2026 regulation year
Big Hill Reservoir 2026 — Kansas Fishing Regulations
Kansas statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Big Hill Reservoir carries 4 special-regulation overlays on top of Kansas's 2026 fishing rules — covering Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Walleye. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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State-level special regulation
Largemouth bass 15–21 in protected slot + 5 / day (must release bass 15–21 in); smallmouth bass 18 in min + 5 / day; spotted bass 15 in min + 5 / day; walleye 18 in min + 5 / day; crappie 50 / day; channel catfish 10 / day, flathead 5 / day; 1,240-acre USACE reservoir 4 mi E of Cherryvale — SE Kansas smallmouth + slot-largemouth fishery
Source: Kansas special-water list
Per-species rules on Big Hill Reservoir
15–21 in protected slot, 5 / day (release bass 15–21 in); USACE reservoir near Cherryvale
18 in min, 5 / day; SE-Kansas smallmouth fishery near Cherryvale
18 in min, 5 / day; SE-Kansas reservoir near Cherryvale
Official source
Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks (KDWP) publishes the authoritative 2026 Kansas fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.
Visit official Kansas fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks's emergency-order feed — check it before any Kansas trip during the active season.
Other special-regulation waters in Kansas
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Big Hill Reservoir?
- Big Hill Reservoir carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Kansas' statewide 2026 rules, covering Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, and Walleye. One of them reads: "Largemouth bass 15–21 in protected slot + 5 / day (must release bass 15–21 in); smallmouth bass 18 in min + 5 / day; spotted bass 15 in min + 5 / day; walleye 18 in min + 5 / day; crappie 50 / day; channel catfish 10 / day, flathead 5 / day; 1,240-acre USACE reservoir 4 mi E of Cherryvale — SE Kansas smallmouth + slot-largemouth fishery." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Big Hill Reservoir?
- Yes. Big Hill Reservoir is in Kansas, so a valid Kansas fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks (KDWP). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Big Hill Reservoir; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Kansas rules.
- Do Big Hill Reservoir's special rules replace Kansas' statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Kansas' statewide 2026 regulations apply on Big Hill Reservoir by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
- Which species have special rules on Big Hill Reservoir?
- Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, and Walleye have a water-body-specific rule on Big Hill Reservoir, each linking to its full Kansas regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Kansas limits.