Fishing Hillsdale Lake

AKA: Hillsdale Reservoir

Popular Fish Species
Hillsdale Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Amenities
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Boat Launch Ramps
Fishing Boat Rentals
Marinas
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Hillsdale Lake, KS

Popular Fish Species Hillsdale Lake, KS

Crappie Fishing

Black and white crappie both reside in Hillsdale Lake, with black crappie typically producing the bigger "slabs". They generally school by species, but once you locate them around cover, you may catch both species due to the fact they often share the same cover. Crappie fishing is on the rise and they can be found in sizeable schools. Crappie always like cover and structure, so locate brush and vegetation. Using a fish finder can help locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels in deeper water.

Hillsdale Lake Popular Fish - Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass Fishing

As a popular, bass tournament lake, Hillsdale Lake continues to deliver great catches of largemouth bass for anglers. Results by locals, and many bass fishing tournaments, attest that fishing for largemouth bass has been as good as advertised. Quality fisheries management by the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks has maintained a quality bass fishery for some time now. Generally speaking, when the bite is good bass often move shallow and become fairly aggressive. Any time you find them shallow and they seem disinterested in your presentations, try slowing down and use smaller, lighter baits. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap. Around grass use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In deeper water, big worms, jigs and spoons are three good weapons. In winter, spend your time fishing Hillsdale Lake on deeper structure where the bass spend much of their time. Fishing for largemouth bass is good here is year round.

Walleye Fishing

A healthy population of walleye are thriving in the waters of Hillsdale Lake this year. May and June tend to be the best time for weekend anglers to catch them. During this time they tend to move shallower and closer to shore. Other times of the year they are more likely to roam around in deeper water. As always, stay around schools of baitfish. They are eager to feed throughout the lake, but tend to concentrate around structure on points, flats and ledges off the river channels. A proven method for catching walleye here is trolling with spinners tipped with live bait, or trolling with long-billed, deep diving crankbaits. However casting live bait, jigs, worms and spoons also works well at times.

Hillsdale Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, bluegill, redear sunfish and white bass at Hillsdale Lake in Kansas.

Fishing is one of the major draws at Hillsdale Lake, a 5,400-acre lake in the northeast part of the state. In addition, camping, swimming and water sports attract outdoor enthusiasts.

Fishing enthusiasts can explore over 50 miles of shoreline in search of bass, catfish, crappie, sunfish and white bass. Walleye and crappie are the most popular targets. There are three boat launch ramps from which to choose. Hillsdale State Park, Antioch, and Jayhawk Marina all have launch ramps accessible to the public. Nearby these boat ramps are areas with access for fishing from the bank, and portage of canoes and kayaks.

Primary fish species residing in Hillsdale Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Hillsdale Lake Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: NEARBY
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: NEARBY

Today's Weather & Forecast

Fishing Boat Rentals

Jayhawk Marina
Rentals: Fishing boats and pontoon boats
913 557-9900

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Antioch Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northwest section of the lake, north side, off Waverly Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and gravel parking.

Cedar Cove Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast section of the lake, west side, off Cedar Niles Road, this is a multi-lane, earthen ramp with gravel parking.

Hillsdale State Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, off State Park Campground Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Jayhawk Marina Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southwest corner of the lake, off Lake Road, this is a five-lane, concrete ramp with docks and lots of paved parking.

Marysville Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, east side, off Orleans Road, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Orleans Road Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the north side of the lake, off Orleans Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and gravel parking.

Waverly Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, at the north end of the Waverly Road Bridge, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with gravel parking.

Marinas

Jawhawk Marina
26353 Jayhawker Drive
Paola, KS 66071
913 557-9900