Tuttle Creek Reservoir Fishing Information

Counties:

Pottawatomie, Riley

GPS:

N39 15.445 W96 34.77

Surface Acres:

10,900 acres

Maximum Depth:

50 feet

Normal Lake Level:

1075 mls

View Live Lake Information

Tuttle Creek Fishing Report - Updated: 12/03/2024

Species	Rating	Size	Baits, Method, and Location
Crappie	Fair	1/2 to 2 pounds	The lake has been providing good crappie fishing the last five years due to good spawning success and robust growth rates. The 2024 fall sample shows that numbers of crappie over 10-inches has fallen below the long-term average for the lake. However, the future is bright again as the number of small crappie is at one of the highest points in the history of the lake. No recent reports of angler success but fish should be schooled up in 15-20 feet of water.
White Bass	Slow to Fair	1/2 to 2 pounds	White bass numbers have been struggling due to limited spawning success for most of the last decade. This has improved some the last couple of years but is still well below the good fishery the lake has produced in the past.
Channel Catfish	Fair	Fair numbers of bigger fish over 28 inches.	The lake and the connected river system has maintained a good channel catfish population through the history of the lake and has been one of the best places around to catch channel cats over 8 pounds. Population evaluations are hindered by abundant fish movement upstream into the river at times. The fishery was underperforming from 2013 to 2020 but rebounded nicely for a few years. The 2024 sample recorded that channel catfish sample numbers regressed again to below normal. Fishing in the upper end of the lake and the river tends to be the most consistent spots for channel cats. K-State is conducting a study to track fish movements and there are a few channel catfish with a purple tag in their back - please release all fish with a purple tag.
Blue Catfish	Fair to Good	Lots of fish from 20" to 25" with a few fish over 40 pounds	Blue catfish have become well established in the lake and providing a decent fishery. Summer sampling in 2024 showed that 57% of the blue catfish were between 20 to 25 inches. Fresh cut bait or fresh shad is the best baits, near drop-offs this time of year. Blue catfish harvest regulations are a 10 fish daily creel limit which may include only one fish 30 inches or longer. Please check any blue catfish for a yellow or orange tag in its back as we have been tagging fish to collect more information on the species in Tuttle Creek Lake. It is up to you if you wish to release the fish or harvest it (if legally applicable), but please report the tag number and the general location of the catch to (620) 342-0658 or ely.sprenkle@ks.gov We also have a few fish with a purple tag that have a transmitter for tracking their movements, PLEASE RELEASE FISH WITH A PURPLE TAG. A big THANK YOU to all who report their catch!
Largemouth Bass	Slow to Fair	1 to 5 pounds	Coves in southern third of the Reservoir have some locally good largemouth bass populations. The McIntyre Cove area tends to produce the best fishing with Carnahan Cove second best.
Saugeye	Fair	Up to 6 pounds	The saugeye population has been doing very well the last few years but numbers of saugeye took a step backward in the 2024 fall fish sampling data. However, the size structure was good with the most fish over 18 inches in a decade. No recent reports. Since saugeye like to leave Tuttle Creek through the dam downstream, some of the best opportunities to harvest saugeye is in the River Pond or Rocky Ford or at the "tubes". Great shoreline access at all of these spots and fish are regularly being caught year-round. K-State is conducting a study to track fish movements and there are a few saugeye with a purple tag in their back - please release all fish with a purple tag.
Rainbow Trout	Fair	Up to 4 pounds	Trout season is here. On November 19th Willow Lake was stocked with 1,300 rainbow trout, most of which weighed about a pound each. These fish will hit about anything but anglers usually do well on commercial trout baits, worms, or spinners. Willow Lake is located in Tuttle Creek State Park below the dam and is stocked three times with trout during the winter. A trout permit is required. No recent angler reports.
General Comments
You can check current water conditions HERE Tuttle Creek has zebra mussels which classifies the lake and River Pond and Rocky Ford as Aquatic Invasive Species waters. Fish may not be transported alive from AIS designated waters. To help prevent the spread of invasive species, please CLEAN, DRAIN & DRY all equipment when changing water bodies and please do not move fish you have caught or your bait.

