Melvern Reservoir Fishing Information

Counties:

Osage

GPS:

N38 31.72 W95 44.70

Surface Acres:

7,000 acres

Maximum Depth:

60 feet

Normal Lake Level:

1036 msl

Current Lake Level:

1036.03 - Discharge of 20 csf

Lake Temperature:

51 F.

35 miles S of Topeka on US-75

US Army Corps of Engineers - Melvern Reservoir (785) 549-3318

Melvern Reservoir Fishing Report - Updated: 02/08/2019


Crappie	Good	0.25-0.5 lbs	Using jigs, most colors, fish are not finicky. Anglers are catching lots fish just under the 10 inch length limit.





Fisheries Newsletter			If you would like to receive additional information about this lake a couple of times a year, sign up for the newsletter at the following link http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Lawrence-Fishing-District
Blue Catfish			35 inch minimum length limit and 5 fish daily limit went into effect January 1, 2016. This regulation change is to protect adult brood fish which hopefully will allow increased production of young blue catfish, translating into increased numbers of blues in Melvern.
Sauger			18 inch minimum length limit went into effect Jan. 1, 2016. This change makes sauger and walleye have the same regulations at Melvern Reservoir.
Spotted Bass			18 inch minimum length limit went into effect Jan. 1, 2016. This change makes all black bass (i.e. largemouth, smallmouth and spotted) have the same regulations at Melvern Reservoir.
General Comments
Road conditions around the lake may be marginal due to recent freezing precipitation. Lake level was 1.72 feet low, water temp was 32 ^o F, and release rate was changed from 500 cfs to 20 cfs around 2 PM (Feb. 8). Fishing report was provided by Melvern Marina. Melvern Reservoir has Zebra Mussels, Remember to clean, drain, and dry your boat and fishing equipment when leaving the lake to keep from spreading them to other lakes.

Creel Length/Limits

Fishing Population	Creel Limit	Min Length Limit
Bluegill
Channel Catfish	10
Crappie	20	10
Flathead Catfish	5
Green Sunfish
Largemouth Bass	5	18
Smallmouth Bass	5	18
Spotted Bass	5	18
Walleye	5	18
Blue Catfish	5	35
Sauger	5	18

* Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted Bass in Combination
** Striped Bass or Wiper in Combination
*** Walleye, Sauger or Saugeye in Combination

Map Information

Fishing Forecast Information

View Fishing Forecast definitions

+Walleye Forecast

Water	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big Fish	Biologist rating	3 year average
	(>15”)	(>20”)	(>25”)	(LBS.)		(>15”)
CEDAR BLUFF	6.38	0.21	0.00	3.87	G	5.53
WILSON	5.57	3.17	0.00	6.26	G	4.94
GLEN ELDER	3.08	0.38	0.00	4.63	G	3.58
EL DORADO	2.53	0.80	0.00	4.59	G	3.22
KIRWIN	2.20	1.07	0.13	6.56	G	2.18
WEBSTER	2.00	0.83	0.00	5.62	G	2.11
MILFORD	1.50	0.25	0.00	4.39	G	2.50
MARION	0.80	0.07	0.00	3.73	F	1.81
CHENEY	0.55	0.15	0.05	8.27	F	2.02
LOVEWELL	0.50	0.15	0.00	5.00	F	1.17
WOLF CREEK	0.50	0.00	0.00	2.35	F	0.53
MELVERN	0.31	0.00	0.00	1.40	F	0.29
HILLSDALE	0.17	0.08	0.08	5.84	F	0.61
POMONA	0.08	0.08	0.08	5.44	F	0.64
CLINTON	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.94	F	0.54

