True to its name, Jewell State Fishing Lake is a little gem tucked into the grassland hills of north-central Kansas. The 57-acre lake sits south of Mankato in Jewell County, and while it’s small, it’s well set up – five fishing piers, reservable camping, picnic shelters – and it offers a sheltered, intimate alternative to the big reservoirs it sits between. With Waconda and Lovewell both close by, it’s the quiet third stop on a north-central Kansas fishing trip.
This guide covers Jewell State Fishing Lake – the fishing, the camping, and what’s nearby. It’s part of our growing Kansas Lakes Database.
- Jewell State Fishing Lake at a glance
- Fishing Jewell State Fishing Lake
- Camping and access
- Getting there and what’s nearby
- Frequently asked questions
- How big is Jewell State Fishing Lake?
- What fish can you catch at Jewell State Fishing Lake?
- Can you camp at Jewell State Fishing Lake?
- Where is Jewell State Fishing Lake?
Jewell State Fishing Lake at a glance
- Size: 57 acres of water within 108 acres of land, 4 miles west and 6 miles south of Mankato in Jewell County, north-central Kansas
- Built: 1954 by the Kansas Fish and Game Commission
- Managed by: Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP)
- Top fish: largemouth bass, channel catfish, walleye, saugeye, crappie, bluegill and redear sunfish
- Access: five fishing piers around the lake
- Camping: reservable designated sites, with seven picnic shelters (tables and grills) and pit toilets
Fishing Jewell State Fishing Lake
For its size, Jewell carries a nice variety: largemouth bass, channel catfish, walleye and saugeye, plus crappie, bluegill and redear sunfish. The five fishing piers spread around the shoreline make it easy to fish from the bank, and the sheltered, grassland setting keeps it calmer than the open reservoirs nearby. Work the piers and points for walleye, saugeye and bass, and the shallows for panfish. Anglers 16 to 74 need a Kansas fishing license; check the current KDWP report before you go.
Camping and access
Jewell is set up for a comfortable, low-key stay: reservable campsites with seven picnic shelters (tables and grills) and three pit toilets placed around the lake. It’s a popular little spot precisely because it’s sheltered and easy. 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 southwest of Mankato, and its best feature might be its neighbors: it sits right between two of north-central Kansas’ best big reservoirs. Waconda Lake (Glen Elder) is to the south and Lovewell Reservoir to the northeast – making Jewell an ideal quiet base for a multi-lake trip.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Jewell State Fishing Lake?
About 57 acres of water within 108 acres of land, 4 miles west and 6 miles south of Mankato in Jewell County, north-central Kansas.
What fish can you catch at Jewell State Fishing Lake?
Largemouth bass, channel catfish, walleye, saugeye, crappie, bluegill and redear sunfish, with five fishing piers for bank access.
Can you camp at Jewell State Fishing Lake?
Yes – there are reservable designated campsites, with seven picnic shelters (tables and grills) and pit toilets around the lake.
Where is Jewell State Fishing Lake?
In Jewell County in north-central Kansas, between Waconda and Lovewell reservoirs, southwest of Mankato.
Related: explore more small lakes of Kansas, or the nearby reservoirs Waconda and Lovewell – or head back to the Kansas Lakes Database.
