Region 1 Fishing Reports

Species

Rating

Size

Baits, Method, & Location

Crappie

Fair/Good

Up to 15 inches

A return of unstable weather has backed the fish backed the fish off into deeper water this past week. Maybe with a return to warmer, more stable weather the fish will move shallow to spawn again. Anglers continue to catch crappie trolling crankbaits along timber lined drop-offs. The majority of fish that have been caught have been nice fish in the 11 to 14 inch range, but some 15+ inch fish have been reported.

Walleye

Good

Up to 28 inches

Anglers are catching fish using various methods. Trolling crankbaits or worm and spinner combos has been productive. Casting and retrieving or vertically fishing jig and nightcrawler combos has been effective also. It has been difficult to establish a pattern as fish have been caught in all water depths from 3 to 30 feet. However, fishing points and drop-offs in 15 to 25 feet of water has been best. Anglers report catching fish of all sizes up to 26 inches most commonly.

White Bass/Wipers

Good

Whites up to 17 inches

Wipers up to 13 lbs.

Anglers have had good success catching white bass off the dam face and associated points early and late casting spoons and jigs. Otherwise anglers have caught white bass trolling crankbaits along deeper points and drop-offs lakewide.

There have been a few reports of small wipers caught mixed in with white bass and they are similar in size to the larger whites so be careful of your identification as the daily creel limit on wipers is 2 per person. We did see some wipers up shallow while sampling so it may be possible to catch them on top water or shallow running shad imitations.

The boatramp east of Cove 3 in the wildlife area will be temporarily closed until silt can be removed from the ramp. The Overland and Muley boatramps are open for business.

WATER TEMPERATURE- 68

SURFACE ELEVATION- 2121.55'----22.45 ft. below conservation.

It is illegal to release fish into public water unless it was taken from that water. So please discard any leftover bait in a trash can.

Cedar Bluff District Newsletter: A biannual newsletter detailing fishing related prospects and activities in the Cedar Bluff District, which includes such waters as Cedar Bluff Reservoir, Sheridan and Scott State Fishing Lakes, Antelope Lake, and other public fishing waters in northwest Kansas are available. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter you can go to the following link to get on the mailing list. The link is: http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Cedar-Bluff-Fishing-District

Crappie

Fair to Good

10-15 inches

The crappie have been spawning for a couple of weeks now and anglers will find some fish up shallow lakewide. Best areas for catching fish in 2-4 feet of water include Schoen's Cove, Meall's Cove, the Cawker causeway, Osage Cove, and along the dam. Other anglers have been limiting out on females hanging out in 10-15 feet of water near the causeway and the mouths of the abovementioned coves. Trolling crankbaits or slow trolling minnows seems to be working best.

Walleye

Good

15-23 inches

There has been some good walleye fishing out here over the past couple of weeks with anglers catching them along the mudlines on the north shore near the golf course in 6-10 feet of water and from 30 feet deep along the river channels between Gibbs Point and the Cawker causeway. There have also been reports of fish caught along the channel ledges in 15-20 feet of water using jig/crawler combos.

White Bass

Good

11-16 inches

The whites can still be caught at both the North and South Fork log jams. Other anglers have been catching good numbers along the Cawker City causeway, and we observed very good numbers along the dam earlier this spring while sampling. Walleye and crappie anglers report fair numbers of whites mixed in on the west end of the reservoir while drifting or anchoring with jig/crawler and jig/minnow rigs,

Black Bass

Fair to Good

10-19 inches

The bass have begun to move shallow and we observed a mix of smallmouth, largemouth, and spotted bass in the state park coves recently while sampling. The smallies are probably wrapping up for the spawn while the largemouth are about to get started. Crappie anglers have been catching fair numbers of each with smallmouth dominating the catch.

Wipers

Fair

19-27 inches

There have been some good catches of wipers in the state park coves, especially Marina Cove. Watch the wind and when it warms up and blows in from the south, the wipers can be found chasing shad in the backs of the coves. Anglers have also been catching a few off Swim Beach point and the dam.

Channel Catfish

Fair

All Sizes

Good spots in the spring include up the North and South Fork river channels as anglers often catch fish under the North Fork and Fisherman's bridge. We also see catfish in good concentrations along the Cawker City dike around the flooded stickups. There are probably a few catfish below the dam in the outlet as well. Stinkbaits, dead shad, and chicken liver all work this time of year. Other anglers have been catching good numbers of cats up the creek channels on the west end.

