Region 1 Fishing Reports

Species

Rating

Size

Baits, Method, & Location

2011 Sampling Results

Black Crappie

Fair

5-7"=52%

8-9"=23%

10-11"=17%

12-14"=8%

Black crappie abundance increased slightly over what it has been over the past five years, but still remains moderate. A wide size range of fish is available with a respectable proportion of the population 10 inches and larger. Production and recruitment has been sufficient to replace fish lost to angler harvest over the past several years. And a stronger 2010 yearclass was established due to high water two springs ago. This stronger 2010 yearclass increased overall crappie numbers some, but don't expect the crappie fishing to be as good as it was back in the late '90's.

White Crappie

Fair

6-7"=83%

8-9"=8%

10-11"=7%

12-13"=1%

15"<1%

White crappie abundance increased over what we saw last year and indicated moderate numbers of fish. The primary factor causing the increased abundance metric was good survival of the relatively strong 2010 yearclass which results in a population dominated by small, young fish. Although small fish are numerous a wide size range of fish is available with some real nice fish up to 15 inches present. Although it is unlikely that crappie fishing will be as good as it was in the late '90's we may realize a noticeable uptick in crappie fishing due to the high water experienced during the 2010 spring.

Largemouth Bass

Poor

8-11"=35

12-14"=14%

15-19"=51%

Largemouth bass abundance was similar to what has been observed over the past four years, and indicated moderate to low abundance. A wide length range of fish is available but larger fish dominate the population.

Walleye

Good

11-17"=48%

18-20"=27%

21-24"=24%

Walleye abundance remains good primarily due to the establishment of a very strong 2010 yearclass, but a moderate 2011 yearclass was established. Fish in the 14 to 16 inch range currently dominate the population although numbers of fish 18 inches and larger are solid.

White Bass

Good

9-11"=35%

12-14"=42%

15-17"=22%

White bass abundance was relatively stable at a moderate level. A wide range of sizes are available and the abundance of larger fish 15+ inches increased over what we saw last year. Excellent shad production during 2011 meant ample forage resulting in larger fish and thicker fillets.

Wipers

Good

8"=5%

15-18"=9%

20-26"=81%

28-29"=5%

Wiper abundance has been relatively stable at a moderate level over the last five years. However, sampling results were somewhat mixxed in that one gear type showed small fish dominated the population and the other gear type showed large fish dominated the population. Either way it was apparent that 2011 and 2009 year classes were established and will infuse youth into an aging population. However, fish from the 2004 and 2005 yearclasses are still present and trophies up to 29 inches are available.

Current Fishing Opportunities

Channel Catfish

Fair

Up to 12 lbs.

Cut bait fished off the bottom or using setlines toward the west end or toward the upper ends of coves has yeilded a fair number of fish some of which have been nice fish in the between 4 and 8 lbs.

Crappie

Fair

See Above

There are still a few black crappie shallow spawning. But for the most part the crappie spawn is over and the fish have moved into deeper water. Anglers report catching fish in standing timber or brush on breaks and humps in water 12 to 15 feet deep here and there and there have been fish caught of the fish attractors as well. Minnows have been the best bait at this time.

Largemouth Bass

Fair

See Above

Casting soft plastics or crankbaits around brush and timber on mainlake and secondary points has been the best pattern.

Walleye

Fair

See Above

The walleye bite has slowed considerably compared to two or three weeks ago. However, jigs tipped with nightcrawlers or minnows drifted or vertically fished near the bottom over points, drops, and submerged roadbeds and parking lots continues to be the most productive method. Anglers report catching quite a few shorts.

White Bass/Wipers

Good

See Above

White bass fishing continues to be good. Many anglers have been successful trolling small shad imitating baits like crankbaits and castmasters near the ends of points or other drop-offs, but vertically fishing small spoons over similar habitat can be productive. Young gizzard shad have really begun to hatch so using the smallest lure you have will probably be best. Also, watch for whites busting the newly hatched shad up in the shallows of coves for potential topwater fishing.

Vertically fishing large slab spoons or drifting live green sunfish, goldfish, or shad over mainlake points 20 to 25 feet deep should be the best method.

ATTENTION: KDWPT released 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 and click on the Kansas Crappie Bonanza link to view the video!

WATER TEMPERATURE- 73

SURFACE ELEVATION- 2125.82'----18.18 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.

