Butler State Lake
Latham, KS
3 miles W, 1 mile N of Latham
Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks 316-683-8069
GPS Location: N37 32.708 W96 41.832
Location/Address:
Latham, KS
Impoundment Type: State Fishing Lake
Surface Acres: 124 acres
Maximum Depth: 22 feet
Normal Lake Level: N/A
Current Lake Level: Normal
| Fishing Population | Creel Limit | Min Length Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Catfish | 2 | 15 |
| Crappie | 50 | |
| Flathead Catfish | 5 | |
| Largemouth Bass | 5 | 15 |
| Walleye | 5 | 15 |
| Bluegill | ||
| Green Sunfish | ||
| Redear Sunfish |
** Striped Bass or Wiper in Combination
*** Walleye, Sauger or Saugeye in Combination
Fishing Report - Last Update: 11/17/2011
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Species |
Rating |
Size |
Baits, Method, & Location |
|---|---|---|---|
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This is a generic winter fishing report. Weekly fishing reports will return March 2012. |
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New Fishing Newsletter |
We have created a fishing newsletter that can be sent out to all that want it. This newsletter is for fishing information for the El Dorado District (Cowley,Butler, Chase, & Morris counties) only. To subscribe, click HERE . |
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Butler contains a very good population of channel catfish. Cats over 20lbs are caught each year and fish in the teens are not uncommon. There is a length limit of 15-inches and a creel limit of 2/day. From May through September fish feeders are operated at the lake and anglers have good success in these areas on sponge, dip, and stink baits as well as fresh cut baits. Action slows as water temps fall. Good cold weather baits are cut shad or shad guts. Look for the deeper water for the cold water cats which can be found along the dam and along the north and south shorelines in the western end of the lake. Length limit is 15 inches and creel limit is 2/day. |
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Butler is a great lake for both size and numbers of largemouth bass and usually ranks near the top in the statewide Fishing Forecast. Fish exceeding six pounds are sampled during the annual spring electrofishing surveys and anglers report catching bass exceeding seven pounds. Bass can be found in all areas of the lake. The water clarity at Butler is usually on the dingy side so large baits are a good idea. The lake contains good levels of forage species which the bass prey upon including shad, bluegill, and the very abundant black crappie population. Cold water tactics at Butler include large slash baits and large plastics or jig-n-pig combos. |
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The black crappie population at Butler is dominated by smaller individuals in the 5 1/2 to 7-inch length range. Although the high numbers of these fish can provide fast action at certain times, anglers should not expect to catch many quality sized black crappie at the lake. The crappie concentrate in the winter months near the old channel and can be caught vertically fishing jigs. When the water begins to warm in the spring anglers do well fishing shallow with jig/minnow and bobber combos. The daily creel limit is 50/day on crappie at Butler and anglers are encouraged to harvest this over-abundant species. |
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Bluegill are numerous at Butler and provide good fishing opportunities for kids and novice anglers. Bluegill can be caught during the warmer months on live bait fished under a bobber near vegetation, woody cover, or rocks. Few anglers pursue bluegill at Butler during the colder months. |
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Redear sunfish numbers are much lower than the bluegill numbers but the quality is better. An occasional 9-inch redear is caught but fewer anglers target this species as it more difficult to catch on rod and reel. Redear normally inhabit deeper water than the bluegill and they are normally found closer to the bottom. Fishing bits of nightcrawler on a light split shot rig on the bottom is a good spring/summer tactic for redear. Few anglers chase the redear during the colder months. |
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General Comments |
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Use caution while launching at the boat ramp as low water conditions continue. |
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