Marion Reservoir Fishing Information

Counties:

Marion

GPS:

N38 22 3.72 W97 5 22.07

Surface Acres:

6,160 acres

Maximum Depth:

N/A

Normal Lake Level:

1350.5 conservation pool

View Live Lake Information

Marion, KS

2101 Located just north of US 56 between the communities of Marion and Hillsboro

US Army Corps of Engineers 620-382-2101

Marion Reservoir Fishing Report - Updated: 10/03/2025

Species	Rating	Size	Baits, Method & Location
Zebra Mussels			Zebra mussels can be found attached to rocks lakewide. Zebra mussel veligers are too small to be seen with the unaided eye and they can be found in boat livewells, minnow buckets, boat bilges, water toys and anything else that is capable of holding even a small amount of water. Be sure to drain all equipment before leaving the lake to avoid moving veligers to other waters. THIS INCLUDES MINNOW BUCKETS, BOAT LIVEWELLS AND BILGES!
Channel Cat	Fair to Good	14 to 24 inches	Cats are being caught on windy points and shorelines. Fresh cut bait and stink baits are good baits for channel catfish. Cats also being caught by drifting nightcrawlers on flats and breaks.
White Crappie	Fair	up to 13 inches	20/day creel limit Crappie are being caught from main lake brush piles in water 9 to 15 feet deep on jigs and minnows.
Walleye	Slow	up to 23 inches	NEW WALLEYE HARVEST REGULATIONS EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2022. 18 INCH MINIMUM LENGTH LIMIT 3/DAY CREEL LIMIT WITH NO MORE THAN ONE FISH 21 INCHES OR LONGER. Fish are on flats and points. Drifting jig and crawler combos or pulling medium sized crankbaits are good later summer/early fall techniques for walleye. Anglers are reporting slow activity for walleye at Marion right now.
White Bass	Good	up to 14 inch	Points, humps, and windblown shorelines on grubs, spinners, or spoons. Also trolling crankbaits. Watch for surface feeding activity.
Wiper	Good	18 to 24 inches	See white bass report
Coordinates for habitat cubes			4 cubes N38 22.450’ W 097 04.669’ 4 cubes N38 22.455’ W 097 04.664’ 4 cubes N38 22.426’ W 097 04.694’ 3 cubes N38 22.757’ W 097.05.227’ 3 cubes N38 22.763’ W 097 05.211’ 3 cubes N38 23.407’ W 097 05.460’ 2 cubes N38 23.467’ W 097 05.384’ 2 cubes N38 23.478’ W 097 05.399’ 4 cubes N38 23.481’ W 097 05.408’
Coordinates for brushpiles and cubes.	The first 3 coordinates are for one large brushpile.	Coordinates mark areas with multiple habitat structures in the area.	N 38 21.907' W 097 05.562' N 38 21.912' W 097.05.560' N 38 21.920' W 097.05.557' N 38 22.425' W 097 04.697' N 38 22.767' W 097 05.208' N 38 22.757' W 097 05.227' N 38 23.250' W 097 05.491' N 38 23.357' W 097 05.470'
Coordinates for brushpiles		Near shore brushpile placements fishable from shore in Cottonwood Cove.	N 38 23.438' W 097 05.398' N 38 23.436' W 097 05.404' N 38 23.428' W 097 05.402' N 38 23.426' W 097 05.405' N 38 23.499' W 097 05.393' N 38 23.489' W 097 05.399' N 38 23.480' W 097 05.401' N 38 23.472' W 097 05.398'
Coordinates for brushpiles constructed March 2018			N 38 24.459' W 097 06.907' N 38 24.450' W 097 06.975' N 38 22.685' W 097 06.279' N 38 22.680' W 097 06.279' N 38 22.216' W 097 06.065'
Coordinates for historical habitat sites that had brush added to them in March 2018.			N 38 21.911' W 097 05.569' N 38 22.426' W 097 04.702' N 38 22.776' W 097 05.220'
Coordinates for brushpiles constructed April 2019			N 38 23.464' W 097 05.412' N 38 23.149' W 097 05.476' N 38 23.169' W 097 05.516'
General Comments
0.03 ft above normal pool, releasing 8 CFS. Click HERE for the most up to date lake level information.