REMINDER TO ALL ANGLERS!!! There is a new creel limit of 20 crappie/day at Glen Elder Reservoir, effective January 1, 2013. Make sure to spread the word that it is now illegal to possess more than 20 crappie each day!!!

Boat Ramp Update: All boat ramps are open at this time. The reservoir is only 1.8 feet below conservation so low water is not limiting access at this time.

Anglers can now find GPS locations for each of the brush piles located in the reservoir. Simply click on this link Good Fishing Spots and select the individual brush pile. As we enhance these brush piles throughout the year, we'll make a note under each individual location.

For current water temperature and reservoir elevation, simply click on the "Glen Elder Reservoir" link above this 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!

Channel Catfish

Good

Variety

Fish windblown shores with dead shad during the fall and winter.

The channel catfish population looks good for 2013 with lots of keeper-sized catfish with a few 5-10 lb fish mixed in.

Crappie

Good

Variety of Sizes - mostly 11 to 12 inches

The crappie spawn is on. Fish near rocks and brush.

Trout

Fair

The latest stocking of the year occurred on March 11. Nearly 10,000 trout were stocked this winter. Get out and utilize the resource before it is too late!

Walleye/Saugeye

Good

Variety, up to 21"

Fish should should be on the mudflats after the spawn. Fishing should pick up when the weather stabilizes.

Netting results indicate Kanopolis should be excellent for saugeye in 2013. The fish will be bigger than average compared to 2012, although we didn't get much of a year class from the 2012 stocking due to a statewide shortage during spawning and stocking efforts.

White Bass

Fair

All sizes - up to 17 inches

Look for white bass near rocks and on dropoffs near flats.

White bass numbers have decreased in the last few years, but the size has increased. We sampled great numbers of white bass approaching 17 inches. The white bass are healthy and chunky. Hopefully we get a good river run in 2013 for fisherman as well as to replenish the young fish in the population.

Wiper

Fair

All sizes

Wiper numbers appeared to be down in gill nets, although many anglers commented on catching good-sized wipers in 2012. Hopefully these fish show up in 2013.

All main boat ramps have been closed due to low water.

KDWPT recently released the “Kansas Crappie Bonanza” video. This 25-minute video covers Kansas crappie fishing during spring, summer, fall, and winter with tips and tactics to make you a better crappie angler. Visit the KDWPT homepage and click on the Kansas Crappie Bonanza link to view the video! You can find a preview of the video HERE.

Current lake elevation and water temperature is available on the location page linked to this fishing report. It is updated daily by the Corps of Engineers.

After Tommie Berger's retirement, Kanopolis Reservoir has been moved to the Cheney District. If you would like to receive the Cheney District Fisheries Newsletter, follow this LINK.

2013 FISHING OUTLOOK

The information that is below is an outlook on how the fish populations should be in 2013 and are based on the 2012 Fall sampling.

Saugeye

Good

Majority 15 to 18 inches

Saugeye fishing should be good as numbers are up this year with 24% being in the 8 to 15 inch size range, 62% being in the 15 to 18 inch size range and 14% being over 18 inches. The largest fish sampled weighted 6.97 lbs. Rated #1 in state for density for fish 14 inches and above.

Wiper

Good

Majority 15 to 20 inches

Numbers are down from last year with the majority of fish being in the 15 to 20 inch size range accounting for 55% and fish 20 to 25 inches accounted for 45%. The biggest fish weighted 9.59 lbs. Density rating for the state is #8 for fish 12 inches and above.

Channel Catfish

Good

Majority 24 to 30 inches

Catfishing should be good; however, the numbers are down from last year. The population is dominated by 24 to 30 inch fish accounting for 67% and fish 17 to 24 inches accounted for 33%. Biggest fish weighted 8.07 lbs.

Crappie

Good & Fair

Majority 2 to 5 inches

Crappie fishing should be good for black crappie and fair for white crappie. Had a really good crappie spawn for both with 58% of the blacks and 82% of the whites being 2 to 5 inches. However, the density rating for black crappie is #3 in the state for fish 8 inches and above.

