Sign inSign up freeRecent catches at Verdigris River
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
Fishing Verdigris River: what the data says
Toronto tailwater to Independence. spotted bass and three species of catfish. The river tops out around 15 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. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Flathead Catfish fishing at Verdigris River
Spring flathead catfish on Verdigris River hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 15 ft, and winter fish hold in 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Tailout eddy (mile 1.9), a eddy pocket in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for flathead catfish in spring. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | night & dusk | |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | night & dusk | |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday |
Blue Catfish fishing at Verdigris River
Spring blue catfish on Verdigris River hold shallow, usually 3 to 15 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 15 ft, and winter fish hold in 5 to 15 ft. Toronto Lake tailwater is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for spring blue catfish. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday |
Channel Catfish fishing at Verdigris River
In spring, channel catfish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 5 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Fall River confluence (Neodesha): a inflow / creek mouth around 8 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 | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday |
Spotted Bass fishing at Verdigris River
Start shallow in spring: spotted bass sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 5 to 15 ft, and winter fish hold in 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 11.8): a current seam around 8 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A drop shot over brush or a underspin + fluke (schoolers) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig on gravel points, Shaky head |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot over brush, Underspin + fluke (schoolers) |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Walking topwater, Underspin |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Damiki/hover rig, Jigging spoon |
White Bass fishing at Verdigris River
In spring, white bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 15 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Fall River confluence (Neodesha), a inflow / creek mouth in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for white bass in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | see map |
Freshwater Drum fishing at Verdigris River
In spring, freshwater drum run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 15 ft, and winter fish hold in 5 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Toronto Lake tailwater: a creek channel around 10 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening. A jig + crawler combo or a small crankbait (slow) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Jig + curly tail (bounced), Small blade bait |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dusk | Jig + crawler combo, Small crankbait (slow) |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday | Blade bait (vertical), Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Jigging spoon (slow) |
Verdigris River also holds common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Toronto Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 13 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 4.4): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 6.2): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 9.3): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 14.9): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 23.7): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 26.8): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 29.9): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 32.4): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 34.9): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 37.4): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 40.2): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 42.7): creek channel, around 11 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 45.5): creek channel, around 11 ft
Common questions
How deep is Verdigris River?
Verdigris River is about 15 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 Verdigris River?
Anglers target white bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish, freshwater drum, common carp, spotted bass on Verdigris River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Verdigris River?
Toronto Lake tailwater is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 10 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 Verdigris River?
For flathead 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
Elk City Lake · Toronto Lake · Fall River Lake · Big Hill Lake · Parsons Lake · Neosho River
See how Verdigris River stacks up: best white bass lakes in Kansas · best channel catfish lakes in Kansas · best flathead catfish lakes in Kansas · best blue 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.