	1.83	G	3.40
CEDAR BLUFF	4.25	3.71	0.21	1.50	F	11.29
EL DORADO	3.07	2.27	0.73	2.56	F	3.04
BIG HILL	3.00	2.70	0.70	2.27	F	2.20
KIRWIN	2.20	2.20	0.13	2.52	G	2.94
CHENEY	2.15	2.05	0.40	2.20	F	2.13
WILSON	2.07	1.97	1.27	3.75	F	2.33
PERRY	1.48	1.00	0.10	1.57	F	2.33
HILLSDALE	1.33	1.08	0.17	1.78	F	1.69
WOLF CREEK	1.28	1.11	0.39	1.93	F	2.23
COUNCIL GROVE	1.13	0.80	0.00	1.38	F	1.62
POMONA	0.56	0.13	0.00	1.61	F	1.74
TORONTO	0.50	0.20	0.20	2.23	F	4.47
MILFORD*	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	F	2.12

* Not sampled in 2019. Rating is based on biologist's current opinion of the fishery and the three-year average provides density data from past year's sampling results.

+Channel Catfish Forecast

WATERBODY	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big Fish	Rating	3 yr avg
	(>16”)	(>24”)	(>28”)	(LBS.)		(>16”)
LOVEWELL	9.75	1.17	0.25	10.03	G	5.68
BIG HILL	8.40	0.50	0.10	7.43	G	6.03
KANOPOLIS	7.06	0.24	0.00	6.96	G	4.03
MELVERN	3.94	0.19	0.06	9.00	G	3.90
HILLSDALE	3.50	0.33	0.00	9.92	G	4.22
MARION	3.07	0.53	0.40	19.88	G	3.62
TORONTO	2.90	1.70	0.70	11.90	G	2.11
POMONA	2.88	0.13	0.00	5.69	G	2.65
WILSON	2.87	0.47	0.03	9.27	G	2.83
GLEN ELDER	2.22	0.61	0.06	13.41	G	1.99
CLINTON	1.56	0.19	0.00	4.93	G	4.04
CHENEY	1.30	0.20	0.00	7.65	G	1.00
COUNCIL GROVE	1.27	0.13	0.00	8.77	G	1.38
ELK CITY	1.25	0.25	0.00	6.03	G	2.94
LACYGNE	1.25	0.13	0.00	4.52	G	1.39
JOHN REDMOND	1.05	0.40	0.25	14.02	G	1.02
PERRY	1.05	0.14	0.10	8.82	G	1.65
WEBSTER	0.92	0.17	0.00	6.15	G	1.22
KIRWIN	0.73	0.27	0.07	8.75	G	0.82
WOLF CREEK	0.72	0.00	0.00	2.48	F	0.99
EL DORADO	0.27	0.00	0.00	2.46	F	0.31
CEDAR BLUFF	0.21	0.00	0.00	4.87	F	0.27
SEBELIUS	0.10	0.00	0.00	3.23	F	0.20
CLINTON*	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	G	5.48
MILFORD*	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	F	0.80

* Not sampled in 2019. Rating is based on biologist's current opinion of the fishery and the three-year average provides density data from past year's sampling results.

+Black Bass Combined Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	3 yr avg	Size	Rating
Kirwin Reservoir	52.94	3.53	0.00	18.27	Reservoir	Excellent
Glen Elder Reservoir	52.25	34.60	4.15	43.38	Reservoir	Good
Sebelius Reservoir	51.76	17.65	0.00	59.22	Reservoir	Excellent
Lacygne Reservoir	48.00	30.86	2.86	62.56	Reservoir	Excellent
Webster Reservoir	41.18	7.19	0.00	16.23	Reservoir	Excellent
Wilson Reservoir	36.60	18.44	1.30	30.47	Reservoir	Excellent
Wolf Creek Reservoir	31.39	22.63	2.92	40.26	Reservoir	Fair
Big Hill Reservoir	29.41	11.07	0.00	23.63	Reservoir	Excellent
Horsethief Reservoir	15.32	5.65	0.00	23.47	Reservoir	Fair
Cedar Bluff Reservoir	8.02	3.40	0.00	14.85	Reservoir	Fair
Clinton Reservoir				8.07	Reservoir	Fair
El Dorado Reservoir				31.68	Reservoir	Fair
Hillsdale Reservoir				9.00	Reservoir	Fair
Melvern Reservoir				21.20	Reservoir	Fair
Milford Reservoir				22.36	Reservoir	Good
Perry Reservoir				12.81	Reservoir	Fair

