Kanopolis Lake Fishing Guide, Ellsworth County, Kansas

• Overview

  Kanopolis Lake belongs to Ellsworth County, Kansas. The water sits 1,467 feet up. Around 5.4 sq miles of open water: conditions change from one end to the other. The bank runs about 16 miles in total, split between open shore and sheltered corners. Ellsworth at 14 miles is the nearest place to stop. Wichita is the closest city, 74 miles away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Kanopolis 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. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Across Ellsworth County, recorded fish include flathead catfish, bluegill, channel catfish and walleye. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Kanopolis Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 80°F and January at 28°F. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. On Kanopolis Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. A launch point is recorded some half a mile off. There is a jetty half a mile off, worth knowing on a busy day. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. Public toilets are recorded roughly half a mile off. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Spriggs Rock Lake at 16 miles is the sensible second choice. Signs at Kanopolis Lake carry more weight than any list.