For Us KC Area Guys - Fishing Reports

[ljd1971]

Spent about 4.5 hours on Shawnee State fishing lake this morning. Surface temp was 39 to 42. It was slow going. I ended up with three keepers and three dinks on the Ned. I think I'm done for the season unless there is a nice still day to try Wolf Creek.

 

If today was my last day, this was a decent first year back to fishing after being away from it for ten years or so. 

[Sprocket]

Got to LaCygne about 8:20 Saturday morning.  Never seen so many trailers, there was no place to park so drove to Mound City.  No fish but was able to do a lot of mapping with my QuickDraw.

 

SE Kansas grass grower

[Ondrejka]

Got to LaCygne about 8:20 Saturday morning.  Never seen so many trailers, there was no place to park so drove to Mound City.  No fish but was able to do a lot of mapping with my QuickDraw.

 

SE Kansas grass grower

 

There was a Backlashers tournament there on Saturday, so that explains the trailers. 

[Ondrejka]

Took it easy this weekend and took Keith to Lone Star Saturday morning. Slow start, but things picked up once the sun had time to warm the water up to about 42-43. No fish on a jig or even a jerkbait bite. Our fish all came on Buzzs custom 1.5s or a shakyhead. Biggest was my 4 lb. 7 oz. fatty. That's actually my biggest LMB of the year. 

 

 

 

 

Sunday I was originally gonna go to Wolf Creek but didn't really have anyone to go with, so I went to Lake Shawnee instead. I had to pick up a rod at Academy in Topeka anyway so I thought I would make a trip of it. 

 

Was really hoping for a few brown fish or a Rainbow or two-I didn't find either. I did see a few 'bows up shallow, but by the time you see them it's too late. I had one good LMB on the Ned and one dink. 

 

[Ondrejka]

I'm tired of struggling with "Vern and am thinking about stepping out on her.

 

Do yourself a favor and go find them at WC. Far more numbers and size to be had right now. Something is off with Melvern and I'm not sticking around to figure it out. I'll wait until Spring. 

[micahthorlawson]

I am about to get a new trolling motor, and want to install it and the new Garmin, as well as some other boat maintenance items on the same day.  And as a new "real" boatowner I have some questions.

 

What all do I need to do to my boat from a maintenance standpoint?

 

I have been told to change lower unit oil.  Looks easy.

 

Should I replace my trailer bearings?  Or "re-pack" them?  Or just make sure they have plenty of grease and grease them?

Also, have a livewell that's not pumping.  (sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't)  I think it may be electrically.  Anything specifically I need to check for?  Not planning on fully winterizing the boat as I hope to get to WC a couple times and get in on the fun.

 

 

Thanks for the input!

[gardnerjigman]

Really all the things you are talking about are pretty cheap fixes (lower unit oil, bearings and livewell pump). 

 

Since it is a new to you boat, I would go ahead and replace the bearings (do not over grease them). Then you know the date and about how many miles you are putting on them. 

 

Lower unit oil is simple. Just be sure to check on the back of the plug you pull out for metal shavings (the plug has a small magnet on the end of it). 

 

Id say that there is a bad spot in the wiring for your livewell pump. It could be in the switch, wiring, or in the pump itself. They are pretty cheap to replace, and not hard at all if you are handy. I replaced bilge and livewell pump as soon as I got my last boat home. Just better safe than sorry. 

 

I'd also recommend running some gas treatment through it this time of year. I've had great luck with STA-BIL and HEET. Make sure you keep your batteries hooked up to an onboard charger, battery tender, or trickle charger to keep them from freezing in cold weather. 

 

Should be good to go with that. 

[Skeeter9948]

Fished the Backlashers tournament at Lacygne this weekend and took 4th with one fish for 3.45.   Talk about a grind haha.   I think there were 25 boats out there and only 5 fish were caught.  The only two fish we boated was my chunky 16 incher on the dam and then my buddy's keeper we caught in the river.  Did anyone else fish?

[Ondrejka]

Did anyone else fish?

 

Guys here fished LaCygne the week prior to the shootout and it fished awful, so my guess is that's a no. 

[Skeeter9948]

Guys here fished LaCygne the week prior to the shootout and it fished awful, so my guess is that's a no. 

 

Heck when it's tough is the best time to go out and fish a tournament.   If you're the one that figures something out (or gets lucky haha) it doesn't take much.   Lacygne has fished tough over the past couple of Winters, but outside of March now is the best time to catch one of the 9's or 10's that swim in that lake.   Back in the late 80's my cousin pulled out the lake record around this time of year...picture is still hanging on the board in the marina after all these years and that fish now hangs on my bedroom wall.

