Fishing in Russell County!
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks welcome you to Wilson Lake, "The Clearest Lake in Kansas", located in Russell County of North Central Kansas. Set amongst the Smoky Hills, which is a rolling landscape of hill, buttes and hazy valleys, grand in scale, yet possessing a delicate and subtle beauty. We hope you enjoy the area's geologic formations, mixed grass prairie, and water quality.
Set in a region with few large bodies of water, Wilson Lake offers a diversity of recreational opportunitites. A major benefit of the lake is the outdoor sports that attract a quarter million visitors participate in each year! Activities include picnicking, camping, swimming, boating, skiing, wind surfing, sailing, scuba diving, fishing, hunting, trail hiking, mountain bike riding and remote controlled model sailplane racing.
If you would like to spend some time at Lake Wilson to enjoy the beauty, but do not have a camper or camping equipment, DONT SWEAT IT......
They will take care of you!
Rent-A-Camp at Wilson State Park!
Rent-A-Camp is a program in which you can rent all of the items a person may need to camp out for the weekend and the park staff will set it all up!
For $15.50 a night, you can rent one of 5 Coleman tents that could sleep 4 people. You will also receive cots to sleep on inside the tent. For the evening, a propane-powered lantern is provided with plenty of gas to fish all night! In the morning you can make breakfast on the two-burner Coleman stove that is also available at no additional charge. A cooler and a water cooler are also available. The tent will be set up and waiting for you at any reservable campsite in both State Park areas.
To reserve a Rent-A-Camp you need to contact the Wilson State Park office at 785-658-2465 at least 48 hours before you wish to camp. When you get to the park you will need to stop at the park office and pay all of the fees, including rental, a camping permit, and a vehicle permit, for each nights stay. The park staff will show you how to operate the cook stove and lantern and then have you read and sign the Rent-A-Tent agreement. Coleman has provided some very nice equipment, so we ask you to return the camping gear in the same shape we checked it out to you. Try a new experience and go camping!
If sleeping in a tent isn't for you....RENT A CABIN!
Parks at Wilson Lake:
LUCAS PARK - Encompasses Rocktown Natural area, 3-mile hiking trail, 1-3 campsites/62 electric. Hunting areas. Unique geography makes it one of the Top 10 model sailplane racing sites in the US.
SYLVAN PARK - Bur Oak Interpretive Nature Trail, Campsites w/water and electric, handicapped accessible and climate controlled showe building open year round. Excellent fishing.
MINOOKA PARK - Means "Good Earth" in Otoe Indian, 3 boat ramps, 2 shower buildings, fish cleaning station, 194 campsites w/scenic views and excellent shoreline fishing. Reservable picnic/camp areas.
WILSON STATE PARK - Oncludes the Otoe and Hell Creek areas. Many hiking/biking trails and campsites including shore houses and "Rent-A-Camp" sites for those wishing to try out camping. Fishing and swimming areas.
MARINA - Open from April - November. 150 rental slips available. Grocery, hunting, fishing and camping supplies, gas and dump station. Pontoon boats available for rent.
WILDLIFE AREAS - 9,000 acres of managed wildlife area around the lake including a 1,000 acre waterfowl refuge located arpund the western bed of the lake past Horseshoe Bend.
WILSON LAKE - Wilson Lake is known for its white bass, striped bass, walleye, and small mouthed bass. Also largemouth bass, white perch, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill, drum and flathead catfish.
HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES - Wilson Lake has hunting opportunities for pheasant, quail, prairie chicken, whitetail and muledeer, turkey, waterfowl and rabbit. For fur there are coyote, bobcat, beaver, muskrat, mink, raccoon and opossum.