Pomona is the crappie lake. Tucked into the Tallgrass Prairie of Osage County about half an hour south of Topeka, this 4,000-acre reservoir has built its reputation on some of the best crappie and catfish fishing in Kansas – the kind of lake where a spring weekend on the brush piles can fill a cooler. Around its 52 miles of shoreline sit Pomona State Park and a dozen Corps of Engineers campgrounds, two marinas and a couple of swim beaches, making it an easy, shaded, family-friendly escape from the capital.
This guide covers all of Pomona – the fishing, the state park and Corps campgrounds, the marinas, and the practical details like swim beaches and the lake’s recurring summer algae advisories. It’s part of our growing Kansas Lakes Database.
- Pomona Lake at a glance
- A prairie lake on the old Santa Fe Trail
- Fishing Pomona Lake
- Is Pomona Lake safe to swim? Blue-green algae
- Boating, marinas and swim beaches
- Camping at Pomona Lake
- Getting there and what’s nearby
- Know before you go
- Frequently asked questions
- How big is Pomona Lake?
- What fish can you catch at Pomona Lake?
- Can you camp at Pomona Lake?
- Is Pomona Lake safe to swim in?
- Is there a marina at Pomona Lake?
- Where is Pomona Lake?
Pomona Lake at a glance
- Size: ~4,000 acres with about 52 miles of shoreline, in the Tallgrass Prairie of Osage County
- Location: near Vassar, about 30 miles south of Topeka on K-368
- Built: dam on Hundred and Ten Mile Creek, completed in 1963 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Top fish: crappie, channel and flathead catfish, walleye, white bass, wiper, largemouth bass
- Parks: Pomona State Park plus Corps parks including Michigan Valley, Outlet, Carbolyn, Wolf Creek, Adams Grove and 110 Mile
- Known for: excellent crappie and catfish fishing, and relaxed, shaded family camping
A prairie lake on the old Santa Fe Trail
Pomona was built for flood control – the Corps of Engineers dammed Hundred and Ten Mile Creek and finished the reservoir in 1963 – but the creek it impounds carries a much older story. The “110 Mile Creek” crossing was a landmark on the Santa Fe Trail, measured 110 miles from Fort Osage, Missouri, and wagon trains watered and camped here for decades. Today that prairie-and-timber country makes Pomona one of the more peaceful, shaded lakes in eastern Kansas – and Osage County, which also claims nearby Melvern, leans into its billing as the state’s “Water Sports Capital.”
Fishing Pomona Lake
Fishing is Pomona’s calling card, and it’s crappie that made its name – the lake’s brush, timber and coves grow good numbers of slabs, and spring crappie trips here are a northeast-Kansas tradition. It’s just as well known for catfish, with strong channel and flathead populations, and steady management has built up solid walleye, white bass, wiper and largemouth bass too.
- Crappie: fish the brush piles, standing timber and creek arms in spring; suspend over structure as the water warms.
- Catfish: the flats and the upper, creekier end produce channels and big flatheads, especially after dark.
- Walleye & white bass: work the points and the dam at low light, and chase white-bass schools in open water in summer.
Anglers 16 to 74 need a Kansas fishing license; check the latest KDWP fishing report and limits before you go.
Is Pomona Lake safe to swim? Blue-green algae
Worth being straight about: Pomona is one of the more algae-prone lakes in Kansas, and it lands on the KDHE blue-green algae advisory list fairly often in summer, sometimes at the higher Warning level. During a Warning, the state advises against all water contact – no swimming, wading or skiing – and says to keep children and dogs away from the water; boating and fishing are generally still allowed, but don’t swallow the water and clean your catch well. Always check the current KDHE advisory and the signs at the ramps before you get in, and when in doubt, stay out.
Boating, marinas and swim beaches
Pomona has two marinas – at Pomona State Park and at Michigan Valley Park – plus boat ramps, fishing docks and swim beaches at the parks, so launching and getting on the water is easy. The lake is a relaxed boating, paddling and water-ski lake; just mind the wind on the open main body and keep an eye on the algae advisory before the kids jump in.
Camping at Pomona Lake
Pomona State Park, about 490 acres on the south shore, is the headliner – it’s well loved among northeast-Kansas campers for its shaded sites and easygoing family feel – and the Corps of Engineers fills out the rest of the shoreline with a string of parks: Michigan Valley, Outlet, Carbolyn, Wolf Creek, Adams Grove and 110 Mile. All together there are more than a dozen campgrounds and roughly 350 campsites, from primitive tent spots to full-hookup RV sites. Reserve state-park sites through the Kansas State Parks system and Corps sites on Recreation.gov, and remember the state-park vehicle permit.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Pomona is about 30 minutes south of Topeka near Vassar, an easy drive from the capital, Lawrence or Ottawa. It pairs naturally with nearby Melvern Lake and Eisenhower State Park just to the south for a two-lake Osage County weekend, and the Santa Fe Trail history of the area is worth a stop for the curious.
Know before you go
- State park permit: a Kansas state-park vehicle permit is required for Pomona State Park (daily or annual).
- Fishing license: anglers 16-74 need a Kansas fishing license.
- Algae: Pomona gets blue-green algae advisories often – check the current KDHE status before swimming and keep pets out of scum.
- Water level: as a flood-control reservoir Pomona rises and falls – check current conditions before launching.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Pomona Lake?
About 4,000 acres with roughly 52 miles of shoreline, in Osage County near Vassar, about 30 miles south of Topeka.
What fish can you catch at Pomona Lake?
Pomona is one of the best crappie and catfish lakes in Kansas, with channel and flathead catfish and excellent crappie, plus walleye, white bass, wiper and largemouth bass.
Can you camp at Pomona Lake?
Yes – extensively. Pomona State Park on the south shore plus a dozen Corps of Engineers parks (Michigan Valley, Outlet, Carbolyn, Wolf Creek, Adams Grove and 110 Mile) offer roughly 350 campsites, from primitive to full hookup.
Is Pomona Lake safe to swim in?
Often, but check first – Pomona is one of the more algae-prone lakes in Kansas and gets KDHE blue-green algae advisories fairly often in summer. During a Warning, avoid all water contact and keep kids and dogs out.
Is there a marina at Pomona Lake?
Yes – there are two, at Pomona State Park and at Michigan Valley Park, along with boat ramps, fishing docks and swim beaches.
Where is Pomona Lake?
In Osage County in eastern Kansas, near Vassar, about 30 minutes south of Topeka on K-368.
Related: explore more of the largest lakes in Kansas – including nearby Melvern Lake, plus Clinton Lake and Perry Lake – or head back to the Kansas Lakes Database.