[Ondrejka]

Heck when it's tough is the best time to go out and fish a tournament.   If you're the one that figures something out (or gets lucky haha) it doesn't take much.   Lacygne has fished tough over the past couple of Winters, but outside of March now is the best time to catch one of the 9's or 10's that swim in that lake.   Back in the late 80's my cousin pulled out the lake record around this time of year...picture is still hanging on the board in the marina after all these years and that fish now hangs on my bedroom wall.

 

It's too far of a drive from me in Lawrence to want to consistently make trips out there all winter for one or two fish. And fight the crowds. I'd rather fight smaller crowds at WC and catch both brown and green fish all day and all winter long. I live vicariously through Curt when it comes to LaCygne.

[Skeeter9948]

It's too far of a drive from me in Lawrence to want to consistently make trips out there all winter for one or two fish. And fight the crowds. I'd rather fight smaller crowds at WC and catch both brown and green fish all day and all winter long. I live vicariously through Curt when it comes to LaCygne.

 

When you are saying WC where are you referring to?  I don't blame you either as that is definitely a haul from Lawrence.  Do you ever get out on Perry much at all?  I haven't fished there much this year but I spent about every weekend for two years straight fishing Perry.   One thing I learned....if they aren't on in either of the marinas pack up and go home haha.  I have heard it's started producing some good smallies though.

[Ondrejka]

When you are saying WC where are you referring to?  I don't blame you either as that is definitely a haul from Lawrence.  Do you ever get out on Perry much at all?  I haven't fished there much this year but I spent about every weekend for two years straight fishing Perry.   One thing I learned....if they aren't on in either of the marinas pack up and go home haha.  I have heard it's started producing some good smallies though.

 

WC-Wolf Creek/Coffee County.

 

I don't fish Perry at all. I live 3 minutes from the ramp at Clinton, which has also started producing big smallies the past few years.

[SuperFluke]

Thanks for the input!

I wouldn't do anything unless you need to do so. I've screwed more up trying to do maintenance than I've had break, but maybe that says more about me than maintenance in general.

Lower unit oil is good to change this time off year, but I doubt it's needed unless you think it's been several years since it was changed. Keep an eye on the seals around the screws and make sure they are in good shape. Milky oil is bad.

I wouldn't touch your bearings unless you suspect a problem. I've had mine fail twice right after I messed with mine. If you do change them, then I would fill the hubs completely full of grease when you re pack. Plenty of good videos out there. I don't know what kind of hubs you have, but if you have bearing buddies, then Cody is right about not over filing AFTER the hubs are full as you can blow out your back seal. Mine are different and take grease every couple of months.

I'd replace the pump on the livewell first to eliminate that as the source. If you still have problems then you can chase the electrical side. Hopefully it's not electrical...

[Bluebasser86]

It's that time of year to look back and reflect on your season

 

2015 Biggest Local Bass (largemouth and/or smallmouth)

 

Weight (or length if you didn't have a scale): 

Largemouth-6 even

Smallmouth 4lb 11oz

 

Lure: 

Largemouth- 7" Slammer  

Smallmouth- Pro Blue STX

 

 

Pattern: 

Largemouth-Deadsticking

Smallmouth-Jerking it

 

 

Lake: 

Largemouth-Top secret pond  

Smallmouth-Lake Shawnee, where else?

 

 

Time of Year: 

Largemouth-10/28

Smallmouth-11/4, yeah, a week apart.

[Bluebasser86]

2015 Biggest Local Bass-(largemouth and/or smallmouth)

 

Weight (or length if you didn't have a scale): 

 

 

Lure: 

 

 

Pattern: 

 

 

Lake:  

 

 

Time of Year: 

[gardnerjigman]

I wouldn't do anything unless you need to do so. I've screwed more up trying to do maintenance than I've had break, but maybe that says more about me than maintenance in general.

Lower unit oil is good to change this time off year, but I doubt it's needed unless you think it's been several years since it was changed. Keep an eye on the seals around the screws and make sure they are in good shape. Milky oil is bad.

I wouldn't touch your bearings unless you suspect a problem. I've had mine fail twice right after I messed with mine. If you do change them, then I would fill the hubs completely full of grease when you re pack. Plenty of good videos out there. I don't know what kind of hubs you have, but if you have bearing buddies, then Cody is right about not over filing AFTER the hubs are full as you can blow out your back seal. Mine are different and take grease every couple of months.

