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Fishing Kansas River: what the data says
Topeka to Kansas City. the Kaw: state-record blue cats and flatheads on every wing dike. The river tops out around 20 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.
Blue Catfish fishing at Kansas River
In spring, blue catfish run shallow here, mostly 4 to 20 ft. Summer fish stay in 5 to 20 ft, and winter fish hold in 6 to 20 ft. Bowersock dam tailrace (Lawrence) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 15 ft, rated prime for spring blue catfish. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 20 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday |
Flathead Catfish fishing at Kansas River
Start shallow in spring: flathead catfish sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 5 to 20 ft, and winter fish hold in 6 to 20 ft. Tailout eddy (mile 65.4) is the standout, a eddy pocket at roughly 11 ft, rated prime for spring flathead catfish. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | night & dusk | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday |
Channel Catfish fishing at Kansas River
Spring channel catfish on Kansas River hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 6 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 20 ft. Delaware River confluence (Perry) is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for spring channel catfish. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday |
White Bass & Hybrids fishing at Kansas River
In spring, white bass & hybrids run shallow here, mostly 3 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 6 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 20 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Delaware River confluence (Perry): a inflow / creek mouth around 10 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a jigging spoon or a topwater (when schooling) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Rooster tail / inline spinner, Curly-tail jig (white/chartreuse) |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Jigging spoon, Topwater (when schooling) |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday & dawn | Small blade bait, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Jigging spoon, Blade bait (vertical) |
White Bass fishing at Kansas River
Spring white bass on Kansas River hold shallow, usually 2 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 to 20 ft. Delaware River confluence (Perry) is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for spring white bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Fall | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | see map |
Freshwater Drum fishing at Kansas River
In spring, freshwater drum run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Summer fish stay in 5 to 20 ft, and winter fish hold in 6 to 20 ft. Bowersock dam tailrace (Lawrence) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 15 ft, rated prime for summer freshwater drum. Best bite is the evening. Tie on a jig + crawler combo or a small crankbait (slow) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | midday & dawn | Jig + curly tail (bounced), Small blade bait |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dusk | Jig + crawler combo, Small crankbait (slow) |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Blade bait (vertical), Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (slow) |
Kansas River also holds common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer), longnose gar (1 to 12 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Lowhead weir tailrace: dam tailrace, around 17 ft
- Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 17 ft
- Bowersock Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 17 ft
- Lake of the Forest Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 17 ft
- Lake of the Forest Dam 2 tailrace: dam tailrace, around 17 ft
- Ksnoname 2676 Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 17 ft
- Harding Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 17 ft
- Lawrence Low-Head Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 17 ft
- Bowersock dam tailrace (Lawrence): creek channel, around 15 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0): creek channel, around 15 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 12.5): creek channel, around 15 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 14.6): creek channel, around 15 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 16.8): creek channel, around 15 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 26.8): creek channel, around 15 ft
Common questions
How deep is Kansas River?
Kansas River is about 20 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 Kansas River?
Anglers target white bass, channel catfish, white bass & hybrids, flathead catfish, blue catfish, freshwater drum, common carp, longnose gar on Kansas River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Kansas River?
Bowersock dam tailrace (Lawrence) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for blue catfish in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Kansas River?
For blue catfish, the summer bite is best in early morning 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
Clinton Lake · Perry Lake · Lake Shawnee · Hillsdale Lake · Pomona Lake · Banner Creek Lake
See how Kansas 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.