Elk City Reservoir Fishing Information

Counties:

Montgomery

GPS:

N37 15.415 W95 46.487

Surface Acres:

4,450 acres

Maximum Depth:

24 feet

Normal Lake Level:

N/A

View Live Lake Information

Independence, KS

Corps of Engineers (620) 331-6820

Elk City Bathymetric Map (PDF 5.23 MB)

Elk City Reservoir Fishing Report - Updated: 09/12/2023

Species	Rating	Size	Baits, Method & Location
Crappie	Fair	8-14"	Crappie fishing remains slow. Crappie are scattered around the reservoir and have been finicky to bite. Moving frequently if fish aren't biting is key. Hair jigs have been working best.
Blue and channel catfish	Fair	18-30"	Catfishing has been slow. Concentrate on river and creek channels to find fish. Shad has been working best.
White Bass	Fair	10-14"	The white bass fishing remains slow. Look for white bass near the fishing jetties at the state park and in deeper holes in the river. Minnows, soft plastics and hair jigs have been working best.
Outlet	Poor	12-20"	Water release remains slow and so does the fishing.

With decreasing water levels be careful at boat ramps as well as navigating the reservoir. 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.

Creel Length/Limits

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

Fishing Forecast Information

View Fishing Forecast definitions

+Walleye Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
WALLEYE
	(>15")	(>20")	(>25")	(lbs.)
	RES
WILSON	4.92	2.18	0.28	8.52	G
KIRWIN	4.67	0.56	0.11	8.46	G
MARION	3.33	0.22	0.00	4.65	G
CEDAR BLUFF	2.88	0.50	0.01	7.93	G
WEBSTER	2.75	0.83	0.14	6.60	G
EL DORADO	2.69	1.11	0.13	7.94	G
MILFORD	2.67	0.23	0.02	6.17	G
GLEN ELDER	2.50	0.32	0.01	6.61	G
CHENEY	1.38	0.89	0.13	7.54	F
LOVEWELL	1.35	0.54	0.02	8.16	G
HILLSDALE	0.81	0.08	0.03	5.74	G
WOLF CREEK	0.59	0.20	0.02	5.99	F
MELVERN	0.50	0.06	0.00	4.59	F
CLINTON	0.45	0.00	0.00	2.91	F
POMONA	0.37	0.06	0.00	4.58	F
KANOPOLIS	0.07	0.00	0.00	1.94	P
BIG HILL	0.03	0.00	0.00	1.17	P
COUNCIL GROVE	0.02	0.02	0.00	2.80	P
ELK CITY	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.30	P
SEBELIUS	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.51	F

+Black Crappie Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
BLACK CRAPPIE
	(>8")	(>10")	(>12")	(lbs.)
	RES
SEBELIUS	29.67	15.60	1.47	1.64	G
CEDAR BLUFF	22.55	2.24	0.06	1.29	G
KIRWIN	12.02	11.19	5.92	2.06	G
WEBSTER	5.17	2.02	0.02	1.40	G
LOVEWELL	4.33	0.38	0.07	1.43	G
KANOPOLIS	3.50	2.39	0.44	1.43	G
MILFORD	2.77	0.81	0.02	1.63	F
GLEN ELDER	1.94	1.55	0.17	1.26	G
HILLSDALE	1.33	0.29	0.06	1.36	G
CLINTON	1.30	0.93	0.04	1.10	P
MARION	1.25	0.50	0.25	1.31	P
BIG HILL	0.63	0.13	0.07	0.92	P
WILSON	0.62	0.22	0.11	1.68	P
JOHN REDMOND	0.48	0.10	0.03	1.29	P
PERRY	0.35	0.11	0.00	0.81	P
TORONTO	0.28	0.15	0.04	1.19	P
WOLF CREEK	0.17	0.06	0.06	1.39	P
EL DORADO	0.14	0.07	0.02	1.19	P
FALL RIVER	0.10	0.08	0.02	1.14	P
POMONA	0.10	0.06	0.00	0.66	P
TUTTLE CREEK	0.04	0.02	0.02	1.17	P
CHENEY	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.20	P
ELK CITY	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.13	P

