Longview Lake

[WIII-60]

Anbody fished Longview in the KC area?

Whats the specifics on boat regulations? Any?

Is it better, or worse than jacomo or blue springs?

[tkite16]

You have to get a jackson county permit for your boat .  I pay 100 per year for a 90 hp motor.  Longview and blue springs both are trash from Memorial day to labor day from the skiers and jet-skis.  I've caught some decent fish from Blue Springs and always struggle on Longview.

 As far as Jacomo you can only have a 25hp motor or smaller because of the precious sailboats. >  

  I still dont see why they dont alternate each year.  Have Longview as  a fishing only lake 1 year with pleasure boating on Blue springs and then switch the next year.

 

[WIII-60]

So, longview and blue springs are'nt any good most of the summer and, jacomo is limited.

Where do you go other than the big haul south?

I'm looking for something that can be a to-and-from in a day lake around the metro.

[BassLaw13]

We've never caught much at Longview.  Have had some luck at Jacomo from shore.  2X about Blue Springs.  Smithville isn't too far but tough fishing.  I know some guys who swear by Grindstone as well.

Truman is south but is closer than most think.  For me, it is do-able day trip if you head out early and don't mind coming home in the dark.  Same thing for Stockton and Pomme, really.

In KS there's La Cygne, Hillsdale (closest) and I've heard they catch some whoppers at Coffee County Lake but that's about the same drive time as Truman.

Just my 2 cents hope it helps some.

[WIII-60]

thanks for the info thus far.

how do i find out what permit i need for the non-jaco lakes?

[senile1]

If I lived on the south side of the metro area I'd be going to Truman as much as possible.  Besides, the other lakes mentioned, there are some other smaller lakes down there.  Lone Jack and Maple Leaf come to mind.  If you've never done so, check out the Missouri Conservation site for places to fish.  Enter the region or the county you want to fish and it will pull up all of the places that exist in that area with simple maps, brochures, lake features, and information on the fish populations at that particular body of water.  

http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/applications/moatlas/AreaList.aspx?txtUserID=guest&txtAreaNm=s

[WIII-60]

thanks senile,

i like the look of the satellite pictures of maple leaf. ever fished it?

I've fished lone jack. It was years ago though.

how can i find out what restrictions (elec only, etc) these lakes have? I didn't see anything on the MDOC pages...

[senile1]

WIII-60, when you pull up the list of lakes for a region and then click on the lake in the list it pulls up an area summary.  There are menus on the left and if you go to Area Resources and click on area brochure it pulls up a pdf file of the brochure.  The brochure states that Maple Leaf is an electric motor only lake.  I don't think all of them have a brochure though.  Most of the lakes that are a couple of hundred acres or less are electric motor only.  

[WIII-60]

found it. I guess I should have looked harder. The brochure that I found says that maple leaf, as well as most other small lakes in Lafayette county, will allow outboards. Any outboard over 10 HP must be operated at no wake speeds however.

I'm excited about getting out into some uncharted waters now.

Any one else have any good recommendations?

[senile1]

found it. I guess I should have looked harder. The brochure that I found says that maple leaf, as well as most other small lakes in Lafayette county, will allow outboards. Any outboard over 10 HP must be operated at no wake speeds however.

I'm excited about getting out into some uncharted waters now.

Any one else have any good recommendations?

Sorry, I skimmed it quickly and missed the part about the 10 HP motors.  Great site though!  It gives you information about the populations of the sport fish that inhabit the waters and everything.

[DerekB]

I live one mile from Maple Leaf and fish it regularly.  While it gets alot of pressure, the bass fishing remains good.  I believe most of the pressure is due to crappie fishing.  Crappie weren't originally stocked (as noted on the website you mentioned), but someone had other plans.

Another good small lake is Hazel Hill in Johnson County, MO North of Warrensburg.  It's like a small Truman...lots of standing timber.  Good bass in there that'll really jerk your line.

[cart7t]

We've never caught much at Longview. Have had some luck at Jacomo from shore. 2X about Blue Springs. Smithville isn't too far but tough fishing. I know some guys who swear by Grindstone as well.

Truman is south but is closer than most think. For me, it is do-able day trip if you head out early and don't mind coming home in the dark. Same thing for Stockton and Pomme, really.

In KS there's La Cygne, Hillsdale (closest) and I've heard they catch some whoppers at Coffee County Lake but that's about the same drive time as Truman.

Just my 2 cents hope it helps some.

I just did a quick trip check from Raystown to mid lake Truman.

87 miles.

You must be kidding.  That would be a joy to be able to reach a quality bass fishery like that in only an hour and a half.  A major doable 1 day trip.  I consider LOZ a 1 dayer for me and it's 165 miles one way from my house.

Be glad you don't live in St Louis.  

[BassLaw13]

We've never caught much at Longview. Have had some luck at Jacomo from shore. 2X about Blue Springs. Smithville isn't too far but tough fishing. I know some guys who swear by Grindstone as well.

