Elk City Lake in Montgomery County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Elk City Lake is one of the Montgomery County waters in Kansas. It sits at 791 feet above sea level. It covers about 5.3 sq miles, which means weather matters as much as tactics. The bank runs about 18 miles in total, split between open shore and sheltered corners. It lies lower than most water we list in Kansas. Independence lies 5.7 miles from the water. Tulsa sits 77 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Elk City Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Survey and observation records for Montgomery County include flathead catfish, pealip redhorse, gizzard shad, green sunfish and freckled madtom. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Work Elk City Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 31°F in January and 80°F in July. Neither winter nor summer shuts things down for long. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Elk City Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Montgomery County State Lake sits 8.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish Elk City Lake.