Osage State Fishing Lake

Smooth Sumac in Autumn at Osage State Fishing Lake
- Photo by Jim Mason
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Osage State Fishing Lake lies in a small, pleasant valley of the Osage
Cuestas. Around the lake is a riparian woodland, and the upland is native bluestem
prairie. The best wildlife habitat is on the east side of the lake. |
In fall and spring the water attracts migrating waterfowl including snow geese, Canada
geese, mallards, pintails, common mergansers, and common goldeneyes. On occasion a
migrating osprey is seen plunging, talons first, into the lake for fish. Eastern
screech-owls, great horned owls, northern flickers, hairy woodpeckers, eastern
wood-pewees, and white-breasted nuthatches can be found in the woods.
In summer search the fields and prairies for eastern meadowlarks, mourning doves,
northern bobwhite quail, grasshopper sparrows, scissor-tailed flycatchers, and both
eastern and western kingbirds. In the nesting season listen for the boom of diving male
nighthawks courting their mates. Common around the lake are muskrats and beavers. Watch
for white-tailed deer and coyotes year-round.
 | Restroom, Picnic tables, Boat ramp, Water available. |
Primitive camping only.
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No developed trails.
Click the icon to find a birding list for Osage County.
Click the icon to locate nearby Geocaches
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Directions:
From Carbondale (15 miles S of Topeka) take U.S. 75 2 miles south to intersection of U.S.
56. One entrance is 0.8 miles E on U.S. 56 and the other is 1 mile S on U.S. 75.

For a Google Map of this site,
click here. |
Ownership:
The entity responsible for management of Osage State
Fishing Lake is the Kansas
Department of Wildlife, Parks &
Tourism. Contact them at (620) 431-0380
if you have specific questions about use or management of the site.
You may download the KDWPT brochure on Osage State Fishing
Lake from
their web site.
506 acres

Funded by the
Chickadee Checkoff Program

Click here for a brochure! |
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Kansas web site
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by
the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks
& Tourism.
Re-publication of site content in any form other than for personal use
requires written permission. If you are a Kansas resident, please
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by contributing to the Chickadee Checkoff on your state tax form. |
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