Tuttle Creek Reservoir Fishing Information
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, and Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crappie | Good | 1/2 to 2 pounds | The crappie population is doing great. The 2020 sample collected the most fish over 10 inches in over 20 years. Fall fishing has been good with most reports of finding fish in 12 to 20 feet deep around brush. Jigs and/or minnows. |
| White Bass | Fair | 1/2 to 2 pounds | White bass numbers continue to be low due to limited spawning success the last six years. |
| Catfish | Fair | Up to 40 pounds | The lake and the connected river system maintains a good channel catfish population and is one of the best places around to catch channel over 8 pounds. The blue catfish population is finally starting to get established with the first successful natural spawn documented in 2016. To protect the population until it can sustain itself, a 35-inch minimum length limit went into effect in 2018. The plan is to only have a length limit on blue catfish for a few years until the population shows signs of being permanently established. Please check any blue catfish for a yellow tag in its back as we have been tagging fish to collect more information on the species in Tuttle Creek Lake. It is up to you if you wish to release the fish or harvest it (if legally applicable), but please report the tag number and the general location of the catch to (785) 539-7941 or ely.sprenkle@ks.gov A big THANK YOU to all who report their catch! |
| Largemouth Bass | Fair | 1 to 5 pounds | Coves in southern third of the Reservoir have some locally good largemouth bass populations. The McIntyre Cove area tends to produce the best fishing with Carnahan Cove second best. |
| Saugeye | Fair | Up to 6 pounds | The high release rates last year moved a lot of saugeye from the Reservoir downstream which has led to good fishing in the River Pond, the river below the dam or at Rocky Ford. Current numbers of saugeye in the Reservoir are fairly low. Starting in 2017, the minimum length limit does not apply to saugeye in the River Pond or at the "tubes". The 15-inch minimum length limit is still in effect in the Reservoir. |
| Rainbow Trout | Fair to Good | Up to 8 pounds | Trout season is here at Willow Lake. The third stocking was completed on December 15th when 900 pounds of fish were released into the lake. So far the lake has received 3,100 rainbow trout this fall. Fishing has been spotty so far but some anglers doing well on commercial trout dough baits. |
| General Comments | |||
| You can check current water conditions HERE Zebra mussels were found in Tuttle Creek in 2017. This makes the Reservoir, River Pond and Rocky Ford as designated Aquatic Nuisance Species waters. Fish may not be transported alive from ANS designated waters. To help prevent the spread of invasive species, please CLEAN, DRAIN & DRY all equipment when changing water bodies and please do not move fish you have caught or your bait. Do you want some more information on fishing in the Manhattan area? You can subscribe to the free Manhattan Fisheries Newsletter by clicking the link. | |||
| Fishing Population | Creel Limit | Min Length Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Catfish | 5 | 35 |
| Bluegill | ||
| Channel Catfish | 10 | |
| Crappie | 50 | |
| Flathead Catfish | 5 | |
| Green Sunfish | ||
| Largemouth Bass | 5 | 18 |
| Saugeye | 5 | 15 |
| White Bass | ||
| Trout | 5 |
* Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted Bass in Combination
** Striped Bass or Wiper in Combination
*** Walleye, Sauger or Saugeye in Combination
| Water | Water type | Stocking date | Number stocked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olpe City Lake | COML | 4/10/2019 | 90000 |
| Madison City Lake | COML | 4/10/2019 | 342000 |
| EUREKA CITY LAKE | COML | 4/10/2019 | 259000 |
| HOWARD-POLK DANIELS LAKE | COML | 4/10/2019 | 69000 |
| MOLINE NEW CITY LAKE - NORTH | COML | 4/10/2019 | 185000 |
| GEARY STATE FISHING LAKE | SFLS | 4/10/2019 | 200000 |
| GEARY STATE FISHING LAKE | SFLS | 4/18/2019 | 200000 |
| Bone Creek Lake | COML | 4/15/2019 | 1000000 |
| Chanute City Lake | COML | 4/15/2019 | 160000 |
| CRAWFORD STATE FISHING LAKE | SFLS | 4/15/2019 | 600000 |
| Tuttle Creek Reservoir | RESV | 4/11/2019 | 1000000 |
| Tuttle Creek Reservoir | RESV | 4/18/2019 | 900000 |
| Tuttle Creek Reservoir | RESV | 4/23/2019 | 300000 |
| CENTRALIA CITY LAKE | COML | 4/10/2019 | 400000 |
| CENTRALIA CITY LAKE | COML | 4/16/2019 | 400000 |
| SEDAN NEW CITY LAKE- SOUTH | COML | 4/10/2019 | 70000 |
| SEDAN OLD CITY LAKE- NORTH | COML | 4/10/2019 | 55000 |
| GRAHAM CO-ANTELOPE LAKE | COML | 4/12/2019 | 40000 |
| SABETHA CITY LAKE | COML | 4/16/2019 | 100000 |
| CARBONDALE CITY LAKE - EAST | COML | 4/18/2019 | 300000 |
| OLATHE - CEDAR LAKE | COML | 4/18/2019 | 100000 |
| OLATHE - LAKE OLATHE | COML | 4/18/2019 | 400000 |
| HARVEY COUNTY LAKE-EAST | COML | 4/10/2019 | 314000 |
| SEDGWICK COUNTY-LAKE AFTON | COML | 4/10/2019 | 258000 |
| Paola City Lake - Lake Miola | COML | 4/18/2019 | 500000 |
| CRITZER LAKE | COML | 4/15/2019 | 44000 |
| PLEASANTON EAST LAKE | COML | 4/15/2019 | 26000 |
| Bourbon State Fishing Lake | SFLS | 4/15/2019 | 20600 |
| Fort Scott City Lake | COML | 4/15/2019 | 72000 |
| Sebelius Reservoir | RESV | 4/16/2019 | 500000 |
| POTTAWATOMIE SFL #2 | SFLS | 4/23/2019 | 200000 |
| SHAWNEE STATE FISHING LAKE | SFLS | 4/23/2019 | 300000 |
| 9404600 |
View Trout Stocking Program Information
Northeast Region Trout Stocking Schedule
Department-owned Waters – Trout Stockings by KDWPT
| 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 | October 27 | October 27 | October 27 | October 27 | October 27 |
| 2nd Stocking | November 17 | November 17 | November 17 | November 17 | November 17 |
| 3rd Stocking | December 15 | December 15 | December 15 | December 15 | December 15 |
| 4th Stocking | |||||
| 5th Stocking | |||||
| 6th Stocking | |||||
| Total Estimated Trout Stocked for 2020-2021 Season | 7,820 | 6,630 | 8,1600 | 1,275 | 3,570 |
Community Lake Stockings - Please contact local city/county offices for dates of stockings if not listed below
| 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 | October 29 | October 24 | November 16 | November 16 |
| 2nd Stocking | ||||
| Total Estimated Trout Stocked for 2020-21Season | 400 | 17,000 | 1,700 | 2,000 |