HorseThief Reservoir Fishing Information
| Species | Rating | Sizes Possible | Baits, Method, & Location |
| Crappie | Fair | Up to 12 inches | Crappie should be around structure in deeper water. Target any structure or channel swings in 12-20 feet of water. Use minnows, small slab spoons, or jigs tipped with plastics. Harvest regulations include 50/day creel limit. |
| Channel Catfish | Good | Most in the 1 lb size range | Try prepared stink bait, punch bait, cut bait or liver under a bobber or on the bottom. Also try night crawlers. As water temperatures warm, these fish should become more active. Harvest regulations include a 5/day creel limit. |
| Largemouth bass | Fair | Up to 4 lbs | Look for them in shallow water near structure or cover early in the morning or late in the day. Good summer baits are topwaters early & late, squarebill crankbaits, jigs, plastics and bladed jigs. Harvest regulations include a 15-inch minimum length limit and 5/day creel limit. |
| Bluegill | No report | Up to 8 inches | Worms under a bobber and small jigs fished vertically around brush in deeper water. There are no harvest restrictions at this time. |
| Walleye | Good | Up to 8 lbs | Walleye should be on the flats and points. Try small jigs with plastic swimbaits, wobble jigs tipped with worms, minnows or leaches or trolling small minnow type crank baits. Horsethief is part of a study comparing walleye and saugeye in reservoirs, with a 50/50 mix of each being stocked the last 2 years. Harvest regulations include an aggregate 15-inch minimum length limit and 5/day creel limit. |
Lake is about 3 feet low and water temperatures should be in the mid to upper 70's. For now typical summer time patterns for channel catfish, crappie, walleye and largemouth bass should to work.
We have received very few reports from anglers. You may call the Dodge City Regional office as 620-227-8609 to make a report.
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