Kansas

Kansas Lake is a 398-acre lake, located in Watonwan County, approximately 5 miles southwest of the City of St. James. Kansas Lake has a mean depth of 5.0 ft. and a maximum depth of 7.0 ft. The watershed of Kansas Lake is quite large (30:1 Watershed to lake ratio) and dominated by row crop agriculture with many miles of pattern drain tile, likely resulting in large influxes of nitrogen and phosphorus, the latter of which may result in severe algae blooms. Historically, Kansas Lake has been prone to winterkill. Kansas Lake is managed primarily for Walleye, and secondarily for Northern Pike and Yellow Perch. Lower Mississippi Strain Walleye are present in Murray County's Lake Sarah, a lake that hasn't been stocked since 1991 because the Walleye population is sustained at high levels through natural reproduction. Sporadic natural reproduction occurs in Kansas Lake, thus LMS Walleye have been stocked because anecdotal evidence suggests that they may have a survival advantage and natural reproduction potential in southern Minnesota lakes. Northern Pike have also been stocked as needed in Kansas Lake, with the most recent stocking of fingerling in 2022 and 2023. A survey was conducted during the week of June 23, 2025, to monitor fish populations using three gill nets and nine trap nets. Walleye catch rates in Kansas Lake have varied from 4.4 per gill net in 2001 to 53.5 per gill net in 2021 and have averaged 21.9 per gill net since 1984. In 2025, the Walleye catch rate was 15.7 per gill net which is near the upper end of expected catch rates for similar lakes (18.1 per gill net). Six-year classes of Walleye were sampled including age-1, age-2, age-3, age-6, age-9, and age-12 Walleye. Age-2 (2023) and age-3 (2022) Walleye were the most abundant year classes, accounting for 76 percent of aged Walleye. The 2023 year-class of Walleye was not stocked, indicating that natural reproduction occurred. To date, LMS fish appear to be winning the battle and may be the best suited strain to stock in Kansas Lake, with the hope that they will result in a naturally reproducing population. Lengths of Walleye in gill nets and trap nets ranged from 7.6 to 26.7 inches and averaged 14.9 inches. Growth of Kansas Lake Walleye was average as mean length at age-3 was 14.3 inches. The Northern Pike catch rate increased from 1.5 per gill net in 2021 to 2.7 per gill net in per gill net in 2025, which is within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (1.1 to 8.0 per gill net) and above the long-term average of 1.9 per gill net. Historically, Northern Pike catch rates have been just under 2.0 per gill net except in 2009 when the catch rate was 10.7 per gill net. Northern Pike lengths ranged from 15.2 to 31.6 inches and averaged 25.0 inches. Half of the sampled Northern Pike were harvestable fish (longer than 24.0 inches). The management goal was met because a fishable population exists. The current statewide regulation includes a provision for 2 Northern Pike above 24 inches for southern Minnesota. This regulation may help to increase the size of Northern Pike caught by anglers in Kansas Lake. Harvestable size fish are currently found within the population in Kansas Lake. The Yellow Perch catch rate in 2025 was 11.0 per gill net, which is below the long-term average of 29.2 per gill net, but within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (2.7 to 25.0 per gill net). Lengths of Yellow Perch ranged from 5.4 to 10.5 inches and averaged 9.1 inches. The Yellow Perch population tends to be influenced by Walleye abundance because Yellow Perch are a preferred prey item of Walleye. A fishable population of Yellow Perch exists in Kansas Lake. The 2025 Black Bullhead catch rate of 33.3 per gill net was near the long-term average of 35.8 per gillnet since 1984 and was near the lower end of expected catch rates for similar lakes (30.3 per gill net). Black Bullhead lengths ranged from 8.5 to 14.3 inches and averaged 10.0 inches. The Common Carp catch rate was 4.2 per trap net, which is within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (1.0 to 5.5 per trap net). Other species sampled included Bigmouth Buffalo (N=9), Black Crappie (N=3), Freshwater Drum (N=44), Hybrid Sunfish (N=1), and White Sucker (N=19).

Kansas Lake is a 398-acre, class 43 lake, located in Watonwan County, approximately 5 miles southwest of the City of St. James. Kansas Lake has a mean depth of 5.0 ft. and a maximum depth of 7.0 ft. Kansas Lake is managed primarily for Walleye, and secondarily for Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and Black Crappie. Historically, Kansas Lake has been prone to winterkill. The most recent winterkill occurred during the winter of 2007-2008, but was only a partial kill. Winter of 2022-2023 was harsh and greater than 20 lakes in southern Minnesota lakes experienced some verified level of winterkill. Kansas Lake did not have any obvious signs of winterkill as no dead fish were found after ice-off and we had angler reports of catching Walleye until the end of February on the lake. Additionally, during winter 2022-2023 Kansas Lake never had dissolved oxygen levels observed less than the 2.0 ppm threshold where we see stress in fish. However, anglers were having difficulties catching Walleye on or after May fishing opener during the spring of 2023. Therefore, a quick daytime electrofishing assessment was conducted June 9, 2023 to see what species were present. Nine species were sampled in daytime electrofishing. Those species were Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Common Carp, Fathead Minnow, Freshwater Drum, Northern Pike, Walleye, White Sucker, and Yellow Perch. Adults of all species of fish but Walleye were observed during sampling. Walleye caught (N=57) only ranged in length from 6.6 to 8.4 inches. While it was a bit concerning to only see age-1 Walleye, it did not mean that adults were not present. Daytime sampling, especially in clear water, typically results in few adult Walleyes observed near shore. Additionally, the presence of adult Freshwater Drum which are very susceptible to low dissolved oxygen and will die during harsh winters were found alive. Evidence suggested that adult Walleye were present, even when they were not caught in daytime electrofishing. Later summer and fall reports of Walleye being caught by anglers further indicated their presence. Finally, a naturally reproduced year class of Walleye was observed during ice-angling by one of the DNR fisheries staff in Windom added further evidence of adult Walleye in Kansas Lake. Curiously, it was not determined why such few adult Walleye, if any, were caught during May and early June of 2023. Additional sampling will be conducted to determine the relative abundance of fish in Kansas Lake.

Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff conducted an assessment of lakeshore habitat on Kansas Lake on May 31 2023, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 32 survey sites evenly spaced 200 meters around the lake. Assessments were made in three habitat zones: Shoreline Zone (the shore-water interface to the top of the natural bank), Shoreland Zone (land-ward from shoreline to development structure or 100 feet), and Aquatic Zone (lake-ward 50 feet of shoreline). The average lakewide habitat score was 82.7 (+/- 3.1) out of 100 possible. A score of 82.7 indicates the lakewide shoreline condition is Moderately High (80-85). Approximately 71 percent of the sites were developed with a mean score of 76.2 (+/- 3.5) indicating shoreline habitat quality of developed sites is Moderate (70-80), while undeveloped sites had a mean score of 99.3 (+/- 0.7) with Excellent (92+) habitat quality.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass in Kansas. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Kansas. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Kansas has a maximum depth of 7 feet and a mean depth of 5 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Kansas is from 2025.

No invasive species are on record for Kansas in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.