Largemouth/Spotted Bass

Good

Majority 8 to 12 inches

Numbers are up from last year with the majority of the largemouth being in the 8 to 12 inch size range accounting for 41%. Fish 3 to 8 inches accounted for 17%, 12 to 15 inch fish accounted for 28% and fish over 15 inches accounted for 14%. The biggest fish weighted 4.86 lbs. Density rating for the state is #1. Spotted bass numbers are up from last year and the fishing should be good as well. The majority of spot's are in the 11 to 14 inch size range accounting for 44% and 14 inch + fish accounted for 24%. Density rating for the state is #1.

CURRENT FISHING

Crappie

Fair

7 to 16 inches

Did have reports of fish being caught off the public fishing dock and up in the shallows using jigs. Most of them are in the 8 to 15 inch size range. Boat ramps are usable at this time.

Saugeye/Walleye

Fair

14 to 26 inches

Did have reports of some fish being caught using jigs and night crawlers. Remember the 18 inch length limit. Did stock 1.4 million saugeye fry on 4-12-2013.

Wiper

Good

15 to 28 inches

Did have reports of fish being caught in Leota cove using night crawlers on the bottom and wade fishing casting jigs and crankbait's. Stocked in 100,000 wiper fry on 05-14-2013 and another 90,000 on 05-16-2013.

Catfish

Poor

14 to 30 inches

Did not have any reports of fish being caught.

WATER TEMPERATURE- 66

SURFACE ELEVATION- 2294.58 ---- 9.72' below conservation

Currently, the water level is 4.44 feet lower than it was one year ago at this time. The boat ramps are open and usable.

Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water! Therefore, please discard leftover bait in a trash can.

KDWPT has released the "Walleye for Tomorrow" video and uploaded the video to the KDWPT You Tube channel. The video can be viewed at http://youtu.be/8BMsifSvf-U .

KDWPT will be releasing the recently completed “Kansas Crappie Bonanza” video on February 17, 2012. This 25-minute video covers Kansas crappie fishing during spring, summer, fall, and winter with tips and tactics to make you a better crappie angler. Visit the KDWPT homepage on February 17th and click on the Kansas Crappie Bonanza link to view the video!

KDWPT will be releasing the Urban Stocking Fish Program video soon and it can be found at http://youtu.be/5l4QiSfsQbQ

Now Available: A Webster District newsletter that will include Webster, Kirwin and Keith Sebelius Reservoir's will be coming out soon. If you would like to subscribe to this spring and fall newsletter you can go to the following link to get on the mailing list. The link is: http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Webster-Reservoir-Fishing-District

2013 FISHING OUTLOOK

The information that is below is an outlook on how the fish populations should be in 2013 and are based on the 2012 Fall sampling.

Walleye

Good

Majority 20 to 25 inches

Walleye fishing should be good, however, numbers are down slightly from last year with17% being in the 7 to 10 inch size range, 24% being in the 11 to 15 inch size range, 17% being in the 15 to 20 inch size range and 34% being in the 20 to 25 inch size range. Therefore 51% are over the 15 inch length limit. The largest fish sampled weighted 8.1 lbs. Rated #5 in state for density of fish 15 inches and above.

White Bass

Fair

Majority 12 to 15 inches

Numbers are down from last year with the majority of fish being in the 12 to 15 inch size range accounting for 80%. Fish 9 to 12 inches accounted for 4% and fish over 15 inches accounted for 14%. The biggest fish weighted 2.43 lbs.

Wiper

Good

Majority 15 to 20 inches

Numbers are up from last year with the majority of fish being in the 15 to 20 inch size range accounting for 46%. Fish 8 to 11 inches accounted for 7%, 12 to 15 inch fish accounted for 33% and fish over 20 inches accounted for 14%. The biggest fish weighted 8.49 lbs. Ranked #2 in the state for density of fish 12 inches and above.

Channel Catfish

Good

Majority 16 to 24 inches

Catfishing should be good with the numbers up from last year. The population is still fairly young with fish 9 to 12 inches accounting for 6%, fish 12 to 16 inches accounting for 39%, fish 16 to 24 inches accounting for 45% and fish 24 inch plus accounted for 9%. Biggest fish weighted 23.37 lbs.

