Kansas River Catfish Fishing

When it comes to catching large, whiskered game fish, the eastern Kansas drainage area is considered by many to be the best in the state. Although some anglers may argue that other places in Kansas have extremely large cats, especially flatheads, the Kaw River boasts something no other in-state river can claim: record-setting blue cats.

If you’re seeking a trophy fish or a really big blue, the Kansas River is the place to go. There are plenty of spots from Lawrence downstream, but pinpointing exact big-fish locations is difficult for reasons that will be explained later.

If you’re after a truly large flathead, you can find one just about anywhere in Kansas. There are plenty of places that hold flatheads exceeding 50 pounds, including city lakes, state fishing lakes, and large impoundments. Big flatheads are popular because they can be so aggressive.

For those who prefer channel catfish, the Kansas River also holds the state record for those cats. But there have been true trophies taken from many of the state’s U.S. Army Corps of Engineers impoundments. If channels are your preference, consider what constitutes a trophy in your mind. If it’s a 10-pounder or larger, you can likely catch one in any state water the channel cats call home, including many farm ponds. If 20 pounds is your ideal, you may need to focus on something larger than a pothole, but you’re still likely to find fish of that size in a wide variety of Kansas fishing spots.

Although crappie may outnumber channel cats for the number of good fishing spots listed on the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks’ annual fishing forecast, it’s unlikely. However, it’s well known that channel cats and crappie are at the top of state anglers’ lists of fish they prefer to go after for their combination of action and table fare.

State fisheries biologists are aware of this, and they spend a considerable amount of time developing and maintaining as many good fishing waters as possible for these species. This is evident when you look at the 2023 fishing forecast for channel cats.

Milford is the only large reservoir in the state whose channel-cat fishing is not rated as either good or excellent; it’s assessed as only fair. Every other Corps of Engineers impoundment is rated as at least good, and many are rated as excellent as far as channel cats go.

Even more exciting is the fact that no fewer than 20 of Kansas’ smaller lakes are rated excellent for channel catfishing by the KDWP, and there are dozens more rated as good. This doesn’t include any of the hundreds of farm ponds around the state that are home to large channel cats.

What about flatheads? You’ll find 40- to 50-pounders in the Kansas River, as well as the Marais des Cygnes River. These are likely the two best flathead rivers in the state, but that’s open to discussion.

Every major impoundment has decent numbers of flatheads, and the forage bases of these largest Sunflower State lakes mean that the cats in them will grow to very large size. Flatheads, however, can exceed weights of 50 pounds in lakes of 200 acres or less. You likely hear of big ol’ flatheads being caught in community and state fishing lakes near where you live every season.

Many catfish enthusiasts will tell you that, regardless of the species, cats tend to get a bad rap as being bottom-hugging scavengers that require anglers to use the most rancidly awful cut and prepared baits known to man if they expect to have any real success. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

Anglers using fresh live bait have the best chance of catching a truly large catfish of any species. Some swear by the biggest goldfish they can find as top baits for channels and flatheads, while others prefer to use light or ultralight gear to catch black perch or green sunfish to use as bait. Big cats just love them.

Still others, taking a cue from their striper-fishing brethren, learn to throw hand nets into wads of baitfish near the surface of their favorite lakes at sunset to catch shad that they can use to fool plenty of monstrous catfish.

Live bait is definitely the way to go for big cats. As noted earlier, catfish are predators and will hit lures. However, that’s not a consistent way of catching truly large cats, which is reserved for live bait.

Kansas offers a plethora of fishing spots, but the best places to catch cats from both a boat or the shore are those areas that give anglers access to a shallow flat or run with a nearby deeper hole. Typically, cats stay in deep holes throughout the day and venture into the shallows at night to feed. Finding a location that enables you to use two rods and reels, casting one bait shallow and the other deep, is the best way to catch Kansas’ big cats.

These prime fishing spots are available at the mouths of feeder creeks on lakes of any size, in many farm ponds, and on rivers such as the Kansas and Marais des Cygnes. However, the rivers offer the most dynamic ecosystems for catfish. There are general tendencies, but finding the best location requires scouting.

One general tendency is that any significant turn in the main channel is likely to have a deep bank with plenty of cover, such as old trees and debris. The bank where the water flows into and against as it makes the turn will hold the most fish. Another tendency is that a given spot is unlikely to remain the same for more than a week or two, especially during seasons with average or higher amounts of rain. Every trip to the river is like visiting a new fishing spot, scouting for locations that offer deep cover and access to shallow, slow riffles and bars where catfish can feed after dark.

This element makes river fishing challenging and enjoyable. Each trip offers the possibility of discovering a new spot that did not exist the last time you fished the river or encountering a once-good spot that has been filled with sediment or scoured clean by high waters. Rivers, especially the Kaw, are among the most dynamic and changeable fisheries in Kansas, subject to vast differences in water levels and current intensities.

If you are a first-time river fisher, it is best to use all safety equipment and maneuver the boat slowly when checking out unknown stretches of the river. Bringing along someone who knows the river is a good idea, but when that is not possible, let someone know your plans and carry a cell phone. Some spots along the Kansas River in Douglas and Johnson counties are off the beaten path and require significant effort to reach and depart from safely.

In summary, Kansas offers excellent fishing opportunities, with prime catfishing spots located in feeder creeks on lakes of any size, many farm ponds, and the Kansas and Marais des Cygnes rivers. To catch catfish, look for locations that offer deep cover and access to shallow, slow riffles and bars where catfish feed at night. River fishing can be challenging and enjoyable, with every trip offering the possibility of discovering a new spot. Always prioritize safety when navigating unknown stretches of the river, and let someone know your plans and carry a cell phone.