Elk City Reservoir Fishing Information
Independence, KS
Corps of Engineers (620) 331-6820
Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method & Location |
---|---|---|---|
Crappie | Good | 8-14" | Crappie fishing has remained steady. Look for crappie in the deeper water near the dam or other steep drop offs. There have also been some fish caught off of the fishing jetties in the state park. Minnows and vertical jigging spoons have been working best. |
Blue and channel catfish | Good | 18-26" | Catfishing remains steady. There have been some fish caught near the dam. Also drift fishing the flats adjacent to the river channel has been producing some good fishing. Shad sides have been working best. |
White Bass | Poor | 10-14" | The white bass fishing remains slow. Look for white bass chasing shad on calm days. Soft plastics have been working best. Tolling crankbaits and covering a lot of water can help locate schools of white bass. |
Outlet | Poor | 12-20" | Water release has stopped. Look for fishing to improve with increased rainfall and water release. |
Please remember to continue to practice social distancing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Continuing to practice social distancing guidelines will ensure that public fishing access remains open. With water levels being high the boat ramp in Card Creek Campground is currently closed. The boat ramp in Elk City State Park is open, but caution is needed as water levels are still high. Blue catfish are currently managed with a 35-in minimum length limit and 5/day creel limit in hopes that they will establish a self-sustaining population. Water Level Current water levels and discharge can be viewed HERE. District Newsletter We have created a fishing newsletter that can be sent out to all that subscribe to it. This newsletter is for fishing information for the Independence District (Chautauqua, Labette, Montgomery, and Wilson counties) only. Youth/Mentor Pond The Elk City State Park Youth/Mentor pond is now open. The pond is open to anglers 15 and younger as well as their mentor. A mentor may take more than one youth fishing, but only one mentor may fish per youth they accompany. Two channel catfish can be harvested daily, but largemouth bass are catch and release only. See the park office for more information. |
Fishing Population | Creel Limit | Min Length Limit |
---|---|---|
Bluegill | ||
Black Bullhead | ||
Channel Catfish | 10 | |
Crappie | 50 | |
Flathead Catfish | 5 | |
Green Sunfish | ||
Largemouth Bass | 5 | 15 |
Saugeye | 5 | 15 |
White Bass | ||
Blue Catfish | 5 | 35 |
* Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted Bass in Combination
** Striped Bass or Wiper in Combination
*** Walleye, Sauger or Saugeye in Combination
View Fishing Forecast definitions
WATERBODY | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big Fish | Rating | 3 yr avg |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(>20”) | (>28”) | (>34”) | (LBS.) | (>20”) | ||
WEBSTER | 0.42 | 0.08 | 0.00 | 6.55 | G | 0.25 |
POMONA | 0.25 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 10.13 | F | 0.14 |
LACYGNE | 0.19 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 12.27 | F | 0.28 |
BIG HILL | 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.40 | F | 0.20 |
TORONTO | 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.17 | E | 0.26 |
WILSON | 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.83 | F | 0.10 |
ELK CITY | 0.08 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.10 | F | 0.08 |
COUNCIL GROVE | 0.07 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.68 | F | 0.08 |
CLINTON | 0.06 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | F | 0.06 |
MELVERN | 0.06 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | F | 0.13 |
JOHN REDMOND | 0.05 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.98 | F | 0.05 |
PERRY* | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.72 | F | 0.02 |
* 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.
