Sign inSign up freeRecent catches at Arkansas River
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
Fishing Arkansas River: what the data says
Wichita to Arkansas City: shallow sand river with channel cats, wipers and white bass below the dams. The river tops out around 8 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Channel Catfish fishing at Arkansas River
Spring channel catfish on Arkansas River hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. Ninnescah confluence (Belle Plaine) is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for spring channel catfish. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday |
Flathead Catfish fishing at Arkansas River
Start shallow in spring: flathead catfish sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Tailout eddy (mile 0.3): a eddy pocket around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | night & dusk | |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | night & dusk | |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday |
White Bass & Hybrids fishing at Arkansas River
Start shallow in spring: white bass & hybrids sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. Ninnescah confluence (Belle Plaine) is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for spring white bass & hybrids. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a jigging spoon or a topwater (when schooling) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Rooster tail / inline spinner, Curly-tail jig (white/chartreuse) |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Jigging spoon, Topwater (when schooling) |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Small blade bait, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Jigging spoon, Blade bait (vertical) |
White Bass fishing at Arkansas River
In spring, white bass run shallow here, mostly 1 to 8 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. Ninnescah confluence (Belle Plaine) is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for spring white bass. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | see map |
Freshwater Drum fishing at Arkansas River
Spring freshwater drum on Arkansas River hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. Lincoln Street dam tailrace (Wichita) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for summer freshwater drum. Best bite is the evening. A jig + crawler combo or a small crankbait (slow) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Jig + curly tail (bounced), Small blade bait |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dusk | Jig + crawler combo, Small crankbait (slow) |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Blade bait (vertical), Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (slow) |
Common Carp fishing at Arkansas River
Start shallow in spring: common carp sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. Ninnescah confluence (Belle Plaine) is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for spring common carp. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | midday | |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday |
Notable structure
- Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 7 ft
- Lincoln Street dam tailrace (Wichita): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 2.2): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 12.4): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 18.6): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 20.8): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 23.9): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 26.7): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 28.5): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 30.7): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 32.5): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 36.9): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 41.8): creek channel, around 6 ft
Common questions
How deep is Arkansas River?
Arkansas River is about 8 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Arkansas River?
Anglers target white bass, channel catfish, white bass & hybrids, flathead catfish, freshwater drum, common carp on Arkansas River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Arkansas River?
Ninnescah confluence (Belle Plaine) is the top-rated area: a inflow / creek mouth in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Arkansas River?
For channel catfish, the summer bite is best in after dark and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Winfield City Lake · El Dorado Lake · Cheney Lake · Marion Lake · Cottonwood River · Fall River Lake
See how Arkansas River stacks up: best white bass lakes in Kansas · best channel catfish lakes in Kansas · best white bass & hybrids lakes in Kansas · best flathead catfish lakes in Kansas
Browse all Kansas fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.