Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted January 13, 2015 Global Moderator Posted January 13, 2015 It's that time of year again fellas! Time to get the ball rolling on where we want to go this spring. We had a small, unplanned meeting this past week that kind of got the gears turning. I think the proposed date is going to be in April (the weekend of the 18th and 19th would work great for me but I'm down for whenever). As for location, we had several to choose from that were proposed. Milford Lake in Junction City, KS, Stockton Lake in Stockton, MO, Beaver Lake in Rogers, AR, Grand Lake in Grove, OK, or Mined Wildlife Area (strip pits) in Columbus, KS. Milford-Awesome smallie lake with a good population of largemouth and some spots. Great fishing for whites, wipers, walleye, channel and blue cats. Last few state record smallies came from here, it produces fish over 6 pounds ever year, 2 of my 3 5 pound smallies are from Milford. State park cabins we could rent that are right by the ramp or camping with power for charging batteries. The big negative, it's spring time in Kansas, so there's a good chance it will be windy and there's nowhere to get out of the wind here other than a couple big coves. We could still get out and fish and everyone will catch fish, but the wind sucks here no two ways about it. Stockton-Largemouth on the south end, smallies on the north, spots everywhere in between. Also a very good lake for walleye, crappie, cats, and whites. Good sized lake with decent lodging around it and plenty of ramps and places to work around the wind if/when it blows. You can catch fish doing about anything here, when they're biting, but it can be a really tough lake too, but that's the risk you take anywhere. Beaver Lake-Largemouth, Smallmouth, spots, even meanies. Giant stripers, wipers, white bass, crappie, walleye, and catfish. Huge and very scenic lake, locating fish can be very difficult at times but when you find them you can knock their lights out. The one time I've been here was with Jon. We both caught PB stripers (14.5 and 20 pounds) he caught his PB wiper and smallmouth (6 3/4 and 4.5 pounds), I had a 6.25 and 5 pound largemouth along with a ton in the 3 pound range, we both had some smallies over 3, several 4-7 pound stripers, and of ton of other bass and some of the biggest, fattest white bass I've ever seen (possibly north of 3 pounds). We did all that within 1/2 mile of the ramp. Possibly also have free lodging here. Again Jon has the hookup with family that might let us stay for free. We stayed in the church that they run that is right next to their house and it was very nice. Air matts or cots would be needed but that's it. Level parking lot for the boats and it's nothing like the cabins at Grand to get to it. It's the furthest drive to get to at a little over 3 hours though. If gas prices stay like they are or close to it, that may be much less of a factor than normal. Grand-Mainly largemouth but some good spots mixed in. Not a lot else to fall back on other than crappie, whites, and catfish. We had a blast last time (most of us did anyways) and caught a ton of fish. I have zero issue with going back but it's likely to be a different animal in April than it was in June last year. Strip pits-Largemouth are the only flavor of bass here, but there's insane numbers of them and some true giants. Tons of some of the biggest bluegills and sunfish I've ever seen and good crappie in some, trout in one of them. If you like variety, this is a good choice. I don't know how many pits there are exactly, but I've fished dozens and there's still a bunch that I haven't ever been on. The good thing about the pits is you can fish them from a bass boat, or a 2 man, doesn't matter. Quite a bit of gravel roads almost have to be driven to access most of them, so that's a downside. Limited lodging, the cabins at the trout pit are very nice and not very expensive though, and right next to the lake that holds state record class largemouth (and brown trout, also where the state record channel cat was caught). Always a blast fishing these and I'm more than willing to share everything I know about fishing them with everyone if this is where we go. So there you have it. Those are the proposed options. I think we may need to have a meeting to discuss and decide on this and the weeknight get togethers. I'm thinking either Johnny's in Olathe again since it worked well last time, or we could do a potluck at someone's house instead. Probably on the 29th so I will have bid by then and know what my days off are. Feel free to cast a vote for a lake/date so maybe we can have a pre-plan going into the meeting 2 Quote
RangerDanger Posted January 13, 2015 Posted January 13, 2015 I've always wanted to fish the strip pits, but have heard the boat ramps can be kind of shady. Of course power for battery charging is a must. Beaver is the only one of the choices I've ever been on and that was with a guide that a vendor set up. All good choices and I'll defer. Hopefully it works out with my schedule so I can attend. Quote
