This is the Official Kansas Fishing regulations and Information navigation page for the Kansas state rules and regulations guidebook overviews.
You can access each individual state regulation guidebook by clicking the links below.
These are just the overviews of the official state regulations.
The Actual state Kansas Fishing regulation guidebooks are accessible by clicking on the state you would like to see from the home page map then clicking on the Kansas state fishing regulations books.
They are also accessible by clicking on the Kansas fishing reg. books below and accessing the Kansas fishing regs link in the Kansas Guidebooks listed below.
Enjoy be safe and have a great time exploring the site and remember to check back often to keep updated on all the new laws, rules, and Kansas regulations pertaining to the hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife sports.
Weather its Kansas Trout fishing, Kansas bass fishing, Kansas striper fishing, Kansas Salmon fishing, Kansas Catfish fishing, Kansas steelhead fishing, Kansas Panfish fishing, Kansas pike/muskie fishing, Kansas Walleye fishing  We have the Kansas state fishing regulations for your trip into the wilderness or on the water covered in one easy to location.
If you need Kansas fishing maps, Kansas state fishing maps, or just some Kansas fishing reports to tell you were the bite is hot we have that too.

Kansas Fishing Report

If you’re planning a fishing trip to Kansas, you have some excellent choices for lakes and streams throughout the state including Big Hill Lake, Cedar Bluff Lake, Cheney Reservoir, Clinton Lake, Council Grove Lake, El Dorado Lake, Elk City Lake, Fall River Lake, Hillsdale Lake, John Redmond Reservoir, Kanopolis Lake, Keith Sebelius Lake, Kirwin Reservoir, La Cygne Lake, Lovewell Reservoir, Marion Reservoir, Melvern Lake, Milford Lake, Perry Lake, Pomona Lake, Toronto Lake, Tuttle Creek Lake, Waconda Lake, Webster Reservoir, Wilson Lake, Winfield City Lake, Wolf Creek Reservoir and others. Many of the lakes in Kansas have camping facilities as well as other accommodations nearby. Kansas is well known for excellent Bass, Crappie and Walleye fishing. Additionally, in waters around the state you’ll find populations of Trout, Catfish, Stripers, Northern Pike, Sauger, Saugeye, Longnose Gar, Spotted Gar, Paddlefish and sunfish including Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Warmouth, White Bass, Yellow Perch which are plentiful in some waters.

Fishing is regulated in Kansas by the Fish & Game Department. You can check their website for current fishing reports.

Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass & Spotted Bass Fishing in Kansas.

Bass are one of the most sought after of all the game fish. Its appeal spans cultures, age groups and genders to tap on the heart strings of anglers everywhere. Join us in our endeavor to offer information about bass fishing on your favorite bass lake in the Kansas area.

Bass Fishing Lakes In Kansas

You can find bass everywhere in Kansas. Private ponds, small lakes, rivers, streams and large impoundments all hold populations of bass. The most consistent stringers come from major lakes including Big Hill Lake, Cedar Bluff Lake, Cheney Reservoir, Clinton Lake, Council Grove Lake, El Dorado Lake, Elk City Lake, Fall River Lake, Hillsdale Lake, Kanopolis Lake, Keith Sebelius Lake, Kirwin Reservoir, La Cygne Lake, Lovewell Reservoir, Marion Reservoir, Melvern Lake, Milford Lake, Perry Lake, Toronto Lake, Tuttle Creek Lake, Waconda Lake, Webster Reservoir, Wilson Lake, Winfield City Lake and Wolf Creek Reservoir.

The Kansas state record smallmouth bass was caught at Milford Reservoir and the state record largemouth came from a private pond.

Trout Fishing in Kansas

The 5 primary trouts are the rainbow, brook, brown, cutthroat and lake trout. Brown trout are considered the most difficult to catch and brookies are the easiest. Pure cold water is key to survival of the trouts and the brook trout is the most sensitive to temperature. The others are comfortable in slightly warmer waters.

Kansas Trout Fishing Waters

Kansas has limited trout fishing. The only major lakes with a healthy population of trout are Cedar Bluff Lake, Lake Shawnee and Clinton Lake. The Kansas state record rainbow trout cam from Lake Shawnee.

Visit the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks website for information regarding trout stocking in Kansas.