+Bluegill Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
BLUEGILL
	(>6")	(>8")	(>10")	(lbs.)
	RES
SEBELIUS	56.50	6.07	0.00	0.63	G
CEDAR BLUFF	23.14	0.20	0.00	0.41	G
KANOPOLIS	8.00	0.00	0.00	0.39	G
WILSON	7.00	0.04	0.00	0.34	G
WEBSTER	5.29	0.25	0.00	0.50	G
HILLSDALE	4.92	0.04	0.00	0.46	G
BIG HILL	3.00	0.00	0.00	0.34	F
LOVEWELL	2.98	0.00	0.00	0.32	F
LACYGNE	2.29	0.02	0.02	0.35	G
CLINTON	2.17	0.02	0.02	0.34	F
PERRY	1.39	0.00	0.00	0.34	F
KIRWIN	1.10	0.06	0.00	0.59	F
GLEN ELDER	1.03	0.20	0.06	0.70	F
MILFORD	0.96	0.13	0.00	0.47	F
MELVERN	0.80	0.05	0.02	0.37	P
FALL RIVER	0.48	0.00	0.00	0.27	P
POMONA	0.46	0.02	0.02	0.43	G
CHENEY	0.40	0.00	0.00	0.22	P
EL DORADO	0.34	0.00	0.00	0.23	P
WOLF CREEK	0.30	0.00	0.00	0.18	P
COUNCIL GROVE	0.17	0.00	0.00	0.21	P
TORONTO	0.13	0.00	0.00	0.23	P
TUTTLE CREEK	0.13	0.00	0.00	0.35	P
JOHN REDMOND	0.08	0.00	0.00	0.18	P
ELK CITY	0.02	0.00	0.00	0.16	P

+Channel Catfish Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
CHANNEL CATFISH
	(>16")	(>24")	(>28")	(lbs.)
	RES
LOVEWELL	6.11	0.96	0.13	13.83	G
HILLSDALE	5.81	0.22	0.06	10.62	G
BIG HILL	5.47	0.63	0.03	8.60	G
MARION	5.36	0.20	0.02	5.48	G
TORONTO	3.75	2.36	0.53	12.78	G
KANOPOLIS	3.70	0.48	0.00	6.54	G
ELK CITY	3.11	0.47	0.03	8.42	G
WILSON	2.76	0.48	0.03	10.11	G
PERRY	2.54	0.65	0.14	12.70	G
MELVERN	2.46	0.30	0.06	11.45	G
CLINTON	2.45	0.09	0.00	6.06	G
CHENEY	2.29	0.51	0.09	14.81	G
LACYGNE	2.27	0.02	0.00	7.26	G
GLEN ELDER	1.94	0.45	0.17	16.60	G
POMONA	1.51	0.09	0.06	11.96	G
FALL RIVER	1.43	1.06	0.37	14.53	G
WEBSTER	1.28	0.08	0.03	10.64	F
KIRWIN	1.22	0.33	0.08	11.23	F
COUNCIL GROVE	1.18	0.20	0.04	7.59	F
JOHN REDMOND	0.98	0.24	0.10	14.02	F
CEDAR BLUFF	0.90	0.12	0.04	14.15	F
WOLF CREEK	0.81	0.00	0.00	4.16	F
TUTTLE CREEK	0.75	0.12	0.07	14.31	F
EL DORADO	0.67	0.02	0.00	5.39	F
MILFORD	0.30	0.03	0.02	9.23	F
SEBELIUS	0.17	0.10	0.10	22.56	F

+White Bass Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
WHITE BASS
	(>9")	(>12")	(>15")	(lbs.)
	RES
GLEN ELDER	19.40	15.73	3.22	3.49	E
MARION	15.40	9.84	0.40	1.87	E
KANOPOLIS	10.74	5.05	0.49	2.86	G
CEDAR BLUFF	8.56	7.87	2.47	2.49	G
PERRY	8.42	4.26	0.33	2.51	G
CLINTON	8.00	7.17	0.83	2.31	G
WEBSTER	6.39	4.19	0.11	2.73	G
POMONA	6.26	3.31	0.14	1.88	G
JOHN REDMOND	5.75	4.85	1.19	3.12	G
HILLSDALE	4.75	2.03	0.08	1.66	G
MILFORD	4.50	2.73	0.17	1.91	G
TORONTO	4.36	3.44	1.36	2.85	G
KIRWIN	3.94	3.39	0.72	2.64	G
FALL RIVER	3.94	2.77	1.00	3.29	G
LOVEWELL	3.46	2.09	0.37	2.15	G
EL DORADO	3.27	1.42	0.38	2.01	G
BIG HILL	2.87	2.43	0.27	2.35	G
MELVERN	2.82	2.28	0.32	2.34	G
WOLF CREEK	2.78	2.13	0.43	1.72	F
LACYGNE	2.75	1.66	0.39	2.88	G
WILSON	2.72	2.22	0.88	2.96	F
COUNCIL GROVE	2.16	1.33	0.18	2.23	F
CHENEY	1.67	1.45	0.59	2.58	F
TUTTLE CREEK	0.27	0.07	0.03	2.96	F
ELK CITY	0.25	0.17	0.03	1.94	F

