32 public waters in the Southeast Kansas region — 3 lakes/reservoirs and 29 rivers. Every one is public water fishable on a Kansas licence.
See every public fishing venue in Kansas on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
In Butler, Neosho, Elk and 1 more county in Kansas, Santa Fe Lake is a 317-acre lake, managed by Public boat ramp (OSM). One of Kansas's big US Army Corps of Engineers flood-control reservoirs (Milford, Tuttle Creek, Perry, Clinton, Melvern, Pomona, John Redmond, Council Grove, Marion, El Dorado, Hillsdale) — the state's best all-round fisheries. Walleye and stocked Saugeye, White Bass and Wiper (Striped Bass hybrid) runs, largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, slab Crappie, and trophy-class channel, blue and Flathead Catfish. Big open water with a strong summer boating scene.
Moline City Lake, a 177-acre lake in Elk County, Kansas, managed by Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks: Lakes and reservoirs across this region typically hold walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and panfish such as bluegill, crappie and pumpkinseed, with muskellunge present in some larger lakes -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Elk County, Kansas, Polk Daniels Lake is a 62-acre lake, managed by Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks. Lakes and reservoirs across this region typically hold walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and panfish such as bluegill, crappie and pumpkinseed, with muskellunge present in some larger lakes -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Elk, Montgomery and Butler Counties, Kansas, Elk River is a 151 km river or creek. A southeast-Kansas Ozark-fringe river (Neosho, Verdigris, Fall, Spring, Elk, Cottonwood) — clearer and more gradient than the rest of the state. Smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Crappie and Carp.
Greenwood, Wilson and Elk Counties, Kansas — Fall River is a 144 km stream: A southeast-Kansas Ozark-fringe river (Neosho, Verdigris, Fall, Spring, Elk, Cottonwood) — clearer and more gradient than the rest of the state. Smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Crappie and Carp.
Grouse Creek (122 km) flows through Cowley, Butler and Elk Counties, Kansas. A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
Caney River runs 84 km through Chautauqua and Elk Counties, Kansas: A southeast-Kansas Ozark-fringe river (Neosho, Verdigris, Fall, Spring, Elk, Cottonwood) — clearer and more gradient than the rest of the state. Smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Crappie and Carp.
Chautauqua and Elk Counties, Kansas — Middle Caney Creek is a 34 km stream: A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
Chautauqua and Elk Counties, Kansas — North Caney Creek is a 29 km stream: A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
Elk and Wilson Counties, Kansas — Indian Creek is a 32 km stream: A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
Pawpaw Creek runs 20 km through Elk and Greenwood Counties, Kansas: A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
Mound Branch (18 km) flows through Elk County, Kansas. A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
Salt Creek runs 16 km through Chautauqua, Montgomery and Elk Counties, Kansas: A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
Hitchen Creek runs 18 km through Elk County, Kansas: A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
Wildcat Creek (33 km) flows through Elk County, Kansas. A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
Bakers Branch runs 13 km through Chautauqua and Elk Counties, Kansas: A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
In Wilson and Elk Counties, Kansas, West Rainbow Creek is a 10 km river or creek. A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
Chautauqua and Elk Counties, Kansas — South Salt Creek is a 10 km stream: A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
East Painterhood Creek (10 km) flows through Elk County, Kansas. A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
East Fork Caney River runs 9 km through Elk County, Kansas: A southeast-Kansas Ozark-fringe river (Neosho, Verdigris, Fall, Spring, Elk, Cottonwood) — clearer and more gradient than the rest of the state. Smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Crappie and Carp.
In Elk County, Kansas, Mid Painterhood Creek is a 9 km river or creek. A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
West Painterhood Creek (8 km) flows through Elk County, Kansas. A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
Elk County, Kansas — Corum Creek is a 9 km stream: A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
South Duck Creek (8 km) flows through Wilson and Elk Counties, Kansas. A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
North Salt Creek (7 km) flows through Elk and Chautauqua Counties, Kansas. A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
South Branch Elk River runs 8 km through Elk County, Kansas: A southeast-Kansas Ozark-fringe river (Neosho, Verdigris, Fall, Spring, Elk, Cottonwood) — clearer and more gradient than the rest of the state. Smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Crappie and Carp.
Game Creek (2 km) flows through Elk County, Kansas. A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
North Fork Wildcat Creek (7 km) flows through Elk County, Kansas. A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
Schrader Branch runs 7 km through Elk and Cowley Counties, Kansas: A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
East Hitchen Creek (7 km) flows through Elk County, Kansas. A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
Little Hitchen Creek (6 km) flows through Elk County, Kansas. A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
Wagoner Creek (6 km) flows through Elk, Butler and Cowley Counties, Kansas. A Kansas river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Carp. Wade or paddle; access at bridge crossings, KDWP access points and public parks (Kansas streambeds are private off federally-navigable reaches — see access rules).
Across its mapped waters, Elk County holds 19 species on PiscaMaps, including Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Common Carp, Bluegill, Black Crappie and Spotted Bass.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the Kansas map Join PiscaMapsOne Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks fishing licence covers every public water in the state, the federal reservoirs and State Fishing Lakes included — the resident annual is about $29.50, the non-resident annual about $97.50, with non-resident 1-day and 5-day options. A separate ~$14.50 trout permit is required to keep trout at KDWP's winter community-lake put-and-take program. Kansas residents 75 and older need no licence, and anyone under 16 fishes free. Buy at ksoutdoors.com.