El Dorado Reservoir Fishing Report -
Species Rating Size Baits, Method & Location
Zebra Mussels    

Zebra mussel veligers (larval zebra mussels) are too small to be seen with the unaided eye and they can be found in boat livewells, minnow buckets, boat bilges, water toys and anything else that is capable of holding even a small amount of water.

Be sure to drain all equipment before leaving the lake to avoid moving veligers to other waters. THIS INCLUDES MINNOW BUCKETS AND BOAT LIVEWELLS AND BILGES!!!

CLEAN DRAIN & DRY Every Lake, Every Time!

Click HERE to learn how to prevent the spread of zebra mussels.  REMEMBER!! Zebra Mussels are also present in the Trout Area below the dam!!

Wiper     Be sure to properly ID your catch as there is there is an 21-inch minimum length limit and 2/day creel limit on wiper.. Click HERE for tips on identifying wipers.
White bass     Not many reports on whites and wipers this week.  
White Perch     Click HERE for info on properly identifying white perch.
Crappie Fair Up to 15+ inches

20/day creel limit

Crappie are breaking out of their winter patterns and beginning to scatter.  Crappie will be moving shallower as water temps continue to rise.  Good baits are jig and float and minnow and float.

Blue Catfish Good up to 40 inches, with a lot of 18 to 24 inch "eater" sized fish.

There is a 25 to 35 inch protective slot limit on blue catfish and a 5/day creel with no more than 2 blue catfish over 35 inches.

The blue catfish bite has been good to very good recently.  Fresh cut bait fished on the bottom in areas where the waves are blowing into shallow shorelines has been producing limits of unders with good catches of bigger fish in the 28 to 40 inch range.  Blue cats are easily accessible from shore this time of the year and will continue to be for the next few weeks.  

Walleye Fair up to 26 inch

THE WALLEYE LENGTH LIMIT IS 21-INCHES WITH A 2/DAY CREEL LIMIT.

Walleye are moving in to spawn mode and can be found on rocky and gravelly spawning areas.  Males can be found in the spawning areas throughout the daylight hours, but the larger females don't go shallow until after sunset.  Jigs, crankbaits, and jerkbaits are good lure choices during the spawn.  

Rainbow Trout Slow Up to 3 lbs

Trout season opened December 1 and trout action has been good.

Trout were last stocked on Feb 1.  This is the last trout stocking for the Fall '23 - Winter '24 trout season. Fish have been caught on power bait, small spinners, jigs, flies, and pink minnows.

Daily creel limit is 5 trout per day.

Trout permit is required.  For more information on the Kansas Trout Program, go to https://ksoutdoors.com/Fishing/Special-Fishing-Programs-for-You/Trout-Fishing-Program .

General Comments

2.25 ft below Normal Pool, releasing 6 CFS. Click Here for the most up to date lake level information. 

ZEBRA MUSSEL & WHITE PERCH WARNING! El Dorado Reservoir and the Walnut River below the reservoir contain zebra mussels and white perch. Take zebra mussel control precautions when leaving the lake, Trout Area, and Stilling Basin. For information on Zebra Mussels click Here.