+Temperate Basses Combined Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	3 yr avg	Size	Rating
Glen Elder Reservoir	22.83	15.33	3.38	20.35	Reservoir	Excellent
Webster Reservoir	17.08	5.42	0.17	11.31	Reservoir	Good
Clinton Reservoir	16.38	12.13	1.31	10.56	Reservoir	Good
Kanopolis Reservoir	15.19	3.33	0.76	16.19	Reservoir	Good
Marion Reservoir	11.60	3.60	0.20	11.84	Reservoir	Good
John Redmond Reservoir	10.00	8.57	0.95	7.92	Reservoir	Good
Hillsdale Reservoir	9.42	2.08	0.17	3.89	Reservoir	Good
Milford Reservoir	8.35	1.50	0.10	7.78	Reservoir	Good
Sebelius Reservoir	7.80	0.80	0.10	7.03	Reservoir	Good
Cedar Bluff Reservoir	7.71	7.58	2.63	8.74	Reservoir	Good
Cheney Reservoir	6.00	4.63	1.15	6.27	Reservoir	Good
El Dorado Reservoir	5.47	3.93	0.47	5.49	Reservoir	Good
Pomona Reservoir	5.29	2.43	0.00	3.49	Reservoir	Good
Perry Reservoir	5.17	1.57	0.35	2.97	Reservoir	Good
Kirwin Reservoir	5.00	2.17	0.75	5.96	Reservoir	Good
Big Hill Reservoir	4.30	3.90	0.60	3.33	Reservoir	Good
Wilson Reservoir	4.13	2.73	1.20	2.74	Reservoir	Good
Toronto Reservoir	2.58	2.42	0.25	2.37	Reservoir	Fair
Wolf Creek Reservoir	2.50	2.30	0.50	2.26	Reservoir	Good
Lovewell Reservoir	2.15	1.45	0.35	5.66	Reservoir	Fair
Fall River Reservoir	1.92	1.42	0.75	5.29	Reservoir	Fair
LaCygne Reservoir	0.57	0.50	0.21	3.08	Reservoir	Good
Melvern Reservoir	0.50	0.50	0.10	4.06	Reservoir	Fair
Council Grove Reservoir	0.29	0.14	0.00	1.72	Reservoir	Poor
Tuttle Creek Reservoir	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	Reservoir	Poor
Elk City Reservoir	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.54	Reservoir	Fair

+Crappie Combined Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	3 yr avg	Size	Rating
Pomona Reservoir	23.83	6.83	1.89	19.80	Reservoir	Excellent
Cedar Bluff Reservoir	20.22	2.17	0.00	9.11	Reservoir	Good
Marion Reservoir	17.13	4.13	1.50	12.84	Reservoir	Good
Lovewell Reservoir	14.00	2.50	0.36	33.17	Reservoir	Good
Kirwin Reservoir	13.88	12.00	3.88	18.81	Reservoir	Good
Hillsdale Reservoir	12.56	7.88	1.31	20.98	Reservoir	Good
Tuttle Creek Reservoir	11.81	10.25	1.25	11.81	Reservoir	Excellent
Sebelius Reservoir	11.60	6.20	0.40	14.87	Reservoir	Good
Melvern Reservoir	9.94	6.75	0.63	11.60	Reservoir	Good
El Dorado Reservoir	9.88	8.63	3.63	7.51	Reservoir	Good
Glen Elder Reservoir	7.79	4.08	0.54	9.93	Reservoir	Good
Webster Reservoir	7.38	2.31	0.00	9.02	Reservoir	Good
Toronto Reservoir	6.38	2.50	0.81	8.15	Reservoir	Good
Big Hill Reservoir	5.70	2.60	0.70	5.00	Reservoir	Good
Milford Reservoir	5.56	4.13	1.38	5.56	Reservoir	Good
Perry Reservoir	5.50	4.56	0.67	13.59	Reservoir
Wolf Creek Reservoir	5.00	2.29	0.41	4.94	Reservoir	Fair
Horsethief Reservoir	4.40	0.00	0.00	6.80	Reservoir	Fair
Fall River Reservoir	4.19	0.81	0.63	5.47	Reservoir	Good
Council Grove Reservoir	3.62	2.62	0.92	5.07	Reservoir	Good
Kanopolis Reservoir	2.92	1.58	0.17	7.56	Reservoir	Good
Clinton Reservoir	2.75	1.94	0.25	18.31	Reservoir	Fair
Cheney Reservoir	2.40	1.40	0.00	2.40	Reservoir	Fair
LaCygne Reservoir	1.62	0.94	0.31	3.10	Reservoir	Good
John Redmond Reservoir	1.44	1.13	0.13	4.13	Reservoir	Fair
Elk City Reservoir	1.00	0.44	0.44	7.16	Reservoir	Good
Wilson Reservoir	0.53	0.53	0.20	1.09	Reservoir	Fair

