Atchison State Fishing Lake.
Atchison State Fishing Lake near Atchison, Kansas, covers 66 acres with a maximum depth of 32 feet.
The lake has extensive shallow water on the west end, while the rest of the lake is characterized by flats on the northwest side and gradual to steep drop-offs to 15 to 30 feet over the rest of the area.
There are also 182 acres of wildlife area adjoining the lake, of which approximately 136 acres are open to hunting, limited to archery and shotshell hunting. The area also limits the number of hunters allowed on the grounds at one time, which is monitored by an electronic check-in system. Comprised of native grass and timber, hunters find deer, upland game, rabbits, and squirrels, as well as waterfowl hunting, especially in the west end. The east side of the lake, from the shoreline to the east property line, is closed to hunting.
Primitive camping is allowed on the south and east sides of the lake. Picnic facilities and two pit toilets are available — one near the south shelter house and another at the east shelter house. Rural water is provided at the southeast entrance.
Camping at Atchison County Lake is free and on a first-come, first-served basis. The camping area on the northeast corner of the lake is a camping by permission only area. For reservations, please call the Road & Bridge Office at 913-804-6120. Areas outside of the camping and fishing areas are not fully maintained. This is to promote wildlife to come back into the area.
There are also fishing piers, fish feeders, a boat ramp, and a dock.
Anglers enjoy catching Black Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Redear Sunfish, and Walleye. Limits for fish are posted at the entrance of the lake.
The land was purchased in 1955, and the lake was constructed in 1956. Fish were stocked in 1957 and opened to fishing for the first time in 1959. First called Hetherington Lake, it was nestled among rounded hills blanketed by oak-hickory woodlands and broad valleys planted in corn. Elm, willow, silver maple, and locust compose the riparian woodland, where wildflowers are abundant from spring through fall.
Butterflies are commonly seen in the woodlands and along the lake edge during the summer. Both fox and gray squirrels scamper through the trees. Tracks of white-tailed deer and raccoons cover the banks of the creek and lake. Red-eyed and yellow-throated vireos, blue-gray gnatcatchers, and summer tanagers nest here. Summer evenings bring the clear, mellow song of the whip-poor-will and the loud whistling call of the chuck-will’s-widow. During fall and spring migrations, the lake hosts several types of ducks. Canada geese and groups of goslings accompanied by their parents may be seen in the springtime. Shorebirds are also present during migrations.
The lake is located at 11692 Pawnee Road, about 6.5 miles northwest of Atchison, Kansas.
©Kathy Alexander/Legends of Kansas, updated September 2025.
Also See:
Sources:
Atchison County
Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks
State Parks