Walleye Fishing in Kansas

Kansas is favored with a nice variety of waters for walleye fishing. The state record walleye was caught from Wilson Reservoir.

Walleye Fishing Lakes In Kansas

The best stringers of walleye are caught from major lakes including Big Hill Lake, Cedar Bluff Lake, Cheney Reservoir, Clinton Lake, Council Grove Lake, El Dorado Lake, Fall River Lake, Hillsdale Lake, Kanopolis Lake, Keith Sebelius Lake, Kirwin Reservoir, La Cygne Lake, Lovewell Reservoir, Marion Reservoir, Melvern Lake, Milford Lake, Perry Lake, Toronto Lake, Tuttle Creek Lake, Waconda Lake, Webster Reservoir, Wilson Lake, Winfield City Lake and Wolf Creek Reservoir.

Crappie Fishing in Kansas

Crappie are actually a member of the sunfish family and can be found in all the continental states. They are known by many different names, typically based on geographic location. Paper mouth, goggleye, bridge perch and speckled perch, just to name a few.

Crappie Fishing Lakes In Kansas

If you find fishing water in Kansas, chances are it has crappie. They are a favorite in private ponds and show up in small lakes all over the state. Some rivers have small populations of crappie. The best and most consistent stringers continue to come from larger lakes including Big Hill Lake, Cedar Bluff Lake, Cheney Reservoir, Clinton Lake, Council Grove Lake, El Dorado Lake, Elk City Lake, Fall River Lake, Hillsdale Lake, John Redmond Reservoir, Kanopolis Lake, Keith Sebelius Lake, Kirwin Reservoir, La Cygne Lake, Lovewell Reservoir, Marion Reservoir, Melvern Lake, Milford Lake, Perry Lake, Pomona Lake, Toronto Lake, Tuttle Creek Lake, Waconda Lake, Webster Reservoir, Wilson Lake, Winfield City Lake, Woodson Lake and Wolf Creek Reservoir.

The state record black crappie came from Woodson Lake and the state record white crappie came from a private pond.

Catfish Fishing in Kansas

There are many species of catfish and even more ways to catch them. Adults range in size from less than a pound to hundreds of pounds. They can be found in all types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and rivers. There are even species which spend a limited amount of time on dry land. Big giant catfish put up a very noble fight once hooked.

Catfish Fishing Lakes In Kansas

They're everywhere. They're everywhere. Virtually all waters in Kansas have one or more species of catfish. The state record blue catfish was caught in the Kansas River, the state record flathead catfish came from Elk City Reservoir and the Kansas state record channel catfish was caught from mined land.

The best stringers of catfish continue to come from major lakes including Big Hill Lake, Cedar Bluff Lake, Cheney Reservoir, Clinton Lake, Council Grove Lake, El Dorado Lake, Elk City Lake, Fall River Lake, Hillsdale Lake, John Redmond Reservoir, Kanopolis Lake, Keith Sebelius Lake, Kirwin Reservoir, La Cygne Lake, Lovewell Reservoir, Marion Reservoir, Melvern Lake, Milford Lake, Perry Lake, Pomona Lake, Toronto Lake, Tuttle Creek Lake, Waconda Lake, Webster Reservoir, Wilson Lake, Winfield City Lake and Wolf Creek Reservoir.

Sunfish Fishing in Kansas for Bluegills, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Warmouth, White Bass, Yellow Perch and Other KS Panfish.

One or more species of sunfish populate virtually all warm water streams, ponds and lakes throughout Kansas and around the world for that matter. They can survive in waters that provide their natural food source of minnows, crustaceans, insects and worms. Their competitive nature amongst themselves for food, makes them relatively easy to catch.

Sunfish Lakes In Kansas

State records for green sunfish and yellow perch both were caught in private ponds and the state record for redear sunfish came from Finney Wildlife Area. But if you want to catch a bunch of panfish for a fishfry your best bet may be a large lake. Some of these large lakes are Big Hill Lake, Cedar Bluff Lake, Cheney Reservoir, Clinton Lake, Council Grove Lake, El Dorado Lake, Elk City Lake, Fall River Lake, Hillsdale Lake, John Redmond Reservoir, Kanopolis Lake, Keith Sebelius Lake, Kirwin Reservoir, La Cygne Lake, Lovewell Reservoir, Marion Reservoir, Melvern Lake, Milford Lake, Perry Lake, Pomona Lake, Toronto Lake, Tuttle Creek Lake, Waconda Lake, Webster Reservoir, Wilson Lake, Winfield City Lake and Wolf Creek Reservoir.

