Breakneck Lake, Kansas: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Breakneck Lake is a Geary County water, Kansas side. The water sits 1,188 feet up. At 5 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. 2.3 miles away sits Fort Riley North, the nearest town. The big place round here is Topeka, 63 miles distant. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Breakneck Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. County-wide records name flathead catfish, smallmouth bass, bluegill, green sunfish and channel catfish. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. The near bank of Breakneck Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 79°F in July and bottoms out near 27°F in January. Fishing continues through most of the calendar, with quiet spells rather than closures. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. That is the shape of the year on Breakneck Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Moon Lake is 2.7 miles off. The position on Breakneck Lake is worth confirming on the day.