Crappie

Fair & Good

Majority 2 to 5 inches

Although low numbers of fish were caught in the trap nets due to cold fronts passing through crappie fishing should be good for black crappie and fair for white crappie. Had a really good crappie spawn for both with 87% of the blacks and 99% of the whites being 2 to 5 inches. However, the density rating for black crappie is #5 in the state for fish 8 inches and above.

Largemouth Bass

Good

Majority 15 to 20 inches

The bass fishery is starting to come around and should be good. The majority of fish were in the 15 to 20 inch size range accounting for 58%, fish 6 to 12 inches accounted for 25%, and fish 13 to 15 inches accounted for 17%. Density rating for the state is #7 for fish 12 inches and above.

CURRENT FISHING

Crappie

Good

7 to 17 inches

Have been catching fish around the fish attractors and drop offs using jigs. Fish are also being caught trolling with diving lures in 11-20' of water. Fish are also up in the shallows of coves and along the tree lines.

Walleye

Good

15 to 28 inches

Have had reports of some fish being caught along the river channel, flats and drop offs using jigs and night crawlers. Remember the 15 inch length limit and release those short fish.

White Bass/ Wiper

Fair

10 to 30 inches

Have had reports of fish being caught around the fish attractors and drop offs using jigs and also on jig and night crawlers while fishing for walleye. Stocked 200,000 wiper fry on May 16th.

Catfish

Poor

20 to 30 inches

Have had reports of fish being caught along Crappie Point using stink bait. Try fishing the rocky areas as the channels and flatheads will be moving into this type of habitat to spawn.

WATER TEMPERATURE- 64

SURFACE ELEVATION- 1723.60 ---- 5.65' below conservation pool

Currently, the water level is 5.34 feet lower than one year ago at this time. The Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) has been put into effect at Kirwin, so if you have any questions contact the Service at 785-543-6673 or stop by their office at 702 Xavier Road. The seasonal boat closer has been lifted and boats are allowed on the Reservoir. When the water elevation reaches 1722.00 feet the closure will be reinstated.

We will be conducting a creel survey at Kirwin from March thru October so if you are approached by our creel clerk Ali Hadley, Please take a few minutes and answer some questions she will be asking. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

KDWPT has released the "Walleye for Tomorrow" video and uploaded the video to the KDWPT You Tube channel. The video can be viewed at http://youtu.be/8BMsifSvf-U .

KDWPT will be releasing the recently completed “Kansas Crappie Bonanza” video on February 17, 2012. This 25-minute video covers Kansas crappie fishing during spring, summer, fall, and winter with tips and tactics to make you a better crappie angler. Visit the KDWPT homepage on February 17th and click on the Kansas Crappie Bonanza link to view the video!

KDWPT will be releasing the Urban Stocking Fish Program video soon and it can be found at http://youtu.be/5l4QiSfsQbQ

Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water! Therefore, please discard leftover bait in a trash can.

Now Available: A Webster District newsletter that will include Webster, Kirwin and Keith Sebelius Reservoir's will be coming out soon. If you would like to subscribe to this spring and fall newsletter you can go to the following link to get on the mailing list. The link is: http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Webster-Reservoir-Fishing-District

Walleye

Fair to Good

12-27 inches

The best walleye fishing this time of year is usually off the 2 Mile road area and this year is no exception. A few limits have been reported from this area, but most of the anglers are catching 2-4 keepers apiece. There have also been some fish caught off Willow Point and Cedar Point in 10-15 feet of water.

White Bass

Fair

9-16 inches

Anglers are still catching some white bass along the dam, Oak Hill, and around Cabin Point, but the action has a slowed a bit compared with the past couple of weeks.

Crappie

Fair to Good

8-13 inches

The crappie spawn is occurring right now and they have moved shallow in several of the coves. The best crappie reports have come from the Marina Cove area and John's Creek with fairly good numbers of all sizes reported. Other spots to look for spawning crappie include the dam, north shore coves between Walleye Point and Pawnee Point, Montana Creek, and Prairie Dog Creek. Minnows will probably work best, but jigs and a bobber can be very productive once the fish move in shallow.

Channel Catfish

Fair

All Sizes

There is not a lot of catfish activity in the spring, but these fish can be caught this time of year. We annually find the best concentrations on the flats off Two Mile Road and Oak Hill and near the Cross. Shad sides and whole shad will probably work best as these fish naturally die off when the water temperatures cool down and the catfish will feed on them. Concentrate your effort along the windblown side of the reservoir. Other good spots to try include any of the creek arms that have warmed into the 60's or low 70's. The catfish like to move into these areas and feed on dead shad and other prey.

