Southwest Region Fishing Reports

Fishing reports provide general angling information from KDWP staff. The department cannot update the reports on a regular, frequent basis. Many factors determine angling success, and fishing conditions and individual fishing success may vary from the report. Anglers are responsible for deciding what species to fish for, what methods to use, and where and when to fish. You can help fellow anglers by sharing successful fishing notes at https://www.facebook.com/KDWPFisheries.

BARBER STATE FISHING LAKE - LOWER - Last Updated: 10/25/2024

Species Rating Sizes Possible Baits, Method, & Location
Crappie Fair Up to 12 inches Try jigs & minnows around brush and weeds near deeper structure. 
Channel Catfish Fair to Good Most in the 1 lb. size range Fishing cut bait or stink bait lake wide.
Largemouth bass Good Up to 5 lbs. Try using soft plastics, crank baits, or spinner baits near structure. 
Sunfish Fair Up to 8 inches Worms under a bobber and small jigs fished vertically around brush.
Walleye Poor  Up to 4 lbs Try using large crankbaits or jigs near rocks and points.



CLARK STATE FISHING LAKE - Last Updated: 7/24/2024

 

 

Species Rating Sizes Possible Baits, Method, & Location
Crappie No report Up to 12 inches

Look for crappie around brush and vegetation. Anglers should target the brush piles and other submerged structure with minnows and jigs or nearby points and drop offs. 

Harvest regulations include 50/day creel limit.

Channel Catfish No report Most in the 1 lb size range

Fish can be caught all over the lake. Try shad sides, shad gizzards, shrimp, nightcrawlers, and chicken liver.  

Harvest regulations is 5/day creel limit.

Largemouth bass No report Up to 4 lbs

Fish are in typical summer pattern.  Fish can be caught around any aquatic vegetation, off the rocky jetties, and around any cover in the water. Focus on submerged wood in the vegetation. Try topwater early and late and wacky worms, Ned Rigs, spinnerbaits, roadrunners, and crankbaits during mid day.

Harvest regulations include a 15-inch minimum length limit and 5/day creel limit.

Bluegill/Redear No report Up to 8 inches

Worms under a bobber and small jigs fished vertically around brush.

There are no harvest restrictions at this time.

There are no harvest restrictions at this time.

Walleye No report Up to 4 lbs

Jig and night crawler should really work on the points and flats right now.  Also try casting crankbaits and swimbaits over points, shelves, and along rip-rapped shorelines adjacent to deeper water.

Harvest regulations include a 15-inch minimum length limit and 5/day creel limit.

White Bass

 

 

No report Whites up to 17 inches Trolling crankbaits or vertically fishing slab spoons over the tops of fish attractors or prominent windblown main lake points and shelves.  Most of the larger white bass range from 12 to 17 inches..

 

Water temperature should be in the upper 70-low 80 range.  We have received no reports from anglers & these are seasonal guidelines.   You may call the Dodge City Regional office as 620-227-8609 to make a report.    You may call the Dodge City Regional office as 620-227-8609 to make a report.   

Please discard of leftover bait in a trash can, even baitfish. Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water!



HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR - Last Updated: 7/24/2024

 

 

Species Rating Sizes Possible Baits, Method, & Location
Crappie Slow Up to 12 inches

Look for crappie around brush and vegetation. Anglers should target the brush piles and other submerged structure with minnows and jigs or nearby points and drop offs where pre-spawn crappie might stage. Anglers are encouraged to harvest high numbers of crappie to help maintain a desirable level

Harvest regulations include 50/day creel limit.

Channel Catfish Slow Most in the 1 lb size range

Fish can be caught all over the lake. Try shad sides, shad gizzards, shrimp, nightcrawlers, and chicken liver.  If it ever rains, target areas of inflow.

Harvest regulations are 5/day creel limit.

Largemouth bass No report Up to 4 lbs

Fish are in typical summer pattern.  Fish can be caught around any aquatic vegetation, off the rocky jetties, and around the overhanging trees in the water. Focus on submerged wood in the vegetation. Try topwater early and late and wacky worms, Ned Rigs, spinnerbaits, roadrunners, and crankbaits during mid day.

Harvest regulations include a 15-inch minimum length limit and 5/day creel limit.

Bluegill/Redear No report Up to 8 inches

Worms under a bobber and small jigs fished vertically around brush in deeper water.