Creel Length/Limits

Fishing Population	Creel Limit	Min Length Limit
Channel Catfish	10
Flathead Catfish	5
Largemouth Bass	5	18
Walleye	3 with no more more than one over 21	18
Wiper	5
Crappie	20
Bluegill
Black Bullhead
White Bass

* 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

+Walleye Forecast

WALLEYE	(>15")	(>20")	(>25")	(lbs.)	Fishing Rating
RESERVOIR
MARION	4.24	3.32	0.68	6.01	F
KIRWIN	2.75	1.31	0.19	6.44	G
CEDAR BLUFF	2.62	1.20	0.34	6.68	G
CHENEY	2.14	1.78	1.16	7.59	F
EL DORADO	1.84	1.47	0.61	7.08	G
WEBSTER	1.72	1.00	0.38	6.22	F
MILFORD	1.62	1.08	0.42	6.35	F
WILSON	1.56	1.36	0.60	6.41	G
HILLSDALE	1.12	0.90	0.43	7.06	G
WOLF CREEK	0.91	0.70	0.24	6.56	F
GLEN ELDER	0.81	0.53	0.07	6.03	F
POMONA	0.75	0.42	0.11	4.16	G
LOVEWELL	0.38	0.27	0.14	7.37	F
BIG HILL	0.33	0.20	0.03	4.85	P
CLINTON	0.20	0.13	0.07	8.37	P
MELVERN	0.18	0.05	0.00	3.15	P
KANOPOLIS	0.05	0.05	0.02	5.83	P

+Black Crappie Forecast

BLACK CRAPPIE	(>8")	(>10")	(>12")	(lbs.)	Fishing Rating
RESERVOIR
CEDAR BLUFF	9.88	4.67	0.27	1.27	G
SEBELIUS	5.10	3.03	0.83	1.28	F
KIRWIN	2.77	2.67	1.40	1.94	F
MARION	2.39	1.00	0.11	1.09	P
KANOPOLIS	2.00	1.64	0.39	1.24	G
WEBSTER	1.53	0.97	0.00	0.89	P
LOVEWELL	1.13	0.69	0.13	2.31	F
MILFORD	0.94	0.23	0.06	2.07	F
HILLSDALE	0.91	0.05	0.00	0.49	F
BIG HILL	0.63	0.13	0.00	0.53	F
GLEN ELDER	0.44	0.24	0.04	1.02	P
CLINTON	0.42	0.21	0.03	0.93	P
POMONA	0.29	0.12	0.05	1.44	F
TUTTLE CREEK	0.23	0.07	0.02	1.09	P
LACYGNE	0.21	0.12	0.00	0.93	P
TORONTO	0.21	0.04	0.02	1.26	P
PERRY	0.20	0.09	0.02	1.60	P
WILSON	0.18	0.16	0.04	1.22	F
WOLF CREEK	0.07	0.00	0.00	0.28	P
MELVERN	0.04	0.02	0.00	0.63	P
EL DORADO	0.04	0.00	0.00	0.31	P
FALL RIVER	0.02	0.02	0.00	0.54	P
COUNCIL GROVE	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.07	P

+White Bass Forecast

WHITE BASS	(>9")	(>12")	(>15")	(lbs.)	Fishing Rating
RESERVOIR
GLEN ELDER	19.97	18.29	3.26	3.07	G
CEDAR BLUFF	19.86	18.20	6.75	2.16	E
MARION	12.32	5.97	0.18	1.85	G
POMONA	8.89	6.75	1.03	2.20	G
WEBSTER	8.31	6.81	0.06	1.99	G
BIG HILL	7.07	5.57	0.20	2.07	G
CLINTON	6.44	4.61	0.96	2.42	G
KANOPOLIS	5.63	4.73	0.37	2.08	G
WOLF CREEK	5.56	2.48	0.19	2.07	G
MILFORD	4.58	3.90	0.58	2.13	F
KIRWIN	4.28	3.61	0.39	1.95	G
PERRY	3.85	2.32	0.03	2.20	G
TORONTO	3.58	1.86	0.50	2.51	G
EL DORADO	3.13	2.63	0.58	2.76	F
MELVERN	3.04	2.60	0.58	2.38	G
COUNCIL GROVE	2.84	1.20	0.13	2.19	F
LACYGNE	2.70	0.11	0.08	1.95	G
WILSON	2.41	2.26	1.43	2.82	G
HILLSDALE	2.40	1.50	0.12	1.67	F
FALL RIVER	2.30	1.50	0.60	2.61	G
ELK CITY	1.83	1.27	0.27	2.80	F
JOHN REDMOND	1.77	1.18	0.53	3.61	G
LOVEWELL	1.68	1.29	0.25	2.32	F
TUTTLE CREEK	0.33	0.16	0.02	1.96	F
CHENEY	0.22	0.22	0.16	3.93	P

