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