| Species | Rating | Size | Bait, Methods, Location |
| Bluegill | Good | Up to 10 inches | Sunfish can be found in the shallows where they are preparing to spawn. Locate spawning bed colonies in the back of coves and near shallow structure. Worms and small lures will produce bites |
| Walleye/Saugeye | Fair | up to 20 inches | Fish can be found on mudflats or near river channels in 10-20ft. Nightcrawlers rigged with bottom bouncers or jigs with plastics are producing bites. |
| Channel Catfish | Good | 0.5-10 lbs | Channel Catfish are spawning and can be found on rocky shorelines and near-shore structure. Nightcrawlers produce bites. |
| Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass | Good | Up to 5 lbs. | Bass are preparing to spawn by making spawning beds in the shallows near structure. Tube jigs or plastics that imitate crayfish will produce bites. |
| White Bass/Wiper | Fair | up to 10 lbs. | White Bass and Wiper can be found in schools near drop-offs. Spoons, crankbaits, or jigs will produce bites. |
| Crappie | Good | up to 12 inches | Crappies are done spawning but some fish can still be found in the shallows. Most crappie will concentrate around brush piles in 10-20ft. Jigs and/or minnows with a slip bobber are very effective right now. |
| Trout | Poor | up to 5lbs | Trout can be caught on powerbait, spoons, or rooster tails. Trout Season will run from December 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. A trout license is required to possess trout during the trout season. After March 31, anyone with a valid fishing license may harvest up to 5 trout/day. |
| General Comments | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring-Summer Fishing Summary: Many sport fish species have completed their annual spawn. Species such as catfish and bass will continue to display spawning activity in the coming weeks. Shore fishing should remain good until water temperatures reach summer peak, when fish typically move to deeper offshore structure. Raising water levels and high inflows can have mixed effects on fishing conditions. Fish may concentrate on creeks and river mouths where inflows enter the lake. Fish can be in the shallows, taking advantage of newly submerged terrestrial habitat. Fish Habitat: 20 cedar tree brush piles were submerged in Feb. 2024. Invasive species: Zebra Mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil, and Curley-leaf pondweed. Lake users should clean, drain, and dry fishing equipment and boats to prevent the spread. Fish Stocking: 2,500 Smallmouth Bass fingerlings were stocked in June 2024. 8,350 Channel Catfish intermediates were stocked in October 2024. 50,000 Wiper fry were stocked in May 2025. Wiper provide predatory control on Gizzard Shad. Too many shad can reduce survival of young of year sportfish species that compete for similar resources. Catchable sized (15-18") Channel Catfish are stocked in April, May, June, and September at several Topeka area ponds (Shawnee Jr, Central Park, Governors Ponds, Gage Park, Horseshoe Bend, Clarion) Recent Fisheries Surveys: Bass and sunfish populations were surveyed in May 2025. A 6.5lb, 22" Smallmouth Bass was captured and released. Just shy of the state record! Bass and sunfish populations are healthy and reproduce naturally. Largemouth Bass up to 20 inches, weighing 5-6 lbs are present. Contact Information: If you would like to contribute to future fishing reports or have questions about the fish populations, please email the Fisheries Biologist at: jim.miazga@ks.gov | |||