Creel Length/Limits

Fishing Population	Creel Limit	Min Length Limit
Blue Catfish	10	only 1 Blue Catfish over 30"
Bluegill
Channel Catfish	10
Crappie	50
Flathead Catfish	5
Green Sunfish
Largemouth Bass	5	18
Saugeye	5	15
White Bass
Trout	5

* Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted Bass in Combination
** Striped Bass or Wiper in Combination
*** Walleye, Sauger or Saugeye in Combination

Fishing Forecast Information

View Fishing Forecast definitions

+Saugeye Forecast

NAME	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
	(>14")	(>18")	(>22")	(lbs.)	BR
SEBELIUS	9.17	3.57	0.57	6.41	G
COUNCIL GROVE	3.16	2.02	0.36	6.87	G
POMONA	1.75	0.38	0.00	3.39	G
KANOPOLIS	1.62	0.72	0.17	6.78	G
MELVERN	1.41	0.04	0.00	2.09	F
CLINTON	1.35	0.08	0.00	2.26	G
TUTTLE CREEK	0.91	0.25	0.02	4.81	F
WEBSTER	0.15	0.15	0.09	4.48	F
ELK CITY	0.03	0.00	0.00	1.11	F

+Black Crappie Forecast

NAME	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
	(>8")	(>10")	(>12")	(lbs.)	BR
CEDAR BLUFF	14.18	5.02	0.12	1.29	G
SEBELIUS	8.87	6.40	1.23	1.33	G
KIRWIN	3.27	3.19	1.81	1.94	G
KANOPOLIS	3.00	2.47	0.58	1.27	G
WEBSTER	2.95	1.50	0.02	1.40	G
MARION	2.62	0.85	0.08	1.09	F
LOVEWELL	1.51	0.76	0.07	1.43	F
HILLSDALE	1.36	0.23	0.00	0.56	G
JOHN REDMOND	1.33	0.08	0.08	1.29	P
MILFORD	1.15	0.90	0.06	2.07	F
BIG HILL	0.73	0.13	0.00	0.53	F
CLINTON	0.71	0.51	0.02	0.93	F
GLEN ELDER	0.52	0.30	0.07	1.11	F
TORONTO	0.38	0.19	0.06	1.26	P
WOLF CREEK	0.33	0.00	0.00	0.39	P
POMONA	0.30	0.13	0.05	1.44	P
PERRY	0.25	0.13	0.03	1.60	P
WILSON	0.22	0.20	0.07	1.68	P
LACYGNE	0.21	0.12	0.00	0.93	P
FALL RIVER	0.08	0.08	0.02	1.14	P
TUTTLE CREEK	0.07	0.05	0.02	1.09	P
EL DORADO	0.06	0.00	0.00	0.31	P
MELVERN	0.04	0.02	0.00	0.63	P
COUNCIL GROVE	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.07	P
ELK CITY	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.05	P

+Bluegill Forecast

NAME	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
	(>6")	(>8")	(>10")	(lbs.)	BR
SEBELIUS	27.13	8.40	0.00	0.64	G
CEDAR BLUFF	8.82	0.12	0.00	0.40	F
HILLSDALE	4.75	0.02	0.00	0.34	G
LACYGNE	4.47	0.00	0.00	0.31	P
BIG HILL	4.23	0.10	0.00	0.36	G
KANOPOLIS	3.42	0.03	0.00	0.39	G
WEBSTER	2.69	0.57	0.00	0.60	F
MILFORD	2.31	0.44	0.00	0.52	F
CLINTON	1.83	0.10	0.00	0.52	F
LOVEWELL	1.17	0.05	0.00	0.43	P
WILSON	0.96	0.00	0.00	0.28	G
PERRY	0.88	0.00	0.00	0.32	F
MARION	0.62	0.00	0.00	0.39	P
WOLF CREEK	0.60	0.00	0.00	0.18	P
EL DORADO	0.56	0.00	0.00	0.23	P
MELVERN	0.40	0.02	0.00	0.37	P
TUTTLE CREEK	0.36	0.00	0.00	0.25	P
POMONA	0.35	0.00	0.00	0.22	P
GLEN ELDER	0.34	0.14	0.00	0.70	P
KIRWIN	0.33	0.04	0.00	0.52	F
FALL RIVER	0.19	0.00	0.00	0.25	P
COUNCIL GROVE	0.17	0.00	0.00	0.22	F
TORONTO	0.13	0.00	0.00	0.23	P
ELK CITY	0.03	0.00	0.00	0.22	P

