Swimbait Fishing on Cheney Reservoir
Cheney Reservoir · Kansas · Midwest
Cheney Reservoir sits on the North Fork of the Ninnescah River in Reno County, a wide, shallow prairie impoundment averaging roughly 14 feet deep with a maximum depth near 40 feet in the old river channel. Water clarity runs turbid to slightly stained through most of the year, driven by wind chop on exposed flats and agricultural runoff from the surrounding watershed. Largemouth bass, white bass, and walleye share the fishery, but largemouth hold the primary attention of dedicated bass anglers working the riprap dam face, flooded timber pockets, and shallow cove structure.
Covers everything from 3" paddle tails to 10"+ hard-body glide baits. Paddle tails on a swimbait head cover water efficiently; large glide baits and jointed hard swimbaits target trophy fish specifically. Swimbait fishing rewards patience — fewer bites, but the bites that come are often the biggest bass of your life.
Swimbait Setup for Cheney Reservoir
| Rod | 7'3"–8' medium-heavy to heavy casting rod, moderate action (for big baits) |
| Reel | 5.4:1–6.4:1 baitcaster (slower for big baits, need power) |
| Line | 15–20 lb fluorocarbon; 65 lb braid for glide baits |
| Weight | Paddle tail on 1/4–1 oz head; glide baits 2–6 oz depending on size |
Seasonal Tactics on Cheney Reservoir
Lake: Pre-spawn largemouth stage along the riprap dam face and main-lake points in 6–12 ft of water as temps climb through the mid-50s, then push into protected coves and shallow timber flats once the water hits 60°F. White bass runs up the Ninnescah River arm draw significant crowds in April.
Swimbait: Post-spawn giants recovering — slow roll a big paddle tail along the first drop off beds.
Lake: Largemouth retreat to the deeper creek channel edges and any shade-producing dock or timber structure; the thermocline in this shallow reservoir compresses usable depth quickly, and fish concentrate in the 12–18 ft zone along channel swings during peak heat.
Swimbait: Early morning on main lake points. Slow-roll a 6"+ swimbait along ledge faces at dawn.
Lake: Shad migrations pull bass onto main-lake flats and secondary points through September and October — reaction baits like lipless crankbaits and swimbait-rigged paddle tails produce well when fish are actively schooling near the surface.
Swimbait: Best season — bass targeting large shad. Match the size of forage exactly. Shad colors.
Lake: Largemouth become lethargic and stack near the deepest available structure, primarily the old river channel in 25–35 ft; slow-rolled swimbaits and finesse drop shots on the channel ledge edges are the most consistent cold-water approach.
Swimbait: Slow down the retrieve dramatically. Big fish are lethargic but will eat a slow-moving large profile.
Best Conditions
Clear water, trophy fisheries, post-spawn and fall, shad migrations, open water and around structure, dawn and dusk
Slow down more than you think. Most anglers retrieve swimbaits too fast. A barely-moving bait triggers more bites from big, selective fish.
More Techniques for Cheney Reservoir
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