Clinton Lake

Clinton Lake is a reservoir in Douglas County, Kansas. Clinton Lake covers about 7,000 acres and holds about 110,400 acre-feet.

What Makes Clinton Lake Different

Clinton Lake lies on the Wakarusa River west of Lawrence. Its creek arms, flooded timber, rocky points and deeper water near the dam give crappie, bass, catfish, saugeye and walleye several different places to feed.

The reported fish at Clinton Lake include wiper, walleye, sauger, saugeye, and smallmouth bass.

Fish and Baits at Clinton Lake

Fish reported from Clinton Lake include black crappie, blue catfish, bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass, redear sunfish, sauger, saugeye, smallmouth bass, walleye, white bass, white crappie, and wiper. Stocking records for Clinton Lake also list blue catfish, channel catfish, sauger, saugeye, smallmouth bass, and walleye, though that does not mean those fish will be easy to catch on every trip.

Bass

For bass at Clinton, fish weeds, wood and shade with a spinnerbait, jig or Texas-rigged worm for largemouth, and work a tube, Ned rig or small crankbait across rock and firm points for smallmouth.

Crappie and Sunfish

For panfish at Clinton, use a small jig or minnow beside brush for crappie, and fish a worm, cricket or tiny jig near weeds for bluegill, redear or other sunfish.

Walleye, Sauger, Saugeye, and Open-Water Fish

For roaming fish at Clinton, jig a minnow or troll a crankbait along points and deeper edges for walleye, and work a jig or small crankbait close to bottom for sauger, and fish a jig, blade bait or crankbait near the old channel for saugeye, and follow shad with a spoon, jig or small crankbait for white bass, and use a shad-colored swimbait, spoon or trolling lure around open-water baitfish for wipers.

Catfish

For bottom fishing at Clinton, use fresh cut shad on a strong bottom rig for blue catfish, and put cut bait, a nightcrawler or prepared bait on bottom for channel catfish.

Where to Start at Clinton Lake

At Clinton Lake, use a jig, crawler rig or crankbait along points and the old channel for walleye. Follow shad at Clinton Lake with a spoon, swimbait or crankbait for wiper. Fish a small jig or minnow at Clinton Lake beside brush, standing wood or a creek-channel edge for crappie. Work a tube or Ned rig on rock at Clinton Lake for smallmouth bass.

On a first trip to Clinton, check incoming water, one bend in the old channel and a point near deep water with a moving lure, then slow down with a jig or worm where you get a bite.

Fishing Clinton Lake Through the Year

Spring around Clinton is a good time to check warm coves and incoming water, and summer is a good time to fish shade, weeds and the first drop into deeper water. Fall around Clinton can bring fish back to windy points and banks, while winter calls for smaller baits fished slowly.

Tackle for Clinton Lake

A medium spinning rod with 8- to 10-pound line handles most jigs, worms and small lures at Clinton, while a medium-heavy rod is better for bass jigs and heavier bottom rigs.

Clinton Lake FAQs

Why should anglers check the Wakarusa River arm and flooded timber at Clinton Lake?

The upper arm can bring current and color, while the lower points and deeper water are better places to follow shad.

What lure is a sensible first choice for wiper at Clinton Lake?

At Clinton Lake, start with a shad-colored swimbait, spoon or crankbait at the depth where baitfish are moving.

What should anglers watch before changing spots at Clinton Lake?

At Clinton Lake, watch wind, water color, current and the depth of the first bite. Those clues show whether fish are using the Wakarusa River arm and flooded timber or a nearby edge.