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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 come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
On the chart, Kansas River draws 5,333 acres inside 133.4 miles of shoreline. The 13 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 82% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. Figure 45.7 mi of water from one end to the other, 9.3 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Douglas County. For a second option, Clinton Lake lies 9 mi southwest.
Spring blue catfish on Kansas River hold shallow, usually 4 to 20 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 5 to 20 ft in summer, 6 to 20 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Bowersock dam tailrace (Lawrence) — creek channel, 15 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 20 ft | dusk | Bowersock dam tailrace (Lawrence) (15 ft) | |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Bowersock dam tailrace (Lawrence) (15 ft) | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dusk | Bowersock dam tailrace (Lawrence) (15 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Lowhead weir tailrace (17 ft) |
In spring, flathead catfish run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Summer keeps them at 5 to 20 ft, and they winter in 6 to 20 ft. Spring flathead catfish concentrate at Tailout eddy (mile 65.4), a prime-rated eddy pocket around 11 ft. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 65.4) (11 ft) | |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 65.4) (11 ft) | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 65.4) (11 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 65.4) (11 ft) |
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 6 to 20 ft. Top water on the chart: Delaware River confluence (Perry), an inflow / creek mouth in the 10 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Delaware River confluence (Perry) (10 ft) | |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Bowersock dam tailrace (Lawrence) (15 ft) | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dusk | Bowersock dam tailrace (Lawrence) (15 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Bowersock dam tailrace (Lawrence) (15 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: white bass & hybrids in 3 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 6 to 20 ft before dropping to 6 to 20 ft for winter. The spot to know is Delaware River confluence (Perry), an inflow / creek mouth in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for white bass & hybrids in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a jigging spoon or a topwater (when schooling) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Delaware River confluence (Perry) (10 ft) | Rooster tail / inline spinner, Curly-tail jig (white/chartreuse) |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Lowhead weir tailrace (17 ft) | Jigging spoon, Topwater (when schooling) |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday & dawn | Lowhead weir tailrace (17 ft) | Small blade bait, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Lowhead weir tailrace (17 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait (vertical) |
Early season white bass use the shallows, holding in 2 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 6 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 6 to 20 ft. Put Delaware River confluence (Perry) first on the milk run — an inflow / creek mouth near 10 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Delaware River confluence (Perry) (10 ft) | Curly-tail jig (white), Small lipless crank |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Lowhead weir tailrace (17 ft) | Slab spoon, Small topwater (schooling fish) |
| Fall | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Lowhead weir tailrace (17 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Lowhead weir tailrace (17 ft) | Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait |
Spring puts freshwater drum in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 5 to 20 ft, and winter fish hold in 6 to 20 ft. Summer freshwater drum concentrate at Bowersock dam tailrace (Lawrence), a prime-rated creek channel around 15 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening. A jig + crawler combo or a small crankbait (slow) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | midday & dawn | Delaware River confluence (Perry) (10 ft) | Jig + curly tail (bounced), Small blade bait |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dusk | Bowersock dam tailrace (Lawrence) (15 ft) | Jig + crawler combo, Small crankbait (slow) |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Bowersock dam tailrace (Lawrence) (15 ft) | Blade bait (vertical), Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Bowersock dam tailrace (Lawrence) (15 ft) | 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.
The chart marks 39 structure features on Kansas River; the deepest is Lowhead weir tailrace at about 17 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Kansas waters are set by the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks — and special regulations can apply to Kansas River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Kansas fishing regulations →
Kansas River is about 20 ft (6 m) deep 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.
Anglers target blue catfish, flathead catfish, channel catfish, white bass & hybrids, white bass, freshwater drum, common carp, longnose gar 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. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
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.
Fishing on Kansas River is regulated by the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks. Check the official Kansas regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Clinton Lake 9 mi · Leavenworth County State Fishing Lake 9 mi · Lone Star Lake 15 mi · Perry Lake 16 mi · Douglas County State Fishing Lake 16 mi · Lake Shawnee 20 mi · Gardner City Lake 21 mi · New Olathe Lake 23 mi · Carbondale Lake 25 mi · Wyandotte County Lake 27 mi · Hillsdale Lake 29 mi · Pomona Lake 32 mi
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 see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.