Neosho State Fishing Lake in Neosho County, Kansas, courtesy of Kansas Tourism.
Neosho State Fishing Lake, also known as Lake McKinley, is a 92-acre public fishing area in Neosho County, Kansas.
It was the first state lake constructed with monies of the Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission, now known as the Department of Wildlife and Parks. Construction was completed in 1927 and it was named for Marshall Coleman McKinley, a conservationist and resident of Parsons, Kansas, who served as president of the local chapter of the Izaak Walton League and successfully petitioned the Kansas State Fish, Game, and Forestry Commission (now the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks) to construct the lake and establish a fish hatchery there.
There are 124 public-use acres surrounding the lake. Fishing, camping, and picnicking are popular activities. The park has a shelter house, 18 fishing piers, picnic tables, barbecue grills, a cement ramp, three walking trails, two vault toilets, and three sites for primitive camping. It is a popular spot for anglers seeking calmer waters and native fish, including Bluegill/Redear Sunfish, Channel Catfish, Crappie, and Largemouth Bass. Below Lake McKinley dam is a catch-and-release youth fishing pond for anglers aged 15 and under when accompanied by an adult. Neosho Lake Falls at Neosho State Fishing Lake are along the first 50 yards of the spillway. A slightly improved trail crosses a plank bridge and leads toward the falls from the parking on the north side.
An 18-inch limit on largemouth bass was implemented to ensure that quality-size fish are present, improving angling success and increasing predation on crappie and bluegill. A 15-inch length limit and a five-fish creel limit have also been implemented for channel catfish. These limits help create a higher-quality fishing experience and provide greater opportunities for all anglers.
The lake is noted for its panfish and channel catfish fisheries and birdwatching, as numerous species migrate through the region.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks operates the lake.
Neosho State Fishing Lake is five miles north on Highway 59 and three and a half miles on 40th Road from Parsons, Kansas. The address is 18715 McKinnley Lake Road, Parsons, KS 67357
620-449-2539
©Kathy Alexander/Legends of Kansas, updated January 2026.
Also See:
Sources:
Kansas State Department of Wildlife & Parks
Kansas State Parks
Kansas Tourism
Kansas Travel.org
Wikipedia