There are no harvest restrictions at this time.

Walleye/saugeye Slow Up to 4 lbs

Still catching walleye/saugeye along the dam by casting small jigs, jerkbaits and swimbaits.  Jig and night crawler should really work on the points and flats right now.  

Harvest regulations include a 15-inch minimum length limit and 5/day creel limit.

 

Water temps should be in the upper 70 to low 80 range.  We have received very few reports from anglers.  You may call the Dodge City Regional office as 620-227-8609 to make a report.   

Please discard of leftover bait in a trash can, even baitfish. Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water!



MEADE STATE LAKE - Last Updated: 7/24/2024

 

Species Rating Sizes Possible Baits, Method, & Location
Crappie No report Up to 12 inches

Look for crappie around brush and vegetation. Anglers should target the brush piles and other submerged structure with minnows and jigs or nearby points and drop offs where pre-spawn crappie might stage. Anglers are encouraged to harvest high numbers of crappie to help maintain a desirable level.  

Harvest regulations include 50/day creel limit.

Channel Catfish No report Most in the 1 - 2 lb size range

Fish can be caught all over the lake. Try shad sides, shad gizzards, shrimp, nightcrawlers, and chicken liver. 

Harvest regulations are 5/day creel limit.

Largemouth bass No report Up to 4 lbs

Fish are in typical summer pattern.  Fish can be caught around any aquatic vegetation, off the rocky jetties, and around the overhanging trees in the water. Focus on submerged wood in the vegetation. Try topwaters early and late and wacky worms, Senkos, Ned Rigs, spinnerbaits, roadrunners, and crankbaits during mid day.

Harvest regulations include a 13 - 18 inch slot length limit and 5/day creel limit.

Bluegill/Redear No report Up to 8 inches

Worms under a bobber and small jigs fished vertically around brush in deeper water.

There are no harvest restrictions at this time.

Saugeye No report Up to 5 lbs

Casting crankbaits and swimbaits over points, shelves, and along rip-rapped shorelines adjacent to deeper water.

Harvest regulations include a 15-inch minimum length limit and 5/day creel limit.

 

Water temperature should be in the upper 70-low 80 range.  We have received no reports from anglers & these are seasonal guidlines.   You may call the Dodge City Regional office as 620-227-8609 to make a report.   

Please discard of leftover bait in a trash can, even baitfish. Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water!



PRATT COUNTY LAKE - Last Updated: 10/25/2024

 

Species Rating Sizes Possible Baits, Method, & Location
Crappie Poor to Fair Up to 11" Try jigs or minnows near structure.  
Channel Catfish Fair to Good Most in the 1-2 lb size range but up to 7 lbs Fishing cut bait or stink bait lake wide.
Largemouth bass Fair to Good Up to 19 inches Try using crank baits, spinner baits, or soft plastics near rocks and structure.
Bluegill Good Up to 8 inches Worms under a bobber and small jigs fished vertically around brush and rocks.
Walleye Fair Up to 23" Try large jigs, jerk baits, and crank baits near rocks.
Wipers   Fair Up to 23" Jigs, spoons, and crank baits around windblown points.
General Comments
 



SCOTT STATE LAKE - Last Updated: 11/1/2024

Species Rating Size Baits, Method & Location
Channel Catfish Good Most in the 13 to 18 inch range Still fishing cut bait, prepared baits, or various other baits on shallow flats, along rip rapped shorelines, or up in the creek.  Anglers report catching fish up to 8 lbs.
Crappie Fair Up to 15 inches Fishing minnows, or better yet, castnet-caught gizzard shad under a bobber around deeper brush and along deeper rip rapped shorelines has been best.
Largemouth Bass Fair/Good Up to 5.5 lbs. Casting soft plastics, shad-imitating swimbaits, or topwater plugs around laydown trees and overhanging brush early and late.  Anglers report catching a few small fish casting jigs at lines of cattails.
Sunfish Fair/Good Up to 8 inches Nightcrawler pieces fished under a bobber around deeper brush, around laydown trees and overhanging brush, and along rip rapped shorelines.
Saugeye Fair Up to 7 lbs. Casting shad-imitating swimbaits along lines of cattails, around the fish attractors, or along rip rapped shorelines early and late.
General Comments

Release all saugeye less than 18 inches and largemouth bass less than 15 inches.

Please discard of leftover bait in a trash can, even baitfish. Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water!