What is the deepest lake in Kansas?

Of the lakes with a published depth, Milford Lake is the deepest at about 65 ft.

Deepest lakes in Kansas: 10 lakes ranked by depth

Which lakes in Kansas go deepest? These 10 have a published maximum depth, from Milford Lake at about 65 ft down.

Deepest first

#	Lake	Deepest	Size
1	Milford Lake	about 65 ft	15,700 acres
2	Wilson Lake	about 65 ft	9,040 acres
3	El Dorado Lake	about 60 ft	8,000 acres
4	Hillsdale Lake	about 57 ft	4,580 acres
5	Council Grove Lake	about 56 ft	3,240 acres
6	Waconda Lake	about 55 ft	12,600 acres
7	Clinton Lake	about 55 ft	7,000 acres
8	Tuttle Creek Lake	about 49 ft	12,400 acres
9	Kirwin Reservoir	about 49 ft	5,080 acres
10	Perry Lake	about 43 ft	11,100 acres

1. Milford Lake

At 15,700 acres, Milford Lake is a big lake. The fish here are walleye, white bass, crappie and catfish. It goes down to about 65 ft.

Milford Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Wilson Lake

Wilson Lake is a reservoir of some 9,040 acres. It lies about 10 miles west of Russell. Wilson Dam holds it on the Saline River. Smallmouth bass, catfish, crappie and striped bass are the draw. At about 65 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Wilson Lake is promoted by the Army Corps of Engineers as "the clearest lake in Kansas.". It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off.

Wilson Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. El Dorado Lake

El Dorado Lake is a reservoir of 8,000 acres of water. You will find it about 30 miles southwest of Wichita. Catfish, trout, walleye and white bass are the draw. The deepest water is around 60 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. El Dorado Lake on the Walnut River is Kansas's largest state park lake and is stocked with rainbow trout in winter.

El Dorado Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Hillsdale Lake

Hillsdale Lake covers some 4,580 acres. You will find it about 12 miles northeast of Olathe. The usual Kansas mix applies: largemouth bass, walleye, crappie and bluegill. The deepest water is around 57 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Hillsdale Lake, completed in 1982, impounds Big Bull Creek in Miami County, northeast Kansas.

Hillsdale Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Council Grove Lake

Council Grove Lake spreads over 3,240 acres of water. The lake is near Council Grove. Catfish, crappie and white bass are the draw. At about 56 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Council Grove Lake dams the Neosho River near the historic Santa Fe Trail town of Council Grove.

Council Grove Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Waconda Lake

Waconda Lake spreads over 12,600 acres of water. It lies near Beloit. Glen Elder Dam holds it on the Solomon River. The fish here are catfish, crappie, striped bass and walleye. The deepest water is around 55 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Waconda Lake is impounded behind Glen Elder Dam where the North and South Forks of the Solomon River meet.

Waconda Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Clinton Lake

Clinton Lake is a reservoir of 7,000 acres. The lake is near Lawrence. It is the Wakarusa River behind Clinton Dam. Expect catfish and smallmouth bass. At about 55 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Clinton Lake dams the Wakarusa River just west of Lawrence, Kansas.

Clinton Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Tuttle Creek Lake

Tuttle Creek Lake is a reservoir of 12,400 acres. You will find it near Manhattan. It is the Big Blue River behind Tuttle Creek Dam. The usual Kansas mix applies: largemouth bass, walleye, crappie and bluegill. At about 49 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Tuttle Creek Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Kirwin Reservoir

Kirwin Reservoir spreads over 5,080 acres. It lies about 8 miles northwest of Phillipsburg. Expect crappie, catfish, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. At about 49 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove: good places to start. Kirwin Reservoir on the North Fork Solomon River was the first Bureau of Reclamation project completed in the Missouri River basin.

Kirwin Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Perry Lake

Perry Lake is a reservoir of 11,100 acres of water. The lake is near Oskaloosa. White bass, largemouth bass, bluegill and catfish are the draw. It goes down to about 43 ft. Perry Lake, completed in 1966 on the Delaware River, provides flood control and recreation in Jefferson County.

Perry Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

The clearest of them

Wilson Lake is known for clear water. On a clear lake fish see a long way: lighter line, natural colours and longer casts make the difference.

Fishing deep water

Deep lakes reward slow, vertical fishing: drop a jig or a spoon to the depth where fish show on the sonar and work it right there. In spring and fall the fish come shallow and any method works.