+Bluegill Forecast

Water	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big Fish	Biologist rating	3 year average
	(>6”)	(>8”)	(>10”)	(LBS.)		(>6”)
WEBSTER	11.88	0.13	0.00	0.44	G	8.88
SEBELIUS (NORTON)	4.20	0.10	0.00	0.43	G	5.13
BIG HILL	3.80	0.00	0.00	0.30	F	3.83
HILLSDALE	2.81	0.06	0.00	0.36	F	3.60
KIRWIN	2.69	0.06	0.00	0.46	F	1.58
LOVEWELL	1.44	0.00	0.00	0.32	F	3.13
WILSON	1.00	0.00	0.00	0.26	G	1.31
CLINTON	0.94	0.00	0.00	0.29	P	0.90
WOLF CREEK	0.88	0.06	0.00	0.39	P	0.42
LACYGNE	0.81	0.00	0.00	0.32	F	2.31
ELK CITY	0.80	0.00	0.00	0.27	P	0.60
PERRY	0.69	0.00	0.00	0.36	P	0.50
FALL RIVER	0.56	0.00	0.00	0.30	P	0.33
GLEN ELDER	0.36	0.00	0.00	0.49	F	0.51
CEDAR BLUFF	0.33	0.00	0.00	0.35	P	0.97
POMONA	0.19	0.00	0.00	0.27	P	0.46
EL DORADO	0.13	0.00	0.00	0.23	P	0.38
KANOPOLIS	0.11	0.00	0.00	0.25	F	0.72
COUNCIL GROVE	0.08	0.00	0.00	0.19	P	0.04
MELVERN	0.07	0.00	0.00	0.00	P	0.21
TORONTO	0.06	0.00	0.00	0.20	P	0.13

+Largemouth Bass Forecast

Water	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big Fish	Biologist rating	3 year average
	(>12”)	(>15”)	(>20”)	(LBS.)		(>12”)
SEBELIUS (NORTON)	62.87	26.35	0.00	4.44	E	57.94
LACYGNE	50.59	39.41	7.06	9.31	E	68.49
WILSON	28.69	11.24	0.17	4.92	E	13.13
GLEN ELDER	27.13	11.64	0.24	5.20	G	13.25
WALNUT CREEK - TORONTO RES.	15.97	10.98	1.00	4.45	F	26.12
MILFORD	15.38	6.90	0.00	3.91	G	12.64
PERRY	13.25	6.02	1.20	6.20	G	7.72
KANOPOLIS	13.25	4.42	0.00	3.15	F	5.64
WOLF CREEK	12.54	6.27	0.00	3.32	F	8.00
BIG HILL	12.40	4.40	0.00	3.38	G	25.08
CLINTON	12.39	3.87	0.00	3.34	F	6.64
CEDAR BLUFF	12.09	5.56	0.00	3.74	F	13.06
FALL RIVER	11.98	8.98	1.00	4.93	F	9.35
MELVERN	9.49	2.28	0.00	3.42	F	4.38
HILLSDALE	7.19	4.32	0.29	5.36	F	8.96
WEBSTER	7.19	1.80	0.00	2.90	G	3.59
EL DORADO	7.06	2.35	0.00	2.73	F	9.26
KIRWIN	1.80	0.00	0.00	1.51	G	0.93

+Channel Catfish Forecast

Water	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big Fish	Biologist rating	3 year average
	(>16”)	(>24”)	(>28”)	(LBS.)		(>16”)
BIG HILL	4.60	0.60	0.00	6.16	G	4.68
CLINTON	4.50	0.00	0.00	4.33	G	5.48
HILLSDALE	4.08	0.00	0.00	5.04	G	4.53
ELK CITY	3.50	0.69	0.13	8.62	G	3.53
MELVERN	3.25	0.00	0.00	3.28	G	3.71
WILSON	3.07	0.37	0.03	9.23	F	2.46
LOVEWELL	3.00	0.60	0.20	13.58	G	3.35
MARION	2.60	0.13	0.07	11.70	G	3.73
FALL RIVER	2.33	1.00	0.33	9.59	G	1.56
GLEN ELDER	2.08	0.50	0.13	18.12	G	1.72
POMONA	1.83	0.08	0.00	5.03	G	2.74
WEBSTER	1.75	0.58	0.08	13.00	G	1.11
TORONTO	1.67	0.67	0.17	13.23	G	1.44
PERRY	1.45	0.15	0.00	6.86	F	2.05
KIRWIN	1.40	0.73	0.13	12.91	G	0.61
KANOPOLIS	1.31	0.06	0.00	5.11	G	2.17
WOLF CREEK	1.11	0.00	0.00	5.54	G	1.11
JOHN REDMOND	0.95	0.45	0.40	17.64	G	0.95
LACYGNE	0.92	0.00	0.00	3.57	G	1.56
CHENEY	0.55	0.30	0.05	9.79	G	0.70
MILFORD	0.50	0.00	0.00	3.48	F	0.80
EL DORADO	0.40	0.00	0.00	3.10	F	0.28
SEBELIUS (NORTON)	0.30	0.20	0.20	13.21	F	0.27
COUNCIL GROVE	0.27	0.07	0.07	6.83	F	1.38
CEDAR BLUFF	0.25	0.00	0.00	2.52	P	0.29

