Cedar Valley Reservoir, Kansas: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Anderson County, Kansas, this is Cedar Valley Reservoir. The water sits 981 feet up. About 312 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. The shoreline runs about 6.5 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It is the biggest water on our Anderson County list. For a base, Garnett sits 4.8 miles out. After that come Iola at 23 miles and Burlington at 23 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Cedar Valley Reservoir

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Anderson County records list black bullhead, green sunfish, slender madtom, orangethroat darter and bluegill among the fish reported. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. The near bank of Cedar Valley Reservoir is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 79°F, the coldest about 29°F. Whether it freezes depends on the year. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. On Cedar Valley Reservoir the same rules apply, with local timing. Barometer swings matter more than a degree or two.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Launching is possible: a slipway lies half a mile off. There is a mapped landing stage half a mile away. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Crystal Lake at 4.3 miles is the nearest alternative. For Cedar Valley Reservoir in particular, ask before you travel.