New for the 2010 Fishing Season: 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

10-15 inches

Anglers continue to report crappie from all depths with most of the fish being caught in 8-10 feet of water near dropoffs or brush, but catch rates have begun to decline. There are still some crappie up shallow spawning as well with more females starting to move in shallow. Vertically jigging tube jigs, Beavertails, Wasshoppas, and minnows off the bluffs, causeway, and state park area seems to be working best.

White Bass

Good

12-18 inches

The white bass spawn continues and anglers have been catching good numbers of these guys along the Cawker City causeway, Walnut Creek, along the dam, and around the Granite Creek bridge. All sizes of whites have been reported, but most of the catch consists of 13-15 inch fish. These fish can be caught trolling or casting with the best lures to use including roadrunners, Mister Twisters, rattletraps, and slabs. Other anglers have been catching fair numbers of fish near the log jams on the North Fork and South Fork Rivers.

Black Bass

Good

10-19 inches

Anglers have been reporting a mix of largemouth bass and smallmouth bass recently with crappie, walleye, and black bass anglers all catching fish. Best fishing of late has been on the dam, in Marina Cove, Timber Cove, and Osage Cove, and off the main lake points in the state park. Anglers have been using jerk baits, plastics, and buzz baits. Walleye and crappie anglers have been catching a fair number of smallmouth bass over 18 inches. Even though these are legal size fish, we encourage anglers to return them so that they may continue to grow and provide more quality angling opportunities.

Walleye

Fair

17-24 inches

The walleye bite has slowed down a bit as many anglers are only reporting 1-2 keepers apiece compared with the limits that were reported last week and over the weekend. Continue to look for these guys around Schoen's Cove, Wally World, and the causeway with jig and crawler working best.

Anglers are starting to catch quite a few cigars which run 8-12 inches. Please handle these fish with care and cut the line if they swallowed the hook. They are the future keeper walleye at Glen Elder and must be returned to the water in good condition so they can grow to the 18 inch length limit in a couple of years.

Check out the note below about a Walleye Angler Survey.

Channel Catfish

Good

All Sizes

There were several limits of catfish reported last weekend on the north end of the causeway and around Granite Creek. Anglers were catching these fish using leeches and worms under a bobber and fish in 2-4 feet of water near the rocks. The catfish spawn should take off in the next couple of weeks and continue to allow for good shoreline opportunities. Anglers continue to report good catches of catfish up the river on both setlines and rod and reel. Best baits include large shiners, goldfish, and crayfish. Other anglers have been doing very well catching cats off the Cawker City dike and off the causeway using minnows and worms under bobbers or on the bottom. Another good place to try right now would be the outlet area below the dam.

Wipers

Stripers

Fair

19-27 inches

31-35 inches

Few anglers are specifically targeting wipers now, but there are some fish begin caught along the Cawker City causeway and the dam while trolling for white bass or walleye. Most of the catch are those 2008 stocked fish that run 19-22 inches, but a handful of larger 2006 fish up to 9 pounds have been caught as well. Also heard of a few stripers caught off the bluffs on a jig and crawler.

There are good numbers of stripers hanging out in 3-5 feet of water near stickups on the north side of the reservoir. They appear to be in this area feeding on 12 inch shad that are in the prespawn mode.

KDWPT has posted an online Walleye Angler Survey that you can fill out with a focus on general walleye fishing questions and regulations pertaining to Glen Elder and Lovewell Reservoirs. If you would like to provide your opinions on walleye management at these reservoirs, you may do so by clicking on the link and completing a survey. Your answers will remain anonymous and help us gain a better understanding of angler attitudes and opinions.

Click here to complete the Walleye Angler Survey

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. Check for the recent updates from March 2012!

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

Fair

Variety

Use dead shad or cutbait on windblown shore and dropoffs.

Crappie

Fair

Variety of Sizes - mostly 11 to 12 inches

Fish rip rap and brush with minnows and jigs.

Trout

Fair

The seep stream was stocked on March 13th with 1,400 more trout. This will be the last stocking of the year. Vegetation and filamentous algae has come on in the stream, but there is fishable water above and below the weirs.

Walleye/Saugeye

Good

Variety, up to 21"

Fishing has slowed a bit, but Kanopolis is still one of the best bets around for walleye and saugeye. Jig and crawlers on dropoffs and the flats are still producing.

White Bass

Fair

All sizes - lots of 9 to 11 inch fish

Look for white bass and wipers schooling on flats and points during the mornings and evenings.

