Ottawa State Fishing Lake is a friendly, shallow prairie lake in north-central Kansas, tucked into the rolling country east of Minneapolis and Bennington. Though modest in size and depth, it fishes well for bass, catfish, crappie and panfish – with saugeye and wiper added as predators – and it’s well set up for anglers, with ten fishing piers, dispersed lakeside camping and even a rental cabin. Pair it with a visit to nearby Rock City and you’ve got a fine Ottawa County day out.
This guide covers Ottawa State Fishing Lake – the fishing, the cabin and camping, and what’s nearby. It’s part of our growing Kansas Lakes Database.
- Ottawa State Fishing Lake at a glance
- Fishing Ottawa State Fishing Lake
- Cabin, camping and access
- Getting there and what’s nearby
- Frequently asked questions
- How big is Ottawa State Fishing Lake?
- What fish can you catch at Ottawa State Fishing Lake?
- Is there a cabin at Ottawa State Fishing Lake?
- Where is Ottawa State Fishing Lake?
Ottawa State Fishing Lake at a glance
- Size: a shallow lake of roughly 130 acres (maximum depth about 11 feet), 9.5 miles east of Minneapolis and 5 miles north of Bennington in Ottawa County, north-central Kansas
- Managed by: Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP)
- Top fish: black bass, channel catfish, crappie and sunfish, plus stocked saugeye and wiper – and a few big flathead catfish
- Access: ten earthen fishing piers and active shoreline maintenance
- Stay: dispersed primitive camping around the perimeter, plus one reservable modern cabin
- Nearby: the famous Rock City geological site near Minneapolis
Fishing Ottawa State Fishing Lake
For a shallow lake, Ottawa holds a good variety. There’s a solid population of black bass, channel catfish, crappie and sunfish, and KDWP has added saugeye and wiper as predators to control gizzard shad and boost the crappie fishery. A few big flatheads and plenty of carp round things out. The ten fishing piers make bank fishing easy. Work the shoreline and piers for bass and crappie, and open water for saugeye and wiper. Anglers 16 to 74 need a Kansas fishing license; check the current KDWP report before you go.
Cabin, camping and access
Ottawa offers relaxed dispersed primitive camping around the lake, with many private spots in small inlets that give you direct water access – a nice touch for paddlers and bank anglers. There’s also one modern cabin for rent through KDWP, a comfortable option in any season. 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 about 9.5 miles east of Minneapolis (and 5 miles north of Bennington) in Ottawa County, roughly 25 miles north of Salina. Don’t miss nearby Rock City, a National Natural Landmark of giant spherical sandstone concretions. For bigger water, scenic Wilson Lake lies west and Kanopolis southwest in the Smoky Hills.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Ottawa State Fishing Lake?
It’s a shallow lake of roughly 130 acres (maximum depth about 11 feet), east of Minneapolis in Ottawa County, north-central Kansas.
What fish can you catch at Ottawa State Fishing Lake?
Black bass, channel catfish, crappie and sunfish, plus stocked saugeye and wiper, with a few big flathead catfish.
Is there a cabin at Ottawa State Fishing Lake?
Yes – one modern cabin is available for rent through KDWP, alongside dispersed primitive camping around the lake.
Where is Ottawa State Fishing Lake?
In Ottawa County in north-central Kansas, about 9.5 miles east of Minneapolis and 5 miles north of Bennington, north of Salina.
Related: explore more small lakes of Kansas, or nearby reservoirs like Wilson and Kanopolis – or head back to the Kansas Lakes Database.