Gar and Carp

Good

All Sizes

The gar have moved up shallow and can be found in many of the coves, but the best numbers have been at the inlet where water is currently flowing in. This would be a great chance for bow fishermen to get out and shoot a bunch of gar. The carp have also been showing up in the coves and other shallow water areas in good numbers and would provide an additional opportunity for water archers. Be sure to take all of your fish with you and don't leave them on the bank or throw them back in the water.

FISH BARRIER UPDATE: Anglers fishing at Lovewell will notice a new structure located near the outlet area. This is a large mesh screen suspended between floats on the surface and anchors on the bottom. This mesh curtain has been installed to keep fish from leaving the reservoir during irrigation releases and to improve the fishery at Lovewell. Please do not approach this structure or try to fish near it. This will result in damage to your equipment, loss of lures, and damage to the barrier. This fish-saving device is very important to the future fish populations at Lovewell and will work well if it is not tampered with. Thank you for your cooperation.

BOAT RAMP UPDATE: Low water levels should not be a problem with regards to boat ramps and all ramps are open at this time.

Anglers can now find GPS coordinates, descriptions, and histories of some of the major brush piles in Lovewell. Simply follow this link Good Fishing Spots and select the individual brush pile to find out more information.

For current water temperature and reservoir elevation, simply click on the "Lovewell Reservoir" link above this 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!

2013 Fishing Outlook

The information that is below is an outlook on how the fish populations should be in 2013 and are based on the 2012 Fall sampling.

Wipers

Good

Majority 6 to 15 inches with 15 to 20 inches close behind

Numbers doubled from last year and the fishing should be good. 6 to 15 inch fish accounted for 46%, 15 to 20 inch fish accounted for 42% and 20 plus fish accounted for 12%. The biggest fish sampled weighted 11.0 lbs. Density rating for fish 12 inches and above ranked 5th in the state. The biggest fish sampled weighted 8.79 pounds.

White Bass

Fair

Majority 12 to 15 inches

Numbers doubled from last year with the majority of fish being in the 12 to 15 inch size range accounting for 53%. Fish over 15 inches accounted for 22% and the biggest fish weighted 1.93 lbs. Density rating for fish 9 inches and above ranked 10th this year.

Walleye

Good

Majority 15 to 28 inches

Walleye fishing should be good as numbers are up this year with 85% being over 15 inches and another 15% being in the 7 to 15 inch size range. The largest fish sampled weighted 7.47 lbs. Density rating for fish 15 inches and above ranked #1 in state this year.

Channel Catfish

Good

Majority 16 to 24 inches

Catfishing should be good with the numbers about the same as last year. The population is still fairly young with fish 8 to 10 inches being 7% and fish 11 to 16 inches accounted for 40% and 53% were 16 to 24 inches.

Crappie

Good & Fair

Majority 2 to 6 inches

Although low numbers of fish were caught in the trap nets due to cold fronts passing through crappie fishing should be good for black crappie and fair for white crappie. Had a really good crappie spawn for both with 61% of the blacks and 80% of the whites being 2 to 5 inches. Will still be some 8 to 15 inch fish accounting for 23%. However, the density rating for black crappie is #1 in the state for fish 8 inches and above.

Largemouth Bass

Good

Majority 15 to 20 inches

The bass fishery is starting to come around and should be good. The majority of fish were in the 15 to 20 inch size range accounting for 49% and fish 11 to 15 inches accounted for 40%. The biggest fish sampled weighted 3.68 pounds.

CURRENT FISHING

Crappie

Good

9 to 17 inches

Heard of some fish being caught up shallow in the coves and along tree lines using jigs. Have also been picking up a few around the north and south breakwater's. Would also try around the irrigation outlet using jigs and around the north & south shore fish attractors. Also heard of some being caught on jig and nightcrawler in 20 feet of water while walleye fishing. All the boat ramps are usable except for Morel.

Walleye

Good

14 to 28 inches

Have had reports of limits of fish being caught along the river channel south of the old swim beach around to Old Marina Cove point anchoring & drifting night crawlers. Also starting to pick up some trolling with diving lures. Remember the 15 inch length limit because will be some short fish caught that need to be released.

