Kansas fishing covers everything from a 12,600-acre walleye reservoir in the north to spring-fed canyon lakes in the west and clear Flint Hills state fishing lakes in the east. Most of the best water sits well outside any town, which is why an RV is a great choice. Park at a lakeside state park or a primitive lakeshore site, keep your rods and cooler at hand, and move to the next lake when fishing is slow.
Best Places for RV Fishing in Kansas
| Fishing spot | Best for | RV camping experience | Good to know |
| Glen Elder Reservoir (Waconda Lake) | Walleye, white bass, crappie, catfish | State park with 120+ water/electric sites, some 50-amp concrete pads | Largest lake on this list; two dump stations and a full-service marina |
| Severy City Lake | Quiet shore and paddle fishing | No on-site RV camping; base at Fall River State Park | Very small lake; paved ramp, picnic shelters |
| Lake Scott | Bluegill, saugeye | Water/electric sites in a shaded canyon, a few full hookups | Popular; reserve ahead, especially weekends |
| Chase State Fishing Lake | Largemouth bass, channel catfish | Primitive camping only | Zebra mussels: no live fish or bait leaves this lake |
| Cowley State Fishing Lake | Largemouth bass, bluegill, walleye | Primitive lakeshore sites, no hookups | Seven-day camping limit; no-wake lake |
| Eureka City Lake | White crappie, bass | No verified on-site RV sites; Fall River State Park is the closest hookup camping | Heated fishing dock, two boat ramps, sand beach |
| Lake Olathe | Family fishing near Kansas City | No camping at the lake; base at Hillsdale State Park | Fishing pavilion, kayak rentals |
Fishing Spots in Kansas
Here are some of the best fishing spots in Kansas. You’ll find plenty of crappie fishing in the state, along with a variety of other fish to catch.
Glen Elder Reservoir
Also known as Waconda Lake, Glen Elder Reservoir sits 12 miles west of Beloit and straddles Osborne and Mitchell counties. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation initially constructed this 12,000+ acre reservoir to control floods and support irrigation. The reservoir is 55 feet deep, so make sure you have the right equipment for deep-water fishing. Crappie, white bass, walleye, black bass, and channel and flathead catfish are some of the fish species you will find here, and you can fish year-round.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Glen Elder State Park, on the north shore. Three campgrounds offer electric sites, most with water, plus some primitive sites.
- Fishing access: Boat ramps with ADA courtesy docks in the Kanza and Osage areas. A full-service marina sells fuel, bait, and supplies April through October.
- Hookups: Water and 50-amp electric on concrete pads with tie-downs in some sites. No sewer at sites; two dump stations in the park. Kanza and Cheyenne utility sites stay open year-round; shower buildings close in the off-season.
- Rig notes: Concrete pads are 12 x 40 feet. Reservations open December 15 for the following year and the pad sites go fast.
- Best for: Anglers with a boat who want a full-week base on big water.
Severy City Lake
Severy City Lake is situated in the southern part of the town of Severy, about 64 miles east of Wichita. Native tallgrass prairie makes up most of its watershed, which keeps the water clear. Amenities include a paved boat ramp, two picnic shelters, toilets, and grills. It’s a good stop for a quiet morning of shore fishing or paddling. Toot’s Drive-In in Howard, about 15 minutes south on Highway 99, has been serving burgers and homemade pie since 1955.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: No developed RV sites at the lake. Fall River State Park, a short drive east, has electric/water sites and even more primitive sites.
- Fishing access: Take a day-trip from Fall River; the lake is a quick drive and easy to fish from shore.
- Hookups: Electric and water at Fall River’s utility sites; primitive sites are dry camping.
- Rig notes: Fall River’s utility sites vary in length. Some fit rigs over 50 feet, others are short. Check site dimensions when reserving.
- Best for: A low-key add-on to a Fall River or Eureka stay, not a destination on its own.
Lake Scott
Lake Scott is a 100-acre, spring-fed lake in a wooded canyon inside Historic Lake Scott State Park, near Scott City. Bluegill is the draw. Try the small bays and coves or the water directly in front of the dam in the morning or evening, and cast a piece of worm under a small bobber. Saugeye are also present. The canyon setting is unlike anything else in western Kansas, with springs, bluffs, and cottonwoods as old as the lake.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: The park has 55 utility campsites, some with 50-amp service and water, plus 100 primitive sites and three shower buildings. Most RV sites are in the Circle Drive loop near the lake.
- Fishing access: Shore fishing is a short walk from camp. The concession offers seasonal canoe and paddleboat rentals.
- Hookups: Water and electric at most utility sites; a handful of full-hookup sites in Circle Drive.
- Rig notes: Gravel back-in sites don’t always level easily for big rigs. The park fills on weekends, so be sure to reserve a campsite.
- Best for: Families and anglers who want shade, a swim beach, and bluegill within walking distance.
Chase State Fishing Lake
Chase State Fishing Lake is a 109-acre lake located 75 miles northeast of Wichita in a stunning Flint Hills Valley near Cottonwood Falls. The water is unusually clear, the shoreline is rocky, and rock and brush attractors give shore anglers real options. Largemouth bass do well here, along with channel catfish, saugeye, crappie, white bass, and bluegill. Walk behind the dam to see the waterfall. This lake has zebra mussels, so you cannot transport live fish or aquatic bait from it.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Primitive camping on the wildlife area; no hookups, no showers, and no trash service so be sure to pack everything out.
