Spencer Lake near Garnett: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Spencer Lake is an Anderson County water, Kansas side. It stands 1,017 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 21 acres — small enough to read in one session. Garnett lies 9.9 miles from the water. Then Burlington, 19 miles, and Iola, 20 miles. Near neighbours include: 5.1 miles away is Cedar Valley Reservoir, Snake Lake out at 8.1 miles, 8.2 miles away is Lake Welda, Andrews Lake out at 8.8 miles and 9.3 miles away is Crystal Lake. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Spencer 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. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Species logged across Anderson County include black bullhead, green sunfish, slender madtom and orangethroat darter. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Fish Spencer Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 79°F and January near 29°F. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. On Spencer Lake that shapes the whole year. Wind direction matters more than wind strength.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Cedar Valley Reservoir sits 5.1 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Spencer Lake locally before you travel.