2026 regulation year
Cheney Reservoir 2026 — Kansas Fishing Regulations
Kansas statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Cheney Reservoir carries 7 special-regulation overlays on top of Kansas's 2026 fishing rules — covering Wiper (hybrid striped bass) + striped bass, Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Crappie (white + black combined), and 2 more species. 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 + smallmouth + spotted bass 15 in min + 5 / day combined; wiper + striped bass 21 in min + 2 / day (KS state-record wiper 22 lb 8 oz Cheney 1995); walleye 21 in min + 2 / day; crappie 10 in min + 50 / day combined; blue catfish 35 in min + 5 / day; white bass no daily limit; channel catfish 10 / day, flathead 5 / day; Wichita-area sport-fishing flagship
Source: Kansas special-water list
Per-species rules on Cheney Reservoir
Wiper (hybrid striped bass) + striped bass regulations →
Wiper + striped bass 21 in min, 2 / day; KS state-record wiper 22 lb 8 oz Cheney 1995
15 in min, 5 / day combined (statewide); Wichita-area sport-fishing flagship
15 in min, 5 / day combined; secondary smallmouth tier
Crappie (white + black combined) regulations →
10 in min, 50 / day combined
21 in min, 2 / day; Wichita-area sport-fishing flagship
35 in min, 5 / day; Wichita-area trophy blue fishery
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 Cheney Reservoir?
- Cheney Reservoir carries 7 special-regulation overlays that override Kansas' statewide 2026 rules, covering Wiper (hybrid striped bass) + striped bass, Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Crappie (white + black combined), and 2 more. One of them reads: "Largemouth + smallmouth + spotted bass 15 in min + 5 / day combined; wiper + striped bass 21 in min + 2 / day (KS state-record wiper 22 lb 8 oz Cheney 1995); walleye 21 in min + 2 / day; crappie 10 in min + 50 / day combined; blue catfish 35 in min + 5 / day; white bass no daily limit; channel catfish 10 / day, flathead 5 / day; Wichita-area sport-fishing flagship." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Cheney Reservoir?
- Yes. Cheney 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 Cheney Reservoir; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Kansas rules.
- Do Cheney Reservoir's special rules replace Kansas' statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Kansas' statewide 2026 regulations apply on Cheney 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 Cheney Reservoir?
- Wiper (hybrid striped bass) + striped bass, Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Crappie (white + black combined), Walleye, and Blue catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Cheney Reservoir, each linking to its full Kansas regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Kansas limits.