Kanopolis Reservoir Fishing Information
Counties:
GPS:
N38 38.709 W097 59.244
Surface Acres:
3,550
Maximum Depth:
35
Normal Lake Level:
1463 msl This lake is generally held 4 feet above this conservation level during the summertime.
Current Lake Level:
1465.8
Lake Temperature:
77 F
33 miles SW of Salina on K-149 & K141 US
Corps Of Engineers 785-546-2294
Kanopolis Reservoir Fishing Report - Updated: 09/11/2025
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, and Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel/Blue Catfish | Good | 16 - 21" | Fishing cut and prepared baits along the river channel from the south boat ramp all the way to buzzard bay. Try deeper catfish humps and structure near bluffs. Remember there is a 35" minimum length limit on Blue Catfish at Kanopolis Reservoir. |
| Crappie | Good | 10 to 14+ inches | Try the deeper structure, brush piles, or the river channel with 1/16 oz. jigs and live minnows. |
| Trout | The final trout stocking of the season for the seep stream occurred on 2-10-25. | ||
| Saugeye | Fair | 14 - 22" | Wind blown points and flats in the middle and lower ends of the reservoir are best. Shad imitating swimbaits and jigs tipped with minnows or worms can be productive baits. 1.5 million Saugeye fry were stocked in April and 3,788 Saugeye fingerlings were stocked in June. |
| White Bass | Good | All sizes - up to 17 inches | Casting swimbaits, bucktail jigs, and Kastmaster spoons along wind blown points and areas near the river channel. Using slab spoons or live minnows is also producing some fish right now along brush piles and in the river channel. |
| Wiper | Fair | All sizes | Similar locations and baits as those used for white bass. We are seeing more Wipers in the reservoir with recent successful stockings. Know your identification as the creel limit is 2 per day. 15,000 Wiper fingerlings were stocked in June. |
| General Comment | |||
| Current lake elevation and water temperature is available on the location page linked to this fishing report. It is updated daily by the Corps of Engineers. | |||
Creel Length/Limits
| Fishing Population | Creel Limit | Min Length Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | ||
| Channel Catfish | 10 | |
| Crappie | 20 | |
| Flathead Catfish | 5 | |
| Largemouth Bass | 5 | 15 |
| Saugeye | 5 | 18 |
| Walleye | 5 | 18 |
| Wiper | 2 | |
| Trout | 5 | |
| Blue Catfish | 5 | 35 |
* Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted Bass in Combination
** Striped Bass or Wiper in Combination
*** Walleye, Sauger or Saugeye in Combination
Fishing Forecast Information
View Fishing Forecast definitions
| NAME | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big fish | Bio rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (>14") | (>18") | (>22") | (lbs.) | BR | |
| SEBELIUS | 9.17 | 3.57 | 0.57 | 6.41 | G |
| COUNCIL GROVE | 3.16 | 2.02 | 0.36 | 6.87 | G |
| POMONA | 1.75 | 0.38 | 0.00 | 3.39 | G |
| KANOPOLIS | 1.62 | 0.72 | 0.17 | 6.78 | G |
| MELVERN | 1.41 | 0.04 | 0.00 | 2.09 | F |
| CLINTON | 1.35 | 0.08 | 0.00 | 2.26 | G |
| TUTTLE CREEK | 0.91 | 0.25 | 0.02 | 4.81 | F |
| WEBSTER | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.09 | 4.48 | F |
| ELK CITY | 0.03 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.11 | F |
| NAME | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big fish | Bio rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (>20") | (>28") | (>34") | (lbs.) | BR | |
| KIRWIN | 39.73 | 19.71 | 12.95 | 48.41 | G |
