Melvern Reservoir Fishing Information
Counties:
GPS:
N38 31.72 W95 44.70
Surface Acres:
7,000 acres
Maximum Depth:
60 feet
Normal Lake Level:
1036 msl
Current Lake Level:
1036.03 - Discharge of 20 csf
Lake Temperature:
51 F.
35 miles S of Topeka on US-75
US Army Corps of Engineers - Melvern Reservoir (785) 549-3318
Melvern Reservoir Fishing Report - Updated: 05/23/2024
Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method & Location | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Crappie | Good | up to 15 inches | Crappie have mostly completed their spawn, but some fish can still be found shallow. Most crappie will be concentrated on deeper structure and brush piles. | |
White Bass | Fair | up to 16 inches | White Bass are can be caught using crankbaits or jigs near river channel bends. | |
Walleye/Saugeye/Sauger | Good-Very Good | 15-20 inches | Fish can be found on mudflats or near river channels in 10-20ft. Nightcrawlers rigged with bottom bouncers or jigs with plastics are producing bites. | |
Catfish | Good | up to 40lbs. |
| |
Black Bass | Good | 1-5 lb | Bass are nearing done spawning. Some fish can be found on spawning beds or guarding fry schools. | |
Fisheries Newsletter | If you would like to receive additional information about this lake a couple of times a year, sign up for the newsletter at the following link http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Lawrence-Fishing-District | |||
Saugeye | 18 inch minimum length limit went into effect Jan. 1, 2023. This change makes Saugeye, Sauger, and Walleye have the same regulations at Melvern Reservoir. | |||
General Comments | ||||
Water Level: Current water level conditions can be found at: https://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations/District-Lakes/Melvern-Lake/Daily-Lake-Info-2/ Invasive Species: Melvern Reservoir has Zebra Mussels. Remember to clean, drain, and dry your boat to prevent spread of Zebra Mussels to other waterbodies. |
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 |
Smallmouth Bass | 5 | 18 |
Spotted Bass | 5 | 18 |
Walleye | 5 | 18 |
Blue Catfish | 5 | 35 |
Sauger | 5 | 18 |
* 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
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Waterbody | Density | Preferred | Lunker | 3 yr avg | Size | Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sebelius Reservoir | 44.40 | 9.50 | 0.00 | 1.21 | Reservoir | G |
Cedar Bluff Reservoir | 15.33 | 0.22 | 0.00 | 0.44 | Reservoir | F |
Hillsdale Reservoir | 6.09 | 0.07 | 0.00 | 0.46 | Reservoir | F |
LaCygne Reservoir | 4.50 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.31 | Reservoir | F |
Kanopolis Reservoir | 3.81 | 0.03 | 0.00 | 0.39 | Reservoir | G |
Wilson Reservoir | 3.53 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.33 | Reservoir | G |
Webster Reservoir | 2.94 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.50 | Reservoir | F |
Big Hill Reservoir | 2.63 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 0.62 | Reservoir | G |
Lovewell Reservoir | 2.56 | 0.05 | 0.00 | 0.43 | Reservoir | P |
Marion Reservoir | 2.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.39 | Reservoir | F |
Milford Reservoir | 1.44 | 0.35 | 0.00 | 0.52 | Reservoir | P |
Clinton Reservoir | 1.20 | 0.07 | 0.00 | 0.52 | Reservoir | F |
Kirwin Reservoir | 0.83 | 0.06 | 0.00 | 0.59 | Reservoir | F |
Perry Reservoir | 0.60 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.32 | Reservoir | P |
Melvern Reservoir | 0.52 | 0.05 | 0.02 | 0.37 | Reservoir | P |
El Dorado Reservoir | 0.36 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.23 | Reservoir | F |
Tuttle Creek Reservoir | 0.32 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.25 | Reservoir | P |
Glen Elder Reservoir | 0.30 | 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.70 | Reservoir | P |
Wolf Creek Reservoir | 0.30 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.18 | Reservoir | P |
Fall River Reservoir | 0.29 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.26 | Reservoir | F |
Pomona Reservoir | 0.23 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.43 | Reservoir | P |
Council Grove Reservoir | 0.14 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.21 | Reservoir | P |
Toronto Reservoir | 0.13 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.23 | Reservoir | P |
Elk City Reservoir | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.13 | Reservoir | P |
Map Information