Fishing Kansas

Places to go fishing in Kansas

Kansas is completely filled with hundreds of lakes and reservoirs. The reservoirs (about 24 of them) range in size from 1,200 to over 16,000 acres and most offer park facilities. The lakes are on the smaller side and usually range from 50 to 300 acres in size. To the pleasure of all anglers alike, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism regularly stocks many thousands of channel catfish and trout in many of these bodies of water for your fishing enjoyment. 

One other thing that separates the state of Kansas when it comes to providing for it’s anglers, the KDWPT leases over 200 private lakes and ponds and over 50 miles of private-owned rivers and streams. It has also recently opened upwards of 70 miles of river and stream banks for public fishing. In order to fish on these leased private properties, anglers can enroll in the F.I.S.H Program. This program allows anglers to fish in the leased bodies of water from March 1 through October 31 (or year-round for certain F.I.S.H bodies of water).

Possibly one of the biggest attractions to Kansas fishing is the opportunity to catch one or more of the famous 60, 70, and up to 80 pound Flathead Catfish that are caught each summer. For the best chance of catching one of these “monster” catfish, anglers should target some of the rivers in the eastern half of the state. 

Pretty much everywhere in the state, you will have great opportunities to catch Crappie, White Bass, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Channel Catfish, and Flathead Catfish. 

For a list of licenses, fees and where to buy, see our Kansas Fishing License page.