Milford Lake
lake in Kansas
Milford supports large gamefish including walleye and hybrid stripers; anglers fish points, river channels and shorelines for topwater and streamer action.
Conditions right now
No USGS gauge is linked to this water yet, so we can't chart flows.
What's working on Milford Lake
- 01October Caddis are a significant fall hatch and can draw opportunistic surface strikes.
- 02Subsurface forage like leeches, baitfish, crayfish, and Mysis shrimp are crucial food sources.
- 03Focus efforts around main lake points, submerged structure, and channel drop-offs.
- 04A slower retrieve is often more effective for streamers and nymphs in cooler water.
- 05Fishing from a pontoon boat provides excellent mobility to explore diverse habitats.
Past reports week by week
8 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Olive Woolly Bugger
This versatile streamer effectively imitates leeches and baitfish, which are consistent food sources for Walleye, Crappie, Stripers, Wipers, Bass, and Catfish in the cooling fall waters.
Balanced Leech (Black)
Ideal for stillwater situations in Milford Lake, fished under an indicator, this pattern perfectly mimics the slow, undulating movement of a leech, a staple for Walleye, Crappie, Bass, and Catfish.
Black Woolly Bugger
Similar to its olive counterpart, a black Woolly Bugger is excellent for darker conditions or when fish are looking for a more silhouetted profile, targeting various predatory species in Milford Lake.
Clouser Minnow (Bass) (Chartreuse/White)
An indispensable baitfish imitation, perfect for targeting aggressive predators like Stripers, Wipers, Walleye, and Bass that are chasing shad and other forage in Milford Lake.
October Caddis (Dry)
While specific insect hatches might be less prolific on the surface, the large October Caddis are a significant fall exception and can draw opportunistic topwater takes from Crappie, Walleye, Bass, and Sunfish.
Buy at AmazonDragonfly Nymph (Olive)
Dragonfly nymphs are a substantial, year-round food source in Milford Lake. Strip these slowly along the bottom near weed edges where Walleye, Bass, Crappie, and Catfish will be searching for larger prey.
Mysis Shrimp (Nymph)
As a large reservoir, Mysis shrimp are a constant food source for Milford Lake's fish. Fishing this pattern dead drift near the bottom can be incredibly effective for Crappie, Walleye, and Perch.
Where to fish and who to ask
Dam/Spillway Area
Shoreline and boat access near the dam where currents and structure concentrate gamefish.
Hell Creek Arm
Classic productive creek arm for walleye and stripers when fish push into feeder channels.
Milford State Park - East Ramp
Main access for boat anglers targeting the east main-lake points and structures.
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Kansas season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
Quick answers
Common questions about Milford Lake.
What flies work best on Milford Lake?
Our top scored fly patterns for Milford Lake right now are Crayfish (Fly) (90% confidence), Crappie Jig Fly (90% confidence), Woolly Bugger (Black) (90% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Milford Lake?
Milford Lake holds Walleye, Crappie, Stripers, Saugeye, Wipers, Catfish. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
Is Milford Lake fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Milford Lake each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.