Truman is south but is closer than most think. For me, it is do-able day trip if you head out early and don't mind coming home in the dark. Same thing for Stockton and Pomme, really.

In KS there's La Cygne, Hillsdale (closest) and I've heard they catch some whoppers at Coffee County Lake but that's about the same drive time as Truman.

Just my 2 cents hope it helps some.

I just did a quick trip check from Raystown to mid lake Truman.

87 miles.

You must be kidding. That would be a joy to be able to reach a quality bass fishery like that in only an hour and a half. A major doable 1 day trip. I consider LOZ a 1 dayer for me and it's 165 miles one way from my house.

Be glad you don't live in St Louis.

From my house in south KC to Clinton, MO is 69 miles.  An hour at best even dragging a boat.  I agree, that is close.

[senile1]

Have any of you guys tried Montrose Lake?  It's off of highway 18 west of Clinton.  There is an old powerplant there.  I've read some decent fishing reports from there but I always go to Truman when I'm down that way.  One time, on the trip back from Truman, I decided to stop there and try it out but it was closed to fishing.  From October 15th - February 15th it is closed as a waterfowl refuge.  

[Mid-MO]

I live about 5 miles from Hazel Hill - hardly ever fish it. It doesn't have many coves or points - but lots of standing timber. It gets a lot of bank fisherman but I when I've been out there hardly ever see a bass boat fishing for bass.

Used to fish Maple Leaf alot. There were some pretty good fish in there a few years ago. They had a big fish kill but the last time I talked to the conservation agent (last spring) they hadn't had the chance to shock it and see what the damage was. Lots of grass, standing timber, two arms running into the main lake. They also built some structure around the dam I think.

Another lake close is Edwin Pape Lake just outside of Concordia. I know there were 9 pound fish in there and supposedly ones over 10. It was pretty good 10 years ago but the word got out and it got hit pretty hard. One of the clubs out of KC even started having tournaments on it. Mud bottom, no grass anywhere, never very clear. Lots of laydowns though. Conservation put some brush piles in about 15 years ago but I don't know that much of them are left. It is the city water supply and you have to buy permits. I think it is about 250 acres - so pretty good size compared to the other two.

I've drove out to Montrose once. Never fished there though. Used to hear a lot about it but not so much anymore. I think it is a no wake lake too (as the three above all are).

I live in Warrensburg and can get to Truman (mid lake area) in about an hour. Gravois Mills on LOZ is about an hour and a half - just a little over 70 miles - which isn't a bad drive.

[Mid-MO]

Forgot to mention Higginsville city lake and Blind Pony.

I fished Higginsville twice and didn't catch much either time.  Has three arms I think and is pretty good size.  A few submerged trees, a dock, and some rip rap on the dam were the obvious structure.   I think there is a pretty good topo map on it though.

Blind Pony was supposedly great fishing in the mid 90's.  I went there a couple of times - bigger lake with lots of timber.  They drained it a few years back and redid it.  I caught the tail end of someone talking about it on local radio a few weeks ago and I think they've reopened it or are about too.  It is just NE of Sweet Springs off of I-70.

[tkite16]

So, longview and blue springs are'nt any good most of the summer and, jacomo is limited.

Where do you go other than the big haul south?

I'm looking for something that can be a to-and-from in a day lake around the metro.

   2 hours for me to gravois mills on Lake of the Ozarks and hour and a half to Truman.   I only fish Blue Springs if limited by time . Its not as bad as i made it sound i guess but there are much better options.

[WIII-60]

I fished Truman years ago with my dad in some father son tourney's (1994-1996). Two I think. They were always hosted by bucksaw resort/marina.

Can you guys tell me more about Truman? Where do you prefer to put it and why? Any specifics about that lake?

FYI: I have a 18' 1997 Nitro with a 90HP. I normally fish a 100 acre-ish private lake and haven't ventured out to other lakes since I took up the sport seriously.

[DerekB]

Hey Mid-MO,

You're correct, they re-opened Blind Pony on March 1.  They drained it about three years ago to deepen it and renovate the hatchery.  At one time it was a trophy bass lake.  I've also heard good things about Edwin Pape, but I've never taken the opportunity to try it out.

It sounds like you don't live far from me.  Maybe we should try to do some fishin' sometime.

[skunked_again]

anyone try mozingo lake or bilby lake to the north?

[adclem]

Nice to see I am not the only one who thinks the Blue Springs, Jacomo and Long View lakes are  not that great.  Have not tried Maple Leaf lake yet.  A guy I work with says it is pretty good fishing.

Later,

[MikeStadler]

anyone try mozingo lake or bilby lake to the north?

Mozingo is a great lake just east of Maryville.  Great bass fishing!!!  Not too many people fish it which is nice.

Bilby is quite a bit smaller than Mozingo and apparently holds some good walleye.  I haven't fished it that much because Mozingo is by far the better of the two.