It’s a fishing day

Milford Lake fishing conditions · Kansas

Now until 7 pmWalleye

The bite peaks at 94.

Log a trip here
Right now: 90 for walleye, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Walleye, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 903 pm
  2. 94
  3. 90
  4. 906 pm
  5. 76
  6. 76
  7. 769 pm
  8. 76
  9. 80
  10. 80Sun
  11. 76
  12. 76
  13. 763 am
  14. 76
  15. 76
  16. 766 am
  17. 80
  18. 66
  19. 669 am
  20. 66
  21. 70
  22. 7012 pm
  23. 66
  24. 66
  25. 663 pm
  26. 66
  27. 70
  28. 666 pm
  29. 66
  30. 66
  31. 669 pm
  32. 66
  33. 66
  34. 70Mon
  35. 70
  36. 66
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Walleye range 50–72°

Wind
5 mph

From the southwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:20 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
60°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Kansas non-tidal regulations for these waters.

Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

94GoNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Walleye bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Walleye feeds aggressively in low light. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

21" minimum · 2 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 21" minimum, 2 walleye a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Milford Reservoir

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–May, Oct–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on walleye

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

82Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Channel catfish bite in 60–85° water, best near 75°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Kansas (K.A.R. 115-25-14): 10 channel catfish a day, no statewide minimum.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Kansas non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on channel catfish

Crappie

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

82Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

50 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Kansas (K.A.R. 115-25-14): 50 crappie a day, white and black combined, no statewide minimum. Some reservoirs post a 10" minimum or a lower limit.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Kansas non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–May, Oct–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on crappie

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

82Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Kansas (K.A.R. 115-25-14): 15" minimum, 5 black bass a day combined (largemouth, smallmouth and spotted). KDWP posts different limits on some reservoirs.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Kansas non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

White Bass

White bass

Morone chrysops

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. White bass bite in 55–80° water, best near 68°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. White bass is here Apr–Oct. Holds 4–30 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Kansas (K.A.R. 115-25-14): no statewide limit on white bass; striped bass and wipers are 5 a day each. KDWP posts lake-specific limits on some reservoirs.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Kansas non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on white bass

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Common carp is here Apr–Oct. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Kansas: carp fall under "all other legal species" in the statewide creel table, which have no limit.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Kansas non-tidal

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.16 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:20 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:02 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:50 pm–4:50 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:20 pm–12:20 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:10 am–7:10 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Kansas Wildlife & Parks publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: Kansas Wildlife & Parks · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

Kansas’ largest reservoir — "the Fishing Capital of Kansas" northwest of Junction City. A walleye, white bass, and wiper fishery with abundant channel and flathead catfish and crappie in the timber. Fished from boats and the riprap; multiple Corps and state-park ramps ring the lake.

Milford Reservoir: walleye 21" minimum and 2 a day; black bass 15" and 5 a day; wipers and striped bass 5 a day each; no limit on white bass.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Tuttle Creek Lake21 mi · KansasBest now until 7 pm
94Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Milford Lake?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Milford Lake you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Milford Lake?

Milford Lake is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, White Bass, Channel Catfish, Crappie, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Milford Lake?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Milford Lake against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Milford Lake have?

Milford Lake has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Milford Reservoir: walleye 21" minimum and 2 a day; black bass 15" and 5 a day; wipers and striped bass 5 a day each; no limit on white bass.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Milford Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Milford Lake. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Milford Lake tidal water?

No. Milford Lake is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.