+Redear Sunfish Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
REDEAR SUNFISH
	(>7")	(>9")	(>11")	(lbs.)
	RES
BIG HILL	0.63	0.00	0.00	0.41	F
KANOPOLIS	0.03	0.00	0.00	0.34	P
ELK CITY	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.08	P
LACYGNE	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.15	P

+Blue Catfish Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
BLUE CATFISH
	(>20")	(>30")	(>35")	(lbs.)
	RES
EL DORADO	91.22	0.60	0.00	12.60	G
ELK CITY	66.42	5.60	0.37	22.90	G
JOHN REDMOND	60.12	0.45	0.45	22.03	F
TUTTLE CREEK	55.26	8.99	1.41	24.45	G
LOVEWELL	45.57	29.49	6.31	30.55	G
MILFORD	41.13	8.71	6.00	43.98	G
GLEN ELDER	24.84	6.32	3.04	32.07	G
CHENEY	17.58	15.91	9.03	47.14	F
MELVERN	11.48	2.38	0.20	19.43	F
WOLF CREEK	8.93	2.15	0.45	38.00	F
CLINTON	7.65	2.94	0.68	30.84	F
KANOPOLIS	5.95	0.00	0.00	5.53	F
WILSON	4.35	2.28	0.22	26.45	G

+White Crappie Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
WHITE CRAPPIE
	(>8")	(>10")	(>12")	(lbs.)
	RES
LOVEWELL	23.81	8.74	0.83	2.50	E
MELVERN	22.73	10.07	1.34	1.61	E
HILLSDALE	18.94	9.56	1.21	1.49	G
MARION	15.88	3.63	1.25	1.59	G
PERRY	12.39	5.54	0.54	1.42	G
ELK CITY	9.96	2.90	1.02	2.40	G
TORONTO	8.91	6.13	1.89	2.40	G
TUTTLE CREEK	8.63	6.38	1.19	1.69	G
WOLF CREEK	7.34	2.85	0.45	1.64	F
BIG HILL	7.27	3.43	0.37	1.04	G
EL DORADO	7.23	4.52	1.82	2.10	G
CLINTON	6.93	2.28	0.20	1.16	G
COUNCIL GROVE	6.69	3.86	1.53	1.87	G
FALL RIVER	5.02	1.81	0.48	2.58	G
MILFORD	5.00	3.71	0.75	1.95	G
LACYGNE	4.17	1.27	0.15	2.30	G
POMONA	3.44	2.06	0.10	1.73	G
GLEN ELDER	3.41	0.91	0.42	2.02	G
CHENEY	2.40	1.40	0.00	0.73	G
KANOPOLIS	1.81	0.58	0.08	2.25	G
SEBELIUS	1.67	1.10	0.50	1.43	G
WEBSTER	1.60	1.06	0.13	1.79	G
JOHN REDMOND	1.13	0.83	0.18	3.04	F
CEDAR BLUFF	0.73	0.73	0.16	1.14	F
KIRWIN	0.63	0.29	0.27	1.97	G
WILSON	0.09	0.09	0.02	1.12	P

Main Menu

Elk City Reservoir Fishing Information