Walleye, Sauger & Saugeye Fishing In Kansas

Guide To Walleye, Sauger & Saugeye Fishing

Kansas offers excellent walleye fishing opportunities, with anglers targeting walleye, sauger, and saugeye in lakes and rivers across the state. These prized game fish provide thrilling angling experiences and are highly sought after by both recreational and tournament anglers.

Walleye, known for their tasty flesh and elusive nature, can be found in various lakes throughout Kansas. Anglers often target walleye during the spring and fall seasons when these fish are more active and more likely to be found in shallower waters. Some popular walleye fishing lakes in Kansas include Milford Reservoir, Cheney Reservoir, and Glen Elder Reservoir. These bodies of water offer ample opportunities for anglers to hook into walleye and experience the excitement of reeling in these prized fish.

Sauger, a close relative of the walleye, can also be found in Kansas waters. While sauger are less abundant than walleye, they provide an additional target species for anglers seeking a walleye-like experience. Sauger tend to inhabit deeper river channels and reservoirs with swift current. Anglers often employ techniques such as jigging with minnows or vertically fishing with jigs to entice sauger bites. The Kansas River and Missouri River are popular locations for targeting sauger in the state.

Saugeye, a hybrid cross between walleye and sauger, are another sought-after species in Kansas. These fish combine the aggressive nature of walleye with the adaptability of sauger, creating a formidable game fish. Saugeye can be found in lakes and reservoirs where they are stocked, such as Milford Reservoir and Webster Reservoir. Anglers target saugeye using similar techniques as walleye, with casting or trolling crankbaits, jigs, or live bait being effective methods.

Kansas state records for walleye, sauger, and saugeye showcase the potential for impressive catches in the state. The current state record for walleye stands at over 13 pounds, caught in El Dorado Reservoir. The sauger record stands at over 8 pounds, caught in the Kansas River, while the saugeye record weighs in at over 11 pounds, caught in Cedar Bluff Reservoir.

Walleye, sauger, and saugeye fishing in Kansas provides anglers with exciting opportunities to catch these prized game fish. Whether fishing in lakes, reservoirs, or rivers, the challenge of hooking into a walleye or saugeye and the satisfaction of landing a trophy-sized fish make Kansas a top destination for walleye fishing enthusiasts.

Walleye, Sauger & Saugeye Fishing Lakes in Kansas

Kansas is favored with a nice variety of waters for walleye fishing. The best stringers of walleye are often caught from some of the major lakes including Cedar Bluff Lake, Cheney Reservoir, Clinton Lake, Coffey County Lake, Council Grove Lake, El Dorado Lake, Elk City Lake, John Redmond Reservoir, Kanopolis Lake, Keith Sebelius Lake, Kirwin Reservoir, Lovewell Reservoir, Marion Reservoir, Melvern Lake, Milford Lake, Perry Lake, Pomona Lake, Toronto Lake, Tuttle Creek Lake, Waconda Lake, Webster Reservoir, Wilson Lake, Winfield City Lake and Wolf Creek Reservoir. Several lakes in the state offer ice fishing when conditions allow.

Click the images and links above for species details.

Top lures for walleye in Kansas

Jigs with a variety of trailers and bait work well in virtually any depth water. When walleyes are shallow, spinnerbaits, small crankbaits and rip baits are the often very productive. As they move deeper, spoons are ideal for active walleye. Understanding the seasonal movements of walleyes can enhance your chances of selecting the right lures for conditions on local waters.

Kansas State Walleye, Sauger & Saugeye Records

The state record walleye was caught out of Wilson Reservoir.

The state record sauger came from Melvern Reservoir.

The state record saugeye was taken out of Sebelius Reservoir.

Fishing For Walleye

This toothy fish will eat virtually anything it can catch and get in its mouth. They prefer small fish and will eat crustaceans, worms and insects. They tend to be somewhat wary and prefer the safety of deeper darker water. Trolling for walleye with deep diving crankbaits, jerkbaits, spinners and live bait provides a way to cover vast areas and locate concentrations of fish. Use of planer boards allows anglers to cover water out both sides of the boat while trolling. Try fishing for walleye from sundown to midnight, particularly during the heat of summer.

Walleye spawn in spring and when they have the option will choose to migrate from the lake up into feeder streams to spawn. If this option is not available they seek out shallow bars or shoals with clean bottom surfaces near deep water.

Fishing For Sauger

Closely related to the walleye and similar in appearance, sauger are generally smaller than walleye, reaching 4 to 5 pounds (or more) and up to about 20 inches. Often found in muddier rivers, it thrives in larger, silty lakes. They spawn in the shallows at night, without creating or guarding specific nests.

Fishing For Saugeye

This hybrid is created by mating sauger with walleye. The walleye influence allows the hybrids to grow larger than sauger, often to sizes equaling walleye. Saugeye tend to survive best in turbid/silty water and are caught in the same general areas and habitat populated by walleye and sauger.

Walleye prefer moderately deep lakes with gravel, rock or sandy bottoms. It is found primarily in cold water lakes but has proven to survive in warmer impoundments. It is prized for its great tasting filets. Click here to learn all about walleye fishing.

Kansas walleye spawn in spring and when they have the option will choose to migrate from the lake up into feeder streams to spawn. If this option is not available they seek out shallow bars or shoals with clean bottom surfaces near deep water.

Watch this video for walleye tips and tactics.

Walleye Resources

In-Fisherman - Walleye
U.S. Fish & Wildlife - Walleye
The National Wildlife Federation - Walleye

Also find information about walleye, sauger or saugeye fishing in these states.