White Bass/Wiper

Fair

10 to 30 inches

Have been hearing reports of white bass and wipers being caught around the fish attractors, breakwater and flood gates casting jigs. Also picking up a few while drifting and trolling diving lures. Stocked 120,000 wiper fry on 05-16-2013

Catfish

Fair

20 to 36 inches

Have had reports of channel cat being caught up to the west end using stink bait. Try fishing the North and South breakwaters as the channels and flatheads will be moving into the rocks to spawn.

Rainbow Trout

Fair

10 to 20 inches

Stocked the fifth and last round of 2100 trout on March 11th. Been catching trout on spinners, salmon eggs and powerbait. Season is over, therefore, no trout permit is needed to fish in the stilling basin, however, the creel of 5 fish still applies.

WATER TEMPERATURE- 67 Degree's

SURFACE ELEVATION- 1879.81 ---- 12.64' below conservation

Currently, the water level is 9.39 feet lower than it was one year ago at this time. The Morel boat ramp is currently unusable due to low water conditions. All other boat ramps are usable at this time. Also, the fish cleaning station is open and ready for fish to be cleaned.

KDWPT has released the "Walleye for Tomorrow" video and uploaded the video to the KDWPT You Tube channel. The video can be viewed at http://youtu.be/8BMsifSvf-U .

KDWPT will be releasing the recently completed “Kansas Crappie Bonanza” video on February 17, 2012. This 25-minute video covers Kansas crappie fishing during spring, summer, fall, and winter with tips and tactics to make you a better crappie angler. Visit the KDWPT homepage on February 17th and click on the Kansas Crappie Bonanza link to view the video!

KDWPT will be releasing the Urban Stocking Fish Program video soon and it can be found at http://youtu.be/5l4QiSfsQbQ

Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water! Therefore, please discard leftover bait in a trash can.

Now Available: A Webster District newsletter that will include Webster, Kirwin and Keith Sebelius Reservoir's is currently available. If you would like to subscribe to this spring and fall newsletter you can go to the following link to get on the mailing list. The link is: http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Webster-Reservoir-Fishing-District

Crappie

Good

10-14 inches

The crappie spawn is on right now and anglers can catch some fish in the coves near flooded timber and small brush between 5 and 8 feet deep. Minnows under a bobber work well, but jigs cast under a bobber seem to work even better at times.

Stripers

Fair

3-8 pounds

Not much change here yet this spring. The best areas to fish this time of year continue to be Hell Creek and the upper end of the reservoir. The fish will be staging for a run up the river and anglers sometimes have success trolling small shad crankbaits in the upper end and around the lower river for both whites and stripers. Trolling seems to work better than slabbing for many folks. There are still a few anglers wade fishing the points in Hell Creek catching stripers on large buck tails.

Walleye

Good

11-23 inches

The walleye tournament was a big success with most of the teams bringing in their 6 fish limits. Walleye can be caught from a variety of depths right now with some reports of fish in 8-12 feet of water near rocky points and other anglers catching them in 25-35 feet of channel ledges. Jig and crawler continue to work best, but jig and leech or minnow will also yields some eyes. Trolling a variety of crankbaits is a good idea this time of year as well.

Thanks to the last 2 large year classes there are high numbers of sublegal fish so handle them carefully.

Channel Catfish

Fair

3-8 pounds

Best areas to look for cats are the back end of Hell Creek and in other creek areas. Best baits include shad sides, shad gizzards, and cut carp. You may catch a striper or two while fishing for cats as well. Target your efforts during the warmer part of the day. Anglers usually catch a few channel catfish from the river this time of year as they seem to be a little more active up there. It won't be long before the catfish move into the rocky areas to spawn. This should happen in the next couple of weeks.

Be on the lookout for blue catfish which are also in the reservoir. They are not legal size yet so make sure and take care to return them to the water. There is a 35 inch minimum length limit on blue catfish at Wilson Reservoir!

White Bass

Fair

12-18 inches, up to 3 pounds

The best areas to fish this time of year continue to be Hell Creek and the upper end of the reservoir. Some fish are still up the river and anglers sometimes have success trolling small shad crankbaits in the upper end and around the lower river for both whites and stripers. Trolling seems to work better than slabbing for many folks.