WATERBODY | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big Fish | Rating | 3 yr avg |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(>6”) | (>8”) | (>10”) | (LBS.) | (>6”) | ||
SEBELIUS | 25.00 | 1.20 | 0.00 | 0.62 | G | 12.73 |
GLEN ELDER | 7.50 | 0.15 | 0.00 | 0.45 | F | 2.98 |
WEBSTER | 7.19 | 0.13 | 0.00 | 0.48 | F | 11.08 |
KIRWIN | 6.25 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.38 | F | 3.67 |
MARION | 4.91 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.31 | F | 7.05 |
WILSON | 3.73 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.33 | F | 2.24 |
KANOPOLIS | 3.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.35 | F | 1.68 |
HILLSDALE | 3.38 | 0.13 | 0.00 | 0.44 | F | 3.63 |
CEDAR BLUFF | 2.94 | 0.06 | 0.00 | 0.42 | F | 1.55 |
BIG HILL | 2.80 | 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.31 | F | 2.93 |
EL DORADO | 2.13 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | F | 0.91 |
LOVEWELL | 1.63 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.31 | F | 3.23 |
POMONA | 1.44 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.30 | F | 0.65 |
LACYGNE | 1.25 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.26 | F | 1.92 |
PERRY | 1.24 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.34 | P | 0.77 |
WOLF CREEK | 1.06 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.27 | P | 0.72 |
ELK CITY | 0.75 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.27 | P | 0.52 |
MELVERN | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.26 | P | 0.32 |
JOHN REDMOND | 0.13 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.19 | P | 0.06 |
COUNCIL GROVE* | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.09 | P | 0.03 |
TORONTO* | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.09 | P | 0.02 |
CLINTON* | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | P | 0.90 |
* 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.
WATERBODY | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big Fish | Rating | 3 yr avg |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BLACK CRAPPIE | ||||||
(>8”) | (>10”) | (>12”) | (LBS.) | (>8”) | ||
RES | ||||||
SEBELIUS | 25.50 | 14.70 | 1.40 | 1.58 | G | 12.50 |
GLEN ELDER | 16.85 | 3.65 | 0.05 | 1.30 | G | 5.68 |
KIRWIN | 14.75 | 13.13 | 0.75 | 1.75 | G | 16.79 |
KANOPOLIS | 11.75 | 1.83 | 0.17 | 1.12 | G | 4.26 |
WEBSTER | 7.25 | 2.56 | 0.38 | 1.45 | G | 5.38 |
LOVEWELL | 5.38 | 2.88 | 0.25 | 1.23 | F | 3.09 |
MARION | 3.82 | 3.18 | 1.36 | 1.43 | F | 2.71 |
WILSON | 2.47 | 1.87 | 0.47 | 1.68 | F | 0.93 |
CEDAR BLUFF | 1.56 | 0.94 | 0.50 | 1.15 | F | 2.48 |
JOHN REDMOND | 1.38 | 1.13 | 0.19 | 1.57 | P | 1.38 |
WOLF CREEK | 0.75 | 0.63 | 0.63 | 1.46 | P | 0.52 |
HILLSDALE | 0.44 | 0.19 | 0.06 | 1.59 | P | 0.67 |
BIG HILL | 0.40 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.41 | P | 0.63 |
EL DORADO | 0.19 | 0.06 | 0.00 | 0.85 | P | 0.31 |
ELK CITY | 0.06 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.53 | P | 0.06 |
LACYGNE | 0.06 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.28 | P | 0.09 |
PERRY | 0.06 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.25 | P | 0.06 |
CLINTON* | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | P | 0.33 |
* 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.
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.
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.
Waterbody | Density | Preferred | Lunker | 3 yr avg | Size | Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lovewell Reservoir | 69.88 | 29.63 | 12.13 | 35.56 | Reservoir | Good |
Pomona Reservoir | 28.56 | 18.56 | 3.38 | 15.81 | Reservoir | Excellent |
