Lake Parsons, Kansas: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Neosho County end of Kansas holds Lake Parsons. The setting is rolling hill on every side. At 821 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. The edge covers about 6.6 miles, enough to hold several distinct areas. It is the biggest water on our Neosho County list. The town to know is Parsons, 6.6 miles out. It is 94 miles to Tulsa, the nearest city. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Lake Parsons

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Across Neosho County, recorded fish include orangespotted sunfish, orangethroat darter and green sunfish. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Take Lake Parsons a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 31°F to 80°F. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. That is the shape of the year on Lake Parsons. Long daylight spreads fish out; short daylight concentrates them.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. A slipway is marked about half a mile from here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. If the gate is shut, Lake McKinley at 7.9 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at Lake Parsons for certain.