Welcome to the Kansas Lakes Database — a complete, independent guide to the lakes of Kansas. From the big federal reservoirs that draw boaters and crappie anglers by the thousand to the quiet, tree-shaded state fishing lakes hidden down gravel roads, we’ve written a detailed visitor guide for every significant named lake in the state. That’s 63 lakes and counting, each with fishing tips, camping and access details, maps, and the local color that makes a trip worth taking.
Whether you’re chasing walleye on a windswept reservoir, hunting a shaded crappie hole, or just looking for a scenic weekend within an hour of home, start here.
How to use this guide
The lakes are organized two ways so you can find what you need fast. First by type — the Largest Lakes of Kansas (the major reservoirs) and the Small Lakes & State Fishing Lakes — and then within each, by region of the state (northeast, north-central, northwest, southeast, south-central and southwest). Click any lake for its full guide. Every guide includes a location map, the fish you can expect, camping and boating notes, and what’s nearby.
Largest Lakes of Kansas
Kansas has no natural large lakes — every big water here is a reservoir, built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or the Bureau of Reclamation for flood control and water supply, and now among the best fishing, boating and camping destinations in the state. These are the 24 major reservoirs. Browse them all on the Largest Lakes of Kansas page, or jump in by region below.
Northeast Kansas
- Tuttle Creek Lake — the state’s second-largest, near Manhattan
- Perry Lake — crappie and trails near Lawrence and Topeka
- Clinton Lake — sailing and camping at Lawrence
- Hillsdale Lake — the closest big lake to the Kansas City metro
- Melvern Lake — clean water and big campgrounds in Osage County
- Pomona Lake — a crappie favorite south of Topeka
North-central Kansas
- Milford Lake — the largest lake in Kansas, near Junction City
- Wilson Lake — striped bass and the clearest water in the state
- Kanopolis Lake — the oldest federal reservoir in Kansas, with canyon trails
- Waconda Lake (Glen Elder) — a walleye and white-bass powerhouse
- Lovewell Reservoir — top walleye water near the Nebraska line
- Council Grove Lake — scenic Flint Hills reservoir on the Santa Fe Trail
Northwest Kansas
- Cedar Bluff Reservoir — clear water and limestone bluffs in the high plains
- Webster Reservoir — walleye and wiper near Stockton
- Kirwin Reservoir — Kansas’s first national wildlife refuge
- Keith Sebelius Lake — Prairie Dog State Park, near Norton
Southeast Kansas
- Elk City Lake — rugged hiking and bass near Independence
- Big Hill Lake — clear water and great bass fishing near Cherryvale
- Fall River Lake — crappie and quiet camping in the hills
- Toronto Lake — Cross Timbers State Park and ancient oaks
- John Redmond Reservoir — crappie and birding at the Flint Hills refuge
South-central Kansas
- Cheney Lake — the sailing and fishing capital near Wichita
- El Dorado Lake — the largest lake in south-central Kansas
- Marion Reservoir — white bass and waterfowl in the Flint Hills
Small Lakes & State Fishing Lakes of Kansas
Beyond the big reservoirs, Kansas is dotted with smaller lakes — city lakes, scenic state-park lakes, and the state’s beloved network of state fishing lakes (SFLs), most with free primitive camping and excellent, uncrowded fishing. These are the 39 small lakes we cover. See them all on the Small Lakes of Kansas page, or by region below.
Northeast Kansas
- Lake Shawnee — Topeka’s showcase city lake and gardens
- Lake Olathe — a reborn lakefront park in the KC metro
- Gardner Lake — a friendly fishing lake southwest of Olathe
- Lone Star Lake — Douglas County’s scenic getaway near Lawrence
- Centralia Lake — one of the best small fisheries in northeast Kansas
- Atchison State Fishing Lake — rare rentable cabins near the Missouri River
- Brown State Fishing Lake — an old-school lake near Hiawatha
- Nemaha State Fishing Lake & Wildlife Area — a restored wetland near Seneca
- Leavenworth State Fishing Lake — excellent bass near Tonganoxie
- Osage State Fishing Lake — a prairie lake south of Topeka
- Shawnee State Fishing Lake — a wooded fishery northwest of Topeka
- Pottawatomie State Fishing Lake No. 1 — an intimate lake near Westmoreland
- Pottawatomie State Fishing Lake No. 2 — the larger lake near Manhattan
- Louisburg-Middle Creek State Fishing Lake — a diverse fishery south of KC
North-central Kansas
- Herington Reservoir — lakeside camping on the edge of the Flint Hills
- Jewell State Fishing Lake — a gem between Waconda and Lovewell
- McPherson State Fishing Lake — fish beside a bison and elk refuge
- Ottawa State Fishing Lake — ten piers and a cabin near Rock City
- Saline State Fishing Lake — a small lake just outside Salina
- Geary State Fishing Lake — fishing and hunting near Junction City
- Washington State Fishing Lake — a diverse fishery near the Nebraska border
Northwest Kansas
- Sheridan State Fishing Lake — a shaded oasis in the high plains near Hoxie
Southeast Kansas
- Woodson State Fishing Lake — smallmouth bass and a big wildlife area near Toronto
- Crawford State Park Lake — a full-service park lake near Pittsburg
- Mined Land Wildlife Area — 1,000+ strip-pit lakes and a famous Trout Pit near Pittsburg
- Bourbon State Fishing Lake — a scenic timbered lake near Fort Scott
- Montgomery State Fishing Lake — oak-hickory bluffs near Independence
- Neosho State Fishing Lake — the oldest state fishing lake in Kansas (1927)
- Lyon State Fishing Lake — clear Flint Hills water north of Emporia
South-central Kansas
- Lake Afton — a popular county lake and observatory near Wichita
- Winfield City Lake — one of the best city-lake fisheries in Kansas
- Cowley State Fishing Lake — crystal-clear water near Dexter
- Butler State Fishing Lake — a Flint Hills lake near Latham
- Chase State Fishing Lake — the famous 40-foot waterfall near Cottonwood Falls
- Kingman State Fishing Lake (Byron Walker) — northern pike and a huge wildlife area
- Barber State Fishing Lake — two basins in the scenic Gypsum Hills
Southwest Kansas
- Lake Scott State Park — a spring-fed canyon lake and historic pueblo ruins
- Clark State Fishing Lake — a dramatic Bluff Creek canyon near Dodge City
- Meade State Park Lake — the only state park in southwest Kansas, with winter trout
The Kansas Lakes Database is growing. Every guide is researched and written for people first — real fishing intel, honest access notes, and the stories behind each lake. Browse by Largest Lakes or Small Lakes, pick a region, and go find some water.