17 public waters in the Southwest Kansas region — 2 lakes/reservoirs and 15 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.
Ford County, Kansas — Hains Lake is a 40-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.
Ford County Lake (8 acres) sits in Ford County, Kansas, managed by Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks. A Kansas city or county-owned public lake — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Crappie, Channel Catfish and often a stocked hybrid striper (Wiper) fishery. Conventionally open to public fishing on a Kansas licence; check local rules for boat/motor restrictions.
Spanning 447 miles across south-central Kansas, the Arkansas River is a classic Great Plains catfish destination, with Channel, Flathead, and Blue Catfish all present throughout its navigable reaches. White Bass and abundant Common Carp round out a fishery that rewards both deliberate targeting and opportunistic casting in this under-fished system.
Rattlesnake Creek (130 km) flows through Stafford, Kiowa, Ford and 2 more counties in 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 Meade, Gray, Ford and 1 more county in Kansas, Crooked Creek is a 153 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).
Ford, Edwards and Pawnee Counties, Kansas — Coon Creek is a 48 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).
Ford and Hodgeman Counties, Kansas — Saw Log Creek is a 81 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).
Bluff Creek (98 km) flows through Clark, Comanche and Ford 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).
Mulberry Creek runs 52 km through Ford and Gray 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).
Little Coon Creek runs 49 km through Edwards, Ford and Hodgeman 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 Ford County, Kansas, Duck Creek is a 21 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).
Cow Creek runs 21 km through Ford 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).
West Kiowa Creek runs 24 km through Clark, Comanche, Kiowa and 1 more county in 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).
Elm Creek (19 km) flows through Ford 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).
In Gray, Hodgeman and Ford Counties, Kansas, South Fork Buckner Creek is a 16 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).
Clark, Kiowa and Ford Counties, Kansas — Little Turkey Creek is a 11 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 Fork Duck Creek (7 km) flows through Ford 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).
Across its mapped waters, Ford County holds 17 species on PiscaMaps, including Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass, Flathead Catfish, Common Carp, Walleye and Northern Pike.
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.