Black Bass

Excellent

10-18 inches

This is a great time to catch both smallmouth and largemouth bass. The smallmouth spawn is just about over for the year and the largemouth spawn is just beginning. They will be found in the backs of the coves and creeks near flooded vegetation while the smallies can be found off rocky points and ledges.

White Perch

Fair

9 to 13 inches

The white perch typically emerge from hiding and start feeding actively on shad – often stacking up just off the steep rocky bluffs in Hell Creek, near the north end of the dam, and off Minooka. Continue to keep all you catch. Our fall netting showed good numbers of perch near the north end of the dam and further west along the north shore to Lucas. - IT IS ILLEGAL TO HAVE A WHITE PERCH ALIVE IN YOUR POSSESSION - IF YOU CATCH IT AND WANT TO KEEP IT - IT HAS TO BE DEAD IN A COOLER OR LIVEWELL. THEY ARE NO LONGER LEGAL AS LIVE BAIT FOR STRIPERS OR OTHER FISH!!!!!

BOAT RAMP UPDATE: Due to low water and/or sand loading the following ramps are closed: Cedar Creek. Several ramps are accessible, but are being affected by sand loading and low water levels. All other boat ramps are open and boaters can expect to use them as normal.

The current lake elevation and water temperature are posted on the location page daily by the Corp of Engineers - it is linked to this fishing report page for your convenience.

We have two Aquatic Nuisance Species - white perch and zebra mussels and have joined Cheney and El Dorado as lakes with both species. The law now says that if anyone leaves the lake with water in your livewell or boat, you are subject to a ticket for transporting Zebra Mussels since they will spawn and the microscopic little mussels will probably be in every drop of water in the lake. Make sure you drain all water from the boat before you leave the boat ramp area!!! We have been taking veliger samples and the samples were high so be sure to drain and dry everything!!!!!!

Largemouth Bass

Good

up to 6 lbs

Largemouth are abundant, but large fish are scarce. Angling will be best near rock and brush on artificials.

Bluegill

Fair

6 to 8 Inches

Look for bluegill around the rocks on the piers and around any brush in the water. Worms and small jigs are a good bait.

Channel Catfish

Fair

Small

Fair numbers of stocked channel catfish are available to anglers using typical catfish techniques.

Saugeye

Fair

up to 20"

Saugeye numbers and sizes are good. Most will be caught on shad imitation baits, or jig and a worm.

Wiper

Fair

up to 20"

Wipers are not abundant, but some can be caught on shad imitation lures and topwater baits.

Crappie

Good

up to 15"

Crappie numbers are up, so angling will be good on jigs and minnows along the dam and near brush/rocks.

Current Fishing Opportunity

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Good

up to 4lbs

jigs, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits near brush

BLUEGILL

Fair

jigs and worms 5ft deep near cover

CHANNEL CATFISH

Fair

up to 4lbs

cutbait along windy banks

SAUGEYE

Good

up to 4lbs

along rocks and dam on minnow baits, jigs, and minnows

WIPER

SLOW

CRAPPIE

Fair

up to 12 inches

tube jigs and minnows near dam, rocks and brush

CAUTION: LONGER BOAT TRAILERS MAY FALL OFF EDGE OF BOAT RAMP WHEN WATER IS LOW

This includes a fishing report covering the fishing forecast for the upcoming 2013 fishing season. The Current Fishing Opportunity section will be updated with regular weekly fishing reports starting March 2013.

The cabin is rentable now - get ahold of the Hays Regional Office - 785-628-8614 - for reservations or more information.

CURRENT FISHING

Largemouth Bass

Poor

8 to 22 inches

Have not had any reports of fish being.

Bluegill

Poor

6 to 10 inches

Have not had any reports of fish being.

Catfish

Poor

10 to 25 inches

Have not had any reports of fish being .

Water Temp. 68

Rooks was so low that it had a winter kill on the fish population and are some dead fish laying around the shoreline. However, not all fish were affected.

KDWPT will be releasing the recently completed “Kansas Crappie Bonanza” video on February 17, 2012. This 25-minute video covers Kansas crappie fishing during spring, summer, fall, and winter with tips and tactics to make you a better crappie angler. Visit the KDWPT homepage on February 17th and click on the Kansas Crappie Bonanza link to view the video!

