Critzer Lake Fishing Information
Don George, Fisheries Biologist 913-795-2218
Driving Directions: From Mound City go north on Hwy 7 to 875 Road; turn west onto 875 Road and follow the blacktop surface. The road will change from 875 Road to 900 Road and then to 1000 Road. From 1000 Road turn south onto Ingrahm Road. At 950 Road turn west and proceed to Hahn Cove, the Critzer Lake entrance. The lake entrance is south off of 950 Road.
Critzer Lake was designed and built as a regional water supply impoundment by Public Wholesale Water Supply District #13. The recreational opportunities are managed by Linn County and Kansas Dept. of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. For additional information click on the link provided below and you will be directed to the Linn County, Kansas website.
Critzer Lake is 220 surface acres with a maximum depth of 50 feet. It is 2.4 miles long and has a large quantity of standing trees and habitat below the surface, so please adhere to the no wake policy. This is a fishing lake only not open to recreational boating. In 2007, the lake was impounded and stocked with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, redear, sunfish and black crappie. Fishing has been very good generally for all species. Largemouth bass anglers have been especially successful. Because of the construction parameters, this is primarily a boat lake.
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Good, | 13 to 18 inches with a few at 22 inches | Currently the lake is at full pool, water clarity is great at this time. Work the flats close to deeper drop offs and rocky areas, some larger fish available up to 8 pounds, best luck with dark colored jipnpigs, plastic worms, crank baits in close to cover. The majority of fish are in the 12 inch to 4 pound range. |
| Smallmouth Bass | Slow | 13 to 15" | A limited fishery exists some are taken on jigs, spinners, along the dam and rocky areas. |
| Channel Catfish | Excellent | 15" to 8 pounds | This is a good catfish population with a lot of fish in the 3 pounds and up to 15 pounds range. Use cut shad, cut sunfish, worms, liver, prepared baits, lakewide or along the piers along the parking lot. The fish feeder is ON for the season. Makes a good spot for shoreline fishing. Fishing is cooler in the evening or at night. |
| Crappie | Excellent | any size | Sampling indicates good numbers of nice fish (9 to 12 inches) use minnows and milky white, pink jigs in 12 ft. East half of lake is better. Try areas the flats dropoff to deeper water. |
| Walleye | Slow | most between 12 to 17 inches | Recent sampling indicates good numbers of fish (17.5 to 22 inches) are available. Some are taken on jigs tipped with worms, spinners, dam and upper creek channel |
| General Comments | |||
| The best way to measure social distancing is with a fishing pole. Water levels are normal. Go fishing, the fish have to eat. Some good bass and catfish were caught this week. The fish feeder is OFF. Recently there were 1,500 channel catfish stocked to spice up the fishing. This is a great Kayak or small craft lake. Critzer Lake is one of Kansas' newest lakes and was opened to fishing in August of 2011. Many anglers use kayaks or tubes to float into the cover and are very successful. There is a double lane boat ramp. The floating dock is finished and compliments this great fishing lake. The lake is primarily a boat lake but there is shoreline access east of the boatramp where anglers can set up on the two piers and be very close to the parking lot. This 220 acre lake offers 180 acres of standing timber so there is a no-wake speed limit. There is a second, smaller access area located at the south west part of the lake, from 800 rd. and Gorman, north 1/4 mile. This area makes it easier for anglers in small craft to launch and paddle/fish the more timbered areas. There is a parking lot and gravel ramp and provides shoreline angling also. This lake was sampled on 5/23/2018, and many largemouth bass were caught and released, varying in size (nothing over 4 lbs.), as well as a few smallmouth bass. There is a lot of cover in this lake and electrofishing may not catch bigger fish. There is a great channel cat population, with a lot of fish in the 2 to 8 pound range. There are a few walleye between 14 and 21 inches were seen as well. White crappie are abundant and caught close to cover, with light colored jigs. The water is clear unless there have been heavy rains. Zebra Mussels have recently been found in Hillsdale Lake, and Linn Valley Lake, this is a private lake community, we'd like to remind you to stay aware and take all precautions necessary to prevent the spread into uncontaminated waters! This includes cleaning and rinsing your boat and motor, trailer, and equipment, draining any excess water from previous outings, and allowing your boat to dry before using it in a different body of water. Remember CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY! We have improved the area with a floating dock, located just west of the boat ramp. For tips on spring bass fishing watch this KDWPT video at the following link! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpIJaiyW32k Check out this video from Brent Chapman fishing for bass in Critzer Lake! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngvw2uz3oH0 | |||
| Fishing Population | Creel Limit | Min Length Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 2 | 21 |
| Smallmouth Bass | 2 | 18 |
| Channel Catfish | 2 | 15 |
| Walleye | 2 | 18 |
| Crappie | 50 | unlimited |
* Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted Bass in Combination
** Striped Bass or Wiper in Combination
*** Walleye, Sauger or Saugeye in Combination