Wiper

Good

All sizes

Some big wipers have been caught by saugeye fisherman on the flats.

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.

2012 FISHING OUTLOOK

The information that is below is an outlook on how the fish populations should be in 2012 and are based on the 2011 Fall sampling.

Saugeye

Good

Majority 13 to 18 inches

Saugeye fishing should be good as numbers are up this year with 67% being in the 13 to 18 inch size range and 15% being over 18 inches. The remaining 18% being young of the year (YOY) fish. The largest fish sampled weighted 7.4 lbs. Rated #2 in state for density.

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 83% and fish 20 to 25 inches accounted for 9%. The biggest fish weighted 5.14 lbs. Density rating for the state is #2.

Channel Catfish

Good

Majority 16 to 24 inches

Catfishing should be good with the numbers up considerably from last year. The population is dominated by 16 to 24 inch fish accounting for 61%, fish 24 to 28 inches accounted for 24% and 20 inch + fish accounted for 12% and the remainder were YOY fish. Biggest fish weighted 18.3 lbs. Density rating for the state is #2.

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 97% of the blacks and 90% of the whites being 2 to 5 inches. However, the density rating for black crappie is #2 in the state.

Largemouth/Spotted Bass

Good

Majority 4 to 8 inches

Numbers are up from last year with the majority of the largemouth being in the 4 to 8 inch size range accounting for 40%. Fish 8 to 12 inches accounted for 22%, 12 to 15 inch fish accounted for 27% and fish over 15 inches accounted for 11%. The biggest fish weighted 3.4 lbs. Density rating for the state is #1. Spotted bass numbers are down from last year, however, the fishing should be good as well. The majority of spot's are in the 11 to 14 inch size range accounting for 55% and 14 inch + fish accounted for 24%. Density rating for the state is #1.

SPRING FISHING

Crappie

Good

7 to 16 inches

Did have reports of fish being caught off the public fishing dock and up in the coves and shallows using jigs or jigs with minnows under a bobber. Most of them are in the 8 to 15 inch size range.

Saugeye/Walleye

Good

14 to 26 inches

Did have reports of fish being caught up in Leota Cove, along the dam and off the Marsh dike using jigs and jigs with worms. Been hearing of a lot of short fish being caught, so remember the 18 inch length limit. Also, hearing of limits being caught.

Wiper

Good

15 to 28 inches

Did have reports of fish being caught along the dam depending on wind direction and also up in Leota Cove using bucktail jigs and jigs with worms on the bottom. Had reports of a 11 pound fish being caught. Stocked 75,000 Wiper fry on 5/16/2012.

Catfish

Fair

14 to 30 inches

Have heard of a few fish being caught up to the west end using shad and stink bait on the bottom.

WATER TEMPERATURE- 69

SURFACE ELEVATION- 2299.00' ---- 5.30' below conservation

Currently, the water level is 1.32 feet higher than it was one year ago at this time.

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 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

2012 FISHING OUTLOOK

The information that is below is an outlook on how the fish populations should be in 2012 and are based on the 2011 Fall sampling.

Walleye

Good

Majority 20 to 25 inches

Walleye fishing should be good as numbers are up this year with 16% being in the 15 to 20 inch size range, 54% being in the 20 to 25 inch size range and 5% over 25 inches. Therefore 75% are over the 15 inch length limit. The remaining 6% being young of the year (YOY) fish. The largest fish sampled weighted 8.7 lbs. Rated #2 in state for density.

White Bass

Good

Majority 6 to 9 inches

Numbers are up from last year with the majority of fish being in the 6 to 9 inch size range accounting for 40%. Fish 9 to 12 inches accounted for 23%, 12 to 15 inch fish accounted for 25% and fish over 15 inches accounted for 6%. The biggest fish weighted 3.1 lbs.

Wiper

Good

Majority 8 to 11 inches

Numbers are up from last year with the majority of fish being in the 8 to 11 inch size range accounting for 34%. Fish 11 to 15 inches accounted for 21%, 15 to 20 inch fish accounted for 32% and fish over 20 inches accounted for 3%. The biggest fish weighted 7.1 lbs.

Channel Catfish

Fair

Majority 12 to 15 inches

Catfishing should be fair with the numbers down slightly from last year. The population is still fairly young with fish 12 to 15 inches being 38% and fish 16 to 19 inches accounted for 19% 20 inch + fish accounted for 13% and the remainder were YOY fish. Biggest fish weighted 9.5 lbs.

