For Us KC Area Guys - Fishing Reports

[bassinKS]

has anybody fished hilsdale this year? i went out there today and got skunked on bass we caught a few crappie but thats it. was wondering where you guys are finding them on this lake its just so much timber and structure its hard to find them

[Bluebasser86]

My best advice for fishing Hillsdale is to go somewhere else

[Scarecrow]

Not a great night at the Mill last night. Got delayed at work, so was 6:45 by the time we got to the lake, then problems with the trolling motor that took 20 minutes to fix. After this we managed to catch 1 barely legal keeper and 5 or 6 shorts. Nothing on crankbaits, couple on the liz and a couple on top water at the end.

[Chris S]

has anybody fished hilsdale this year? i went out there today and got skunked on bass we caught a few crappie but thats it. was wondering where you guys are finding them on this lake its just so much timber and structure its hard to find them

I fish it but for Walley, Crappie and White Bass, there are bass in there but you better be ok with getting back through the stumps, all the bass I have caught out of there are heading left from the main ramp and the section of trees back by the boat ramp on the otherside of Hillsdale Point. If your not dialed into Hillsdale it can be a very long day, IMO buy a map of the lake to learn the channels. If that does not work take 169 south to 58 East towards Louisberg and take 69 South to Lacygne

[bassinKS]

Haha I figured someone would say that we were going to go somewhere else but my buddy forgot his wallet and didn't have gas money (I drove last time) so that idea was kind of shot ha

[Bluebasser86]

Haha I figured someone would say that we were going to go somewhere else but my buddy forgot his wallet and didn't have gas money (I drove last time) so that idea was kind of shot ha

Next time drive a few more miles south on 169 to Miola Lake or Paola City Lake. Not going to catch many big fish but it does have way more bass in it than Hillsdale, along with some pretty decent saugeye fishing if you can find them.

[bassinKS]

hm i have never herd of those two lakes

[Hi Salenity]

I was born and raised in Paola and it's one lake I can almost guarantee I'll get skunked at. I've caught a 35# Flat and have seen 65+ flats caught out of that lake but I have NEVER had any luck bass fishing at that lake.

I went to the state lake Yesterday and as I was backing my boat into the ramp the Game Warden showed up to shock the lake. Needless to say we didn't catch a lot & unfortunately I wasn't able to stay long enough to find out what they shocked up.

[Bluebasser86]

hm i have never herd of those two lakes

It's actually the same lake but it goes by two different names. Everytime I've been there I do well either on squarebills or flipping the waterwillow and docks. There's also a couple deep water spots that I've done well on but I could try to tell you all day where they are and probably wouldn't find it any faster.

Hi Salenity-I know there are some big flatheads in there. My buddy had one probably around 30lbs hooked while he was trolling a deep taildancer for saugeye but it busted him off at the boat.

[retro basser]

I think it's awesome how much buzz is going on around here. Lots of good info for this area in one spot...shoot probably THE best who am I kiddin?

So awhile back there was talk of a get together.

Anyone what to get something going the weekend of June 8-10? Perry, Milford, Melvern? Tent camp or look into getting a cabin of some sorts?

I have my daughter that weekend but If not I'd get out there... Could make it, never know this time of year w graduations and things going on.

I was gonna say I want to fish melvern sometime this summer. Also, they just built a brand new cabin up at atchison at the most prime spot on the lake, with plenty of tent room too. The drive in there is a trip, maybe too much for you shiny boat types, but the lake has both quantity and size, and if we got 6-8 boats up there it's small enough you'd get to B.S. with everyone on the water all day... we could take it over basically..

**SLUMP BUSTED*** fished Saturday with a buddy of mine Sean in his 8 foot bass hound. Football Jig with Paca Craw Blue/Watermelon and Scum Frog at sunset**20 fish, few pics of the "larger one"

Hmmm left Hillsdale, instantly busted slump... I think i see a pattern That's kick ass.

My best advice for fishing Hillsdale is to go somewhere else

Sounds like from some of these Missourans that smithville might be the same way...

[Bluebasser86]

Yeah we're pretty lucky to have a good group of guys on here willing to share their info but I think it helps we have everyone willing to share, not just a couple guys sharing then everyone else crawling all over their spots.

