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Fishing Waconda Lake: what the data says
12,586-acre reservoir near Glen Elder. Glen Elder. A fertile Solomon River impoundment famous for walleye, wipers and heavyweight smallmouth. The lake tops out around 55 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.
The drawn water covers 11,745 acres wrapped in 60 miles of bank, with 2 islands in the mix. With a shoreline index of 3.9, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. 56% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water.
Walleye fishing at Waconda Lake
Start shallow in spring: walleye sit in 4 to 15 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 15 to 35 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 25-ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Rock reef (7 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (25 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (25 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (25 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
White Bass fishing at Waconda Lake
Start shallow in spring: white bass sit in 2 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 25 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 40 ft. The spot to know is Main-lake point, a point in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for white bass in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (4 ft) | Curly-tail jig (white), Small lipless crank |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Slab spoon, Small topwater (schooling fish) |
| Fall | 6 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | Old creek channel (28 ft) | Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait |
White Bass & Hybrids fishing at Waconda Lake
Spring white bass & hybrids on Waconda Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 15 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 40 ft. Put Main-lake point first on the milk run — a point near 14 ft that grades prime for fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a jigging spoon or a topwater (when schooling).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Rooster tail / inline spinner, Curly-tail jig (white/chartreuse) |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Jigging spoon, Topwater (when schooling) |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Small blade bait, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | Old creek channel (28 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait (vertical) |
Crappie fishing at Waconda Lake
Spring crappie on Waconda Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 10 to 25 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 35 ft. Put Old creek channel first on the milk run — a creek channel near 28 ft that grades prime for winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (25 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Marina / dock area (10 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Old creek channel (28 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Waconda Lake
Spring smallmouth bass on Waconda Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 45 ft. Put Rock reef first on the milk run — a rock pile near 7 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (7 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (25 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (25 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Channel Catfish fishing at Waconda Lake
Early season channel catfish use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 8 to 25 ft game here, winter a 20 to 40 ft one. The chart's best answer is Old creek channel — creek channel, 28 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Old creek channel (28 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Old creek channel (28 ft) | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | Old creek channel (28 ft) |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 47 ft
- Old creek channel: creek channel, around 28 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 25 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 14 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 14 ft
- Marina / dock area: dock line, around 10 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 8 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 7 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Weed flat: weed flat, around 4 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 4 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 4 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 4 ft
Waconda Lake fishing regulations
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 Waconda Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Kansas fishing regulations →
Common questions
How deep is Waconda Lake?
Waconda Lake is about 55 ft (17 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.
What fish are in Waconda Lake?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, white bass, crappie, channel catfish, white bass & hybrids on Waconda Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot on Waconda Lake?
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 25 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in fall. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
When is the best time to fish Waconda Lake?
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
What are the fishing regulations for Waconda Lake?
Fishing on Waconda Lake 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.
Nearby waters
Lovewell Lake 33 mi · Wilson Lake 39 mi · Kirwin Lake 43 mi · Liberty Cove 54 mi, NE · Webster Lake 57 mi · Harlan County Lake 61 mi, NE · Kanopolis Lake 62 mi · Smoky Hill River 67 mi · Prairie Lake 72 mi, NE · Milford Lake 81 mi · War Axe Lake 87 mi, NE · Windmill Lake 1 87 mi, NE
See how Waconda Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Kansas · best walleye lakes in Kansas · best white bass lakes in Kansas · best crappie lakes in Kansas
Browse all Kansas fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.