Kirwin Reservoir

Kirwin 3D
This Location does have Boat Access

15 miles SE of Phillipsburg off K-9

785-543-6673

GPS Location: N39 40 2.71 W99 7 53.54

Location/Address:
Kirwin, KS

Impoundment Type: Reservoir

Surface Acres: 5,000 acres

Maximum Depth: 49 feet

Normal Lake Level: 1729.25 conservation pool

Current Lake Level: 1729.43' 0.18' above conservation pool

Lake Temperature: 32 degrees

Fishing PopulationCreel LimitMin Length Limit
Bluegill
Black Bullhead
Channel Catfish 10
Crappie 50
Flathead Catfish 5
Green Sunfish
Largemouth Bass 5 15
Walleye 5 15
White Bass
Wiper 2
* Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted Bass in Combination
** Striped Bass or Wiper in Combination
*** Walleye, Sauger or Saugeye in Combination

Fishing Report - Last Update: 1/25/2012

Species

Rating

Size

Baits, Method, & Location

2012 FISHING OUTLOOK

   

The information that is below is an outlook on how the fish populations should be in 2012 and are based on the 2011 Fall sampling.

Walleye

Good

Majority 20 to 25 inches

Walleye fishing should be good as numbers are up this year with 16% being in the 15 to 20 inch size range, 54% being in the 20 to 25 inch size range and 5% over 25 inches. Therefore 75% are over the 15 inch length limit. The remaining 6% being young of the year (YOY) fish. The largest fish sampled weighted 8.7 lbs. Rated #2 in state for density.

White Bass

Good

Majority 6 to 9 inches

Numbers are up from last year with the majority of fish being in the 6 to 9 inch size range accounting for 40%. Fish 9 to 12 inches accounted for 23%, 12 to 15 inch fish accounted for 25% and fish over 15 inches accounted for 6%. The biggest fish weighted 3.1 lbs.

Wiper

Good

Majority 8 to 11 inches

Numbers are up from last year with the majority of fish being in the 8 to 11 inch size range accounting for 34%. Fish 11 to 15 inches accounted for 21%, 15 to 20 inch fish accounted for 32% and fish over 20 inches accounted for 3%. The biggest fish weighted 7.1 lbs.

Channel Catfish

Fair

Majority 12 to 15 inches

Catfishing should be fair with the numbers down slightly from last year. The population is still fairly young with fish 12 to 15 inches being 38% and fish 16 to 19 inches accounted for 19% 20 inch + fish accounted for 13% and the remainder were YOY fish. Biggest fish weighted 9.5 lbs.

Crappie

Good

Majority 2 to 5 inches

Although low numbers of fish were caught in the trap nets due to cold fronts passing through crappie fishing should be good for black crappie and white crappie. Had a really good crappie spawn for both with 43% of the blacks and 83 % of the whites being 2 to 5 inches. However, the density rating for black crappie is #1 in the state.

Largemouth Bass

Fair

Majority 12 to 15 inches

The bass fishery is starting to come around and should be fair. The majority of fish were in the 12 to 15 inch size range accounting for 68% and fish 15 to 20 inches accounted for 4%. Density rating for the state is #8.

     

WINTER FISHING

Crappie

Good

7 to 16 inches

Have been catching limits of fish over the fish attractors, river channel and along the dam using jigs or slab spoons. Been hearing of quite a few 9-10" fish and a lot of nicer fish that are being kept that are in the 11 to 15" range. All boat ramps are iced in at this time with approx. 1 to 2 inches of ice.

General Comments

WATER TEMPERATURE- 32

SURFACE ELEVATION- 1729.43 ---- 0.18' above conservation

Currently releasing 50 cfs to bypass natural inflows.

Currently, the water level is 0.03 feet higher than one year ago at this time. The Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) has been put into effect at Kirwin, so if you have any questions contact the Service at 785-543-6673 or stop by their office at 702 Xavier Road. The seasonal boat closer has been lifted and boats are allowed on the Reservoir. When the water elevation reaches 1722.00 feet the closure is removed.

Remember it is illegal to release any fish into public water unless it was taken from that water! Therefore, please discard leftover bait in a trash can.

Now Available: A Webster District newsletter that will include Webster, Kirwin and Keith Sebelius Reservoir's will be coming out soon. If you would like to subscribe to this spring and fall newsletter you can go to the following link to get on the mailing list. The link is: http://kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/News/Newsletter-Request-Forms/Request-a-Newsletter-for-the-Webster-Reservoir-Fishing-District