Melvern Reservoir Fishing Information
Counties:
GPS:
N38 31.72 W95 44.70
Surface Acres:
7,000 acres
Maximum Depth:
60 feet
Normal Lake Level:
1036 msl
Current Lake Level:
1036.03 - Discharge of 20 csf
Lake Temperature:
51 F.
35 miles S of Topeka on US-75
US Army Corps of Engineers - Melvern Reservoir (785) 549-3318
Melvern Reservoir Fishing Report - Updated: 04/16/2024
Species | Rating | Size | Baits, Method & Location | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Crappie | Good-Very Good | up to 15 inches | Crappie fishing has improved with increasing water temperatures. Crappie will begin to come into the shallows to spawn. Target coves with submerged timber and vegetation. Small plastics or minnows are producing bites. | |
White Bass | Good | up to 16 inches | White Bass are spawning. Target rivers and creeks upstream of the reservoir or on the dam. Jig and plastics, spoons, or small crankbaits are producing bites | |
Walleye/Saugeye/Sauger | Good | 15-20 inches | Walleye are post-spawn and feeding. Fish can be found on mudflats or near river channels in 10-20ft. Nightcrawlers rigged with bottom bouncers or jigs with plastics are producing bites. | |
Catfish | Good - Very Good | up to 40lbs. |
| |
Black Bass | Fair | 1-5 lbs | Bass activity is slow but has improved with increasing water temperatures. | |
Fisheries Newsletter | If you would like to receive additional information about this lake a couple of times a year, sign up for the newsletter at the following link http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Lawrence-Fishing-District | |||
Saugeye | 18 inch minimum length limit went into effect Jan. 1, 2023. This change makes Saugeye, Sauger, and Walleye have the same regulations at Melvern Reservoir. | |||
General Comments | ||||
Water Level: Current water level conditions can be found at: https://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations/District-Lakes/Melvern-Lake/Daily-Lake-Info-2/ Invasive Species: Melvern Reservoir has Zebra Mussels. Remember to clean, drain, and dry your boat to prevent spread of Zebra Mussels to other waterbodies. |
Creel Length/Limits
Fishing Population | Creel Limit | Min Length Limit |
---|---|---|
Bluegill | ||
Channel Catfish | 10 | |
Crappie | 20 | 10 |
Flathead Catfish | 5 | |
Green Sunfish | ||
Largemouth Bass | 5 | 18 |
Smallmouth Bass | 5 | 18 |
Spotted Bass | 5 | 18 |
Walleye | 5 | 18 |
Blue Catfish | 5 | 35 |
Sauger | 5 | 18 |
* Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted Bass in Combination
** Striped Bass or Wiper in Combination
*** Walleye, Sauger or Saugeye in Combination
Fishing Forecast Information
View Fishing Forecast definitions
NAME | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big fish | Bio rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SAUGEYE | |||||
(>14") | (>18") | (>22") | (lbs.) | BR | |
SEBELIUS | 10.67 | 4.53 | 0.37 | 6.38 | G |
COUNCIL GROVE | 3.78 | 1.80 | 0.42 | 6.89 | F |
KANOPOLIS | 2.02 | 1.07 | 0.20 | 6.70 | G |
POMONA | 0.95 | 0.28 | 0.00 | 2.97 | G |
MELVERN | 0.94 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.50 | F |
CLINTON | 0.86 | 0.12 | 0.00 | 2.72 | F |
TUTTLE CREEK | 0.75 | 0.13 | 0.02 | 4.81 | G |
WEBSTER | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.06 | 4.48 | F |
ELK CITY | 0.03 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.11 | F |
