22 public waters in the Northwest Kansas region — 3 lakes/reservoirs and 19 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.
Wilson Lake (9,000 ac) — the clearest big lake in Kansas, a Bureau of Reclamation reservoir in the Smoky Hills. Kansas's best Smallmouth Bass fishery plus Walleye, White Bass, Wiper, Largemouth Bass and Channel Catfish; rocky, scenic shoreline unlike most of the state.
Wilson Lake, known for exceptionally clear water for a Kansas reservoir, is open to sport fishing for black and smallmouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, striped bass, walleye and white bass. Invasive white perch and zebra mussels are also present.
Russell County, Kansas — Fossil Lake is a 46-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.
Smoky Hill River (714 km) flows through Logan, Ellsworth, Gove and 3 more counties in Kansas. A central-Kansas prairie river (Smoky Hill, Solomon, Saline, Republican, Walnut, Ninnescah, Chikaskia) — channel and Flathead Catfish, White Bass, Carp and Drum in muddy, meandering agricultural-belt water.
Saline River runs 498 km through Russell, Ellis, Trego and 3 more counties in Kansas: A central-Kansas prairie river (Smoky Hill, Solomon, Saline, Republican, Walnut, Ninnescah, Chikaskia) — channel and Flathead Catfish, White Bass, Carp and Drum in muddy, meandering agricultural-belt water.
Big Creek (214 km) flows through Ellis, Trego, Gove 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).
Rooks, Russell and Osborne Counties, Kansas — Paradise Creek is a 145 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).
Wolf Creek (53 km) flows through Russell, Osborne and Lincoln 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).
Walker Creek (34 km) flows through Ellis and Russell 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).
Sellens Creek (28 km) flows through Barton and Russell 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).
Osborne and Russell Counties, Kansas — Eagle Creek is a 51 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).
Coal Creek (21 km) flows through Russell and Barton 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 Russell and Barton Counties, Kansas, Landon Creek is a 23 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).
Salt Creek runs 20 km through Russell and Ellis 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 Fork Wolf Creek runs 20 km through Russell and Osborne 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).
Russell County, Kansas — Fossil Creek is a 22 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).
Cedar Creek (15 km) flows through Russell 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).
Russell and Osborne Counties, Kansas — West Fork Wolf Creek is a 14 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).
Fourmile Creek runs 14 km through Osborne and Russell 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 Russell and Lincoln Counties, Kansas, Blue Stem Creek is a 13 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).
In Lincoln and Russell Counties, Kansas, Hell Creek is a 12 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).
In Ellsworth and Russell Counties, Kansas, Wilson 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).
Across its mapped waters, Russell County holds 17 species on PiscaMaps, including Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, Flathead Catfish, White Bass and Walleye.
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.