Crappie

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 white crappie. Had a really good crappie spawn for both with 43% of the blacks and 83 % of the whites being 2 to 5 inches. However, the density rating for black crappie is #1 in the state.

Largemouth Bass

Fair

Majority 12 to 15 inches

The bass fishery is starting to come around and should be fair. The majority of fish were in the 12 to 15 inch size range accounting for 68% and fish 15 to 20 inches accounted for 4%. Density rating for the state is #8.

SPRING FISHING

Crappie

Good

7 to 17 inches

Have been catching fish up in the coves and around the tree lines in shallow water using jigs and jigs with minnows under a bobber. Been hearing of quite a few 9-10" fish and a lot of nicer fish that are being kept that are in the 11 to 17" range.

Walleye

Good

15 to 28 inches

Have had reports of fish being caught off railroad flats and off the river channel using jigs with night crawlers and crankbait's. Also been hearing of fish being caught up shallow using jigs. Remember the 15 inch length limit and release those short fish. Stocked 73,049 Walleye fingerlings on 5/17/2012 and stocked another 39,856 Walleye fingerlings on 5/22/2012.

White Bass/ Wiper

Fair

10 to 30 inches

Have been hearing of some white bass being caught up the North Fork Solomon arm casting jigs. Also, the white bass and wipers can be caught casting jigs into the wind on either corner of the dam. Stocked 200,000 Wiper fry on 5/16/2012.

Catfish

Fair

20 to 30 inches

Have been hearing of some channel cat being caught up the Bow Creek and North Fork Solomon arm using shad and stink bait on the bottom.

WATER TEMPERATURE- 69

SURFACE ELEVATION- 1728.93 ---- 0.32' below conservation pool

Shut off the bypass of natural inflows on 5-14-2012.

Currently, the water level is 0.78 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 is removed.

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

6-24 inches

Same as last week. Some walleye have headed for the flats on the west end and are being caught on jig and crawlers while others are being found in the state park area off the main lake points like Willow Point, Cabin Point, and Cedar Point. These fish are being caught using minnows, jigs, and drop shot rigs with worms while drifting. Shoreline anglers have had their best success with worms on the bottom. Anglers can still have some success trolling Hot-N-Tots and Thin Fins around the dam, Walleye Point, and Cedar Point.

Anglers are starting to catch quite a few cigars which run 6-12 inches. Please handle these fish with care and cut the line if they swallowed the hook. They are the future keeper walleye at Lovewell and must be returned to the water in good condition so they can grow to the 18 inch length limit in a couple of years.

Check out the note below about a Walleye Angler Survey.

White Bass

Good

6-16 inches

There have been good reports of whites being caught while trolling all over the reservoir. There have also been some nice wipers caught off the shore near Cedar Point using worms on the bottom. The white bass tend to move toward the rocky banks during the spawn and anglers should be able to catch fair to good numbers of these guys now. Some of the better areas include the dam, Oak Hill, and the rocky shorelines along the state park. Casting roadrunners, slab spoons, and twister tails are all good bets this time of year. Boat anglers are also reporting good success for whites around the Cabin Point area. Othere anglers have been catching very good numbers using slab spoons and jig/crawler combos near the 2 mile road area.

Anglers should also check out the outlet area as irrigation releases began on May 23 at nearly 200 cfs. The white bass and wipers will begin to migrate toward this area chasing the very young shad that are concentrated to the moving water. This should offer some good shoreline opportunities.

Crappie

Good

8-13 inches

The crappie spawn is on right now and the fish have moved back into some of the major creek arms and coves. Anglers will probably have their best luck using minnows under a bobber, but casting jigs under a bobber can also work well. The fish will likely be spawning in 2-5 feet of water. Look for these guys in Marina Cove, Montana Creek, John's Creek, Cabin Cove, and Prairie Dog Creek.

Channel Catfish

Fair to Good

All Sizes

These guys will bite pretty well through the month of May, especially with the rapidly increasing water temperatures we are experiencing. Look for them up White Rock Creek and in all of the major coves. Some anglers annually do well fishing for them off Walleye Point and near the Marina. Try shad gizzards, dead shad, shrimp, and nightcrawlers for best results. The spawn is only a couple of weeks away and some of the fish will be moving toward the rocky areas like the dam in preparation for the spawn.

