Ottawa State Fishing Lake Fishing Information
Counties:
GPS:
N39 6 20.76 W97 34 30.05
Surface Acres:
111 acres
Maximum Depth:
15 feet
Normal Lake Level:
This lake stays full most of the time due to two creeks that run in on the upper end.
Hays Regional Office 785-628-8614
Ottawa State Fishing Lake Fishing Report - Updated: 01/26/2026
| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method, Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Fair to Good | 12-18 inches | No angler reports. While bass should be feeding heavily before winter, cold temps will eventually slow the bite down. Fish slower, deeper, and with smaller baits during winter. Fish can be caught around rocky jetties and brushpiles using wacky worms, Senkos, Ned Rigs, spinnerbaits, roadrunners, and crankbaits. |
| Bluegill/Sunfish | Good | 5 to 7 Inches | No angler reports. Look for bluegill around the rocks on the piers, shoreline vegetation, and around any brush in the water. Worms and small jigs are a good bet. These guys can be caught throughout the year using a variety of techniques. Some anglers prefer to fly fish with small nymphs or dry flies fished on the surface. |
| Channel Catfish | Fair to Good | 12-25 inches | No angler reports. Fish can be caught just about anywhere on the lake. Anglers should try using shad sides, shad gizzards, shrimp, nightcrawlers, and chicken liver. Targeting inflow is a popular method as the catfish will congregate there to feed. The shallow upper end is a great area to find big catfish on warm days. Colder temps will cause catfish to congregate in deep holes. |
| Saugeye | Fair | 18-25 inches | No angler reports. The best number of Saugeye can be found on the upper end around the jetties and other rocky areas. Jig and crawler, large shiners, crankbaits, and swim baits are all good options to use for catching Saugeye now. Anglers will also find some around the brush piles and off the ends of the jetties closest to the dam. Sometimes Saugeye will be actively feeding up on the shorelines at night. |
| Crappie | Good | 8-15 inches | No angler reports. Anglers should target the brush piles and other submerged structure with minnows and jigs. Anglers are encouraged to harvest high numbers of crappie to help maintain a desirable level. Our recent sample indicated there are very high numbers of crappie in the lake now and anglers could have great success throughout the year. |
| General Comments | |||
| Water Temperature-- 32ºF Ice Report: No ice report yet. Please be cautious if going out on the ice. Don't go alone and wear a life jacket. CAUTION: LONGER BOAT TRAILERS MAY FALL OFF EDGE OF BOAT RAMP WHEN WATER IS LOW | |||
Creel Length/Limits
| Fishing Population | Creel Limit | Min Length Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | ||
| Black Bullhead | ||
| Channel Catfish | 5 | |
| Flathead Catfish | 5 | |
| Largemouth Bass | 5 | 15" |
| Saugeye | 5 | 15" |
| Crappie | 50 |
* Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted Bass in Combination
** Striped Bass or Wiper in Combination
*** Walleye, Sauger or Saugeye in Combination
Map Information