Shawnee State Fishing Lake: Fishing & Camping Guide

Shawnee State Fishing Lake is a quiet, wooded alternative to the busier waters around the capital – not to be confused with the city’s Lake Shawnee. The 135-acre lake sits northwest of Topeka within a 680-acre wildlife area, and it’s a reliable, easy-access fishery, especially for channel catfish (stocked monthly) and largemouth bass. With free primitive camping and good habitat, it’s a handy local spot for anglers in the Topeka area.

This guide covers Shawnee State Fishing Lake – the fishing, the camping, and what’s nearby. It’s part of our growing Kansas Lakes Database.

Table of Contents

Shawnee State Fishing Lake at a glance
Shawnee State Fishing Lake vs. Lake Shawnee
Fishing Shawnee State Fishing Lake
Camping and access
Getting there and what’s nearby
Frequently asked questions
Is Shawnee State Fishing Lake the same as Lake Shawnee?
How big is Shawnee State Fishing Lake?
What fish can you catch at Shawnee State Fishing Lake?
Can you camp at Shawnee State Fishing Lake?

Shawnee State Fishing Lake at a glance

Size: about 135 surface acres (maximum depth ~25 feet) within a 680-acre state fishing lake and wildlife area, northwest of Topeka and northeast of Silver Lake in Shawnee County, northeast Kansas
Managed by: Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP)
Top fish: channel catfish (good – monthly catchable-size urban stockings) and largemouth bass (usually good), plus crappie and bluegill
Camping: free primitive camping, with three vault restrooms and picnic tables (no electricity or running water)
History: purchased in 1959 and developed as a state fishing lake in the early 1960s
Not to be confused with: Lake Shawnee, the city park lake in Topeka

Shawnee State Fishing Lake vs. Lake Shawnee

It’s worth clearing up a common mix-up: this Shawnee State Fishing Lake is a rural KDWP lake and wildlife area northwest of Topeka, while Lake Shawnee is the popular, amenity-rich city park lake on Topeka’s southeast side. Both are great – but they’re different waters in different settings.

Fishing Shawnee State Fishing Lake

The headline here is channel catfish: the lake gets monthly stockings of catchable-size fish through an urban program, so catch rates stay strong through the season. Largemouth bass fishing is usually good as well, with crappie and bluegill rounding things out, and a maximum depth around 25 feet gives fish room to hold. Work the timber and points for bass, and the feeders and channel for catfish. Anglers 16 to 74 need a Kansas fishing license; check the current KDWP report before you go.

Camping and access

Camping is free, with primitive areas, three vault restrooms and picnic tables, but no electricity or running water. The surrounding wildlife area adds room for hiking, wildlife watching and seasonal hunting. It’s a simple, peaceful spot a short drive from Topeka. 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 northwest of Topeka, near Silver Lake in Shawnee County. For bigger water nearby, Perry Lake is a short drive northeast, and the city’s own Lake Shawnee offers a more developed park experience on the other side of Topeka.

Frequently asked questions

Is Shawnee State Fishing Lake the same as Lake Shawnee?

No – Shawnee State Fishing Lake is a rural KDWP lake and wildlife area northwest of Topeka, while Lake Shawnee is the city park lake on Topeka’s southeast side.