Bourbon State Fishing Lake / Region 5 / Fishing Locations - Public Waters / Where to Fish in Kansas / Fishing / KDWPT

GPS Location: N37.7976 W95.06540

Location/Address:
Elsmore, KS

Impoundment Type: State Fishing Lake

Surface Acres: 103 acres

Maximum Depth: 32 feet

Normal Lake Level: 942 msl

Current Lake Level: normal, full pool

Lake Temperature: varies

This is a 103 acre state fishing lake. This area has many developments on the west side of the lake including toilets, picnic areas, numerous fishing piers, several fish feeders, boatramp and floating dock. Shoreline access on the west side of the lake is very good. The east side of the lake is not developed. This lake supports a very good channel catfish and largemouth/spotted bass populations. It also is known for its large redear sunfish and black crappie.

Fishing Population	Creel Limit	Min Length Limit
Bluegill	unlimited	unlimited
Black Bullhead	unlimited	unlimited
Channel Catfish	2	15
Crappie	50	unlimited
Largemouth Bass	5	15
Saugeye	2	18
Walleye	2	18
Spotted Bass	5	15
Green Sunfish	unlimited	unlimited
Redear Sunfish	unlimited	unlimited

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

Fishing Report - Last Update: 5/24/2013

Species	Rating	Size	Baits, Method, & Location
Black Bass	Good	12-18 inches	fish the shoreline and piers, use spinners,minnows, crankbaits, lakewide along cover in and around the piers,
Bluegill/redear sunffish	Good	all sizes	slow fish along the piers with jig, worm under a float
Walleye	Slow	varies	try the dam on windy, cloudy days off the creek channel dropoffs, with crank baits or jigs,
Channel Catfish	Good	12-26 inches	use cut bluegill/stink baits, lakewide,
Crappie	Improving	8 - 12 inches and up	along the dam,--over brushpiles,near dropoffs, minnows, jigs ,
General Comments
The water level is great. Remember- Wear a Lifejacket and Reach - Throw - Don t Go. Buy your state fishing license and go fishing. This is a great family fishing lake with good shoreline access and bathrooms. The fish feeders are ON. Overall the fishing has really improved in the last couple of weeks and it is expected to continue to improve and the water warms. Get the kids, get your friends and Go Fishing. Remember to "CLEAN, DRAIN AND DRY" your boats and equipment. Sign up for the Mound City Fishing District Newsletter today! 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 homepageon February 17th and click on the Kansas Crappie Bonanza link to view the video!