cbass12 Posted January 13, 2015 Posted January 13, 2015 I vote Beaver. Maybe we should all vote on location first, then vote on the dates once we figure out where we're going. Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted January 13, 2015 Author Global Moderator Posted January 13, 2015 I vote Beaver. Maybe we should all vote on location first, then vote on the dates once we figure out where we're going. April is a pretty universal good time for any of those lakes and not much goes on in April. I'd be up for March but that's pushing it with the weather. You wait until May and people have graduations, kids out of school, and you start dealing with pleasure boaters. Quote
Doc-Drew Posted January 13, 2015 Posted January 13, 2015 I'd be up for Beaver or the pits. The nice thing about the pits- wind won't be as big of a factor in most of them. But if I have to pick one, I would say Beaver. I would love the chance to hook into a 10+lb striper 2 Quote
Super User gardnerjigman Posted January 13, 2015 Super User Posted January 13, 2015 I'm golden with any of them if I can backseat! Quote
cbass12 Posted January 13, 2015 Posted January 13, 2015 I'm golden with any of them if I can backseat! If I can't talk a friend from work into coming you could fish with me in the fish/ski. Quote
cbass12 Posted January 13, 2015 Posted January 13, 2015 April is a pretty universal good time for any of those lakes and not much goes on in April. I'd be up for March but that's pushing it with the weather. You wait until May and people have graduations, kids out of school, and you start dealing with pleasure boaters. Fine with me. Quote
Super User gardnerjigman Posted January 13, 2015 Super User Posted January 13, 2015 If I can't talk a friend from work into coming you could fish with me in the fish/ski. Works for me buddy. Let me know Quote
conorsixtakc Posted January 13, 2015 Posted January 13, 2015 I've already committed to a few trips in April and the spring get together isn't looking good for me... Unless we do Stockton first weekend in April. 2 Quote
Super User Hi Salenity Posted January 13, 2015 Super User Posted January 13, 2015 Grand or Beaver Quote
RangerDanger Posted January 13, 2015 Posted January 13, 2015 I'm golden with any of them if I can backseat! I might have a back seat. Quote
Ondrejka Posted January 13, 2015 Posted January 13, 2015 I've already committed to a few trips in April and the spring get together isn't looking good for me... Unless we do Stockton first weekend in April. 1 Quote
Doc-Drew Posted January 13, 2015 Posted January 13, 2015 I've already committed to a few trips in April and the spring get together isn't looking good for me... Unless we do Stockton first weekend in April. I've already committed to a few trips in April and the spring get together isn't looking good for me... Unless we do Stockton first weekend in April. What they said 1 Quote
Super User Hi Salenity Posted January 14, 2015 Super User Posted January 14, 2015 Are we going to be in pre spawn in late April? Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted January 14, 2015 Author Global Moderator Posted January 14, 2015 Prespawn to spawn most likely. Quote
Super User gardnerjigman Posted January 14, 2015 Super User Posted January 14, 2015 Late April at beaver will be REAL close to spawn. Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted January 14, 2015 Author Global Moderator Posted January 14, 2015 I got 4th in a tournament at Table Rock in April sight fishing bed fish. Last year was all prespawners on jerks and warts though. Beaver is on the same schedule basically. Quote
conorsixtakc Posted January 14, 2015 Posted January 14, 2015 Guys were still sight fishing on the lower end of LOZ last year in mid May, I caught a few that hadn't done their thing yet around that time. I think that was due in part to last year's heavy winter. The crappie spawn was weird down there too, it never really got going like it had in years past. If this year's Winter stays mild and we dont see much precipitation, I think we could see different Spring fishing than last year. Quote
kanasbassfisher08 Posted January 16, 2015 Posted January 16, 2015 well aia is having the bbass bash on the 18-19 of april so keep that in mind if any one is fishing that but im down for where ever but i would lean towards stockton or table rock for spring or grand just becuase you can catch a ton of fish in a weekend for prespawn or spawning fish. i dont know bull to well but i would go for sure but i would lean for the last weekend of apri. Quote
kanasbassfisher08 Posted January 16, 2015 Posted January 16, 2015 i would also check for tournys for those weekends on those lakes to make sure not that they arent big enough to fish a ton of guys but some spots might be hard to get to if thats the case. Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted January 18, 2015 Author Global Moderator Posted January 18, 2015 You guys want to get together next week, Friday the 30th and try to hash out the game plan for this? We could meet up at Johnny's again or do a potluck at someone's house? Quote
conorsixtakc Posted January 18, 2015 Posted January 18, 2015 Johnnys of 151st? I'm down. Any night other than Monday works. Quote
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