+Channel Catfish Forecast

CHANNEL CATFISH	(>16")	(>24")	(>28")	(lbs.)	Fishing Rating
RESERVOIR
BIG HILL	8.60	0.83	0.17	9.56	G
HILLSDALE	6.50	0.62	0.07	11.01	E
LOVEWELL	5.18	0.70	0.07	10.72	G
MARION	4.00	0.15	0.03	18.72	G
KANOPOLIS	3.50	0.30	0.02	9.93	G
WILSON	3.38	0.37	0.00	8.87	G
CHENEY	2.76	0.43	0.08	12.42	G
FALL RIVER	2.33	1.77	0.73	12.19	G
PERRY	2.24	0.44	0.05	10.13	G
LACYGNE	2.22	0.05	0.00	6.12	G
TORONTO	1.92	1.14	0.17	9.89	G
COUNCIL GROVE	1.78	0.13	0.04	9.41	F
MELVERN	1.74	0.09	0.02	6.74	G
CLINTON	1.72	0.19	0.00	6.97	G
POMONA	1.67	0.03	0.00	7.53	G
CEDAR BLUFF	1.51	0.40	0.08	15.88	G
GLEN ELDER	1.45	0.42	0.12	16.33	G
KIRWIN	1.33	0.19	0.00	8.78	G
WEBSTER	1.22	0.22	0.00	7.45	G
JOHN REDMOND	1.15	0.39	0.08	12.29	G
ELK CITY	0.80	0.00	0.00	3.92	G
TUTTLE CREEK	0.62	0.15	0.05	13.80	G
EL DORADO	0.55	0.00	0.00	4.22	F
MILFORD	0.50	0.05	0.00	5.96	F
SEBELIUS	0.47	0.30	0.20	19.36	G
WOLF CREEK	0.44	0.00	0.00	3.50	G

+Bluegill Forecast

BLUEGILL	(>6")	(>8")	(>10")	(lbs.)	Fishing Rating
RESERVOIR
SEBELIUS	11.60	5.17	0.00	0.64	G
HILLSDALE	4.98	0.02	0.00	0.35	G
CEDAR BLUFF	4.90	0.15	0.00	0.48	P
BIG HILL	4.20	0.10	0.00	0.36	F
LACYGNE	3.63	0.00	0.00	0.29	P
KANOPOLIS	2.69	0.03	0.00	0.39	G
MILFORD	2.56	0.35	0.00	0.52	F
WEBSTER	2.47	0.56	0.00	0.60	P
LOVEWELL	2.38	0.05	0.00	0.43	P
MARION	1.94	0.00	0.00	0.39	F
CLINTON	1.84	0.11	0.00	0.52	F
PERRY	0.73	0.00	0.00	0.29	F
WILSON	0.67	0.00	0.00	0.26	G
TUTTLE CREEK	0.64	0.00	0.00	0.25	P
MELVERN	0.46	0.00	0.00	0.29	P
FALL RIVER	0.44	0.00	0.00	0.22	P
POMONA	0.32	0.00	0.00	0.22	P
GLEN ELDER	0.22	0.10	0.00	0.56	P
WOLF CREEK	0.20	0.00	0.00	0.17	P
TORONTO	0.19	0.02	0.00	0.17	F
COUNCIL GROVE	0.14	0.00	0.00	0.30	P
KIRWIN	0.10	0.04	0.00	0.45	P
ELK CITY	0.05	0.00	0.00	0.22	P