- Fishing access: Boat ramp in the main use area, boats for fishing only. Piers put shore anglers over deep water.
- Hookups: None. This is a dry-camping stop.
- Rig notes: Gravel roads and unimproved sites; smaller, self-contained rigs do best.
- Best for: Self-sufficient anglers chasing clear-water bass in a scenic setting.
Cowley State Fishing Lake
Cowley State Lake is an 84-acre lake 16 miles east of Arkansas City, right off Highway 166, surrounded by Flint Hills prairie. The water is clear, and KDWP lists channel catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, walleye, crappie, and flathead catfish. A seasonal waterfall at the northwest end of the property is a short walk away.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Primitive sites along the north shore, some right at the water. Seven-day camping limit.
- Fishing access: One boat ramp, a fishing dock, and earthen piers. Boats for fishing only; no-wake lake.
- Hookups: None. Pit toilets only.
- Rig notes: Gravel access; no trash service.
- Best for: Anglers who want a quiet, no-frills lakeshore camp within an hour of Wichita.
Eureka City Lake
Eureka City Lake is a 259-acre lake just north of Eureka. It has 17 public access areas along almost 2 miles of shoreline, plus two boat ramps, four public fishing docks, a heated fishing dock for winter crappie, two fish-cleaning stations, and a bait shop. White crappie, largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, and saugeye are the main targets. When you’re done fishing, there’s a sand beach, picnic shelters, and a 30-foot waterfall below the spillway.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: Fall River State Park, about 30 minutes southeast, is the nearest state park with hookups. Private RV parks in and near Eureka are another option.
- Fishing access: Public docks and ramps are spread around the lake; the heated dock makes this a year-round stop.
- Hookups: There are electric and water hookups at Fall River; check private parks for full hookups.
- Rig notes: Much of the shoreline is privately leased lots, so use the marked public access points.
- Best for: Crappie anglers, including winter trips.
Lake Olathe
Lake Olathe is a 170-acre lake on the west side of Olathe, in Johnson County, nestled in 258 acres of park with playgrounds, trails, and a summer swim beach. The city lists bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass, saugeye, wiper, and white crappie. A shaded fishing pavilion on the east side is set up for bank anglers, and self-service kayak rentals are available during park hours. Private boats and paddlecraft launch from the west side off Lakeshore Drive; jet skis and water skiing are prohibited.
RV Trip Snapshot
- Base camp: No camping at Lake Olathe. Hillsdale State Park, roughly 20 miles south, has several campgrounds with water and electric sites and a full-hookup loop.
- Fishing access: Take a day trip from Hillsdale, or fish Hillsdale Reservoir itself on the same trip.
- Hookups: Full hookups in Hillsdale’s Sunflower campground; there are water/electric hookups elsewhere in the park.
- Rig notes: Lake Olathe is a busy city park; plan on daytime parking only.
- Best for: Families based near Kansas City who want an easy, well-equipped day of fishing.
How to Plan an RV Fishing Trip in Kansas
Here are tips to plan an RV fishing trip in Kansas.
Choose an RV-Friendly Base Camp
Kansas state parks are the easiest RV bases for this list. Many state park campgrounds have sites with water and electric hookups, shower buildings, and dump stations. Reservations open in mid-December for the following year. State fishing lakes like Chase and Cowley are different. They’re primitive, with no hookups and often no trash service. Plan to arrive with lots of water and empty tanks. Every vehicle in a state park needs a daily or annual vehicle permit.
If you’re short on time or traveling with kids, Wichita has more than 30 public ponds and lakes stocked with channel catfish through KDWP’s urban fishing program, many of them in parks with restrooms and playgrounds.
Pack Your RV for a Fishing Trip
- Rods and tackle for both deep reservoir water and shallow, clear lakes
- A cooler and ice for the drive home, plus room in the RV fridge for the day’s catch
- Life jackets for everyone on a boat or kayak
- Sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, rain gear, and a warm layer for early mornings
- Insect repellent since lakeside sites can be buggy in summer
- Trash bags; several state fishing lakes require you to pack everything out
- A leveling kit for gravel sites
Know Before You Go
- Licenses: Nonresidents 16 and older need a nonresident fishing license. Kansas residents 16 through 74 need a resident license. Buy online through Go Outdoors Kansas or at KDWP offices and license vendors.
- Length and creel limits vary by lake: State fishing lakes in particular have special limits posted at the entrance. Check the KDWP fishing regulations before you go.
- Aquatic nuisance species: Some lakes, including Chase State Fishing Lake, carry zebra mussels. Don’t move live fish, bait, or water between lakes, and clean, drain, and dry your boat and kayak.
- Fire bans are common in dry years, especially in western Kansas. Watch for postings at park entrances.
Find an RV for Your Kansas Fishing Trip
An RV puts you on the water first thing in the morning instead of an hour away in a motel. You can carry rods, tackle, waders, and a cooler without a second vehicle. You can also visit the lakes one after another. Spend a few days on Glen Elder’s walleye, head south to Lake Scott’s canyon, then east across the Flint Hills to Chase and Cowley. Cook the day’s catch at camp, and let everyone in the group enjoy the trip their way, by fishing, swimming, or hiking in the same park. Find your RV for a Kansas fishing trip on RVshare.