I'd replace the pump on the livewell first to eliminate that as the source. If you still have problems then you can chase the electrical side. Hopefully it's not electrical...

Sounds like you need to fire your maintenance guy... hehe

[cbass12]

2015 Biggest Local Bass (largemouth and/or smallmouth)

 

Weight (or length if you didn't have a scale): 

Largemouth- Approx 3+ lbs 

Smallmouth- 3lb 1oz

 

Lure: 

Largemouth- Bubble Gum C&C Bladed Jig

Smallmouth- 1/8 oz Ned Rig

 

 

Pattern: 

Largemouth- Slow Roll 

Smallmouth- Dragging

 

 

Lake: 

Largemouth- Strip Pit

Smallmouth- Beaver

 

 

Time of Year: 

Largemouth- First week of May

Smallmouth- Same (Beaver Trip)

 

Depressing year for me as far as fishing, but I'm making up for it so far with duck hunting. Hope to get out more next year.

 

[RangerDanger]

For those of you on not on the book.  BA Chris, ya know the spelling bee champ, and I went to WC on Sunday since I had never been.  Took a whole 5 minutes before Chris was calling for the net for a swimbait fish, not a paddle tail a real swimbait.  Then it took us a while to figure out a pattern, slow early and picked up after noon.  We caught fish everywhere we fished and didn't catch anything but LM and SM, no whites or drum.  The streak of not catching a drum for me is still alive, even after we went to the best drum spot and threw neds.  It wasn't an epic day, but a solid day with decent fish.

 

      

[Bluebasser86]

  Took a whole 5 minutes before Chris was calling for the net for a swimbait fish, not a paddle tail a real swimbait.  

 

      

I thought Chris doesn't use a net?   

[RangerDanger]

I thought Chris doesn't use a net?   

He hooked that fish said "wow!" and I made another cast about the time the lure hit the water he said get the net.  Don't worry he still swung the one he got on a deps.

[RangerDanger]

Do yourself a favor and go find them at WC. Far more numbers and size to be had right now. Something is off with Melvern and I'm not sticking around to figure it out. I'll wait until Spring. 

Liar.  The BR armada is about the invade WC.

[Ondrejka]

2015 Biggest Local Bass (largemouth and/or smallmouth)

 

Weight (or length if you didn't have a scale): 

Largemouth - 4 lbs. 7 oz.

Smallmouth - 3 lbs. 12 oz.

Kentucky - 2 lbs. 11 oz.

 

Lure: 

Largemouth - Buzzs Baits 1.5 Squarebill-Bluegill

Smallmouth - 3.5" tube - 1/8 oz.

Kentucky - Shakyhead / Zoom finesse worm

 

Pattern: 

Largemouth - Shallow crankin da squerbill 

Smallmouth - Draggin da tube mon

Kentucky - Bed fishing

 

 

Lake: 

Largemouth - Lone Star

Smallmouth - Melvern

Kentucky - LOZ

 

 

Time of Year: 

Largemouth - First week of December

Smallmouth - Mid-September

Kentucky - First weekend in April

 

 

 

 

 

Still extremely disappointed with how much time and effort I spent on 'Vern that I didn't break my 4# goal. But hey, that's how it goes right? 

 

[Skeeter9948]

Always change the lower unit oil before winter as to make sure there is no water in lower unit.   If it freezes and cracks the gear case you'll be in a world of hurt.  Also be sure to always use new fill and drain plug seals when you re-install.  It definitely takes a fair amount of water in the unit to freeze, but it is cheap insurance to keep your motor running.  

 

Also as a side note for something to do as far as regular maintenance is to change out your fuel filter element.

 

Lower unit oil is good to change this time off year, but I doubt it's needed unless you think it's been several years since it was changed. Keep an eye on the seals around the screws and make sure they are in good shape. Milky oil is bad.
 

[Hi Salenity]

For those of you on not on the book. BA Chris, ya know the spelling bee champ, and I went to WC on Sunday since I had never been. Took a whole 5 minutes before Chris was calling for the net for a swimbait fish, not a paddle tail a real swimbait. Then it took us a while to figure out a pattern, slow early and picked up after noon. We caught fish everywhere we fished and didn't catch anything but LM and SM, no whites or drum. The streak of not catching a drum for me is still alive, even after we went to the best drum spot and threw neds. It wasn't an epic day, but a solid day with decent fish.

You had me at "spelling bee champ"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!