+Channel Catfish Forecast

NAME	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
	(>16")	(>24")	(>28")	(lbs.)	BR
BIG HILL	8.07	0.77	0.10	9.05	G
LOVEWELL	6.36	1.05	0.11	11.81	G
HILLSDALE	5.74	0.64	0.07	11.01	G
KANOPOLIS	4.00	0.43	0.02	9.93	G
MARION	3.69	0.23	0.06	18.72	G
WILSON	3.40	0.48	0.02	10.11	G
CHENEY	2.70	0.50	0.10	14.81	G
TORONTO	2.69	1.86	0.47	11.33	G
FALL RIVER	2.10	1.58	0.68	11.21	G
PERRY	1.94	0.41	0.04	7.93	G
MELVERN	1.87	0.11	0.02	6.48	G
GLEN ELDER	1.86	0.47	0.16	16.60	G
LACYGNE	1.78	0.00	0.00	4.52	G
POMONA	1.65	0.03	0.03	11.96	G
COUNCIL GROVE	1.53	0.20	0.09	9.41	F
CEDAR BLUFF	1.50	0.35	0.05	14.15	G
CLINTON	1.29	0.17	0.00	5.86	G
WEBSTER	1.21	0.21	0.00	8.39	F
KIRWIN	1.19	0.22	0.03	10.72	G
ELK CITY	1.17	0.10	0.00	5.37	G
JOHN REDMOND	1.13	0.33	0.05	9.59	G
EL DORADO	0.70	0.00	0.00	3.84	F
TUTTLE CREEK	0.47	0.13	0.04	8.59	F
MILFORD	0.45	0.05	0.00	5.21	F
WOLF CREEK	0.38	0.00	0.00	3.50	G
SEBELIUS	0.37	0.23	0.17	22.56	G

+White Bass Forecast

NAME	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
	(>9")	(>12")	(>15")	(lbs.)	BR
MARION	20.74	11.60	0.43	1.87	E
GLEN ELDER	16.05	13.77	3.38	3.07	E
CEDAR BLUFF	14.66	14.16	3.66	2.25	E
WEBSTER	10.50	7.29	0.09	2.73	G
POMONA	9.18	6.30	0.80	2.20	G
KANOPOLIS	6.87	5.80	0.37	2.47	G
PERRY	6.78	4.45	0.18	2.20	G
TORONTO	6.39	4.14	1.58	2.69	G
KIRWIN	6.25	5.25	0.64	2.18	G
WOLF CREEK	5.62	2.73	0.17	1.98	G
CLINTON	5.54	3.56	0.85	2.32	G
MILFORD	5.22	4.47	0.58	2.13	G
FALL RIVER	4.26	3.00	1.13	3.02	G
LOVEWELL	3.80	2.38	0.25	2.26	F
BIG HILL	3.50	2.10	0.00	1.73	G
MELVERN	2.98	2.50	0.37	2.38	G
COUNCIL GROVE	2.98	1.62	0.18	2.23	G
WILSON	2.64	2.52	1.52	2.96	G
JOHN REDMOND	2.63	1.70	0.82	3.24	G
HILLSDALE	2.52	1.95	0.10	1.43	G
LACYGNE	2.49	0.27	0.12	1.81	G
EL DORADO	2.05	1.60	0.33	2.47	F
ELK CITY	1.90	1.33	0.23	2.80	F
TUTTLE CREEK	0.31	0.18	0.02	1.96	P
CHENEY	0.20	0.20	0.10	2.09	P

+Crappie Combined Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	3 yr avg	Size	Rating
Melvern Reservoir	34.23	14.91	1.41	1.61	Reservoir	E
Sebelius Reservoir	28.53	15.00	1.83	1.54	Reservoir	G
Lovewell Reservoir	26.88	10.54	1.02	2.50	Reservoir	G
Hillsdale Reservoir	25.52	11.45	1.52	1.29	Reservoir	E
Perry Reservoir	25.45	14.03	0.38	1.42	Reservoir	G
Cedar Bluff Reservoir	24.71	5.51	0.43	1.80	Reservoir	G
Toronto Reservoir	18.51	5.83	1.91	2.40	Reservoir	G
Elk City Reservoir	15.49	5.57	1.35	2.40	Reservoir	G
LaCygne Reservoir	15.07	5.95	0.45	2.30	Reservoir	G
Clinton Reservoir	10.61	3.46	0.24	1.37	Reservoir	G
Kirwin Reservoir	10.31	9.56	6.06	2.06	Reservoir	G
Wolf Creek Reservoir	8.93	3.27	0.57	1.64	Reservoir	F
Tuttle Creek Reservoir	7.57	4.68	1.05	1.69	Reservoir	G
Pomona Reservoir	7.41	3.11	0.18	1.73	Reservoir	G
Big Hill Reservoir	7.40	3.43	0.27	1.19	Reservoir	G
Marion Reservoir	6.67	2.67	0.33	1.09	Reservoir	G
Milford Reservoir	6.54	3.75	0.58	1.90	Reservoir	G
Fall River Reservoir	6.06	1.85	0.44	2.58	Reservoir	G
El Dorado Reservoir	5.93	2.29	0.82	1.59	Reservoir	G
Council Grove Reservoir	5.89	3.22	1.33	1.87	Reservoir	F
Kanopolis Reservoir	5.67	3.58	0.50	1.43	Reservoir	G
Webster Reservoir	5.38	2.90	0.17	1.79	Reservoir	G
Glen Elder Reservoir	3.33	1.38	0.46	1.91	Reservoir	F
John Redmond Reservoir	1.71	0.79	0.25	3.04	Reservoir	F
Wilson Reservoir	0.73	0.31	0.13	1.68	Reservoir	P

