| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method & Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crappie | Good | up to 15 inches |
| |
| White Bass | Fair | up to 16 inches | White Bass can be found in schools near drop-offs and river channel edges. Spoons, crankbaits, or jigs will produce bites. | |
| Walleye/Saugeye/Sauger | Good | 15-20 inches | Walleye can be found on mudflats near channel edges in 10-15ft. Slow trolling night crawlers or casting jigs are effective techniques. | |
| Catfish | Good | up to 40lbs. | Blue Catfish can be caught near river channels and wind-blown shorelines. Cut bait produces the most bites. Channel Catfish are spawning and can be found on rocky shorelines, creeks, and timber. Nightcrawlers produce bites. | |
| Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass | Good | 1-5 lb | Bass are preparing to spawn by making spawning beds in the shallows near structure. Tube jigs or plastics that imitate crayfish will produce bites. | |
| General Comments | ||||
| Spring -Summer Fishing Summary: Many sport fish species have completed their annual spawn. Species such as catfish and bass will continue to display spawning activity in the coming weeks. Shore fishing should remain good until water temperatures reach summer peak, when fish typically move to deeper offshore structure. Raising water levels and high inflows can have mixed effects on fishing conditions. Fish may concentrate on creeks and river mouths where inflows enter the lake. Fish can be in the shallows, taking advantage of newly submerged terrestrial habitat. NEW BLUE CATFISH HARVEST REGULATIONS 10 fish daily creel limit, only 1 fish 30" or longer Fisheries biologists continue to study Kansas blue catfish and the research is showing reservoirs with lower population densities exhibit the best growth rates which equates to greater numbers of larger fish available to anglers. Growth rates of blue catfish are variable across Kansas. Time required for a blue catfish to reach 30 inches is as short as 8 years at Tuttle Creek Reservoir to as long as 14 years at El Dorado Reservoir. Due to the time required to grow to larger sizes, these older and larger fish are quite valuable. Angler harvest is necessary to provide desired densities and harvest should be focused upon smaller blue catfish, especially those in the 18 to 25 inch range while releasing the larger fish to fight again. NEW RESEARCH RESULTS Saugeye were introduced in 2021 as part of a four year study. Equal numbers of Walleye and Saugeye were stocked to provide an equitable comparison. Saugeye outperformed Walleye nearly 10 to 1. The success of Saugeye provided great return on stocking investment and increased angler success. Fish stockings in 2025: Saugeye, Sauger, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass Water level and discharge: Current conditions can be found at: https://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations/District-Lakes/Melvern-Lake/Daily-Lake-Info-2/ Invasive Species: Melvern Reservoir has Zebra Mussels. Remember to clean, drain, and dry your watercraft to prevent the spread of invasive species. Do not transport live bait captured from Melvern Reservoir. Contact Information: If you would like to contribute to future fishing reports or have questions about the fish populations, please email the Fisheries Biologist at: jim.miazga@ks.gov | ||||
