Where to Go Trout Fishing in Kansas

There’s nothing like hooking a trout on a cold Kansas winter day! Trout are known for their spirited fight as you reel them in.

And the colorful fish make for great pictures, lifetime memories, and excellent meals!

Trout season in Kansas begins Nov. 1 and ends April 15. Certain Kansas lakes are stocked with rainbow trout that are transported from regional hatcheries.

But not all Kansas lakes are stocked.

Below is a list of public places in Kansas that are stocked with trout.

Where to Go Trout Fishing in Kansas:

Smoky Gardens Fishing Lake, Sherman County near Goodland
Le Clere Lake, Coffeyville
Lake Charles, Dodge City
Eisenhower State Park Pond
Gunn Park Lake, Fort Scott
Glen Elder State Park Pond
Kanopolis Seep Stream
KDOT East Lake, Wichita
Lake Henry in Clinton State Park
Mind Land Wildlife Area Unit #30, West Mineral
Centennial Pond, Pratt
Walnut River Area in El Dorado State Park
Willow Lake at Tuttle Creek State Park
The Stilling Basin at Webster State Park, Stockton
Sandsage Bison Range and Wildlife Area Sandpits, Garden City
Vic’s Lake and Slough Creek in Sedgwick County Park, Wichita
Crystal Lake, Garnett
Villa High Lake, Colby
Kings Lake, Emporia
J. Watson Park, Wichita
Lake Shawnee, Topeka
Lakewood Lake, Salina
Moon Lake, Fort Riley
Barrel Springs Pond at Lake Scott State Park
Dillon Nature Center Pond, Hutchinson
Atchison City Lake #1
Holton-Elkhorn Lake
Sam’s Pond, Syracuse
Cimarron Grasslands Pits
Vet’s Lake, Great Bend
Meade State Fishing Lake
Tanko Lake, Cherryvale
Father Padilla Pond, Herington
Cameron Springs, Fort Riley

Most of the lakes and ponds listed above are stocked with trout at the end of October or the beginning of November. However, some places may be stocked later.

Check the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks stock schedule for exact dates.

Click here for 5 Tips for Catching Trout in Kansas.

Kansas Regulations for Trout Fishing

There are a few rules to follow when fishing for trout in Kansas.

You’re required to have a Kansas fishing license with an additional $14.50 trout permit if you’re 16 or older. For youth anglers who are 15 and younger, you only need a $7 trout permit.

Some local governments like Topeka and Kansas City may require a fee, but don’t require a state license. Your local city and county recreation departments should have this information.

Creel limit is five trout per day unless otherwise posted, and possession limit is 15 trout per day.