KDWPT has posted an online Walleye Angler Survey that you can fill out with a focus on general walleye fishing questions and regulations pertaining to Glen Elder and Lovewell Reservoirs. If you would like to provide your opinions on walleye management at these reservoirs, you may do so by clicking on the link and completing a survey. Your answers will remain anonymous and help us gain a better understanding of angler attitudes and opinions.

Click here to complete the Walleye Angler Survey

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. We added another 280 cedar trees in August 2011, click on the link for the latest updates!

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!

2012 Fishing Outlook

The information that is below is an outlook on how the fish populations should be in 2012 and are based on the 2011 Fall sampling.

Wipers

Good

Majority 15 to 20 inches

Numbers are down slightly from last year, however, the fishing should be good. 15 to 20 inch fish accounted for 45% and 20 to 25 inch fish accounted for 14% and fish over 25 inches accounted for 3%. The biggest fish sampled weighted 11.0 lbs.

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 51%. Fish over 15 inches accounted for 9% and the biggest fish weighted 1.7 lbs.

Walleye

Good

Majority 15 to 28 inches

Walleye fishing should be good as numbers are up this year with 47% being over 15 inches and another 47% being in the 13 to 15 inch size range and the remaining 6% being young of the year (YOY) fish. The largest fish sampled weighted 8.8 lbs. Rated #1 in state for density.

Channel Catfish

Fair

Majority 11 to 15 inches

Catfishing should be fair with the numbers up slightly from last year. The population is still fairly young with fish 11 to 15 inches being 41% and fish 16 to 19 inches accounted for 35% and 24% were YOY fish.

Crappie

Good & Fair

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 78% of the blacks and 94 % of the whites being 2 to 5 inches. However, the density rating for black crappie is #3 in the state.

Largemouth Bass

Fair

Majority 12 to 15 inches

The bass fishery is starting to come around and should be fair. the majority of fish were in the 12 to 15 inch size range accounting for 47% and fish 15 to 20 inches accounted for 31%. Density rating for the state is #4.

SPRING FISHING

Crappie

Fair

9 to 17 inches

Have had reports of fish being caught in Old Marina and Rock Point coves using jigs. Would also look for them around the north and south shore fish attractors and breakwaters.

Rainbow Trout

Fair

10 to 22 inches

Trout are being caught on kastmasters, power bait, salmon eggs and worms. Some pretty nice fish were stocked again this year, so get out and enjoy the nice weather and catch some trout. Weighed a 11.275 pound fish caught from the third stocking. The fifth (and last) load of trout was stocked on March 8th. Season is over, therefore, no tout permit required to fish in stilling basin, however, the 5 fish creel limit still applies.

Walleye

Good

14 to 28 inches

Been hearing of limits of walleye being caught along the north shore broken up concrete ramp all the way up to the Lakeview area, off the north breakwater off Rock Point, off the river channel by the old Bow City parking lot and off the old swim beach using worms on the bottom. Remember the 15 inch length limit because will be a lot of 14 inch fish caught that need to be released.

White Bass/Wiper

Good

10 to 30 inches

Have been hearing reports of white bass and wipers being caught along the north shore from the broken up concrete ramp all the way to the Lakeview area casting jigs into the wind. Also been hearing of fish being caught in the south corner of the Dam by Goose Flat's, depending on the wind direction. Stocked 150,000 Wiper fry on 5/07/2012.

Catfish

Fair

20 to 36 inches

Have had reports of channel cat being caught up to the west end by 7 road using shad and stink bait on the bottom.

WATER TEMPERATURE- 69 Degree's

SURFACE ELEVATION- 1889.17 ---- 3.28' below conservation

Currently, the water level is 2.04 feet lower than it was one year ago at this time. Boaters, be aware of submerged rock piles along the East side of the Goose Flats boat ramp.

Will be conducting a creel survey at Webster from March thru October, therefore, if you are approached by our creel clerk Narine Barnett, PLEASE take a few minutes and answer a few questions she will be asking. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

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

Fair

10-14 inches

The crappie spawn is in full swing and the fish should be in the coves and creeks. Look for them to spawn in 5-9 feet of water, depending on water clarity. Minnows fished under a bobber will likely work best, but some anglers also do very well casting jigs suspended under a bobber. Other anglers catch good numbers of crappie while casting twistertails or roadrunners over spawning areas.

We recently added a bunch of cedar trees to the brush piles around Minooka so there is even more habitat down there now.