+White Bass Forecast

Water	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big Fish	Biologist rating	3 year average
	(>9”)	(>12”)	(>15”)	(LBS.)		(>9”)
GLEN ELDER	16.38	14.00	2.13	2.65	E	14.90
CEDAR BLUFF	12.50	12.04	4.71	1.99	E	14.09
FALL RIVER	8.67	7.00	2.17	2.56	G	4.72
CLINTON	7.94	6.31	1.31	3.13	G	8.75
KANOPOLIS	7.56	2.81	0.56	2.20	G	7.49
MARION	7.33	4.40	0.00	1.63	G	4.59
JOHN REDMOND	5.10	0.55	0.15	2.55	G	4.86
LOVEWELL	4.25	2.20	0.00	1.40	G	4.58
TORONTO	3.92	1.83	0.08	2.42	G	4.81
MILFORD	3.75	1.40	0.05	1.60	F	2.12
KIRWIN	3.47	2.73	0.53	2.33	G	2.63
ELK CITY	3.13	2.06	0.25	2.04	G	4.67
COUNCIL GROVE	2.93	1.13	0.00	1.26	F	1.49
WOLF CREEK	2.78	2.61	0.72	2.00	G	3.10
BIG HILL	2.70	2.70	0.40	2.23	F	3.09
LACYGNE	2.33	1.75	0.08	1.34	G	2.09
PERRY	2.25	0.30	0.00	1.28	F	3.33
POMONA	2.08	1.83	0.00	1.46	F	2.51
WILSON	2.00	1.93	0.33	2.28	F	2.19
EL DORADO	1.87	1.80	0.40	2.02	F	2.86
MELVERN	1.81	1.69	0.69	1.96	F	7.42
WEBSTER	1.42	0.83	0.08	1.71	G	4.33
CHENEY	1.40	1.30	0.15	2.12	G	4.62
HILLSDALE	0.92	0.50	0.00	1.23	F	3.33

+Smallmouth Bass Forecast

Water	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big Fish	Biologist rating	3 year average
	(>11”)	(>14”)	(>17”)	(LBS.)		(>11”)
WOLF CREEK	28.92	16.38	1.39	3.42	G	39.47
GLEN ELDER	17.77	11.40	1.68	3.54	G	19.11
MELVERN	17.46	10.44	0.95	3.06	G	16.82
WILSON	13.93	11.07	3.69	4.21	G	8.13
EL DORADO	12.35	3.53	0.00	1.84	G	19.70
MILFORD	9.81	7.43	1.06	3.14	G	8.25
PERRY	9.64	6.02	0.00	2.73	F	5.09
CLINTON	1.94	1.03	0.39	2.98	P	1.43

+Spotted Bass Forecast

Water	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big Fish	Biologist rating	3 year average
	(>11”)	(>14”)	(>17”)	(LBS.)		(>11”)
SEBELIUS (NORTON)	7.19	4.19	0.00	1.93	G	9.23
CEDAR BLUFF	2.29	0.00	0.00	0.98	F	2.10
WALNUT CREEK - TORONTO RES.	1.00	0.00	0.00	0.79	P	1.00
EL DORADO	0.59	0.00	0.00	0.91	P	2.72
BIG HILL	0.40	0.40	0.40	2.42	P	0.40
GLEN ELDER	0.24	0.12	0.00	1.56	P	0.21
WILSON	0.17	0.17	0.00	2.28	P	0.26
MELVERN	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.24	P	0.00

