| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crappie | Fair | 9-15 inches | One angler reported multiple limits of 12-14" fish recently. Targeting trees on river channels between the Bluffs and Granite Creek. Expect crappie to be headed towards winter patterns as water temperatures drop. Look for crappie to be found on deeper points, channels, drop-offs, or brushpiles where they can pick off schools of shad. Trolling the river channel can be effective for finding an active fish here or there. Use minnows, jigs, spoons, or small crankbaits. Try fishing slower than you would in warmer months. |
| Trout | Good | 10-20 inches | Trout have been stocked in the Glen Elder Reservoir outlet on the north end of the dam. Hatchery trout can be caught with a variety of methods. Some anglers prefer traditional fly fishing or small spinners and jigs. Others try to mimic the pellet feed trout are raised one by using things like cheese bait or corn. For more information on the trout season, schedule, or the program in general: Trout Fishing Program / Special Fishing Programs for You / Fishing / KDWP - KDWP |
| Walleye | Fair to Good | 11-25 inches | No recent angler reports. Heard of some success on the flats in May and June. Walleye should be headed towards winter patterns. Some may roam lake flats and river channels looking for baitfish, while others suspend over deep drops or points. Trolling river channels and roadbeds with crankbaits or nightcrawlers can be a good strategy to find Walleye. Walleye are often caught using nightcrawlers, jigging spoons, minnows, crankbaits, and spinners. *3 million fry were stocked in April 2025 and 3k fingerlings in Oct 2025. |
| Black Bass | Fair to Good | 12-20 inches | No angler reports. The Marina/Kanza cove and Osage cove held the best densities of black bass this spring. When targeting black bass in the winter make sure you are fishing smaller, slower, and deeper than you would at other times of the year. Smallmouth tend to prefer harder, rockier bottoms, while Largemouth might be found on softer bottoms and weed beds. Don't overlook standing timber and brush piles. Look for areas that hold baitfish. Use a quarter ounce or an eighth ounce jig tipped with a minnow or baitfish imitation. You could also have success with hair jigs, jigging spoons, crankbaits, soft plastics, and crayfish imitations. With a 21-inch length limit, Smallmouth are almost all sublegal so please handle them with extreme care and release them immediately after catching them. *60,000 largemouth fingerlings stocked in June 2025 |
| Catfish | Good | 15-35 inches | No recent angler reports. Catfish seek deep holes in winter. Finding these congregations will be the key to having successs with either Blue Cats or Channel Cats. Try river cahnnel bends, old road beds, and other submerged structure. Best baits to use include cut bait, stinkbait, shad sides, shrimp, and nightcrawlers. Remember, there is a NEW creel limit on Blue Catfish at Glen Elder. 10 fish per day, only 1 allowed over 30 in. |
| White Bass | Good | 11-18 inches | No recent angler reports. Fish will move to deeper water in winter. White Bass and Wipers can be found chasing shad near brushpiles, river channels, drop offs, and other structure. Higher numbers of big whites tend to be caught west of the causeway. Look for drop-offs and points for suspended fish. Downwind shorelines can produce good numbers of actively feeding fish before water temps get too low. Use a variety of jigs, spinners, or minnows to catch fish all year. *350,000 Wiper fry were stocked in May 2025. |
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Anglers can now find GPS locations for each of the brush piles located in the reservoir. Simply click on this link Good Fishing Spots and select the individual brush pile. As we enhance these brush piles throughout the year, we'll make a note under each individual location. Current Water Temperature: 38ºF Current Water Level: 4.4 feet low Some boat ramps are unusable due to low water conditions. This currently includes Granite Creek, North Fork River, Carr Creek, and Walnut Creek. Boller Point ramp is very shallow but usable by shallow drafted vessels. Repairs to the face of the dam were completed in February 2023. Water levels should start to rise with rain. | |||