Sebelius Reservoir | 26.50 | 15.10 | 1.60 | 13.13 | Reservoir | Good |
Glen Elder Reservoir | 19.85 | 5.45 | 0.45 | 8.07 | Reservoir | Good |
Perry Reservoir | 17.59 | 9.00 | 1.00 | 20.32 | Reservoir | Excellent |
Kirwin Reservoir | 15.50 | 13.56 | 1.00 | 21.33 | Reservoir | Good |
Webster Reservoir | 15.19 | 3.44 | 0.56 | 8.90 | Reservoir | Good |
Hillsdale Reservoir | 14.81 | 8.81 | 0.63 | 26.13 | Reservoir | Good |
Kanopolis Reservoir | 12.67 | 2.75 | 0.17 | 9.43 | Reservoir | Good |
Melvern Reservoir | 10.06 | 6.31 | 0.13 | 8.97 | Reservoir | Good |
Marion Reservoir | 8.55 | 6.73 | 2.00 | 13.87 | Reservoir | Fair |
El Dorado Reservoir | 8.19 | 5.19 | 1.06 | 8.33 | Reservoir | Good |
John Redmond Reservoir | 6.81 | 5.44 | 0.38 | 7.81 | Reservoir | Fair |
Council Grove Reservoir | 6.75 | 4.92 | 1.50 | 4.57 | Reservoir | Good |
Big Hill Reservoir | 5.70 | 3.70 | 0.30 | 4.27 | Reservoir | Good |
Lacygne Reservoir | 5.56 | 1.94 | 0.13 | 4.58 | Reservoir | Good |
Wolf Creek Reservoir | 5.13 | 1.31 | 1.13 | 7.20 | Reservoir | Fair |
Elk City Reservoir | 3.75 | 3.63 | 0.94 | 10.47 | Reservoir | Good |
Wilson Reservoir | 2.53 | 1.93 | 0.47 | 0.96 | Reservoir | Fair |
Cedar Bluff Reservoir | 1.83 | 1.11 | 0.61 | 3.07 | Reservoir | Fair |
Toronto Reservoir | 1.50 | 0.67 | 0.17 | 9.08 | Reservoir | Good |
Horsethief Reservoir | 1.00 | 0.38 | 0.00 | 7.21 | Reservoir | Fair |
Clinton Reservoir | 24.67 | 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 |
WATERBODY | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big Fish | Rating | 3 yr avg |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
REDEAR SUNFISH | ||||||
(>7”) | (>9”) | (>11”) | (LBS.) | (>7”) | ||
BIG HILL | 0.40 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.33 | P | 0.43 |
ELK CITY* | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.08 | P | 0.00 |
HILLSDALE* | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.13 | P | 0.00 |
PERRY* | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.15 | P | 0.00 |
WILSON* | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | P | 0.00 |
CLINTON* | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | P | 1.38 |
* 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.
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.
WATERBODY | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big Fish | Rating | 3 yr avg |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(>8”) | (>10”) | (>12”) | (LBS.) | (>8”) | ||
LOVEWELL | 64.50 | 26.75 | 11.88 | 1.58 | G | 32.47 |
POMONA | 28.56 | 18.56 | 3.38 | 1.40 | E | 15.81 |
PERRY | 17.53 | 9.00 | 1.00 | 1.48 | E | 20.26 |
HILLSDALE | 14.38 | 8.63 | 0.56 | 1.65 | G | 25.46 |
MELVERN | 10.06 | 6.31 | 0.13 | 0.99 | G | 8.97 |
EL DORADO | 8.00 | 5.13 | 1.06 | 1.90 | G | 8.02 |
WEBSTER | 7.94 | 0.88 | 0.19 | 1.05 | G | 3.52 |
COUNCIL GROVE | 6.75 | 4.92 | 1.50 | 1.20 | G | 4.57 |
LACYGNE | 5.50 | 1.94 | 0.13 | 1.47 | G | 4.52 |
JOHN REDMOND | 5.44 | 4.31 | 0.19 | 1.72 | F | 7.13 |
BIG HILL | 5.30 | 3.70 | 0.30 | 1.01 | G | 3.63 |
MARION | 4.73 | 3.55 | 0.64 | 2.11 | F | 11.16 |
WOLF CREEK | 4.38 | 0.69 | 0.50 | 2.43 | F | 6.68 |
ELK CITY | 3.69 | 3.63 | 0.94 | 2.11 | G | 10.45 |
GLEN ELDER | 3.00 | 1.80 | 0.40 | 2.11 | F | 2.39 |
TORONTO | 1.50 | 0.67 | 0.17 | 2.49 | G | 8.98 |
SEBELIUS | 1.00 | 0.40 | 0.20 | 1.20 | G | 0.63 |
KANOPOLIS | 0.92 | 0.92 | 0.00 | 0.83 | F | 5.16 |
KIRWIN | 0.75 | 0.44 | 0.25 | 1.23 | G | 4.54 |
CEDAR BLUFF | 0.28 | 0.17 | 0.11 | 1.13 | P | 0.60 |
WILSON | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.00 | 0.80 | P | 0.03 |
CLINTON* | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | G | 24.33 |
* 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.