Crappie
FairSize listed: 6–12 inches
KDWP described a slower bite with fish to investigate around deeper brush and near the Rea Bridge area. Suggested vertical presentations included soft plastics and minnows.
Learn more about crappie →Word on the Water · Historical source snapshot
Hillsdale fishing.
September 2026.
What a state biologist's reservoir report said about Hillsdale during September 2026—and what it cannot tell us about today's bite.
Historical, not current: The agency page displayed a last-updated date of when reviewed October 25. It did not state an individual observation timestamp next to every Hillsdale species entry. We did not independently fish or verify these catches.
What the agency reported
Three species. One dated snapshot.
Ratings and sizes below are sourced from the Hillsdale section of the KDWP statewide reservoir report. They reflect information at the source's update—not current conditions or firsthand Aggressive Lures measurements.
Channel catfish
GoodSize listed: 16–24 inches
The agency suggested steep breaks near structure, particularly evenings and nights, and reported cut shad as a productive bait.
Learn more about channel catfish →Bluegill and redear
FairSize listed: 5–7 inches
Deeper weed edges during the early morning were mentioned. Worms were the reported presentation.
Learn more about bluegill and redear →From information to action
Use the report as a hypothesis.
A biologist's snapshot can provide a starting point for thinking about depth, habitat and presentation. It cannot guarantee a fish will be there today. Ask what has changed in weather, water, access, light, forage and actual fish response since the report was posted.
The Aggressive Lures approach is: atmosphere → water → habitat and forage → fish position → fish behavior → presentation → outcome → learning. A published agency report is sourced evidence. Your own catches and observations are a separate evidence type.
Build a Hillsdale crappie plan →How reports change
May 2026 wasn't September 2026.
KDWP's older individual Hillsdale report, explicitly updated May 28, 2026, rated crappie good and discussed post-spawn fish across varying depths. The statewide report page updated September 16 described crappie as fair. This is a reminder that ratings change across seasons and update cycles—not proof that a particular cause explains the difference.
Source, transparency and limitations
Primary source: Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks — Fishing Reports by Reservoir, statewide update dated September 16, 2026. Aggressive Lures compiled a short summary on October 25, 2026. We do not reproduce the entire source table or claim to have independently confirmed its fish catches. If KDWP replaces or revises the page, rely on its current reporting directly. Confirm live weather, access, licensing, regulations and safe boating conditions using current official information.