+Crappie Combined Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Size	Bio rating
Toronto Reservoir	23.25	6.71	2.71	1.84	Reservoir	Excellent
Hillsdale Reservoir	22.36	8.07	1.14	1.59	Reservoir	Excellent
Melvern Reservoir	18.98	10.59	1.33	1.41	Reservoir	Good
Perry Reservoir	16.68	6.61	0.52	1.60	Reservoir	Good
Big Hill Reservoir	13.23	5.93	0.90	1.26	Reservoir	Good
Elk City Reservoir	12.41	7.05	2.51	1.76	Reservoir	Good
LaCygne Reservoir	11.47	5.14	0.37	1.31	Reservoir	Good
Marion Reservoir	11.11	3.89	0.22	1.09	Reservoir	Good
Fall River Reservoir	10.75	3.77	1.31	2.50	Reservoir	Good
Cedar Bluff Reservoir	10.50	4.94	0.52	1.90	Reservoir	Good
Pomona Reservoir	10.49	5.05	0.83	1.88	Reservoir	Good
John Redmond Reservoir	9.53	9.00	1.67	1.71	Reservoir	Good
Council Grove Reservoir	9.50	1.36	0.33	1.83	Reservoir	Good
Tuttle Creek Reservoir	8.27	5.61	0.84	1.54	Reservoir	Good
Clinton Reservoir	8.03	4.11	0.37	1.37	Reservoir	Good
Sebelius Reservoir	7.37	4.27	1.00	1.28	Reservoir	Fair
Kanopolis Reservoir	5.75	2.53	0.44	1.24	Reservoir	Good
El Dorado Reservoir	5.11	2.89	0.54	1.70	Reservoir	Good
Lovewell Reservoir	4.36	2.51	0.38	2.31	Reservoir	Good
Kirwin Reservoir	3.96	3.50	1.96	1.94	Reservoir	Fair
Webster Reservoir	3.92	1.75	0.06	1.06	Reservoir	Fair
Milford Reservoir	3.71	2.08	0.58	2.07	Reservoir	Fair
Glen Elder Reservoir	1.25	0.76	0.13	1.41	Reservoir	Fair
Wolf Creek Reservoir	1.07	0.33	0.00	0.59	Reservoir	Fair
Wilson Reservoir	0.98	0.33	0.16	1.30	Reservoir	Fair

+Sunfish Combined Forecast

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

+Percids Combined Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Size	Bio rating
Sebelius Reservoir	6.87	3.83	0.87	6.41	Reservoir	Fair
Marion Reservoir	4.24	3.32	0.68	6.01	Reservoir	Fair
Kirwin Reservoir	2.75	1.31	0.19	6.44	Reservoir	Good
Pomona Reservoir	2.69	1.14	0.22	5.18	Reservoir	Good
Cedar Bluff Reservoir	2.62	1.20	0.34	6.68	Reservoir	Good
Council Grove Reservoir	2.58	1.82	0.73	6.82	Reservoir	Good
Cheney Reservoir	2.32	1.78	1.16	7.59	Reservoir	Fair
Perry Reservoir	2.17	0.61	0.00	3.27	Reservoir	Excellent
Melvern Reservoir	2.16	0.21	0.00	3.15	Reservoir	Good
El Dorado Reservoir	1.84	1.47	0.61	7.08	Reservoir	Good
Webster Reservoir	1.75	1.03	0.41	6.22	Reservoir	Fair
Milford Reservoir	1.62	1.08	0.42	6.35	Reservoir	Fair
Wilson Reservoir	1.56	1.36	0.60	6.41	Reservoir	Good
Clinton Reservoir	1.44	0.28	0.07	8.37	Reservoir	Good
Kanopolis Reservoir	1.15	0.73	0.38	6.78	Reservoir	Good
Hillsdale Reservoir	1.12	0.90	0.43	7.06	Reservoir	Good
Wolf Creek Reservoir	0.91	0.70	0.24	6.56	Reservoir	Fair
Glen Elder Reservoir	0.81	0.53	0.07	6.03	Reservoir	Fair
Tuttle Creek Reservoir	0.71	0.38	0.04	4.81	Reservoir	Good
Lovewell Reservoir	0.38	0.27	0.14	7.37	Reservoir	Fair
Big Hill Reservoir	0.33	0.20	0.03	4.85	Reservoir	Poor
Elk City Reservoir	0.00	0.00	0.00	1.11	Reservoir	Poor