KDWPT will be releasing the Urban Stocking Fish Program video soon and it can be found at http://youtu.be/5l4QiSfsQbQ

Now Available: A Webster District newsletter that will include Webster, Kirwin and Keith Sebelius Reservoir's will be coming out soon. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter you can go to the following link to get on the mailing list. The link is: http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Webster-Reservoir-Fishing-District

Crappie

Good

Up to 11 inches

Jigs or minnows under a bobber or doodlesocking jigs around shallow brushpiles and flooded vegetation.

Largemouth Bass

Fair/Good

Up to 4.5 lbs.

Slow rolling spinnerbaits and soft plastics fished around the fish attractors should be productive.

Saugeye

Fair/Good

Up to 4 lbs.

Fishing jigs tipped with nightcrawlers or minnows over points and drop-offs should be best.

Bluegill

Fair/Good

Up to 8 inches

Nightcrawler pieces or small jigs vertically fished around the brushpiles.

Channel Catfish

Fair

Up to 3.5 lbs.

Cut sunfish, liver, and shrimp along rocky shorelines or around brush piles.

Wiper

Fair

Up to 6 lbs.

Casting or trolling shad imitating crankbaits and spoons.

ATTENTION: The east boatramp is open for use, but the west boatramp remains closed due to low water.

It is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water, so please discard any unused bait in a trash can.

Cedar Bluff District Newsletter: A biannual newsletter detailing fishing related projects and activities in the Cedar Bluff District, which includes such waters as Cedar Bluff Reservoir, Sheridan and Scott State Fishing Lakes, Antelope Lake, and other public fishing waters in northwest Kansas are available. If you would like to subscribe to this newsletter you can go to the following link to get on the mailing list. The link is: http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Cedar-Bluff-Fishing-District

Anglers who fish Sheridan State Fishing Lake might consider sharing their experiences with other anglers through the public fishing report. If you would like to post a fishing report please go to http://ksfishing.blogspot.com/

PUBLIC SALVAGE

DUE TO THE LOW LAKE CONDITIONS WE ARE ALLOWING ANGLERS TO TAKE FISH BY THE MEANS LISTED BELOW AND YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO KEEP ALL THE FISH YOU TAKE.

The lake is almost completely dewatered now so not much activity.

The area is open for walk-in traffic but the gate will remain locked and the vault toilet locked.

THE LAKE IS NOW OPEN TO PUBLIC SALVAGE - ALL LENGTH AND CREEL LIMITS ARE OFF. YOU CAN NOW TAKE FISH WITH ROD AND REEL OR BY SNAGGING, SEINE, GIG, OR BY HAND.

Please comply with posted signs!!!!!

Walleye/Saugeye

Fair

10-20 inches

Fall netting revealed a fair to good population of walleye and fair numbers of saugeye. Most of these fish are legal and anglers may be able to find some of these during the fall and winter. Best numbers appear to be on the upper end of the lake, but we did see a few on the east side north of the boat ramp.

Crappie

Fair

10-13 inches

We did find some crappie hanging out near shore last fall while netting. They are running 8-13 inches and look like they are in great shape, but there just aren't many of them in there now. We did see a few small crappie indicating there was some reproduction in 2011 and 2012.

Channel Catfish

Fair

11-25 inches

Catfish can be caught throughout the spring out here. Traditional baits like nightcrawlers, shad sides, shad gizzards, and shrimp should all work.

Bluegill

Green Sunfish

Redear Sunfish

Good

5-10 inches

There is a tremendous sunfish population in the lake right now with anglers having a chance to catch big bluegill, redear sunfish, green sunfish, and hybrid sunfish on the same trip. They can be caught on small spinners, jigs, and flies pretty much lake wide. Young anglers will have a good time catching them with a simple worm under a bobber.

Largemouth Bass

Good

10-19 inches

There are very high numbers of 10-12 inch fish in the lake right now, but also a fair number of 15-19 inch fish with several fish up to 5 pounds collected this past spring while shocking. White and chartreuse spinnerbaits are hard to beat, but slowly fishing soft plastics including Senkos can be productive in cold water. Smaller baits like roadrunners and Panther Martins will also catch a fair amount of fish.

Water level: 3.5 feet low