Stripers

Fair to Good

3-8 pounds

Anglers have been catching some stripers off the dam while trolling with a variety of crankbaits. There have also been reports of stripers showing up around the Horseshoe Bend area. Slabbing near the river channel drops may work well on the west end, and trolling is also a good option up there.

Walleye

Good to Excellent

14-23 inches

There have been several reports of walleye limits taken on the east side of the reservoir between the spillway boat ramp and Pelican Point. There have also been fish caught near Lucas Point and Rock Town. These fish are coming from a variety of depths, but most have been caught on jig/worm or jig/minnow combos. Anglers might also try walleye fishing on the west end near the river channel by the Elm Creek ramp and west. There are usually some very nice catches toward this end of the reservoir.

Anglers are starting to catch quite a few cigars which run 8-12 inches. Please handle these fish with care and cut the line if they swallowed the hook. They are the future keeper walleye at Wilson and must be returned to the water in good condition so they can grow to the 15 inch length limit in a couple of years.

Channel Catfish

Good

All Sizes

Anglers can catch channel catfish up toward the west end of the reservoir around Elm Creek boat ramp and west. Drifting across the flats with shrimp, stinkbaits, and night crawlers can yield some cats. Also, they are spawning now so look for them around rip rap jetties and other rocky areas.

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.

White Bass

Good

14-18 inches, up to 3 pounds

There are still some reports of white bass being caught around Horseshoe Bend and up the river near the Bunker hill bridge. There was a small fish kill of larger white bass around the bridge, but that seems to be over now. White and chartreuse twistertails are tough to beat when they are in the river. Casting roadrunners and roostertails also works well.

Black Bass

Good

10-18 inches

The smallmouth are probably nearing the end of the spawn unless the cold fronts have delayed things a bit this year. They can be found near the rocky points and rocky coves anywhere from 5 to 15 feet deep. The largemouth spawn is probably just about to get underway which means the males will be on the nest and aggressively guarding it. Crankbaits, plastics, twistertails, and even buzz baits are all working well at this time.

White Perch

Fair to Good

9 to 13 inches

Worms on the bottom should catch white perch if you can find the concentrations of fish - small slab spoons are also a good bet. Start looking towards the upper end around Elm Creek and Duval. There are also likely good numbers of white perch around the dam and marina area. Continue to keep all you catch and remember - 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!!!!!

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!!!!!!

I have taken over the fisheries management at Wilson Reservoir until a replacement district fisheries biologist is hired. If you have any questions regarding the fisheries at the reservoir you can contact me at scott.waters@ksoutdoors.com or call me at the office 785-545-3345. I'd be glad to discuss any ideas or thoughts you have regarding Wilson.

Largemouth Bass

Very Good

up to 6 lbs

Largemouth are abundant with all sizes present. Angling will be best near rock and brush on artificials.

Bluegill

Good

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

Good

up to 24 inches

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

Fair

up to 15"

Crappie numbers are down, but angling will be decent on jigs and minnows along the dam and near brush/rocks.

Current Fishing Opportunity

Channel catfish

Fair

up to 5lbs

worms and cutbait near creeks 5ft deep

Crappie

Fair

up to 14 inches

minnows and jigs 10ft deep neer brush

Bluegill

Good

up to 8"

tube jigs and worms near brush and rock

Saugeye

Fair

up to 20"

crankbaits near cover and dam

Wiper

Fair

up to 18"

jigs and livebait near rocks and dam

Largemouth bass

Good

up to 4 lbs

jerkbaits, jigs, and spinnerbaits near cover

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 and click on the Kansas Crappie Bonanza link to view the video! Following up the popular
Kansas Crappie Bonanza video is the Urban Stocking Fish Program video which
can be found at http://youtu.be/5l4QiSfsQbQ .

This includes a fishing report covering the fishing forecast for the upcoming 2012 fishing season. The Current Fishing Opportunity section will be updated with regular weekly fishing reports starting March 2012.

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

2012 FISHING OUTLOOK

The information that is below is an outlook on how the fish populations should be in 2012 and are based on the 2011 Fall sampling.

Channel Catfish

Good

Majority 11 to 16 inches

Catfishing should be good with the numbers up considerably from last year. The population is dominated by 11 to 16 inch fish accounting for 70%, fish 16 inch + fish accounted for 11% and the remainder were YOY fish. Biggest fish weighted 7.3 lbs.

Largemouth 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 77% and fish over 15 inches accounted for 6%. The biggest fish weighted 4.13 lbs.