+Percids Combined Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	3 yr avg	Size	Rating
Sebelius Reservoir	9.17	4.63	0.43	6.38	Reservoir	P
Kirwin Reservoir	4.75	1.06	0.33	8.46	Reservoir	G
Marion Reservoir	4.69	1.89	0.17	4.65	Reservoir	G
Council Grove Reservoir	3.51	1.82	0.60	6.89	Reservoir	G
Webster Reservoir	3.19	1.94	0.81	6.36	Reservoir	G
El Dorado Reservoir	2.73	1.91	0.67	7.94	Reservoir	G
Wilson Reservoir	2.62	2.02	0.84	7.45	Reservoir	G
Milford Reservoir	2.60	1.13	0.05	3.87	Reservoir	F
Cedar Bluff Reservoir	2.12	1.34	0.47	7.93	Reservoir	G
Glen Elder Reservoir	1.96	1.10	0.13	6.61	Reservoir	F
Kanopolis Reservoir	1.88	1.13	0.32	6.70	Reservoir	G
Perry Reservoir	1.55	0.08	0.00	2.75	Reservoir	E
Melvern Reservoir	1.37	0.12	0.02	4.45	Reservoir	G
Cheney Reservoir	1.20	1.04	0.63	7.54	Reservoir	F
Clinton Reservoir	1.20	0.34	0.02	3.45	Reservoir	G
Pomona Reservoir	1.20	0.48	0.05	4.16	Reservoir	G
Hillsdale Reservoir	1.14	0.62	0.24	7.06	Reservoir	E
Lovewell Reservoir	1.00	0.89	0.38	4.62	Reservoir	F
Wolf Creek Reservoir	0.64	0.40	0.16	5.99	Reservoir	F
Tuttle Creek Reservoir	0.45	0.13	0.04	4.81	Reservoir	G
Big Hill Reservoir	0.10	0.00	0.00	1.39	Reservoir	F
Elk City Reservoir	0.00	0.00	0.00	1.11	Reservoir	F

+Sunfish Combined Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	3 yr avg	Size	Rating
Sebelius Reservoir	44.40	9.50	0.00	1.21	Reservoir	G
Cedar Bluff Reservoir	15.33	0.22	0.00	0.44	Reservoir	F
Hillsdale Reservoir	6.09	0.07	0.00	0.46	Reservoir	F
LaCygne Reservoir	4.50	0.02	0.02	0.31	Reservoir	F
Kanopolis Reservoir	3.81	0.03	0.00	0.39	Reservoir	G
Wilson Reservoir	3.53	0.00	0.00	0.33	Reservoir	G
Webster Reservoir	2.94	0.50	0.00	0.50	Reservoir	F
Big Hill Reservoir	2.63	0.17	0.00	0.62	Reservoir	G
Lovewell Reservoir	2.56	0.05	0.00	0.43	Reservoir	P
Marion Reservoir	2.00	0.00	0.00	0.39	Reservoir	F
Milford Reservoir	1.44	0.35	0.00	0.52	Reservoir	P
Clinton Reservoir	1.20	0.07	0.00	0.52	Reservoir	F
Kirwin Reservoir	0.83	0.06	0.00	0.59	Reservoir	F
Perry Reservoir	0.60	0.00	0.00	0.32	Reservoir	P
Melvern Reservoir	0.52	0.05	0.02	0.37	Reservoir	P
El Dorado Reservoir	0.36	0.00	0.00	0.23	Reservoir	F
Tuttle Creek Reservoir	0.32	0.00	0.00	0.25	Reservoir	P
Glen Elder Reservoir	0.30	0.10	0.00	0.70	Reservoir	P
Wolf Creek Reservoir	0.30	0.00	0.00	0.18	Reservoir	P
Fall River Reservoir	0.29	0.00	0.00	0.26	Reservoir	F
Pomona Reservoir	0.23	0.02	0.02	0.43	Reservoir	P
Council Grove Reservoir	0.14	0.00	0.00	0.21	Reservoir	P
Toronto Reservoir	0.13	0.00	0.00	0.23	Reservoir	P
Elk City Reservoir	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.13	Reservoir	P

