Budget

Clinton Lake

Clinton Lake
20 miles East of Topeka on highway 40

In 1980 the Army Corps of Engineers dammed the Wakarusa River. Clinton Lake now stretches up the picturesque Wakarusa Valley and covers some 7,000 acres.

My favorite time on Clinton by far, is late July through late September. This is when the schools of shad are flickering throughout the main-lake area and the summer cats are on the prowl. We arm ourselves with 7' to 10' rods and medium-spinning reels spooled with 8 or 10 pound line. Attach a #6 or #8 treble hook and some Punch Bait. After tossing a generous amount of soured grain over the side of our securely anchored boat, we patiently wait until the rod tip barely quivers and the fight is on with another summer Kansas's cat.

Clinton has a variety of fishing possibilities, like it's great white bass run up it's tributaries in the spring. Whether you are drifting the flats for walleye or long-polin' for spawning slab crappie in the flooded thickets you will find Clinton to be a fun filled lake in any season.