Atchison State Fishing Lake is a quiet northeast-Kansas panfishing hole with one unusual perk – it’s one of the few state fishing lakes where you can rent a modern cabin. The 66-acre lake sits in 182 acres of wooded public ground just outside the historic Missouri River town of Atchison, and it’s an easy, low-key spot for catfish, bluegill and bass. Bring a rod and a cooler, or book a cabin and make a weekend of it.
This guide covers Atchison State Fishing Lake – the fishing, the cabins and camping, and what’s nearby. It’s part of our growing Kansas Lakes Database.
- Atchison State Fishing Lake at a glance
- Fishing Atchison State Fishing Lake
- Cabins, camping and access
- Getting there and what’s nearby
- Frequently asked questions
- How big is Atchison State Fishing Lake?
- What fish can you catch at Atchison State Fishing Lake?
- Can you camp or rent a cabin at Atchison State Fishing Lake?
- Where is Atchison State Fishing Lake?
Atchison State Fishing Lake at a glance
- Size: about 66 acres, with 182 acres of adjoining public land, just northwest of Atchison in Atchison County, northeast Kansas
- Managed by: Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP)
- Top fish: channel catfish and bluegill, plus largemouth bass, black crappie, redear sunfish and walleye
- Stay: reservable modern cabins, plus primitive camping on the south and east sides
- Facilities: fishing piers, fish feeders, boat ramp and dock, picnic areas and restrooms
- Good to know: special creel and length limits apply – check current regulations
Fishing Atchison State Fishing Lake
Channel catfish and bluegill are the bread and butter here, but the lake also gives up solid largemouth bass, black crappie, hefty redear sunfish and the occasional walleye. The shallow, weedy west end is good panfish and bass water, while the flats and the drop-offs that fall to 15-30 feet over the main lake hold catfish and crappie. KDWP runs special creel and length limits to keep the quality up, so read the posted rules before you keep a fish. Anglers 16 to 74 need a Kansas fishing license.
Cabins, camping and access
What sets Atchison apart from most state fishing lakes is lodging: KDWP rents modern cabins here, reservable online, alongside primitive camping on the south and east shores. Add fishing piers, fish feeders, a boat ramp and dock, picnic areas and restrooms and it’s a comfortable little base. As with any warm Kansas lake, watch for summer blue-green algae advisories and avoid visible scum.
Getting there and what’s nearby
The lake is a short drive northwest of Atchison, the historic river town known as the birthplace of Amelia Earhart (and one of Kansas’ most famously haunted towns). For bigger water, Perry Lake lies to the southwest and Brown State Fishing Lake is another quiet northeast-Kansas option to the north.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Atchison State Fishing Lake?
About 66 acres, with 182 acres of adjoining public land, just northwest of Atchison in northeast Kansas.
What fish can you catch at Atchison State Fishing Lake?
Channel catfish and bluegill are most popular, along with largemouth bass, black crappie, redear sunfish and walleye. Special creel and length limits apply.
Can you camp or rent a cabin at Atchison State Fishing Lake?
Yes – KDWP offers reservable modern cabins here, plus primitive camping on the south and east sides of the lake.
Where is Atchison State Fishing Lake?
In Atchison County in northeast Kansas, just northwest of the town of Atchison near the Missouri River.
Related: explore more small lakes of Kansas, or nearby reservoirs like Perry and Tuttle Creek – or head back to the Kansas Lakes Database.