+Percids Combined Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	3 yr avg	Size	Rating
Sebelius Reservoir	6.50	1.30	0.20	6.30	Reservoir	Good
Wilson Reservoir	5.90	4.80	0.33	5.42	Reservoir	Good
Glen Elder Reservoir	4.33	0.94	0.06	4.47	Reservoir	Good
Kirwin Reservoir	3.80	0.53	0.00	2.89	Reservoir	Good
Kanopolis Reservoir	2.12	1.94	0.18	4.86	Reservoir	Good
Webster Reservoir	2.08	0.58	0.00	2.50	Reservoir	Good
Council Grove Reservoir	2.07	0.73	0.00	2.19	Reservoir	Fair
Marion Reservoir	2.00	0.13	0.07	2.24	Reservoir	Fair
Cheney Reservoir	1.80	1.25	0.05	1.35	Reservoir	Fair
Horsethief Reservoir	1.63	0.13	0.00	1.08	Reservoir	Fair
El Dorado Reservoir	1.60	0.87	0.00	3.07	Reservoir	Good
Cedar Bluff Reservoir	1.58	0.04	0.00	4.48	Reservoir	Good
Melvern Reservoir	1.31	0.50	0.00	0.77	Reservoir	Fair
Clinton Reservoir	1.19	0.94	0.56	1.35	Reservoir	Fair
Perry Reservoir	1.10	1.05	0.43	1.87	Reservoir	Good
Lovewell Reservoir	0.83	0.25	0.00	0.96	Reservoir	Fair
Hillsdale Reservoir	0.75	0.17	0.08	0.67	Reservoir	Good
Wolf Creek Reservoir	0.39	0.11	0.06	0.44	Reservoir	Fair
Milford Reservoir				2.50	Reservoir	Good

+Temperate Basses Combined Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	3 yr avg	Size	Rating
Kanopolis Reservoir	25.82	19.65	3.41	14.22	Reservoir	Excellent
Glen Elder Reservoir	19.67	18.22	5.00	20.04	Reservoir	Excellent
Marion Reservoir	13.73	11.13	0.27	12.13	Reservoir	Good
Webster Reservoir	12.33	8.50	0.08	7.86	Reservoir	Good
Elk City Reservoir	10.50	8.25	1.42	7.29	Reservoir	Excellent
Lovewell Reservoir	10.17	4.58	0.08	6.59	Reservoir	Good
Melvern Reservoir	9.88	8.75	2.31	5.19	Reservoir	Good
John Redmond Reservoir	8.65	2.75	0.35	6.47	Reservoir	Good
Cheney Reservoir	6.55	3.75	0.45	7.20	Reservoir	Good
Clinton Reservoir	6.19	4.81	0.88	7.29	Reservoir	Good
Kirwin Reservoir	6.00	2.47	0.20	5.73	Reservoir	Good
Lacygne Reservoir	5.50	2.31	0.25	4.06	Reservoir	Good
Cedar Bluff Reservoir	5.17	3.92	0.25	12.60	Reservoir	Fair
El Dorado Reservoir	3.73	2.93	0.73	6.47	Reservoir	Good
Big Hill Reservoir	3.00	2.70	0.70	2.20	Reservoir	Fair
Pomona Reservoir	2.44	0.44	0.00	3.09	Reservoir	Fair
Sebelius Reservoir	2.30	0.70	0.00	7.63	Reservoir	Good
Wilson Reservoir	2.07	1.97	1.27	2.34	Reservoir	Good
Council Grove Reservoir	1.53	1.20	0.20	1.96	Reservoir	Fair
Perry Reservoir	1.48	1.00	0.10	2.33	Reservoir	Fair
Wolf Creek Reservoir	1.39	1.22	0.39	2.34	Reservoir	Fair
Hillsdale Reservoir	1.33	1.08	0.17	1.69	Reservoir	Fair
Toronto Reservoir	0.60	0.30	0.20	4.51	Reservoir	Poor
Milford Reservoir				8.17	Reservoir	Good