| SEBELIUS | 34.44 | 27.66 | 22.47 | 65.42 | G |
| LOVEWELL | 23.90 | 15.64 | 8.70 | 56.83 | G |
| GLEN ELDER | 23.56 | 10.10 | 5.07 | 65.29 | G |
| HILLSDALE | 21.54 | 15.38 | 5.38 | 51.76 | F |
| WEBSTER | 21.34 | 11.27 | 4.98 | 37.67 | F |
| WILSON | 15.79 | 9.19 | 2.64 | 46.26 | G |
| KANOPOLIS | 11.02 | 5.63 | 0.62 | 30.29 | G |
| CHENEY | 8.70 | 6.52 | 3.17 | 66.74 | F |
| TORONTO | 5.40 | 1.79 | 0.45 | 41.59 | G |
| FALL RIVER | 3.32 | 1.56 | 0.78 | 32.62 | G |
| CLINTON | 0.26 | 0.16 | 0.16 | 66.08 | F |
| NAME | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big fish | Bio rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (>15") | (>20") | (>25") | (lbs.) | BR | |
| MARION | 3.54 | 0.46 | 0.00 | 4.65 | G |
| KIRWIN | 2.92 | 0.44 | 0.03 | 6.44 | G |
| EL DORADO | 2.65 | 1.10 | 0.08 | 7.08 | G |
| WEBSTER | 2.59 | 0.88 | 0.06 | 6.32 | G |
| CEDAR BLUFF | 2.53 | 0.55 | 0.02 | 6.13 | G |
| MILFORD | 2.20 | 0.42 | 0.00 | 5.34 | G |
| WILSON | 1.98 | 1.03 | 0.04 | 6.41 | G |
| GLEN ELDER | 1.86 | 0.27 | 0.03 | 6.61 | F |
| HILLSDALE | 1.19 | 0.40 | 0.10 | 7.06 | G |
| CHENEY | 1.05 | 0.55 | 0.10 | 6.79 | P |
| WOLF CREEK | 0.81 | 0.31 | 0.04 | 6.56 | F |
| LOVEWELL | 0.76 | 0.38 | 0.00 | 5.56 | F |
| POMONA | 0.40 | 0.13 | 0.00 | 4.16 | F |
| MELVERN | 0.37 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 4.45 | F |
| CLINTON | 0.37 | 0.06 | 0.02 | 8.37 | F |
| BIG HILL | 0.20 | 0.03 | 0.00 | 4.85 | F |
| KANOPOLIS | 0.08 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 5.83 | P |
| NAME | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big fish | Bio rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (>8") | (>10") | (>12") | (lbs.) | BR | |
| CEDAR BLUFF | 14.18 | 5.02 | 0.12 | 1.29 | G |
| SEBELIUS | 8.87 | 6.40 | 1.23 | 1.33 | G |
| KIRWIN | 3.27 | 3.19 | 1.81 | 1.94 | G |
| KANOPOLIS | 3.00 | 2.47 | 0.58 | 1.27 | G |
| WEBSTER | 2.95 | 1.50 | 0.02 | 1.40 | G |
| MARION | 2.62 | 0.85 | 0.08 | 1.09 | F |
| LOVEWELL | 1.51 | 0.76 | 0.07 | 1.43 | F |
| HILLSDALE | 1.36 | 0.23 | 0.00 | 0.56 | G |
| JOHN REDMOND | 1.33 | 0.08 | 0.08 | 1.29 | P |
| MILFORD | 1.15 | 0.90 | 0.06 | 2.07 | F |
| BIG HILL | 0.73 | 0.13 | 0.00 | 0.53 | F |
| CLINTON | 0.71 | 0.51 | 0.02 | 0.93 | F |
| GLEN ELDER | 0.52 | 0.30 | 0.07 | 1.11 | F |
| TORONTO | 0.38 | 0.19 | 0.06 | 1.26 | P |
| WOLF CREEK | 0.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.39 | P |
| POMONA | 0.30 | 0.13 | 0.05 | 1.44 | P |
| PERRY | 0.25 | 0.13 | 0.03 | 1.60 | P |
| WILSON | 0.22 | 0.20 | 0.07 | 1.68 | P |
| LACYGNE | 0.21 | 0.12 | 0.00 | 0.93 | P |
| FALL RIVER | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.02 | 1.14 | P |
| TUTTLE CREEK | 0.07 | 0.05 | 0.02 | 1.09 | P |
| EL DORADO | 0.06 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.31 | P |
| MELVERN | 0.04 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 0.63 | P |
| COUNCIL GROVE | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.07 | P |
| ELK CITY | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.05 | P |
| NAME | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big fish | Bio rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (>6") | (>8") | (>10") | (lbs.) | BR | |
| SEBELIUS | 27.13 | 8.40 | 0.00 | 0.64 | G |
| CEDAR BLUFF | 8.82 | 0.12 | 0.00 | 0.40 | F |
| HILLSDALE | 4.75 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 0.34 | G |
| LACYGNE | 4.47 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.31 | P |
