Can your boat enter?
Check vessel requirements and life-jacket rules directly with Coffey County. Do not assume general Kansas reservoir rules are sufficient.
Kansas lakes · Public fishing intelligence
Coffey County Lake.
Different water. Different rules.
Coffey County Lake is a 5,090-acre fishing-focused lake that supplies cooling water for Wolf Creek Generating Station. The county manages specific access and boating rules, so planning here starts with the gatehouse and current notices—not assumptions borrowed from other Kansas reservoirs.
Meet the lake
What makes this water different?
Coffey County identifies the lake as a warm-water fishing destination open for limited public fishing since October 1996. Lake access and boating rules are more restrictive than a typical multi-use reservoir.
The county requires visitors to enter through its public access area and check in and out at the gatehouse. Boat restrictions are specific: county rules prohibit kayaks, canoes, sailboats and other non-motorized craft, and require approved PFDs for every person aboard a boat.
Read before traveling
Coffey County has specific entry and boat rules.
This is not ordinary open-access reservoir boating. The county requires gatehouse check-in and restricts which craft may enter the lake. Kayaks and other non-motorized craft are not permitted; approved life jackets are required on boats. Check current county rules before leaving home.
Read Coffey County rules ↗Species described by public sources
What can you fish for?
These are documented fisheries, not claims that any particular fish is biting today. Before fishing, check the species identification and current local regulations.
SPECIES & LEARNING
Largemouth bass
The county describes largemouth fishing around areas of standing timber.
Learn about this fish →SPECIES & LEARNINGSmallmouth bass
The county highlights smallmouth bass in the lake’s rocky shoreline fishery.
Learn about this fish →SPECIES & LEARNINGCrappie
The county includes crappie among fish using standing timber and other habitat.
Learn about this fish →SPECIES & LEARNINGWhite bass & wiper
County fishing information mentions both in open-water areas.
Learn about this fish →SPECIES & LEARNINGWalleye & channel catfish
County materials list these among fish associated with its shoreline and lake habitats.
Learn about this fish →Use the four-step fishing trip planning guide →
Make a practical fishing plan
Three questions before the first cast.
Is the access open?
The operator can close or restrict lake access for weather or other conditions. Posted operational information is time-sensitive.
What kind of fishing?
Fishery information spans standing timber, rocky banks and open-water species. Start with habitat and your target fish, not yesterday’s report.
Access, safety & regulations
Know the rules for this water.
County-specific entry rules matter: use the gatehouse, comply with boat/PFD requirements, and verify opening status and weather restrictions. This page does not certify the lake is open at the moment of reading.
This page doesn't contain live water levels, weather alerts, open-now status, fish location or verified firsthand catch reports. Operational information must come from the lake's responsible authority.
Fishing guides serving this water
Meet people who list Coffey County Lake.
These guides' publicly described service areas include this lake. Inclusion is not a verified current booking, paid partnership, or independent endorsement. Check the latest locations and trip details with each operator.
Where this information comes from
Official lake references.
Reviewed October 25, 2026. These links are provided as source references and as places to recheck rules and access. A publication update or archived report does not establish current conditions. Aggressive Lures has not verified an independent fishing session here.
- Coffey County Lake — Coffey County government ↗Official lake description, size, fishery and gatehouse contact
- Lake Rules & Regulations — Coffey County government ↗Access, required check-in, boat and PFD restrictions
- Kansas public fishing access — KDWP ↗State fishing reference; county-specific rules also apply
Want to compare the lakes? Return to the Kansas lakes directory →