+Temperate Basses Combined Forecast

Waterbody	Density	Preferred	Lunker	3 yr avg	Size	Rating
Glen Elder Reservoir	17.63	2.60	0.57	9.89	Reservoir	G
Marion Reservoir	15.97	4.40	1.57	4.92	Reservoir	G
Kirwin Reservoir	15.06	10.00	0.78	7.99	Reservoir	G
Cedar Bluff Reservoir	12.76	4.07	2.63	13.60	Reservoir	G
Webster Reservoir	11.72	6.92	1.50	10.88	Reservoir	G
Sebelius Reservoir	10.17	9.57	3.23	6.81	Reservoir	G
Milford Reservoir	9.80	4.35	1.55	6.80	Reservoir	G
Pomona Reservoir	8.43	2.58	0.63	2.20	Reservoir	G
Clinton Reservoir	6.46	1.06	0.36	5.98	Reservoir	G
Kanopolis Reservoir	5.32	0.22	0.08	7.28	Reservoir	G
Lovewell Reservoir	4.96	2.11	1.11	7.35	Reservoir	F
Perry Reservoir	4.73	0.02	0.00	2.15	Reservoir	G
Cheney Reservoir	4.43	2.71	1.55	7.98	Reservoir	F
El Dorado Reservoir	3.42	1.38	0.93	6.75	Reservoir	G
LaCygne Reservoir	3.00	0.48	0.00	2.88	Reservoir	F
Toronto Reservoir	2.94	0.50	0.00	2.69	Reservoir	G
Fall River Reservoir	2.85	0.39	0.00	3.02	Reservoir	G
Wilson Reservoir	2.64	0.94	0.51	13.27	Reservoir	G
Wolf Creek Reservoir	2.22	0.14	0.08	4.59	Reservoir	F
John Redmond Reservoir	2.16	0.38	0.00	3.24	Reservoir	F
Melvern Reservoir	2.10	0.12	0.00	2.26	Reservoir	G
Big Hill Reservoir	1.67	0.00	0.00	1.73	Reservoir	G
Hillsdale Reservoir	1.67	0.07	0.02	1.43	Reservoir	F
Council Grove Reservoir	1.42	0.04	0.04	6.15	Reservoir	P
Elk City Reservoir	0.37	0.00	0.00	1.94	Reservoir	F
Tuttle Creek Reservoir	0.15	0.02	0.00	2.96	Reservoir	F

+Blue Catfish Forecast

NAME	Density	Preferred	Lunker	Big fish	Bio rating
	(>20")	(>30")	(>35")	(lbs.)	BR
JOHN REDMOND	152.02	4.29	0.36	29.57	G
ELK CITY	101.50	11.78	0.71	24.57	G
EL DORADO	77.63	1.20	0.00	13.05	E
PERRY	34.68	9.56	5.79	45.15	G
TUTTLE CREEK	32.77	6.30	0.93	33.04	G
GLEN ELDER	29.71	8.50	3.56	39.25	G
LOVEWELL	27.68	19.56	6.26	35.86	G
MILFORD	21.03	2.77	1.85	43.98	E
MELVERN	17.51	5.90	0.39	19.43	G
CHENEY	16.76	11.41	8.06	57.71	F
KANOPOLIS	15.97	0.77	0.00	18.68	F
CLINTON	8.31	3.12	1.45	37.44	F
WOLF CREEK	7.69	1.99	0.36	38.00	F
WILSON	6.60	3.62	0.62	32.82	G

Northeast Region	Fort Riley Moon Lake	Fort Riley Cameron Springs	Tuttle Creek Willow Lake	Eisenhower State Park Pond	Clinton State Park Lake Henry
1st Stocking Dec.	Nov. 19	Nov. 19	Nov. 19	Nov. 19	Nov. 19
2nd Stocking Jan.	Jan. 16	Jan. 16	Jan. 16	Jan. 16	Jan. 16
3rd Stocking Feb.

Total Estimated Trout Stocked for 2024-2025 Season	4,743 trout	3,825 trout	4,743 trout	765 trout	2,142 trout

Northeast Region	Herington Father Padilla Pond 785-258-2271	Shawnee County Lake Shawnee 785-251-6800	Holton Elkhorn Lake 785-364-2721	Atchison City Lake #1 913-367-5500
1st Stocking	Dec. 12	Nov. 22	Nov. 22	Nov. 22
2nd Stocking		Jan. 24

Total Estimated Trout Stocked for 2024-25 Season

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Tuttle Creek Reservoir Fishing Information