I'd be up for Melvern for sure, or Perry or any other lake really. I'd like to talk to all you guys an BS a bit but I don't know if I want to be elbow to elbow on a little lake like Atchison. I think it would be really fun to do it at somewhere like Melvern or Perry, pair everyone up in teams and have a bragging rights paper tournament. No weigh in just add up your total length for each team's biggest 5. Fish from like 6-2 or 6-3 and have a "measure in" and BBQ afterwards.

[Hi Salenity]

I'm actually going to Paola in the morning mainly to try out my new(er) motor. I'm taking my 2 kids age 2 & 5 so I may not get a chance to fish.

If anyone is looking for a small outboard I have a 1963? Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin. It will start by the first or second pull almost every time. $400 obo

[Hi Salenity]

Yeah we're pretty lucky to have a good group of guys on here willing to share their info but I think it helps we have everyone willing to share, not just a couple guys sharing then everyone else crawling all over their spots.

I'd be up for Melvern for sure, or Perry or any other lake really. I'd like to talk to all you guys an BS a bit but I don't know if I want to be elbow to elbow on a little lake like Atchison. I think it would be really fun to do it at somewhere like Melvern or Perry, pair everyone up in teams and have a bragging rights paper tournament. No weigh in just add up your total length for each team's biggest 5. Fish from like 6-2 or 6-3 and have a "measure in" and BBQ afterwards.

I hope we can work something like this out this time.

[Bluebasser86]

I hope we can work something like this out this time.

Lets pick a weekend and do it. I'll probably only be able to make it Sunday no matter which weekend unless you guys want to stretch it out to 3 day weekend the other way and do a Saturday/Sunday/Monday thing, then I could be there for 2 days. I'd like to meet some of the guys off here though. I've fished with a couple of you already but it would be nice to meet more of you. My vote for lakes goes to Melvern, you got all 3 species of bass, whites, crappies, walleyes, saugers, all 3 species of catfish, something for everyone basically.

[retro basser]

Yeah we're pretty lucky to have a good group of guys on here willing to share their info but I think it helps we have everyone willing to share, not just a couple guys sharing then everyone else crawling all over their spots.

I'd be up for Melvern for sure, or Perry or any other lake really. I'd like to talk to all you guys an BS a bit but I don't know if I want to be elbow to elbow on a little lake like Atchison. I think it would be really fun to do it at somewhere like Melvern or Perry, pair everyone up in teams and have a bragging rights paper tournament. No weigh in just add up your total length for each team's biggest 5. Fish from like 6-2 or 6-3 and have a "measure in" and BBQ afterwards.

I dig that too. I guess if we get too many people out on a small lake all the spots would be spooked out pretty fast. A long day-tripper to melvern is a good plan. Although if you expect me to get my boat there by 6AM i'm going to be spending the night saturday anyway

[Hi Salenity]

I made it to Paola Today. I got to fish a little thanks to the wife going to help watch the kids. I ended up with 2 fish a 1.5#? lmb and this toothy creature.

[Bluebasser86]

I made it to Paola Today. I got to fish a little thanks to the wife going to help watch the kids. I ended up with 2 fish a 1.5#? lmb and this toothy creature.

That's how I found out about the saugeye in that lake, fishing for bass. I was pitching a 5" T-rigged BPS stick-o to the weedline and it kept getting bit in half without me even setting the hook. Had my buddy grab some nightcrawlers at Wal-Mart and we ended up catching 40-50 of them and both of our limits. That one looks like it was a keeper!

[Bluebasser86]

I dig that too. I guess if we get too many people out on a small lake all the spots would be spooked out pretty fast. A long day-tripper to melvern is a good plan. Although if you expect me to get my boat there by 6AM i'm going to be spending the night saturday anyway

That would be really unfortunate if you had to fish Melvern for 2 days wouldn't it??

[Hi Salenity]

It was just over

That's how I found out about the saugeye in that lake, fishing for bass. I was pitching a 5" T-rigged BPS stick-o to the weedline and it kept getting bit in half without me even setting the hook. Had my buddy grab some nightcrawlers at Wal-Mart and we ended up catching 40-50 of them and both of our limits. That one looks like it was a keeper!

It was just over 17''. I tried to take a pic of it on the golden rule but it flopped and it shows it to be shorter than it is.