NAME | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big fish | Bio rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
LARGEMOUTH BASS | |||||
(>12") | (>15") | (>20") | (lbs.) | BR | |
SEBELIUS | 264.55 | 81.66 | 1.03 | 5.24 | G |
WILSON | 49.43 | 38.12 | 0.39 | 5.63 | G |
WEBSTER | 45.72 | 29.11 | 0.00 | 3.80 | F |
KIRWIN | 37.30 | 28.81 | 0.00 | 3.72 | F |
LACYGNE | 35.01 | 26.89 | 1.96 | 7.70 | G |
BIG HILL | 33.15 | 14.38 | 0.64 | 6.81 | G |
CEDAR BLUFF | 18.65 | 7.00 | 0.09 | 5.83 | G |
KANOPOLIS | 17.03 | 2.14 | 0.53 | 4.85 | F |
MILFORD | 10.70 | 2.81 | 0.00 | 4.21 | F |
GLEN ELDER | 10.26 | 7.17 | 0.07 | 4.92 | G |
MELVERN | 8.57 | 1.89 | 0.00 | 2.03 | F |
EL DORADO | 7.93 | 4.29 | 0.21 | 3.94 | F |
CLINTON | 6.09 | 2.53 | 0.00 | 4.75 | F |
WOLF CREEK | 5.61 | 4.23 | 0.59 | 5.49 | P |
PERRY | 3.51 | 1.74 | 0.27 | 6.00 | P |
LOVEWELL | 2.94 | 2.35 | 0.00 | 4.56 | P |
TORONTO | 1.50 | 1.50 | 0.00 | 3.71 | P |
HILLSDALE | 1.47 | 1.05 | 0.00 | 2.99 | P |
NAME | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big fish | Bio rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
WALLEYE | |||||
(>15") | (>20") | (>25") | (lbs.) | BR | |
KIRWIN | 4.78 | 0.56 | 0.06 | 8.46 | G |
MARION | 4.74 | 0.49 | 0.00 | 4.65 | G |
WEBSTER | 3.06 | 0.92 | 0.11 | 6.36 | G |
EL DORADO | 2.73 | 1.00 | 0.09 | 7.94 | G |
WILSON | 2.62 | 1.18 | 0.07 | 7.45 | G |
MILFORD | 2.60 | 0.20 | 0.00 | 3.87 | F |
CEDAR BLUFF | 2.15 | 0.57 | 0.03 | 7.93 | G |
GLEN ELDER | 2.04 | 0.22 | 0.01 | 6.61 | F |
CHENEY | 1.20 | 0.73 | 0.14 | 7.54 | F |
HILLSDALE | 1.17 | 0.31 | 0.10 | 7.06 | G |
LOVEWELL | 1.00 | 0.47 | 0.00 | 4.62 | F |
WOLF CREEK | 0.66 | 0.20 | 0.02 | 5.99 | F |
MELVERN | 0.49 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 4.45 | F |
CLINTON | 0.42 | 0.04 | 0.00 | 3.45 | F |
POMONA | 0.38 | 0.08 | 0.00 | 4.16 | P |
KANOPOLIS | 0.12 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 5.83 | P |
BIG HILL | 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.39 | F |
ELK CITY | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.30 | P |
SEBELIUS | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.51 | P |
NAME | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big fish | Bio rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BLACK CRAPPIE | |||||
(>8") | (>10") | (>12") | (lbs.) | BR | |
SEBELIUS | 26.47 | 14.00 | 1.33 | 1.54 | G |
CEDAR BLUFF | 23.61 | 4.75 | 0.08 | 1.29 | G |
KIRWIN | 9.56 | 9.15 | 5.79 | 2.06 | G |
LOVEWELL | 4.46 | 0.76 | 0.05 | 1.43 | F |
KANOPOLIS | 3.94 | 3.03 | 0.44 | 1.43 | G |
WEBSTER | 3.77 | 1.75 | 0.02 | 1.40 | F |
MARION | 3.33 | 0.67 | 0.33 | 1.09 | F |
MILFORD | 2.88 | 0.94 | 0.02 | 1.06 | F |
HILLSDALE | 1.75 | 0.32 | 0.05 | 1.02 | G |
CLINTON | 1.11 | 0.70 | 0.02 | 0.93 | G |
JOHN REDMOND | 0.75 | 0.13 | 0.04 | 1.29 | P |
GLEN ELDER | 0.73 | 0.40 | 0.13 | 1.11 | F |
WILSON | 0.64 | 0.24 | 0.11 | 1.68 | P |
PERRY | 0.38 | 0.08 | 0.00 | 0.81 | P |
POMONA | 0.34 | 0.14 | 0.02 | 1.44 | P |
TORONTO | 0.34 | 0.15 | 0.04 | 1.19 | P |
BIG HILL | 0.33 | 0.03 | 0.00 | 0.52 | F |
WOLF CREEK | 0.23 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 1.39 | P |
LACYGNE | 0.20 | 0.11 | 0.00 | 0.93 | P |
EL DORADO | 0.14 | 0.04 | 0.00 | 0.60 | P |
FALL RIVER | 0.10 | 0.08 | 0.02 | 1.14 | P |