Striper Fishing in Kansas

While stripers are native to salt water, they naturally migrate into fresh water streams to spawn. Their eggs must remain in motion in order to hatch so the fresh water rivers and streams which drain into the ocean become the spawning grounds for stripers.

Striped Bass Fishing Lakes In Kansas

Kansas residents are fortunate to have several lakes with healthy populations of stripers. These lakes include Cheney Reservoir, Kanopolis Lake, Kirwin Reservoir, La Cygne Lake, Melvern Lake, Waconda Lake and Wilson Lake. The Kansas state record striper was caught from Wilson Lake.

Fishing for other Northern Pike, Sauger, Saugeye, Longnose Gar, Spotted Gar, Paddlefish in Kansas.

Kansas offers unique fishing opportunities.

Northern Pike
Esox Lucius
IFGA Record: 55.1 lbs
The northern pike is a valient fighter and prefers water temperatures from 58 to 70 degrees. Also known as jack, jackfish, great northern pike and pickerel. While they have been transplanted into most states with cold water, they are native to the northern states and are abundant in the north-eastern states. Northern pike are basically olive in color with white and/or yellow bellies. The northern pike has light-colored marking on a dark body whish is opposite that of their cousins the muskies.They are an ambushing predator that eats frogs, crayfish, birds and virtually any fish they can get into their mouth. Use spinners, fish-immitating lures, jerk-baits or cutbait and fish close to cover.

Sauger
Stizostedion canadense
World Record: 17.7 lbs.
Excellent eating fish which typically runs a bit smaller than its cousin the walleye. The sauger prefers cold and cloudy, moving water in the 60s to low 70s. They spawn in the low to mid 40s. You can tell them from a walleye by the dark spotting on the dorsal fin, darker coloring and the rough covering of the gill area. Due to their resembelance to pickerel, they are also known as gray pickerel spotfin pike, gray pike, river pike and others. When the water turns cold and other fish are hard to come by, this is the time to fish for sauger.Fish with jigs, spoons and crankbaits imitating crayfish or baitfish. Fish near the bottom and experiment with presentation action and speed.

Saugeye
A cross between sauger and walleye.
USA Record: 15.6 lbs.
This is a fast growing fish but does not get as big as the walleye. It successfully inhabits waters where the walleye has struggled. They prefers water temperatures from 65 to 75 degrees. Look for them near bottom on sandy bars and particularly along dropoffs and river channels. Use small crankbaits that resemble minnows, shad or small crappies. Fish is their primary food source.

Longnose Gar
Lepisosteus osseus
World Record: 25 lbs
The Longnose Gar can be found in lakes and rivers and prefers quiet backwaters with temperatures ranging from 80 to 90 degrees. Also referred to as gar and garfish, It has a long, sword-like mouth loaded with sharp teeth. They are nocturnal feeders and eat most smaller fish. They can be taken on live bait, fish-imitating lures and nylon string "gobs designed to entangle in their teeth. Most longnose gar are taken by bowfishing or spear fishing. The meat is somewhat tasty but quite bony.

Spotted Gar
Lepisosteus oculatus
World Record:
Its range covers the northeast and into the southeast areas of the United States. It prefers quiet, clear water and backwaters, slow-moving creeks, rivers and sloughs. Named for the dark spots that cover its light-colored body, the spotted gar is a predator feeding on various kinds of fishes, frogs and crustaceans. Like most gar they are hard to catch on hook and line. The best method is live minnows or other small fish. Most spotted gar are taken by bow fishing or spear fishing.

Paddlefish
Polyodon spathula
World Record: Over 600 lbs.
If you didn't know what they were, you might think you caught a shark if you were to land a paddlefish. They have a powerful, sleek body and a tall, rear dorsal fin.
Prefers water temperatures from 50 to 70 degrees. Also known as spoonbill, spoonies, spadefish and shovelnose. They are filter-feeders so catching them with conventional tackle is out of the question. Most are taken with bow and arrow, spears or by snag-fishing with large treble hooks.

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