Fall River Fishing Guides
A short southeast Kansas river below Fall River Lake, with a productive tailwater and good catfish water below it.
Guides on the Fall River
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About the Fall River
The Fall River is a compact southeast Kansas stream that runs out of the Flint Hills, through Fall River Lake, and down past Fredonia to meet the Verdigris near Neodesha. Its identity is shaped by the reservoir sitting in the middle of it. Above the lake it is a small prairie stream; below the dam it becomes a more reliable river with a tailwater reach that draws steady local attention.
The tailwater immediately below Fall River Lake is the best-known water on the river. Generation and spill pull baitfish through, and channel catfish, white bass and crappie stack up in the turbulent water below the outlet whenever the lake is releasing. It is bank fishing in the main, and when the water is moving it can be very good. Downstream toward Fredonia the river settles into typical southeastern Kansas character – timbered banks, deep outside bends, log jams and long pools – and flatheads take over as the dominant fish.
Access is straightforward by regional standards. The Corps ground around Fall River Lake and the dam provides the tailwater access, the state park adds more, and Fredonia offers town access at the gauge. Below that it is bridge crossings and county roads through private farmland. The river is small enough that a canoe works well in spring flows and is a fair bit of work by late summer.
Fall River Lake itself is a well-known crappie and white bass fishery, and most visitors fish both the lake and the river on the same trip. There is no real guide presence on the river, so this is self-guided fishing, and checking the release schedule before driving out is the single most useful thing you can do.
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Access
Fall River Lake dam - the tailwater below the outlet and the best-known access.
Fall River State Park - public ground on the lake and upper tailwater.
Fall River Wildlife Area - additional public bank around the reservoir.
Fredonia - town river access at the gauge crossing.
County bridge crossings - scattered access between Fredonia and the confluence.
Neodesha - access near the Verdigris confluence.
Verdigris confluence - the bottom of the river and a productive junction.
Seasons
Spring: reservoir releases drive the tailwater and white bass move up to the dam.
Summer: low river flows, night flathead fishing and steady tailwater channel cats.
Fall: crappie and white bass concentrate below the dam as water cools.
Winter: limited fishing, mostly channel cats below the outlet on warm days.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Fall River?
As of Sep 17, 5:00 am, the USGS gauge FALL R AT FREDONIA, KS reads 15 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Fall River?
Anglers target Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Freshwater Drum, Largemouth Bass, White Bass, White Crappie on the Fall River in Kansas.
Where can you access the Fall River?
Fall River Lake dam - the tailwater below the outlet and the best-known access. Fall River State Park - public ground on the lake and upper tailwater. Fall River Wildlife Area - additional public bank around the reservoir. Fredonia - town river access at the gauge crossing. County bridge crossings - scattered access between Fredonia and the confluence. Neodesha - access near the Verdigris confluence. Verdigris confluence - the bottom of the river and a productive junction.
When is the best time to fish the Fall River?
Spring: reservoir releases drive the tailwater and white bass move up to the dam. Summer: low river flows, night flathead fishing and steady tailwater channel cats. Fall: crappie and white bass concentrate below the dam as water cools. Winter: limited fishing, mostly channel cats below the outlet on warm days.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Fall River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Kansas agency site: https://ksoutdoors.com/Fishing/Fishing-Regulations