+Black Bass Combined Forecast

Water	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Biologist rating	3 year average
SEBELIUS (NORTON)	70.06	30.54	0.00	E	67.17
LACYGNE	50.59	39.41	7.06	E	68.49
GLEN ELDER	45.14	23.17	1.92	G	32.58
WILSON	42.79	22.48	3.86	E	21.43
WOLF CREEK	41.46	22.65	1.39	G	47.47
MELVERN	26.94	12.71	0.95	G	21.20
MILFORD	25.20	14.32	1.06	G	22.36
PERRY	22.89	12.05	1.20	F	12.81
EL DORADO	20.00	5.88	0.00	F	31.68
WALNUT CREEK - TORONTO RES.	16.97	10.98	1.00	F	26.62
CEDAR BLUFF	14.38	5.56	0.00	F	15.24
CLINTON	14.33	4.90	0.39	F	8.07
KANOPOLIS	13.25	4.42	0.00	P	5.64
BIG HILL	12.80	4.80	0.40	G	26.96
FALL RIVER	11.98	8.98	1.00	F	9.35
HILLSDALE	7.19	4.32	0.29	F	9.00
WEBSTER	7.19	1.80	0.00	G	3.59
KIRWIN	1.80	0.00	0.00	G	0.93

+Crappie Combined Forecast

Water	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Biologist rating	3 year average
HILLSDALE	35.56	12.44	0.81	G	29.63
CLINTON	33.88	14.19	1.38	G	24.67
KIRWIN	27.06	6.56	1.56	G	16.52
PERRY	17.69	4.81	0.38	E	16.65
ELK CITY	16.73	6.87	3.60	G	11.39
TORONTO	16.56	6.81	3.06	G	12.67
LOVEWELL	15.63	4.31	0.44	G	13.91
MELVERN	14.79	1.50	0.86	F	6.78
POMONA	9.25	3.25	0.69	G	7.65
KANOPOLIS	7.11	1.67	0.44	G	6.14
FALL RIVER	6.75	2.19	1.88	G	6.96
SEBELIUS (NORTON)	6.50	2.30	0.10	G	5.77
LACYGNE	6.25	2.81	0.44	G	5.48
CEDAR BLUFF	5.28	4.22	1.33	F	3.28
COUNCIL GROVE	4.83	1.08	0.25	F	3.15
WOLF CREEK	4.69	3.50	2.19	F	6.55
WEBSTER	4.50	0.31	0.00	F	3.98
EL DORADO	4.47	2.87	0.60	G	6.27
BIG HILL	3.60	1.40	0.20	F	3.28
GLEN ELDER	2.14	0.68	0.32	F	1.90
WILSON	0.20	0.00	0.00	P	0.13

+Blue Catfish Forecast

Water	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big Fish	Biologist rating	3 year average
	(>20”)	(>30”)	(>35”)	(LBS.)		(>20”)
ELK CITY	2.25	0.00	0.00	8.67	G	1.39
WOLF CREEK	2.11	0.94	0.11	35.71	G	2.70
MILFORD	2.00	0.10	0.05	22.50	G	2.20
CLINTON	0.69	0.06	0.00	18.00	P	0.50
EL DORADO	0.60	0.00	0.00	11.47	G	0.77
PERRY	0.45	0.05	0.00	20.94	F	0.21
LOVEWELL	0.40	0.00	0.00	9.81	F	0.45
LACYGNE	0.33	0.00	0.00	8.33	F	0.23
JOHN REDMOND	0.30	0.15	0.05	25.35	F	0.10
WILSON	0.27	0.03	0.00	13.12	F	0.42
MELVERN	0.19	0.13	0.06	7.10	F	0.29
COUNCIL GROVE	0.07	0.00	0.00	4.07	P	0.07
KANOPOLIS	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.74	P	0.00
POMONA	0.00	0.00	0.00	2.45	P	0.00

