Kansas Fly Fishing

Information About How and Where To Go Fly Fishing in Kansas

Many anglers want to know ‘What can you catch with a fly rod in Kansas?’ The answer to that question includes all kinds of fish including bass, carp, catfish, wiper, stripers, bluegill, walleye pike, gar, trout.

Reservoirs fishing for Stripers
Reservoirs fishing is a big part of the Kansas game. With over 20 large reservoirs in Kansas, lake style fishing is popular. You can fish for walleye, stripers, wipers, largemouth bass, white bass, crappie, carp and channel cats. Striped bass are popular fly rod fare in many areas because they have adapted well. Most striper populations are maintained through stocking programs supported by the state because they reporduce naturally in Kansas. Stripers provide fly rodders with great streamer and top water popper action. They fight hard too. There is always a chance at a wopper bass – the state record is a 43 lber.

Trout Fishing
Kansas Wildlife and Parks stock trout in selected streams and ponds throughout Kansas. A trout stamp is required in addition to regular fishing permit. Further information about the Trout stocking program and stocking schedule is available at KDWP webpage.

Slough Creek is located inside Sedgwick County Park in Northwest part of Wichita. This one mile stretch of stream is restricted to “Flies Only” by Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and is one of the most favored trout stream for fly fishermen in South-central Kansas.

Recommended Tackle for Trout:

• Rod, Reel, and Line: 2 wt. to 6 wt. with 6 ft. to 10 ft. in length; 4-5 wt. 9 ft. rod, matching reel and floating line preferred.
• Leaders and Tippets: 5X – 7X leaders and tippets; 6X leader plus matching 18″+ tippet preferred.
• Flies: Most bead headed nymphs and streamers size 6 to 18, Bead headed olive, black or white Woolybugger (Size 12), Bloodworm patterns (Size 16 – 18)

Most streamers can be fished without any indicators by casting up or downstream and retrieving in various speed, depending on conditions. Some smaller flies can be fished under an indicator with or without dropper flies.

Recommended Tackle for Bass Fishing

• Rod & Reel: 6 – 8 wt. Graphite Rod & Matching Reel, See our Equipment Page for Details
• Line: Floating, Intermediate, Sinking Tip, Full Sinking, Shooting Taper
• Leader: 6 – 10 lb Mono
• Flies: Bass bugs, Streamer, Wooly Bugger,

Search using a search pattern flies, search fish from top to bottom in water column. Dark color for stained and muddy water, light color for clear water Dark color in dusk and dawn, light color in bright sun.

Carp Fishing

• Rod & Reel 5 – 7 wt. Graphite Rod & Matching Reel. Light saltwater 6 – 7 wt. with fighting butt recommended. See our Equipment Page for details.
• Line Floating Line (weight forward or double tapered)
• Leader 6 – 10 lb Mono (4 ft+)
• Flies McCloskey Special, Brown, Tan, Green flies

Look for actively feeding fish in shallow water. Look for dorsal or tail fin above water or swirl below the surface. Locate your target and deliver precisely. Anticipate the fish movement and cast 6 – 18 inches in front of the fish. Do not strip. Let it sink slowly. You don’t need to set the hook. They will do it for you. Hang on to your rod and let them run. Make sure you have enough backing on your reel.

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