+Wiper Forecast

WATERBODY	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big Fish	Rating	3 yr avg
	(>16”)	(>20”)	(>24”)	(LBS.)		(>16”)
CHENEY	4.40	1.70	0.05	8.19	G	5.07
KIRWIN	3.80	0.27	0.07	8.66	G	2.79
WEBSTER	3.00	0.42	0.08	8.21	G	2.28
LOVEWELL	2.58	0.00	0.00	3.74	G	1.01
SEBELIUS	2.30	0.70	0.00	6.17	G	7.63
POMONA	1.88	0.31	0.00	6.23	G	1.35
GLEN ELDER	1.56	1.50	0.33	11.23	G	2.03
CLINTON	1.25	0.50	0.00	6.40	F	1.17
CEDAR BLUFF	0.92	0.21	0.04	8.23	G	1.31
EL DORADO	0.67	0.67	0.00	6.47	G	3.42
LACYGNE	0.63	0.25	0.00	5.12	G	0.65
MARION	0.60	0.20	0.00	4.97	G	3.80
KANOPOLIS	0.59	0.59	0.06	7.87	P	0.94
COUNCIL GROVE	0.40	0.40	0.20	8.11	F	0.33
WOLF CREEK	0.11	0.11	0.00	3.11	P	0.12
TORONTO	0.10	0.10	0.00	5.49	P	0.10
MILFORD*	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	G	6.05

* Not sampled in 2019. Rating is based on biologist's current opinion of the fishery and the three-year average provides density data from past year's sampling results.

+Smallmouth Bass Forecast

WATERBODY	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big Fish	Rating	3 yr avg
	(>11”)	(>14”)	(>17”)	(LBS.)		(>11”)
GLEN ELDER	41.18	25.95	4.15	3.28	G	26.96
WOLF CREEK	31.39	22.63	2.92	2.99	G	35.29
WILSON	3.17	2.31	0.86	3.17	G	8.33
BIG HILL	1.04	0.35	0.00	1.98	F	1.39
CEDAR BLUFF	0.95	0.41	0.00	1.34	F	0.59
CLINTON*	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	P	1.43
EL DORADO*	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	G	19.70
MELVERN*	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	F	16.82
MILFORD*	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	G	8.25
PERRY*	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	F	5.09

* Not sampled in 2019. Rating is based on biologist's current opinion of the fishery and the three-year average provides density data from past year's sampling results.

+Blue Catfish Forecast

WATERBODY	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big Fish	Rating	3 yr avg
	(>20”)	(>30”)	(>35”)	(LBS.)		(>20”)
WOLF CREEK	1.44	0.33	0.00	16.98	G	2.29
EL DORADO	1.40	0.00	0.00	10.05	G	1.04
LOVEWELL	1.33	0.25	0.08	20.72	G	0.74
ELK CITY	0.83	0.00	0.00	8.51	G	1.61
CLINTON	0.63	0.44	0.00	14.00	F	0.54
LACYGNE	0.25	0.19	0.13	27.82	G	0.28
WILSON	0.17	0.13	0.00	15.88	G	0.32
JOHN REDMOND	0.15	0.00	0.00	6.39	F	0.15
PERRY	0.14	0.00	0.00	4.84	F	0.21
POMONA	0.13	0.00	0.00	6.29	F	0.04
GLEN ELDER	0.11	0.00	0.00	6.28	F	0.06
MELVERN	0.06	0.06	0.00	25.00	F	0.23
KANOPOLIS*	0.00	0.00	0.00	3.30	F	0.00
MILFORD*	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	E	2.20

* Not sampled in 2019. Rating is based on biologist's current opinion of the fishery and the three-year average provides density data from past year's sampling results.