| BIG HILL | 4.23 | 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.36 | G |
| KANOPOLIS | 3.42 | 0.03 | 0.00 | 0.39 | G |
| WEBSTER | 2.69 | 0.57 | 0.00 | 0.60 | F |
| MILFORD | 2.31 | 0.44 | 0.00 | 0.52 | F |
| CLINTON | 1.83 | 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.52 | F |
| LOVEWELL | 1.17 | 0.05 | 0.00 | 0.43 | P |
| WILSON | 0.96 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.28 | G |
| PERRY | 0.88 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.32 | F |
| MARION | 0.62 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.39 | P |
| WOLF CREEK | 0.60 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.18 | P |
| EL DORADO | 0.56 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.23 | P |
| MELVERN | 0.40 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 0.37 | P |
| TUTTLE CREEK | 0.36 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.25 | P |
| POMONA | 0.35 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.22 | P |
| GLEN ELDER | 0.34 | 0.14 | 0.00 | 0.70 | P |
| KIRWIN | 0.33 | 0.04 | 0.00 | 0.52 | F |
| FALL RIVER | 0.19 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.25 | P |
| COUNCIL GROVE | 0.17 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.22 | F |
| TORONTO | 0.13 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.23 | P |
| ELK CITY | 0.03 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.22 | P |
| NAME | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big fish | Bio rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (>16") | (>24") | (>28") | (lbs.) | BR | |
| BIG HILL | 8.07 | 0.77 | 0.10 | 9.05 | G |
| LOVEWELL | 6.36 | 1.05 | 0.11 | 11.81 | G |
| HILLSDALE | 5.74 | 0.64 | 0.07 | 11.01 | G |
| KANOPOLIS | 4.00 | 0.43 | 0.02 | 9.93 | G |
| MARION | 3.69 | 0.23 | 0.06 | 18.72 | G |
| WILSON | 3.40 | 0.48 | 0.02 | 10.11 | G |
| CHENEY | 2.70 | 0.50 | 0.10 | 14.81 | G |
| TORONTO | 2.69 | 1.86 | 0.47 | 11.33 | G |
| FALL RIVER | 2.10 | 1.58 | 0.68 | 11.21 | G |
| PERRY | 1.94 | 0.41 | 0.04 | 7.93 | G |
| MELVERN | 1.87 | 0.11 | 0.02 | 6.48 | G |
| GLEN ELDER | 1.86 | 0.47 | 0.16 | 16.60 | G |
| LACYGNE | 1.78 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.52 | G |
| POMONA | 1.65 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 11.96 | G |
| COUNCIL GROVE | 1.53 | 0.20 | 0.09 | 9.41 | F |
| CEDAR BLUFF | 1.50 | 0.35 | 0.05 | 14.15 | G |
| CLINTON | 1.29 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 5.86 | G |
| WEBSTER | 1.21 | 0.21 | 0.00 | 8.39 | F |
| KIRWIN | 1.19 | 0.22 | 0.03 | 10.72 | G |
| ELK CITY | 1.17 | 0.10 | 0.00 | 5.37 | G |
| JOHN REDMOND | 1.13 | 0.33 | 0.05 | 9.59 | G |
| EL DORADO | 0.70 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.84 | F |
| TUTTLE CREEK | 0.47 | 0.13 | 0.04 | 8.59 | F |
| MILFORD | 0.45 | 0.05 | 0.00 | 5.21 | F |
| WOLF CREEK | 0.38 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.50 | G |
| SEBELIUS | 0.37 | 0.23 | 0.17 | 22.56 | G |
| NAME | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big fish | Bio rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (>9") | (>12") | (>15") | (lbs.) | BR | |
| MARION | 20.74 | 11.60 | 0.43 | 1.87 | E |
| GLEN ELDER | 16.05 | 13.77 | 3.38 | 3.07 | E |
| CEDAR BLUFF | 14.66 | 14.16 | 3.66 | 2.25 | E |
| WEBSTER | 10.50 | 7.29 | 0.09 | 2.73 | G |
| POMONA | 9.18 | 6.30 | 0.80 | 2.20 | G |
| KANOPOLIS | 6.87 | 5.80 | 0.37 | 2.47 | G |
| PERRY | 6.78 | 4.45 | 0.18 | 2.20 | G |
| TORONTO | 6.39 | 4.14 | 1.58 | 2.69 | G |
| KIRWIN | 6.25 | 5.25 | 0.64 | 2.18 | G |
