Fishing Quivira Lake in Johnson County, Kansas

• Overview

  Johnson County, Kansas, is where Quivira Lake sits. The setting is mixed woodland. Roughly 161 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. There is roughly 2.6 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. By surface area it heads our Johnson County listings. The closest town, Shawnee, is 2.8 miles distant. It is 6.8 miles to Overland Park, the nearest city. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Quivira Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Records held for Johnson County cover green sunfish, bluegill and orangethroat darter. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Anyone new to Quivira Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 79°F, the coldest about 28°F. Mild ends to the year keep the season long. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Quivira Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Black Swan Lake is 2.2 miles distant. Rules at Quivira Lake are worth checking on the day.