Kirwin Reservoir
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: 1728.93' 0.32' below conservation pool
Lake Temperature: 69 degrees
| Fishing Population | Creel Limit | Min 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 |
** Striped Bass or Wiper in Combination
*** Walleye, Sauger or Saugeye in Combination
Fishing Report - Last Update: 5/23/2012
|
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. |
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|
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. |
|
SPRING FISHING |
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|
Crappie |
Good |
7 to 17 inches |
Have been catching fish up in the coves and around the tree lines in shallow water using jigs and jigs with minnows under a bobber. 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 17" range. |
|
Walleye |
Good |
15 to 28 inches |
Have had reports of fish being caught off railroad flats and off the river channel using jigs with night crawlers and crankbait's. Also been hearing of fish being caught up shallow using jigs. Remember the 15 inch length limit and release those short fish. Stocked 73,049 Walleye fingerlings on 5/17/2012 and stocked another 39,856 Walleye fingerlings on 5/22/2012. |
|
White Bass/ Wiper |
Fair |
10 to 30 inches |
Have been hearing of some white bass being caught up the North Fork Solomon arm casting jigs. Also, the white bass and wipers can be caught casting jigs into the wind on either corner of the dam. Stocked 200,000 Wiper fry on 5/16/2012. |
|
Catfish |
Fair |
20 to 30 inches |
Have been hearing of some channel cat being caught up the Bow Creek and North Fork Solomon arm using shad and stink bait on the bottom. |
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General Comments |
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WATER TEMPERATURE- 69 SURFACE ELEVATION- 1728.93 ---- 0.32' below conservation pool Shut off the bypass of natural inflows on 5-14-2012. Currently, the water level is 0.78 feet lower 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. KDWPT will be releasing the recently completed “Kansas Crappie Bonanza” video on February 17, 2012. This 25-minute video covers Kansas crappie fishing during spring, summer, fall, and winter with tips and tactics to make you a better crappie angler. Visit the KDWPT homepage on February 17th and click on the Kansas Crappie Bonanza link to view the video! KDWPT will be releasing the Urban Stocking Fish Program video soon and it can be found at http://youtu.be/5l4QiSfsQbQ 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 |
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