HorseThief Reservoir Fishing Information
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, & Location |
| Crappie | Slow | Up to 12 inches | Try minnows, small slab spoons, or jigs around brush in 4-8 feet of water. |
| Channel catfish | Good | Up to 5 lbs | Try fishing the upper lake where water is running in. Try prepared stinkbait, cut bait or liver under a bobber or on the bottom. Also try drifting nightcrawlers. Use live bluegill fished on a slip-sinker for larger channel catfish. |
| Largemouth bass | Slow | Up to 4 lbs | Try spinnerbaits and plastics around cover and the rocks. Top water baits early morning and late afternoon. |
| Bluegill | Fair | Up to 8 inches | Try small jigs, crickets or worms under a bobber around brush and rock piles. |
| Walleye | Slow | Up to 8 lbs | Try drifting minnows or nightcrawlers in a jig head over points and flats. |
Water temperatures should be starting to drop a bit. Most fish should be starting the fall feeding frenzy on threadfin shad to prepare for winter.
Please discard of leftover bait in a trash can, even baitfish. Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water!
A Dodge City District newsletter is available. Information about fishing and fisheries management throughout southwest Kansas will be updated at least twice each year. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter you can go to the following link to get on the mailing list. http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Dodge-City-Fishing-District
| Fishing Population | Creel Limit | Min Length Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Catfish | 5 | |
| Crappie | 50 | |
| Largemouth Bass | 5 | 15 |
| Walleye | 5 | 15 |
* Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted Bass in Combination
** Striped Bass or Wiper in Combination
*** Walleye, Sauger or Saugeye in Combination