| WOLF CREEK | 5.62 | 2.73 | 0.17 | 1.98 | G |
| CLINTON | 5.54 | 3.56 | 0.85 | 2.32 | G |
| MILFORD | 5.22 | 4.47 | 0.58 | 2.13 | G |
| FALL RIVER | 4.26 | 3.00 | 1.13 | 3.02 | G |
| LOVEWELL | 3.80 | 2.38 | 0.25 | 2.26 | F |
| BIG HILL | 3.50 | 2.10 | 0.00 | 1.73 | G |
| MELVERN | 2.98 | 2.50 | 0.37 | 2.38 | G |
| COUNCIL GROVE | 2.98 | 1.62 | 0.18 | 2.23 | G |
| WILSON | 2.64 | 2.52 | 1.52 | 2.96 | G |
| JOHN REDMOND | 2.63 | 1.70 | 0.82 | 3.24 | G |
| HILLSDALE | 2.52 | 1.95 | 0.10 | 1.43 | G |
| LACYGNE | 2.49 | 0.27 | 0.12 | 1.81 | G |
| EL DORADO | 2.05 | 1.60 | 0.33 | 2.47 | F |
| ELK CITY | 1.90 | 1.33 | 0.23 | 2.80 | F |
| TUTTLE CREEK | 0.31 | 0.18 | 0.02 | 1.96 | P |
| CHENEY | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.10 | 2.09 | P |
| Waterbody | Density | Preferred | Lunker | 3 yr avg | Size | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sebelius Reservoir | 267.22 | 82.69 | 1.03 | 5.24 | Reservoir | G |
| Wilson Reservoir | 62.91 | 44.38 | 0.39 | 5.63 | Reservoir | G |
| Webster Reservoir | 45.72 | 29.11 | 0.00 | 3.80 | Reservoir | F |
| Big Hill Reservoir | 38.62 | 16.46 | 0.64 | 6.81 | Reservoir | G |
| Kirwin Reservoir | 37.30 | 28.81 | 0.00 | 3.72 | Reservoir | F |
| LaCygne Reservoir | 35.01 | 26.89 | 1.96 | 7.70 | Reservoir | G |
| Melvern Reservoir | 25.37 | 6.34 | 0.00 | 2.86 | Reservoir | G |
| Cedar Bluff Reservoir | 22.06 | 7.49 | 0.09 | 5.83 | Reservoir | G |
| Glen Elder Reservoir | 20.90 | 11.69 | 0.07 | 4.92 | Reservoir | G |
| Kanopolis Reservoir | 17.03 | 2.14 | 0.53 | 4.85 | Reservoir | F |
| Milford Reservoir | 15.89 | 3.94 | 0.00 | 4.21 | Reservoir | F |
| El Dorado Reservoir | 12.86 | 5.36 | 0.21 | 3.94 | Reservoir | F |
| Wolf Creek Reservoir | 12.44 | 9.42 | 0.79 | 5.49 | Reservoir | F |
| Clinton Reservoir | 9.56 | 3.75 | 0.00 | 4.75 | Reservoir | F |
| Perry Reservoir | 4.74 | 2.70 | 0.27 | 6.00 | Reservoir | P |
| Lovewell Reservoir | 2.94 | 2.35 | 0.00 | 4.56 | Reservoir | P |
| Hillsdale Reservoir | 1.77 | 1.35 | 0.00 | 3.01 | Reservoir | P |
| Toronto Reservoir | 1.50 | 1.50 | 0.00 | 3.71 | Reservoir | P |
| Waterbody | Density | Preferred | Lunker | 3 yr avg | Size | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melvern Reservoir | 34.23 | 14.91 | 1.41 | 1.61 | Reservoir | E |
| Sebelius Reservoir | 28.53 | 15.00 | 1.83 | 1.54 | Reservoir | G |
| Lovewell Reservoir | 26.88 | 10.54 | 1.02 | 2.50 | Reservoir | G |
| Hillsdale Reservoir | 25.52 | 11.45 | 1.52 | 1.29 | Reservoir | E |
| Perry Reservoir | 25.45 | 14.03 | 0.38 | 1.42 | Reservoir | G |
| Cedar Bluff Reservoir | 24.71 | 5.51 | 0.43 | 1.80 | Reservoir | G |
| Toronto Reservoir | 18.51 | 5.83 | 1.91 | 2.40 | Reservoir | G |
| Elk City Reservoir | 15.49 | 5.57 | 1.35 | 2.40 | Reservoir | G |
| LaCygne Reservoir | 15.07 | 5.95 | 0.45 | 2.30 | Reservoir | G |
| Clinton Reservoir | 10.61 | 3.46 | 0.24 | 1.37 | Reservoir | G |
| Kirwin Reservoir | 10.31 | 9.56 | 6.06 | 2.06 | Reservoir | G |
| Wolf Creek Reservoir | 8.93 | 3.27 | 0.57 | 1.64 | Reservoir | F |
| Tuttle Creek Reservoir | 7.57 | 4.68 | 1.05 | 1.69 | Reservoir | G |
| Pomona Reservoir | 7.41 | 3.11 | 0.18 | 1.73 | Reservoir | G |
| Big Hill Reservoir | 7.40 | 3.43 | 0.27 | 1.19 | Reservoir | G |
| Marion Reservoir | 6.67 | 2.67 | 0.33 | 1.09 | Reservoir | G |
| Milford Reservoir | 6.54 | 3.75 | 0.58 | 1.90 | Reservoir | G |
| Fall River Reservoir | 6.06 | 1.85 | 0.44 | 2.58 | Reservoir | G |
| El Dorado Reservoir | 5.93 | 2.29 | 0.82 | 1.59 | Reservoir | G |
