Wilson Reservoir

2012 Fishing Forecast

Below you will find a general description of the fish populations you can expect to find in 2012 based on this year's sampling.

Walleye

Good

17-20" 36% 13-16" 17% 10-11" 47%

Walleye numbers were down in the 2011 fall sample, but still remain strong and should provide good fishing again in 2012. Three size groups were represented with a nice year class collected this fall. Of the adults netted, 80% were over 15 inches. Of the total catch, however, 43% were legal size due to the inclusion of the 2011 year class.

Stripers

Good

13-16" 10% 18-22" 26% 23-26" 63% >26" 1%

Striped bass catch rates increased this fall with a wide variety of sizes represented in the sample. The bulk of the catch was between 18 and 26 inches with fish up to 28 inches collected, as well as some one year old 13-16 inch stripers. Body condition was slightly improved over last year as well.

White Perch

Good

6-8" 8% 9-12" 90% >12" 2%

White perch numbers are similar to last year, but size structure is much improved. With the majority of perch between 9 and 12 inches and some over 13 inches collected, anglers should be satisfied with the white perch fishing in 2012. Lower numbers of young fish also indicates the predators are helping to keep their numbers in check.

White Bass

Fair

6-9" 51% 13-17" 49%

There's not a lot of white bass in Wilson right now, but there are some really quality fish. Fall sampling revealed a moderate number of 13 to 17 inch whites with the biggest weighing in at 2.3 pounds. These fish are in excellent shape right now. A small year class was produced in 2011 as well so there may be some fish recruiting into the population in the next few years.

Channel Catfish

Good

11-15" 13% 16-23" 77% 24-28" 10%

Channel catfish numbers were similar to last year, but size structure was improved as indicated by 3/4 of the fish between 16 and 23 inches. Fish over 9 pounds were collected and many in the 3-6 pound range were found as well.

Blue Catfish

Poor

19-20"

We only collected four blue catfish during fall sampling indicating their numbers remain fairly low. Please continue to release all blue catfish you catch as we are trying to produce a naturally reproducing population at Wilson.

Crappie

Poor

11-13"

There are a few crappie in Wilson and anglers may be able to find them during the colder months congregated around the brush piles. They are all quality size right now due to the lack of recruitment of younger fish into the population and anglers will be pleased with their condition.

Winter Fishing Opportunities

Crappie

Fair to Good

Varied

There should also be some fish in the brush piles near Minooka and around the bluffs, but I haven't heard any reports. Jigs can often outfish minnows this time of year so you may want to try 1/8 or 1/4 ounce jigs with a variety of plastics and tubes. White is always a good choice, but pink and chartreuse also work well.

Stripers

Fair

3-8 pounds

There have been some anglers wade fishing in the Hell Creek area and catching a few stripers. They are using large bucktails in white and chartreuse.

Walleye

Fair to Good

Variety

The only reports I've heard recently are some decent catches of walleye along the river channel breaks throughout the reservoir. Anglers have been trolling crankbaits and slabbing for best results.

White Bass

Fair

Not many, but they are mostly 15-16 inches and very healthy

The few white bass being caught now are just incidental while fishing for walleye and stripers. They can be caught using similar methods like slabbing and trolling crankbaits.

Black Bass

Slow

Variety

These guys will be tougher to catch with the cold water temperatures. Anglers should plan on fishing slow presentations of white and chartreuse spinnerbaits and soft plastics near rocky ledges, channel breaks, and dropoffs. The fish are likely deeper than you think when the water gets close to freezing.

White Perch

Fair to Good

9 to 13 inches

Worms on the bottom should catch white perch through the winter if you can find the concentrations of fish - small slab spoons are also a good bet all through the fall and winter. Start looking towards the upper end around Elm Creek and Duval. Continue to keep all you catch and remember - IT IS ILLEGAL TO HAVE A WHITE PERCH ALIVE IN YOUR POSSESSION - IF YOU CATCH IT AND WANT TO KEEP IT - IT HAS TO BE DEAD IN A COOLER OR LIVEWELL. THEY ARE NO LONGER LEGAL AS LIVE BAIT FOR STRIPERS OR OTHER FISH!!!!!

We saw very high numbers of these guys around Elm Creek and Horseshoe Bend. There are some really quality fish out there right now and anglers should be able to find some by concentrating around the river channel on the upper end.

There has been very little angling activity to report on here lately. Best bets are wade fishing for stripers in Hell Creek, looking for crappie schooled on the river channel or in the brush piles, and walleye along the river channel. Things will remain like this until we see the water temperatures begin to warm up.

The current lake elevation and water temperature are posted on the location page daily by the Corp of Engineers - it is linked to this fishing report page for your convenience.

We have 2 Aquatic Nuisance Species - white perch and zebra mussels and have joined Cheney and El Dorado as lakes with both species. The law now says that if anyone leaves the lake with water in your livewell or boat, you are subject to a ticket for transporting Zebra Mussels since they will spawn and the microscopic little mussels will probably be in every drop of water in the lake. Make sure you drain all water from the boat before you leave the boat ramp area!!! We have been taking veliger samples and the samples were high so be sure to drain and dry everything!!!!!!

I have taken over the fisheries management at Wilson Reservoir until a replacement district fisheries biologist is hired. If you have any questions regarding the fisheries at the reservoir you can contact me at scott.waters@ksoutdoors.com or call me at the office 785-545-3345. I'd be glad to discuss any ideas or thoughts you have regarding Wilson.