Stocking Records Information

+Walleye Stocking

Water	Water Type	Stocking Date	Source	Number Stocked
EL DORADO RESERVOIR	RESV	10/02/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	8505
MELVERN RESERVOIR	RESV	10/31/17	- IOWA	2000
MELVERN RESERVOIR	RESV	11/09/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	2012
(FISH) GRAHAM CO-TREXLER POND	FISH	10/23/17	- MEADE FISH REARING STATION	200
EL DORADO RESERVOIR	RESV	10/03/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	2264
EL DORADO RESERVOIR	RESV	10/02/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	2642
EL DORADO RESERVOIR	RESV	10/03/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	620
CHENEY RESERVOIR	RESV	11/09/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	1921
PRATT FISH HATCHERY	OTHR	11/07/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	300
CHENEY RESERVOIR	RESV	10/24/17	- MEADE FISH REARING STATION	3974
MILFORD FISH HATCHERY	OTHR	10/23/17	- MEADE FISH REARING STATION	841
			Total Requested	18200
			Total Stocked	25279

+Sauger Stocking

Water	Water Type	Stocking Date	Source	Number Stocked
MELVERN RESERVOIR	RESV	04/20/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	350000
HOLTON - BANNER CREEK LAKE	COML	04/20/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	300000
CLINTON RESERVOIR	RESV	04/20/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	250000
MILFORD FISH HATCHERY	OTHR	04/19/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	375000
			Total Requested	1375000
			Total Stocked	1275000

+Largemouth Bass Stocking

Water	Water Type	Stocking Date	Source	Number Stocked
GOODMAN STATE FISHING LAKE	SFLS	09/13/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	406
LACROSSE-WARREN STONE LAKE	COML	10/03/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	102
BELLEVILLE-ROCKY POND	COML	10/17/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	270
SALINA-LAKEWOOD LAKE	COML	10/10/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	865
HOLYROOD CITY LAKE	COML	10/03/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	301
BARBER SFL-LOWER	SFLS	09/13/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	315
Syracuse - Sam's Pond	CFAP	10/05/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	131
(FISH) OSBORNE-WALLACE #2	FISH	10/17/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	680
(FISH) OSBORNE-WALLACE #1	FISH	10/17/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	400
MELVERN RESERVOIR	RESV	11/04/17	- MELVERN REARING POND	2059
			Total Requested	4440
			Total Stocked	5529

+Walleye Stocking

Water	Water Type	Stocking Date	Source	Number Stocked
MILFORD RESERVOIR	RESV	04/04/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	6050000
HILLSDALE RESERVOIR	RESV	04/07/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	5100000
EL DORADO RESERVOIR	RESV	03/31/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	3430780
MARION RESERVOIR	RESV	03/30/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	2584680
LOVEWELL RESERVOIR	RESV	04/03/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	1500000
HOLTON - BANNER CREEK LAKE	COML	04/07/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	500000
HERINGTON CITY LAKE-NEW	COML	03/30/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	275000
JEFFREY ENG. CTR.-AUX. MAKEUP LAKE	WMAS	03/30/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	450000
CLINTON RESERVOIR	RESV	04/07/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	3600000
MELVERN RESERVOIR	RESV	04/05/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	4200970
SHAWNEE COUNTY-LAKE SHAWNEE	COML	04/11/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	366000
SABETHA - PONY CREEK LAKE	COML	04/07/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	200000
COUNCIL GROVE CITY LAKE	COML	03/30/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	400000
YATES CENTER-SOUTH OWL LAKE	COML	04/12/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	150000
JEFFREY ENERGY CENTER-MAKE UP LAKE	WMAS	03/30/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	375000
LEAVENWORTH STATE FISHING LAKE	SFLS	04/07/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	200000
WINFIELD CITY LAKE	COML	04/14/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	1530000
(FISH) GRAHAM CO-TREXLER POND	FISH	04/11/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	129000
COMMERCIAL FISH GROWER		03/28/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	420000
OKLAHOMA		03/29/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	3000000
EL DORADO RESERVOIR	RESV	04/03/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	2216460
MARION RESERVOIR	RESV	04/04/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	1956990
KIRWIN RESERVOIR	RESV	04/18/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	1200000
WEBSTER RESERVOIR	RESV	04/18/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	1000000
MILFORD FISH HATCHERY	OTHR	04/10/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	250000
MEADE FISH REARING STATION	RPND	04/27/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	29520
MARION RESERVOIR	RESV	04/28/17	- MILFORD HATCHERY	1000000
PRATT FISH HATCHERY	OTHR	04/11/17	- PRATT HATCHERY	865000
			Total Requested	35244520
			Total Stocked	42979400

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Melvern Reservoir Fishing Information