| Council Grove Reservoir | 5.89 | 3.22 | 1.33 | 1.87 | Reservoir | F |
| Kanopolis Reservoir | 5.67 | 3.58 | 0.50 | 1.43 | Reservoir | G |
| Webster Reservoir | 5.38 | 2.90 | 0.17 | 1.79 | Reservoir | G |
| Glen Elder Reservoir | 3.33 | 1.38 | 0.46 | 1.91 | Reservoir | F |
| John Redmond Reservoir | 1.71 | 0.79 | 0.25 | 3.04 | Reservoir | F |
| Wilson Reservoir | 0.73 | 0.31 | 0.13 | 1.68 | Reservoir | P |
| Waterbody | Density | Preferred | Lunker | 3 yr avg | Size | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sebelius Reservoir | 44.40 | 9.50 | 0.00 | 1.21 | Reservoir | G |
| Cedar Bluff Reservoir | 15.33 | 0.22 | 0.00 | 0.44 | Reservoir | F |
| Hillsdale Reservoir | 6.09 | 0.07 | 0.00 | 0.46 | Reservoir | F |
| LaCygne Reservoir | 4.50 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.31 | Reservoir | F |
| Kanopolis Reservoir | 3.81 | 0.03 | 0.00 | 0.39 | Reservoir | G |
| Wilson Reservoir | 3.53 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.33 | Reservoir | G |
| Webster Reservoir | 2.94 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.50 | Reservoir | F |
| Big Hill Reservoir | 2.63 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 0.62 | Reservoir | G |
| Lovewell Reservoir | 2.56 | 0.05 | 0.00 | 0.43 | Reservoir | P |
| Marion Reservoir | 2.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.39 | Reservoir | F |
| Milford Reservoir | 1.44 | 0.35 | 0.00 | 0.52 | Reservoir | P |
| Clinton Reservoir | 1.20 | 0.07 | 0.00 | 0.52 | Reservoir | F |
| Kirwin Reservoir | 0.83 | 0.06 | 0.00 | 0.59 | Reservoir | F |
| Perry Reservoir | 0.60 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.32 | Reservoir | P |
| Melvern Reservoir | 0.52 | 0.05 | 0.02 | 0.37 | Reservoir | P |
| El Dorado Reservoir | 0.36 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.23 | Reservoir | F |
| Tuttle Creek Reservoir | 0.32 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.25 | Reservoir | P |
| Glen Elder Reservoir | 0.30 | 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.70 | Reservoir | P |
| Wolf Creek Reservoir | 0.30 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.18 | Reservoir | P |
| Fall River Reservoir | 0.29 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.26 | Reservoir | F |
| Pomona Reservoir | 0.23 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.43 | Reservoir | P |
| Council Grove Reservoir | 0.14 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.21 | Reservoir | P |
| Toronto Reservoir | 0.13 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.23 | Reservoir | P |
| Elk City Reservoir | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.13 | Reservoir | P |
Trout Stocking Information
View Trout Stocking Program Information
Northwest Region Trout Stocking Schedule
Department-owned Waters – Trout Stockings by KDWP
| Northwest Region |
Webster Reservoir Stilling Basin |
Glen Elder (added for 2025-2026 |
Kanopolis Seep Stream | Sherman County Smoky Gardens |
| 1st Stocking | ||||
| 2nd Stocking | ||||
| 3rd Stocking | ||||
|
Total Estimated Trout Stocked for 2025-26 Season | 6,900 Trout | 1,500 Trout | 5,100 trout | 1,350 trout |
Community Lake Stockings - Please contact local city offices for dates of stockings if not listed below
| Northwest Region |
Colby Villa High 785-460-4400 |
Salina Lakewood Lake 785-826-7275 |
| 1st Stocking | Nov. 25 | Nov. 27 |
| 2nd Stocking | Jan. 14 | |
| 3rd Stocking | Feb. 26 | Feb. 10 |
|
Total Estimated Trout Stocked for 2024-25 Season |
Map Information