+Temperate Basses Combined Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Size	Bio rating
Cedar Bluff Reservoir	21.60	4.06	2.22	14.57	Reservoir	Good
Glen Elder Reservoir	19.25	2.49	0.78	8.60	Reservoir	Good
Marion Reservoir	15.59	5.26	1.35	6.33	Reservoir	Excellent
Kirwin Reservoir	10.11	6.25	0.75	7.63	Reservoir	Good
Webster Reservoir	9.78	2.53	0.72	10.77	Reservoir	Fair
Pomona Reservoir	9.22	2.81	0.97	5.12	Reservoir	Good
Milford Reservoir	7.65	2.22	0.78	8.02	Reservoir	Good
Sebelius Reservoir	7.17	6.40	3.87	8.75	Reservoir	Good
Clinton Reservoir	7.13	2.04	0.19	5.98	Reservoir	Excellent
Big Hill Reservoir	5.40	0.03	0.00	2.07	Reservoir	Good
Kanopolis Reservoir	5.25	0.47	0.17	7.28	Reservoir	Good
El Dorado Reservoir	4.71	1.24	0.39	7.36	Reservoir	Fair
Lovewell Reservoir	3.70	1.64	0.88	8.57	Reservoir	Fair
Wilson Reservoir	2.67	1.28	0.38	12.26	Reservoir	Good
Melvern Reservoir	2.44	0.12	0.00	2.38	Reservoir	Good
Perry Reservoir	2.29	0.02	0.00	2.20	Reservoir	Good
Wolf Creek Reservoir	2.09	0.13	0.02	4.25	Reservoir	Good
Toronto Reservoir	1.78	0.08	0.00	2.51	Reservoir	Good
Cheney Reservoir	1.54	1.35	0.24	10.30	Reservoir	Poor
Fall River Reservoir	1.43	0.37	0.00	2.61	Reservoir	Good
John Redmond Reservoir	1.35	0.39	0.00	3.61	Reservoir	Good
LaCygne Reservoir	1.35	1.05	0.00	4.38	Reservoir	Fair
Hillsdale Reservoir	1.31	0.07	0.02	1.67	Reservoir	Fair
Elk City Reservoir	1.23	0.17	0.00	2.80	Reservoir	Fair
Council Grove Reservoir	1.13	0.04	0.00	2.19	Reservoir	Fair
Tuttle Creek Reservoir	0.15	0.00	0.00	1.96	Reservoir	Fair

+Wiper Forecast

WIPER	(>16")	(>20")	(>24")	(lbs.)	Fishing Rating
RESERVOIR
SEBELIUS	6.37	3.77	0.03	8.75	G
KIRWIN	6.22	0.67	0.03	7.63	G
MARION	5.00	1.35	0.00	6.33	E
CEDAR BLUFF	3.25	2.22	0.69	14.57	G
POMONA	2.75	0.97	0.03	5.12	G
WEBSTER	2.47	0.72	0.22	10.77	F
MILFORD	2.17	0.75	0.03	8.02	G
CLINTON	1.74	0.17	0.00	5.98	E
GLEN ELDER	1.66	0.75	0.07	8.60	G
LOVEWELL	1.57	0.84	0.07	8.57	G
CHENEY	1.16	0.24	0.03	10.30	F
EL DORADO	1.05	0.39	0.05	7.36	F
LACYGNE	0.86	0.00	0.00	4.38	F
KANOPOLIS	0.42	0.17	0.02	7.28	G
JOHN REDMOND	0.18	0.00	0.00	3.25	P
WOLF CREEK	0.02	0.02	0.00	4.25	P

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Marion Reservoir Fishing Information