| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, and Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crappie | Good | 1/2 to 2 pounds | The lake has been providing good crappie fishing the last six years due to good spawning success and robust growth rates during this time. The 2025 fall sample shows that this good trend continues. There was another robust spawn in 2025. In addition, the abundance of older crappie was almost double the 20-year average for the lake. Size structure of the crappie population should be appealing to anglers as 32% this fall were 10" to 12" and 4% were over 12" with almost every fish being fat and healthy. A few reports of anglers doing well in the Stockdale Cove standing timber. |
| White Bass | Slow to Fair | 1/2 to 2 pounds | White bass numbers have been struggling due to limited spawning success for most of the last decade. This has improved some in recent years but the population is still well below the good fishery the lake has produced in the past. |
| Channel Catfish | Fair | Fair numbers of bigger fish over 28 inches. | The lake and the connected river system has maintained a good channel catfish population through the history of the lake and has been one of the best places around to catch channel cats over 8 pounds. The 2025 sample recorded that channel catfish numbers are slightly above normal with 9% of the fish collected were over 24 inches. Fishing in the upper end of the lake and the river tends to be the most consistent spots for channel cats. |
| Blue Catfish | Fair to Good | Good numbers of nice eater size fish from 20 to 30 inches with a few fish over 40 pounds | The blue catfish population at Tuttle Creek has modest numbers when compared to other KS lakes but has maintained an excellent size structure due to good growth rates. Sampling in June 2025 showed that 46% of the blue catfish were between 20 to 25 inches, 24% were from 25 to 30 inches, and 20% were over 30 inches. Fresh cut bait or fresh shad are usually good baits. The upper end of the lake is the most consistent area to find blues. Blue catfish harvest regulations are a 10 fish daily creel limit which may include only one fish 30 inches or longer. |
| Largemouth Bass | Slow to Fair | 1 to 5 pounds | Coves in southern third of the Reservoir have some locally good largemouth bass populations. The McIntyre Cove area tends to produce the best fishing with Carnahan Cove second best. |
| Saugeye | Fair | Up to 6 pounds | The saugeye population has been doing very well the last few years due to stable water conditions. From the 2025 fall fish sampling, numbers of saugeye were slightly elevated over the 10-year norm. The saugeye size structure from our collected was very appealing with 29% of the fish were over 18 inches. Since saugeye like to leave Tuttle Creek through the dam downstream during large releases, some of the best opportunities to harvest saugeye is in the River Pond or Rocky Ford or at the "tubes". Great shoreline access at all of these spots and fish are regularly being caught year-round. K-State is conducting a study to track fish movements and there are a few saugeye with a purple tag in their back - please release all fish with a purple tag. |
| Rainbow Trout | Fair | Up to 3 pounds | Trout season is here at Willow Lake which is below the Tuttle Creek dam in the State Park. The first stocking was on Nov 24th of 930 pounds of rainbow trout that ranged from half a pound to over 2 pounds. A trout permit is required to fish a Willow Lake during the trout season. Good luck. |
| General Comments | |||
| You can check current water conditions HERE Tuttle Creek has zebra mussels which classifies the lake and River Pond and Rocky Ford as Aquatic Invasive Species waters. Fish may not be transported alive from AIS designated waters. To help prevent the spread of invasive species, please CLEAN, DRAIN & DRY all equipment when changing water bodies and please do not move fish you have caught or your bait. | |||
