| Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method & Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill & Redear Sunfish | Good | 2-9 inches | Anglers should focus their efforts along the shoreline in depths less than 6' deep near submerged trees and edges of aquatic vegetation. Areas to pursue will be on the north and south ends of the dam, coves, and rocky habitats. A bobber and worm, fly rod with small flies, and 1/16 ounce jig with a twister tail will be good baits to try. Recent sampling indicated a prominent and record year class of redear sunfish and bluegill that are less than 4-inches. Redear, bluegill, green sunfish and longear sunfish all provide important forage for other sportfish species in the lake, as well as provide a fishing opportunity for anglers. |
| Channel catfish | Good | 15-36 inches | Anglers have reported channel catfish being caught in the coves and creek arms. Anglers from the shoreline should focus on the coves, both the north and south side of the dam, west end, and the handicap access on the south side of the lake near the boat ramp. Prepared baits, worms, cut or live bait will be good baits to try. Anglers from boats should focus on flats and near rock habitat. Cut and live bait are good baits to try. |
| Black Crappie | Fair | 8-14 inches | Anglers reported catching crappie 15-20' of water from 6-14 inches. Anglers should focus on submerged trees that are in 15-20' that are in close proximity to depth changes, or creek channels, during all times of the year. Live minnows under a bobber, spinners, or 1/8-1/16 ounch jigs with twister tails will all be good options. Fall sampling indicated a successful spawn and strong 2023 year class of Age-0 (2-3"), another 2022 year class of Age-1 crappie (9-9.5"), as well as crappie up to 14". Black Crappie are growing to 9.5 inches at the end of their second growing season, whereas in 2012, it took 6 years to reach 10-inches in Bone Creek. |
| Largemouth bass | Good |
33% 8-12" 25% 12-15" 41% 15-20" 1% > 20"
| Largemouth bass can be found lakewide in a variety of habitats that are available at Bone Creek. Recent electrofishing surveys for Largemouth Bass indicated a more balanced population of fish from 4-inches to 20-inches being observed. Each year class from 2016 to 2023 were observed during this effort. The population has improved in the last four years with recruitment being observed and strong year classes each in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Anglers should focus on the edges of vegetation that can be found along the shoreline and coves, standing timber, as well as flooded terrestrial vegetation with the lake levels reaching full pool. The water clarity will affect fishing, depending on time of day, so don't hesitate to fish the trees that can be found in deeper water. Casting swimbaits, jigs, crankbaits, bladed jigs, jerkbaits, and spinnerbaits will be your best bet. Flipping plastics is another popular technique used. Don't hesitate to throw the classic "Ned rig" in the summertime when fish will be deeper. Drought has been experienced in southeast Kansas since 2022. This has allowed for the lake to experience the "new reservoir effect" by the lake lowering during the hot, dry summer months. Timely fill ups has occurred in March of 2022, 2023, and 2024 allowing the lake to reach full pool prior to the spawn. This inundates new terrestrial flooded habitat and created a plethora of spawning habitat. This also allows for a nutrient influx that allows for phytoplankton and zooplankton communities, that young-of-the-year largemouth bass predate upon in early life stages, and provides for more resources for the largemouth bass population. Bone Creek is a popular bass tournament fishing location in Kansas. Anglers are encouraged to contact the Public Wholesale Water District #11 Water Office to register their dates for tournaments. Catch data during tournaments would be aide in managing the largemouth bass population at Bone Creek, so anglers are encouraged to contact the KDWP District Fisheries Biologist with any questions or providing catch data if they would like to help manage the largemouth bass population. To bolster the current population and recruitment of Largemouth Bass at Bone Creek, the KDWP fisheries biologist has increased stocking efforts of Largemouth Bass. In 2019, 218, 377 (fry) were stocked when a hatchery surplus was available. In 2021, 13,500 phase II advanced fingerling Largemouth Bass were stocked. In April 2022, 260,000 (fry) were stocked when a hatchery surplus was available. In June 2022, 25,000 advanced fingerling Largemouth Bass were stocked. In June 2023, 25,000 advanced fingerling Largemouth Bass were stocked. During the week of and on June 4, 2024, 27,000 advanced fingerling Largemouth Bass were stocked into flooded habitat and aquatic vegetation. In total, 569,774 largemouth bass have been stocked since 2018. The KDWP fisheries biologist plans to request 27,000-54,000 fingerling Largemouth Bass in upcoming years to help bolster year classes and recruitment of Largemouth Bass. This is being evaluated with genetic fin clips to assess stock contribution. In addition to, it was proposed and passed to move from a 13-18" slot length limit to an 18" minimum length limit to protect the stocked fingerlings and naturally spawned Largemouth Bass to preferred lengths for bass anglers. This went into effect on January 1, 2022. This regulation is evaluated annually with spring and fall electrofishing surveys. |
| Saugeye | Good | 19-26 inches | Saugeye can be found on flats of 10-14 ft that is near deeper water of 20 feet and deeper at this time of the year. Any depth changes, or structure, will hold fish and can be caught by a variety of methods, such as trolling or vertical jigging. Anglers have reported catching saugeye near the dam on the east side of the lake on swimbaits, jigheads with plastics, and trolling crankbaits. Recent sampling indicated a lower density population than in previous years, but quality up to 25-inches were observed. The minimum length for Saugeye at Bone Creek is 18 inches and a daily creel of 5 fish per day! |
| General Comments | |||
| Water Temperature: 51° F, March 24, 2025 Be sure to Clean, Drain, and Dry your boat, bait buckets, and recreational watercraft before and after launching your boat. It is important and required by law to remove your drain plug on your watercraft upon departure to drain live wells and water inside of your boat; it will protect our natural resources in Kansas for current anglers and future generations to enjoy. Eurasian watermilfoil is an nonnative aquatic vegetation species that is present in Bone Creek. Be sure to inspect your boat, boat trailer, and bait buckets prior to launching and leaving Bone Creek to prevent the spread. Be sure to stay up to date on information regarding Aquatic Nuisance Species. Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water! If you would like to provide a fishing report for Bone Creek Reservoir, or have any questions in regards to any of the fish populations, please don't hesitate to contact Connor Ossowski, KDWP District Fisheries Biologist, at (620) 231-3173. | |||
