Kirwin Reservoir

Boat Ramps: 2
Access Points: 2
Species: 10

Kirwin Reservoir is a 5,000-acre impoundment located in Phillips County in north-central Kansas, approximately 15 miles southeast of Phillipsburg off K-9 highway. Built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and completed in 1955, this reservoir was created primarily for flood control and irrigation purposes. The North Fork Solomon River and Bow Creek are the reservoir's primary inflows. With a maximum depth of 49 feet and over 35 miles of shoreline, Kirwin offers excellent fishing opportunities. The reservoir is surrounded by the Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1954 as the first national wildlife refuge in Kansas, providing a unique natural setting for anglers with no private homes along the shoreline.

Kansas licenses and regulations4 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Kirwin Reservoir and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Walleye

Sander vitreus

Black Bullhead

Ameiurus melas

Bluegill Sunfish

Lepomis macrochirus

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

Flathead Catfish

Pylodictis olivaris

Green Sunfish

Lepomis cyanellus

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis

White Bass

Morone chrysops

White Crappie

Pomoxis annularis

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Kirwin Reservoir. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

East Xavier Road Boat Ramp

Boat Ramp

Bluegill Point Boat Ramp

Boat Ramp

Know where you can legally fish on Kirwin Reservoir

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Kansas licenses and regulations

Kansas Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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Kansas Fishing License

Anglers age 16 through 74, who have been bona fide residents of the state for 60 days immediately prior to buying a license, must have a resident license in possession while fishing in Kansas. All nonresidents 16 and older must have a valid nonresident license to fish in Kansas (unless fishing on a private pond not leased for public fishing). All licenses expire 365 days from the date of purchase, except for multi-year, five-day, lifetime, and one-day fishing licenses.

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Kansas Fishing Regulations

This river has a variety of species and regulations, including potential floating and/or watercraft restrictions. Because this river is specially managed for species, seasons, angling methods, and watercraft, it is strongly encouraged you check all federal, state, and local regulations before fishing. Visit any of the links below, inquire locally, or contact a local fly shop to learn current regulations and restrictions.

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Kansas Stream Access Laws

Most streams and rivers in Kansas are privately owned. The public rivers are the Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri. They are open to the public between the ordinary high water marks on each bank. This is the line that can be seen where high water has left debris, sand, and gravel during its ordinary annual cycle. When these rivers flow through private land, permission is needed from adjacent landowners to access the rivers as well as when picnicking, camping, portaging or engaging in any other activity on the adjacent private lands. Except where they pass through the legal limits of a government entity, the rest of our streams and rivers are privately owned, and permission is needed from the landowners to access and use the streams and adjacent lands for any purpose.

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Take Kirwin Reservoir with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Kirwin Reservoir to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Kirwin Reservoir to find where and when fish are biting for you.
HD depth charts from Garmin
Find drop offs, ledges, channels, points and shallow flats with Garmin depth charts in the app.