Looking for fishing options? Here are five lakes to try

Looking for a Kansas reservoir that offers a variety of fish to catch? Here are five to try:

▪ COFFEY COUNTY (5,090 acres, located near Burlington, Kan., in east-central part of the state): Also known as Wolf Creek Lake, this reservoir has a wide range of species to lure fishermen. It is best-known for its smallmouth bass, but it also has strong populations of white bass and wipers. It produces some huge crappies, and it contains walleyes, largemouth bass, and catfish, too.

▪ MELVERN (7,000 acres, located 35 miles south of Topeka): This reservoir in east-central Kansas is on the upswing. It has always been known for its crappies and walleyes, but in recent years it has also produced some of the state’s best smallmouth bass and blue catfish action.

▪ MILFORD (16,200 acres, located five miles northwest of Junction City): With its rocky banks and points, Milford has great habitat for smallmouth bass and walleyes, and it shows. It is also known for its large wipers and blue catfish, and it produces good fishing for white bass, crappies and channel catfish, too. It’s just a good overall fishery.

▪ WILSON (9,040 acres, near Sylvan Grove, Kan., in central part of state): This scenic, clear-water reservoir has the state’s only viable striper population. It also produces some of Kansas’ best fishing for walleyes, smallmouth bass and white bass.

▪ GLEN ELDER: (12,586 acres in north-central Kansas): This reservoir in north-central Kansas has a well-rounded fishery. It has long been known as one of the state’s best walleye fisheries. It also has an outstanding smallmouth-bass population. White bass, big catfish, and crappies also can be caught there.

This story was originally published May 16, 2015 at 6:35 PM with the headline "Looking for fishing options? Here are five lakes to try."