TUTTLE CREEK | 0.09 | 0.07 | 0.05 | 1.17 | P |
MELVERN | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 0.63 | P |
ELK CITY | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.13 | P |
NAME | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big fish | Bio rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BLUEGILL | |||||
(>6") | (>8") | (>10") | (lbs.) | BR | |
SEBELIUS | 44.33 | 9.47 | 0.00 | 1.21 | G |
CEDAR BLUFF | 15.12 | 0.20 | 0.00 | 0.40 | F |
HILLSDALE | 6.07 | 0.05 | 0.00 | 0.46 | F |
LACYGNE | 4.39 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.31 | F |
KANOPOLIS | 3.78 | 0.03 | 0.00 | 0.39 | G |
WILSON | 3.51 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.33 | G |
WEBSTER | 2.94 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.50 | F |
LOVEWELL | 2.56 | 0.05 | 0.00 | 0.43 | P |
BIG HILL | 2.37 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.36 | G |
MARION | 2.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.39 | F |
MILFORD | 1.44 | 0.35 | 0.00 | 0.52 | P |
CLINTON | 1.11 | 0.07 | 0.00 | 0.52 | F |
KIRWIN | 0.81 | 0.06 | 0.00 | 0.59 | F |
PERRY | 0.60 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.32 | P |
MELVERN | 0.52 | 0.05 | 0.02 | 0.37 | P |
EL DORADO | 0.32 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.23 | F |
TUTTLE CREEK | 0.32 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.25 | P |
GLEN ELDER | 0.30 | 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.70 | P |
WOLF CREEK | 0.30 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.18 | P |
FALL RIVER | 0.29 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.26 | F |
POMONA | 0.23 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.43 | F |
COUNCIL GROVE | 0.14 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.21 | P |
TORONTO | 0.13 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.23 | P |
ELK CITY | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.13 | P |
NAME | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big fish | Bio rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
CHANNEL CATFISH | |||||
(>16") | (>24") | (>28") | (lbs.) | BR | |
LOVEWELL | 6.94 | 0.94 | 0.11 | 11.81 | G |
BIG HILL | 6.30 | 0.73 | 0.03 | 9.05 | G |
HILLSDALE | 5.36 | 0.33 | 0.05 | 10.45 | G |
MARION | 4.43 | 0.23 | 0.03 | 5.79 | G |
KANOPOLIS | 3.37 | 0.43 | 0.02 | 9.93 | G |
WILSON | 2.97 | 0.46 | 0.03 | 10.11 | G |
TORONTO | 2.56 | 1.83 | 0.47 | 11.33 | G |
PERRY | 2.45 | 0.67 | 0.14 | 12.70 | G |
CHENEY | 2.45 | 0.41 | 0.04 | 14.81 | G |
ELK CITY | 2.23 | 0.23 | 0.00 | 5.65 | G |
LACYGNE | 2.19 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 7.26 | G |
GLEN ELDER | 2.18 | 0.46 | 0.16 | 16.60 | G |
MELVERN | 2.14 | 0.27 | 0.04 | 8.33 | G |
CLINTON | 1.82 | 0.12 | 0.00 | 6.06 | G |
FALL RIVER | 1.73 | 1.39 | 0.64 | 14.53 | G |
POMONA | 1.55 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 11.96 | G |
CEDAR BLUFF | 1.46 | 0.32 | 0.04 | 14.15 | G |
COUNCIL GROVE | 1.42 | 0.20 | 0.09 | 9.41 | F |
WEBSTER | 1.39 | 0.11 | 0.03 | 10.64 | G |
KIRWIN | 1.06 | 0.25 | 0.08 | 11.23 | G |
JOHN REDMOND | 1.05 | 0.31 | 0.07 | 12.33 | F |
TUTTLE CREEK | 0.95 | 0.20 | 0.09 | 14.31 | G |
WOLF CREEK | 0.70 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.12 | F |
EL DORADO | 0.58 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.84 | F |
