The following fishing and lake reports for Osage County lakes were provided by Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.
MELVERN RESERVOIR – Last Updated: 3/23/2016
| Species |
Rating |
Size |
Baits, Method, Location |
| Blue Catfish |
|
|
35 inch minimum length limit and 5 fish daily limit went into effect January 1, 2016. This regulation change is to protect adult brood fish which hopefully will allow increased production of young blue catfish, translating into increased numbers of blues in Melvern. |
| Sauger |
|
|
18 inch minimum length limit went into effect Jan. 1, 2016. This change makes sauger and walleye have the same regulations at Melvern Reservoir. |
| Spotted Bass |
|
|
18 inch minimum length limit went into effect Jan. 1, 2016. This change makes all black bass (i.e. largemouth, smallmouth and spotted) have the same regulations at Melvern Reservoir. |
| Crappie |
Poor-Fair |
0.3-1 lb. |
Some anglers had luck at 18- 20 feet under the dock using jigs and minnows. Some reports of anglers catching crappie out on the lake over deep water brush piles using jigs. |
| Blue Catfish |
Poor-Fair |
10-25 lbs. |
Some anglers have done well on shad. Had a good report of an angler having good luck using crappie guts. |
| Walleye |
Poor-Fair |
1-3 lbs. |
Mainly males, mostly 16-19″ in length have been caught recently on crankbaits, and a few on jigs off the dam. |
| March 23 water level 1.44 feet low, release rate = 20 cfs, water temp = 49. Melvern Reservoir has Zebra Mussels, Remember to clean, drain, and dry your boat and fishing equipment when leaving the lake to keep from spreading them to other lakes. |
OSAGE STATE FISHING LAKE – Last Updated: 3/23/2016
| Species |
Rating |
Size |
Baits, Method, Location |
| Crappie |
Fair |
0.3-0.75 pounds |
Using jigs around brushpiles. |
POMONA RESERVOIR – Last Updated: 3/1/2016
| Species |
Rating |
Size |
Baits, Method, Location |
| Channel Catfish |
Fair to Good |
2-7 pounds |
Use worms or dip baits and sunfish entrails or cut shad, stink/prepared baits. Lakewide or stilling basin. There is the occasional harvest of the blue catfish. |
| Walleye |
Slow |
varies |
Off points or deeper steep banks on crank baits or jigs tipped with night crawlers. |
| White bass/Wipers |
Fair to Good |
varies |
Lakewide and the windy side of the points, wipers are following the schools of shad, minnows or live baits, cut bait, sometimes liver and shad imitation lures. |
| Crappie |
Slow but has improved with cooler waters |
varies but range 8 -12 inches |
Some taken over or around woody habitat, structures and large rocks on jigs and/or minnows. |
| Largemouth Bass |
Slow |
Most are 10 to 15 inches |
Pomona has a limited black bass fishery. Catches are more common in the Marina area and in the coves on a variety of baits to include crankbaits and soft baits. |
The lake level is now 6 inches low. The lake clarity has improved to approximately 2 feet. and outflows are at 15 cfs. Boat ramps are open as usual. Although fish are still lethargic, early spring can be a good time to catch crappie, largemouth bass, and walleye. Minnows are often good bait this time of year, and as water temperatures continue to rise and spawn approaches, try out your spinners and jigs!
Zebra mussels now inhabit this lake. Please be extra careful and “Clean, Drain and Dry” before and after using any equipment on this lake. |
Area fishermen are invited to comment below to update fishing conditions or other local lake information.
