Sheridan State Fishing Lake: Fishing & Camping Guide

Sheridan State Fishing Lake is a welcome patch of water in the dry high plains of northwest Kansas – a small, shaded lake that draws more than 20,000 visitors a year to fish, camp and picnic. About 50 acres set within a 216-acre timber-and-grassland wildlife area east of Hoxie, it offers easygoing bass, catfish and panfish fishing and free, tree-shaded primitive camping. In a part of the state with few lakes, it’s a genuine local treasure.

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

Table of Contents

Sheridan State Fishing Lake at a glance
Fishing Sheridan State Fishing Lake
Camping and access
Getting there and what’s nearby
Frequently asked questions
How big is Sheridan State Fishing Lake?
What fish can you catch at Sheridan State Fishing Lake?
Can you camp at Sheridan State Fishing Lake?
Is Sheridan State Fishing Lake being renovated?

Sheridan State Fishing Lake at a glance

Size: about 50 acres of water within a 216-acre timber and native-grass wildlife area (roughly 316 acres total), 12 miles east of Hoxie and 1 mile north of Highway 24 in Sheridan County, northwest Kansas
Managed by: Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP)
Top fish: largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill and redear sunfish
Access: a floating fishing pier and two fish attractors
Camping: free primitive camping at shaded shoreline sites with picnic tables and fire rings
Heads-up: KDWP has announced renovation plans for the lake – check current conditions before visiting

Fishing Sheridan State Fishing Lake

For a small high-plains lake, Sheridan offers pleasant, accessible fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill and redear sunfish. A floating fishing pier sits near one of the lake’s two fish attractors, making it easy to reach fish from shore. Work the attractors and shoreline cover for panfish and bass, and the deeper water for catfish. Note that KDWP has announced a renovation of the lake to improve the fishery, so check current water levels and access before you go. Anglers 16 to 74 need a Kansas fishing license.

Camping and access

Camping is free, with designated primitive sites along the shoreline – and, unusually for the region, plenty of trees for shade, plus picnic tables and fire rings at many sites. It’s a relaxed, no-cost base for a fishing trip in a corner of Kansas where shade and water are both at a premium. 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 12 miles east of Hoxie in Sheridan County, just off U.S. 24 in northwest Kansas. For bigger reservoirs in the region, Webster Reservoir lies to the east near Stockton, and the scenic Cedar Bluff Reservoir is to the south.