Stocking Records Information

+Palmetto Bass/Wiper Stocking

Water	Water Type	Stocking Date	Source	Number Stocked
PRATT FISH HATCHERY	OTHR	05/09/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	300000
CEDAR BLUFF RESERVOIR	RESV	05/09/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	362000
SEBELIUS RESERVOIR	RESV	05/09/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	100000
MILFORD RESERVOIR	RESV	05/09/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	2000000
HERINGTON CITY LAKE-NEW	COML	05/09/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	60000
KIRWIN RESERVOIR	RESV	05/09/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	300000
CENTRALIA CITY LAKE	COML	05/09/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	80000
EUREKA CITY LAKE	COML	05/09/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	25900
WEBSTER RESERVOIR	RESV	05/09/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	200000
LYON STATE FISHING LAKE	SFLS	05/09/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	13500
SG COUNTY-TOM SCOTT LAKE	COML	05/17/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	5000
WICHITA-WATSON PARK LAKE	COML	05/17/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	8000
MADISON CITY LAKE	COML	05/09/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	11400
MOLINE NEW CITY LAKE - NORTH	COML	05/09/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	25900
JOHN REDMOND RESERVOIR	RESV	05/09/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	500000
LOVEWELL RESERVOIR	RESV	05/09/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	300000
FARLINGTON FISH HATCHERY	OTHR	05/09/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	25000
IOWA		05/17/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	1150000
MISSOURI		05/17/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	500000
NEBRASKA		05/17/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	1120000
			Total Requested	3366700
			Total Stocked	7086700

+Walleye Stocking

Water	Water type	Stocking date	Number stocked
LYON STATE FISHING LAKE	SFLS	4/10/2019	200000
HERINGTON CITY LAKE-NEW	COML	4/9/2019	400000
COUNCIL GROVE CITY LAKE	COML	4/9/2019	400000
Milford Reservoir	RESV	4/9/2019	3500000
Milford Reservoir	RESV	4/12/2019	2000000
Milford Reservoir	RESV	4/19/2019	1900000
JEFFREY ENERGY CENTER-MAKE UP LAKE	WMAS	4/9/2019	500000
JEFFREY ENG. CTR.-AUX. MAKEUP LAKE	WMAS	4/9/2019	600000
Lovewell Reservoir	RESV	4/16/2019	1800000
Lovewell Reservoir	RESV	4/9/2019	900000
HOLTON - BANNER CREEK LAKE	COML	4/5/2019	800000
HOLTON - BANNER CREEK LAKE	COML	4/16/2019	700000
SABETHA - PONY CREEK LAKE	COML	4/5/2019	400000
Clinton Reservoir	RESV	4/9/2019	1950000
Clinton Reservoir	RESV	4/12/2019	2400000
Melvern Reservoir	RESV	4/9/2019	2000000
Melvern Reservoir	RESV	4/12/2019	2300000
SHAWNEE COUNTY-LAKE SHAWNEE	COML	4/9/2019	300000
SHAWNEE COUNTY-LAKE SHAWNEE	COML	4/12/2019	200000
Hillsdale Reservoir	RESV	4/9/2019	2200000
Hillsdale Reservoir	RESV	4/12/2019	3100000
WINFIELD CITY LAKE	COML	4/12/2019	1500000
Kirwin Reservoir	RESV	4/16/2019	2200000
(FISH) JEFFERSON CO-BARROW	FISH	4/16/2019	200000
Wolf Creek Reservoir	RESV	4/15/2019	500000
YATES CENTER CITY LAKE-NEW	COML	4/15/2019	200000
YATES CENTER-SOUTH OWL LAKE	COML	4/15/2019	150000
WOODSON STATE FISHING LAKE	SFLS	4/15/2019	150000
WILSON STATE FISHING LAKE	SFLS	4/15/2019	110000
Big Hill Reservoir	RESV	4/15/2019	700000
Pomona Reservoir	RESV	4/15/2019	1000000
Wilson Reservoir	RESV	4/12/2019	4500000
Webster Reservoir	RESV	4/12/2019	1700000
OKLAHOMA	NULL	4/2/2019	1192840
			42652840

Main Menu

Milford Reservoir Fishing Information