SEBELIUS | 0.37 | 0.23 | 0.17 | 22.56 | F |
MILFORD | 0.35 | 0.07 | 0.02 | 9.23 | F |
NAME | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big fish | Bio rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
WHITE BASS | |||||
(>9") | (>12") | (>15") | (lbs.) | BR | |
GLEN ELDER | 18.32 | 16.17 | 3.84 | 3.49 | G |
MARION | 17.06 | 12.20 | 0.43 | 1.87 | G |
CEDAR BLUFF | 10.24 | 9.28 | 2.79 | 2.25 | G |
PERRY | 9.76 | 5.82 | 0.22 | 2.15 | G |
KANOPOLIS | 8.17 | 6.15 | 0.28 | 2.70 | G |
POMONA | 7.40 | 4.58 | 0.45 | 330.83 | G |
CLINTON | 6.88 | 5.20 | 1.02 | 2.32 | G |
WEBSTER | 6.22 | 3.92 | 0.08 | 2.73 | G |
MILFORD | 5.78 | 4.93 | 0.55 | 2.13 | G |
KIRWIN | 5.19 | 4.22 | 0.67 | 2.18 | G |
TORONTO | 5.00 | 3.00 | 1.36 | 2.69 | G |
FALL RIVER | 4.24 | 2.94 | 0.94 | 3.02 | G |
WOLF CREEK | 3.96 | 2.44 | 0.32 | 1.98 | G |
MELVERN | 3.33 | 2.63 | 0.43 | 2.26 | G |
LOVEWELL | 3.25 | 1.75 | 0.25 | 1.85 | P |
EL DORADO | 3.24 | 1.58 | 0.36 | 2.03 | F |
JOHN REDMOND | 3.14 | 2.21 | 0.95 | 3.24 | F |
BIG HILL | 3.00 | 1.83 | 0.07 | 1.73 | G |
LACYGNE | 2.71 | 1.60 | 0.33 | 2.88 | G |
COUNCIL GROVE | 2.47 | 1.58 | 0.18 | 2.23 | F |
HILLSDALE | 2.43 | 1.83 | 0.10 | 1.43 | G |
WILSON | 2.21 | 2.11 | 0.86 | 2.96 | G |
CHENEY | 0.86 | 0.80 | 0.33 | 2.09 | P |
ELK CITY | 0.80 | 0.40 | 0.03 | 1.94 | F |
TUTTLE CREEK | 0.47 | 0.18 | 0.02 | 2.96 | F |
Waterbody | Density | Preferred | Lunker | 3 yr avg | Size | Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sebelius Reservoir | 267.22 | 82.69 | 1.03 | 5.24 | Reservoir | G |
Wilson Reservoir | 62.91 | 44.38 | 0.39 | 5.63 | Reservoir | G |
Webster Reservoir | 45.72 | 29.11 | 0.00 | 3.80 | Reservoir | F |
Big Hill Reservoir | 38.62 | 16.46 | 0.64 | 6.81 | Reservoir | G |
Kirwin Reservoir | 37.30 | 28.81 | 0.00 | 3.72 | Reservoir | F |
LaCygne Reservoir | 35.01 | 26.89 | 1.96 | 7.70 | Reservoir | G |
Melvern Reservoir | 25.37 | 6.34 | 0.00 | 2.86 | Reservoir | G |
Cedar Bluff Reservoir | 22.06 | 7.49 | 0.09 | 5.83 | Reservoir | G |
Glen Elder Reservoir | 20.90 | 11.69 | 0.07 | 4.92 | Reservoir | G |
Kanopolis Reservoir | 17.03 | 2.14 | 0.53 | 4.85 | Reservoir | F |
Milford Reservoir | 15.89 | 3.94 | 0.00 | 4.21 | Reservoir | F |
El Dorado Reservoir | 12.86 | 5.36 | 0.21 | 3.94 | Reservoir | F |
Wolf Creek Reservoir | 12.44 | 9.42 | 0.79 | 5.49 | Reservoir | F |
Clinton Reservoir | 9.56 | 3.75 | 0.00 | 4.75 | Reservoir | F |
Perry Reservoir | 4.74 | 2.70 | 0.27 | 6.00 | Reservoir | P |
Lovewell Reservoir | 2.94 | 2.35 | 0.00 | 4.56 | Reservoir | P |
Hillsdale Reservoir | 1.77 | 1.35 | 0.00 | 3.01 | Reservoir | P |
Toronto Reservoir | 1.50 | 1.50 | 0.00 | 3.71 | Reservoir | P |
Waterbody | Density | Preferred | Lunker | 3 yr avg | Size | Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Melvern Reservoir | 34.23 | 14.91 | 1.41 | 1.61 | Reservoir | E |
Sebelius Reservoir | 28.53 | 15.00 | 1.83 | 1.54 | Reservoir | G |
Lovewell Reservoir | 26.88 | 10.54 | 1.02 | 2.50 | Reservoir | G |
Hillsdale Reservoir | 25.52 | 11.45 | 1.52 | 1.29 | Reservoir | E |
Perry Reservoir | 25.45 | 14.03 | 0.38 | 1.42 | Reservoir | G |
Cedar Bluff Reservoir | 24.71 | 5.51 | 0.43 | 1.80 | Reservoir | G |
Toronto Reservoir | 18.51 | 5.83 | 1.91 | 2.40 | Reservoir | G |
Elk City Reservoir | 15.49 | 5.57 | 1.35 | 2.40 | Reservoir | G |
