Cheney Lake, KS

Cheney Reservoir was constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation in 1964. It lies in south central Kansas within the North Fork of the Ninnescah River valley. The Ninnescah River is a tributary of the Arkansas River. Its major uses include fish and wildlife management, recreation, flood control, and a water supply for the city of Wichita.

The reservoir complex consists of 9,537 acres of water at conservation pool, 5,249 acres of wildlife area, and 1,913 acres of state park.

Cheney State Park is accessible from numerous roads and includes several boat ramps, marina, camping facilities, fishing, hunting, hiking trails, and is especially a favorite sailing lake being located in the open, flat plains of central Kansas. Open to fishing year-round, predominate fish species include crappie, catfish, and striped bass.

Cities Near Cheney Lake

Yoder
10 mi. N
Pretty Prairie
15 mi. W
Goddard
16 mi. SE
Kingman
20 mi. SW
Wichita
30 mi. E
Hutchinson
35 mi. N
Conway Springs
36 mi. S
Cheney
6 mi. S

Cheney Lake Fishingmore

Cheney Fishing

Fishing is excellent for channel catfish and white bass, good for crappie, striped bass and wipers, and fair for walleye. Hotspots include walleye along the dam in late March and early April, crappie in brush and cattails in April and May, white bass spawning run upriver in May, and channel catfish at the feeders in June and July.

Two fishing complexes have been developed to enhance fishing success and convenience. One is at the Red Bluffs and the other at the Toadstool Loop Jetty. These consist of a fishing pier, brushpile fish attractors for crappie, and a fish feeder attractor for channel catfish.

Three deepwater fish attractors have been constructed to attract sport fish, especially crappie. These sunken trees are marked by buoys, and are especially productive at times of the year when crappie are not typically in shallow water, such as mid-summer and winter.

Fisherman should remember that the waters around the refuge area marked by the buoy line are closed to fishing and boating between September 15 and March 1.

Cheney Lake Huntingmore

Cheney Hunting & Wildlife Area
The wildlife area provides public hunting during open seasons. Primary game species are pheasant, quail, rabbit, waterfowl, dove, deer, and turkey. Furbearers such as raccoon, red fox, opossum, skunk, muskrat, beaver, and bobcat are common in the area. Due to habitat development, the wildlife area supports an excellent wildlife population.

A refuge has been set aside on the wildlife area for migratory waterfowl. This area is closed to all activities from September 15 to March 1. The refuge is clearly marked with fences, signs, and buoys in the water area. It is re-opened each March for fishing and non-hunting day-use activities.

Nature watching is popular on the wildlife area, and the road along the north side of the refuge is a good place to observe waterfowl.

There is a gun safety range on the north end of the area. Please follow the special rules posted at this range.

Camping is permitted only in designated areas.

Cheney Lake Campingmore

Cheney State Park

The state park is located on the south end of the lake on both east and west shores. Since its completion in 1964, the 1,913-acre park has grown to include 185 electric hookup sites with water, 24 boat launching lanes, four modern pit toilets, eight restrooms with showers, one shelter house with restrooms, and four trailer dump stations. Camping is permitted only in designated areas. In addition to the 185 utility sites, there are 425 primitive campsites. These areas range from water's edge to grassy, tree-covered areas along a quiet spring-fed creek.

The park has four designated swimming areas as well as several picnic/day use areas.

Cheney Lake Sailingmore

Cheney Lake Sailing

Located in windy central Kansas, the lake offers excellent Sailing. In fact, several national sailing regattas have taken place at Cheney. It's a breathtaking site to see more than 100 multi-colored sailboats on the lake at one time.

The Ninnescah Sailing Center on the west shore is the "headquarters" for sailing at Cheney. On the east shore, a full-service marina carries supplies for the boater and the fisherman.

Cheney Lake Trailsmore

Cheney Lake Hiking Trails
A newly completed interpertive trail about 1/2 mile in length, called the Spring Creek Nature Trail, is a trail that takes the hiker through various stages of succession of a Beaver Pond. The trail has 500 feet of elevated walk-way over beaver dams and beside beaver lodges. The Trail starts in grassland, meanders through early stage woody vegetation succession, and into an old growth riparian area which the beaver have flooded. There are two large educational shelters on the trail and several other interpertive signs along the way. This trail was recently awarded a millenium trail award from First Lady Clinton, and is currently nominated as a legacy trail which is given to one trail per state per year.

Geifer Nature Trail is a shorter trail, approximately 1/8 mile, and interpretive brochures are also available describing the vegetation and wildlife along the trail.

Cheney Lake Fishing Reportsmore

Cheney Lake Fishing Report
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ACCURATE FISHING REPORTS:

This is just to remind you that fishing reports are given with the best intentions to help you catch fish. And do remember fishing reports given a few hours ago can change due to a whole list of circumstances. But ---- they are still one of the best ways to determine if fish are biting or not. You might consider calling someone local to find out if the report is still current. Otherwise go and have a good time in participating in the challenge of catching some fish while you have fun fishing!

And if your at your destination for a day or more check out the LASR menu above for local events, attractions and businesses that are there to help make your trip more enjoyable. And thanks to those who do their best to give us great fishing information!

CLINK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR THE LAKE FISHING REPORT

Cheney Lake Organizationsmore

Kansas Walleye Association

You are invited to the five scheduled tournaments at some of the finest lakes in Kansas.

The KWA welcomes anglers of all ages. It is tournament fishing for fun. Many of our teams consist of men and women, parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, cousins, friends and co-workers.

The 2013 KWA Season starts in May and concludes in mid-June.

Address: 1314 N. Wilshire Drive, Hutchinson, KS 67501
Phone: 620-662-0296
Our Email: webstert@kansaswalleye.org
Our Website:kansaswalleye.org