However this pic with the fish held out away from me has to be the worst pic ever as far as it making the fish look smaller than it actually was!

How did you rig the crawlers? I was going to try them on a 1/8 oz jig head ?

[Chris S]

Next time drive a few more miles south on 169 to Miola Lake or Paola City Lake. Not going to catch many big fish but it does have way more bass in it than Hillsdale, along with some pretty decent saugeye fishing if you can find them.

There is a guy on facebook called Kansas Angler who posts all the time about Miola but I looked up the non resident boat fee and was like holy crap!!! Nice fish in that lake from what I have seen!

[Hi Salenity]

There is a guy on facebook called Kansas Angler who posts all the time about Miola but I looked up the non resident boat fee and was like holy crap!!! Nice fish in that lake from what I have seen!

Check again, I don't think you have to have a permit for fishing you just need one for Pleasure boating.

[Chris S]

Check again, I don't think you have to have a permit for fishing you just need one for Pleasure boating.

BOAT (VESSEL) LICENSE FEES

Boats with outboard or inboard motors of more than 10 horsepower:

City of Paola Residents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7.00 daily or $25.00 annually

Miami County Residents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7.00 daily or $35.00 annually

Non City/County Residents. . . . . . . . . . . . . $40.00 daily or $125.00 annually

All other watercraft or watercraft used solely for fishing. . . . No fee required

You are correct!! All I saw was the $40 and $125! Thats cool I will give this Lake a go very soon!

[Bluebasser86]

It was just over

It was just over 17''. I tried to take a pic of it on the golden rule but it flopped and it shows it to be shorter than it is.

However this pic with the fish held out away from me has to be the worst pic ever as far as it making the fish look smaller than it actually was!

How did you rig the crawlers? I was going to try them on a 1/8 oz jig head ?

I was actually fishing them on a 1/16oz head because it was so calm but an 1/8oz should be fine.

[Bluebasser86]

Well I had a big breakdown of our day but my computer froze and I lost it all on the last sentence! So my buddy Jon and I had a plan to hit Nebo for a couple hours (it's only 30 acres) and then run to Perry for the rest of the day. I was throwing one of my homemade chatterbaits when a torpedo wake came of the bank and I got my first good one of the day 19.5" and a little over 4.

About 10 minutes later off the side of one of the islands the same thing happend and my bait STOPPED! An intense, drag ripping fight by the boat and Jon got a hold of her. 22" and 6.10 on a homemade black and blue chatterbait.

Jon tried one of my chatterbaits and got very similar bite, big wake and smashed bait. Fish came halfway to the boat, stopped, peeled drag the other way, wrapped around a limb and came off. Lost big fish number one of the day for Jon. Another lap around the lake with a few more dinks and a jumped off 3 or 4 pounder and we headed to Perry. Started on the pier right by the state park ramp where I caught the biggest smallmouth I've caught from Perry at 15.5".

Jon caught a chunker off the same pier and then an hour of nothing. Fishing a row of docks when Jon caught a chunk on a KVD 1.5.

A couple casts later he stuck another big fish. It was pretty much a standstill for a second before it started to head up. I looked back at Jon just in time to see the bend leave the rod. Big fish number 2 of the day was gone for Jon. A couple more chunky fish off the docks and then nothing for the next couple hours. We were pretty much set on going home but decided to hit the pier by the ramp again since it had been good to us earlier. Jon's first cast with the 1.5 got slammed and what looked like a 3 or 4 pounder rolled on the top. A slow hard fight and a fish that was easily 5, probably closer to 6 launched at the boat, sending Jon's crankbait flying the other way, big fish number 3 of the day was gone for Jon. I caught another chunk when Jon's crank got stopped again. I got the net this time because I wanted this fish in the boat about as bad as Jon did I think. Right as the fish came up at the boat I scooped for it, at the same time another fish the same size darted for the bait in the other fishes mouth. For a second I had 2 fish in the net before the second one got out. Jon finally got a good fish in the boat with a solid 3lb 7oz fish.

We probably didn't catch 20 fish all day but we made the ones we caught count!

[Hi Salenity]

I was actually fishing them on a 1/16oz head because it was so calm but an 1/8oz should be fine.

Thanks I'm going to Paola in the morning as long as my buddy wakes up this time.