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Fishing in Kansas
Kansas Fishing at a Glance
If you’re an avid fisherman, Kansas is a great place to cast your line.
Whether you’re looking for trophy-sized fish or just a fun afternoon spent reeling in a few, there are plenty of great options to choose from. Here are 4 key things to know about fishing in Kansas:
1. The lakes and reservoirs of Kansas are kept well stocked and offer largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish, gar, catfish, carp, buffalo, drum, wipers and more.
2. The state is home to 3 major river systems – the Missouri, the Kansas, and the Big Blue – so there is a huge amount of choice.
3. The scenery is stunning. Whether you’re fishing in a river or stream, or on a lake or pond, you’ll be surrounded by nature at its finest.
4. More options for quality fishing abound on private lakes and ponds.
Kansas ranks #32 in the U.S. for fishing licenses per capita and has a good number of local fishing enhtusiasts with over 9.14% of the population having fishing licenses.
Key Insights
- Kansas is a good place for fishing, with well-stocked lakes and rivers and a variety of fish species including largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish, gar, catfish, buffalo, and drum.
- The state has three major river systems – the Missouri, the Kansas, and the Big Blue – and offers beautiful scenery for fishing.
- Private lakes and ponds also offer quality fishing options.
- Some of the most popular river and stream fish to catch in Kansas are catfish, crappie, bass, sunfish, and walleye.
- Fishing on private land in Kansas can have advantages such as quieter lakes and more fish, but access may be more difficult to obtain through methods such as joining a fishing club or renting land.
Table of Contents
Estimated Fishing Enthusiasts
| Population: | 2,937,880 |
|---|---|
| Fishing Enthusiasts | 268,600 |
| Fishing License % | 9.14% |
| Hunters Rank | 32 |
The state of Kansas is mostly private land with just 0.9% of acres considered public land -ranking #50 amongst all states.
Land Types (Acres)
| Acres | % | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 52,366,700 | ||
| Public | 479,500 | 0.92% | 50 |
| Private | 51,880,000 | 99.07% | 1 |
| Tribal | 7,200 | 0.01% | 26 |
Kansas Fishing Licenses & Requirements
For the most accurate and updated information on fishing licenses and requirements, it’s always a good idea to check the Kansas DNR. We’ve provided their contact information and other helpful information for your convenience here.
Kansas DNR
512 SE 25th Ave.
Pratt, KS 67124
- (620) 672-5911
Helpful Links
Most popular types of river or stream fish to catch in Kansas
Some of the most popular river and stream fish are catfish, crappie, bass, sunfish, and walleye. Each has its own unique set of characteristics, making it more or less suited for different types of fishing. For example, catfish are bottom-dwelling fish that are often found around structures in the water, such as logs or rocks. This makes them ideal for fishing with bait that can be placed near the bottom of the river or stream. In contrast, crappie are typically found in open water and are more easily caught with lures or live bait. Bass are another popular type of fish to fish for in Kansas. They can be found in both rivers and streams, and are often caught using lures or live bait. Sunfish are relatively small fish that can be found in many different types of habitats. They are often caught using small hooks baited with insects or worms. Lastly, walleye are a type of fish that is typically found in deeper waters. They typically feed on smaller fish, making them ideal for fishing with lures or live bait.
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Find Fishing on Private Land in Kansas
Fishing private land in Kansas
Fishing on private land in Kansas has some real advantages over public lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds *if you can get access. For instance, there’s nothing like having a quiet lake all to yourself and oftentimes there are simply more fish available to catch, because they haven’t been fished out. There are generally more processes for access private land for hunting than fishing, though some similar methods exist. For instance, you can sometimes join a fishing club in Kansas or if you have the money, it may be possible to rent some private land for fishing. Another option is to knock on doors or work your contacts in an area to see if a landowner would let you fish for the day or possibly be open to a longer term arrangement.
Fortunately Wing It is simplifying land access for fishing, hunting, camping, and more. We’re adding new land every day and if we have some in your area, you’ll see some great options below.
1. Cheney Reservoir
2. El Dorado State Park
3. Glen Elder State Park
4. Kanopolis Lake
5. Tuttle Creek State Park
Fishing private land in Kansas
Fishing on private land in Kansas has some real advantages over public lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds *if you can get access. For instance, there’s nothing like having a quiet lake all to yourself and oftentimes there are simply more fish available to catch, because they haven’t been fished out. There are generally more processes for access private land for hunting than fishing, though some similar methods exist. For instance, you can sometimes join a fishing club in Kansas or if you have the money, it may be possible to rent some private land for fishing. Another option is to knock on doors or work your contacts in an area to see if a landowner would let you fish for the day or possibly be open to a longer term arrangement.
Fortunately Wing It is simplifying land access for fishing, hunting, camping, and more. We’re adding new land every day and if we have some in your area, you’ll see some great options below.