Bluegill

Good

Majority 6 to 8 inches

Numbers are down slightly from last year with the majority of the bluegill being in the 6 to 8 inch size range accounting for 61% and fish over 8 inches accounted for 6%.

SPRING FISHING

Largemouth Bass

Good

8 to 22 inches

Have had reports of fish being caught lake wide using spinner bait's and crank bait's. Most of them are under the 18 inch length limit, but have heard of fish being caught that are over the length limit.

Bluegill

Good

6 to 10 inches

Have had reports of fish being caught lake wide using worms under a bobber.

Catfish

Good

10 to 25 inches

Have had reports of fish being caught using shad, stink bait or worms on the bottom.

Water Temp. 73

We will be conducting a creel survey at Rooks State Fishing Lake from March thru October, therefore, if you are approached by our creel clerk Carrol Conyac, PLEASE take a few minutes and answer a few questions that he will be asking. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

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

2011 Sampling Results

Channel Catfish

Fair

11"-15"=80%

16"-18"=20%

Similar to last year, abundance remained moderate to good. However, smaller fish made up a greater proportion of the population this past fall.

Crappie

Fair-Good

6"-9"=50%

10"-11"=50%

Crappie abundance decreased to it's lowest level over the past five years which will leave surviving individuals room to grow. Regardless, plenty of harvestable sized fish in the 10 to 11 inch range remain. Moderate production of crappie in 2010 increased the number of smaller fish which will help sustain the population into the future.

Largemouth Bass

Fair

8"-11"=39%

12"-14"=51%

15"-20"=9%

Largemouth abundance remained high and few fish exceeded 15" in length. It may be that this species is experiencing overcrowding that leads to poor growth.

Bluegill

Fair

5"=8%

6"-7"=92%

Bluegill abundance appeared to increase slightly but remained low to moderate. Very little production of young fish was documented last year, but with high predator abundance and declining waterlevels, this wasn't unexpected. Low abundance should allow larger individuals to grow quickly.

Saugeye

Good

13"=17%

15"-17"=92%

23"=3%

Saugeye abundance remained high with the 2009 and to some degree the 2010 yearclasses comprising the majority of the population. Furthermore, a few large fish from older yearclasses remain. With 60% of the population at or exceeding the 15" minimum length limit, angling prospects look good for 2012.

Wiper

Fair

13"-14"=44%

15"-16"=56%

Wiper abundanced decreased but was moderate. Existing individuals grew as evidenced by the capture of larger fish stuffed with shad this past fall.

Current Fishing Opportunities

Crappie

Trolling or casting small crank baits or slab spoons along the dam or minnows under a bobber at night.

Largemouth Bass

Slow rolling spinner baits, crankbaits, and soft plastics around fish attractors, flooded brush, and along rip-rap.

Saugeye

Casting and slow retrieving jigs tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers over points and creek channel edges.

Bluegill

Nightcrawler pieces or mealworms under a bobber around brush or along rip-rapped shorelines.

Channel Catfish

Cutbait, prepaired bait, or shrimp fished off the bottom.

Wiper

Casting shad imitating jigs and crankbaits along shallow, windswept shorelines.

ATTENTION: 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 17^th and click on the Kansas Crappie Bonanza link to view the video!

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.

New for the 2010 Fishing Season: 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.

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 and click on the Kansas Crappie Bonanza link to view the video! Following up the popular
Kansas Crappie Bonanza video is the Urban Stocking Fish Program video which
can be found at http://youtu.be/5l4QiSfsQbQ .

Beginning April 1, the area would be 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

We found decent numbers of these guys all around the lake while shocking in April. Most of them are legal size, but measure carefully as there are still a few under 15 inches. Anglers may catch them on crankbaits in 3-10 feet of water or drifting a jig/crawler along the bottom. Most of the fish seem to be hanging out in the upper half of the lake.

Crappie

Fair

10-13 inches

We did find some crappie hanging out near shore this spring while shocking. They are running 10-13 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.

Channel Catfish

Slow

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. We found a good variety of sizes while netting, but the majority of the fish were the recently stocked 8-12 inchers.

Bluegill

Green Sunfish

Redear Sunfish

Excellent

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 spring while shocking. The bass have been biting great in local farm ponds and things should be similar here. White and chartreuse spinnerbaits are hard to beat in the spring, but smaller baits like roadrunners and Panther Martins will also catch a fair amount of fish.

Water temperature: 73 degrees

Water level: 0.5 feet low