LaCygne Reservoir | 15.07 | 5.95 | 0.45 | 2.30 | Reservoir | G |
Clinton Reservoir | 10.61 | 3.46 | 0.24 | 1.37 | Reservoir | G |
Kirwin Reservoir | 10.31 | 9.56 | 6.06 | 2.06 | Reservoir | G |
Wolf Creek Reservoir | 8.93 | 3.27 | 0.57 | 1.64 | Reservoir | F |
Tuttle Creek Reservoir | 7.57 | 4.68 | 1.05 | 1.69 | Reservoir | G |
Pomona Reservoir | 7.41 | 3.11 | 0.18 | 1.73 | Reservoir | G |
Big Hill Reservoir | 7.40 | 3.43 | 0.27 | 1.19 | Reservoir | G |
Marion Reservoir | 6.67 | 2.67 | 0.33 | 1.09 | Reservoir | G |
Milford Reservoir | 6.54 | 3.75 | 0.58 | 1.90 | Reservoir | G |
Fall River Reservoir | 6.06 | 1.85 | 0.44 | 2.58 | Reservoir | G |
El Dorado Reservoir | 5.93 | 2.29 | 0.82 | 1.59 | Reservoir | G |
Council Grove Reservoir | 5.89 | 3.22 | 1.33 | 1.87 | Reservoir | F |
Kanopolis Reservoir | 5.67 | 3.58 | 0.50 | 1.43 | Reservoir | G |
Webster Reservoir | 5.38 | 2.90 | 0.17 | 1.79 | Reservoir | G |
Glen Elder Reservoir | 3.33 | 1.38 | 0.46 | 1.91 | Reservoir | F |
John Redmond Reservoir | 1.71 | 0.79 | 0.25 | 3.04 | Reservoir | F |
Wilson Reservoir | 0.73 | 0.31 | 0.13 | 1.68 | Reservoir | P |
Waterbody | Density | Preferred | Lunker | 3 yr avg | Size | Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sebelius Reservoir | 44.40 | 9.50 | 0.00 | 1.21 | Reservoir | G |
Cedar Bluff Reservoir | 15.33 | 0.22 | 0.00 | 0.44 | Reservoir | F |
Hillsdale Reservoir | 6.09 | 0.07 | 0.00 | 0.46 | Reservoir | F |
LaCygne Reservoir | 4.50 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.31 | Reservoir | F |
Kanopolis Reservoir | 3.81 | 0.03 | 0.00 | 0.39 | Reservoir | G |
Wilson Reservoir | 3.53 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.33 | Reservoir | G |
Webster Reservoir | 2.94 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.50 | Reservoir | F |
Big Hill Reservoir | 2.63 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 0.62 | Reservoir | G |
Lovewell Reservoir | 2.56 | 0.05 | 0.00 | 0.43 | Reservoir | P |
Marion Reservoir | 2.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.39 | Reservoir | F |
Milford Reservoir | 1.44 | 0.35 | 0.00 | 0.52 | Reservoir | P |
Clinton Reservoir | 1.20 | 0.07 | 0.00 | 0.52 | Reservoir | F |
Kirwin Reservoir | 0.83 | 0.06 | 0.00 | 0.59 | Reservoir | F |
Perry Reservoir | 0.60 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.32 | Reservoir | P |
Melvern Reservoir | 0.52 | 0.05 | 0.02 | 0.37 | Reservoir | P |
El Dorado Reservoir | 0.36 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.23 | Reservoir | F |
Tuttle Creek Reservoir | 0.32 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.25 | Reservoir | P |
Glen Elder Reservoir | 0.30 | 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.70 | Reservoir | P |
Wolf Creek Reservoir | 0.30 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.18 | Reservoir | P |
Fall River Reservoir | 0.29 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.26 | Reservoir | F |
Pomona Reservoir | 0.23 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.43 | Reservoir | P |
Council Grove Reservoir | 0.14 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.21 | Reservoir | P |
Toronto Reservoir | 0.13 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.23 | Reservoir | P |
Elk City Reservoir | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.13 | Reservoir | P |
Map Information