For Us KC Area Guys - Fishing Reports

[Bluebasser86]

Either wait for it to cool down some and go to Melvern, or go to Wabaunsee and try there. Those are really the only 2 good options within that distance to have a shot at that size fish right now. You could stumble into one at Perry, Clinton, or Shawnee also, but it's much less likely. 

[Dirtyeggroll]

I’ve caught some small ones like 12-13” max at WYCO and one at Melvern. I’ve heard Melvern is full of the small ones and I’ve been a couple of times and have only been able to catch the one. I probably have some stuff to learn about targeting them. Thanks for the tips.

[Bluebasser86]

Surprised you haven't run into a bigger one at Wyco, I've caught several over 3 to almost 5 out there. 

 

 

[Dirtyeggroll]

Oh I know they are in there, I think I just tend to fish for largemouth more in the area/techniques that they overlap less frequently. 
 

I did have one smallmouth follow a glide out there that would have been a fish of a lifetime. 
 

I tend to focus on the weed lines out there, and have a lot of success with largemouth maybe I need to focus more on rocks and maybe deeper if I’m looking for smallmouth. I really am not sure.

[Dirtyeggroll]

Anyone ever fish Riss Lake in Parkville?

[Bluebasser86]

I haven't but a guy I worked with at Cabela's lived on the lake. Sounded like pretty good numbers with a few bigger fish.

[Dirtyeggroll]

Well I guess I will provide an update tomorrow. I recently gained access.

[Dirtyeggroll]

Caught 10 from 6:45-9AM. One keeper.

 

Reminded me a lot of WYCO without the grass. 
 

lots of brush piles on points we didn’t fish because it was more of a “social” fishing tip and I wanted my co-angler to have visual targets to cast too.

 

I’ll definitely go back. I feel like those brush piles need investigation.

[Dirtyeggroll]

Finally got the keeper smallmouth I have been after at WYCO!

 

This time of year I probably have a better chance at Clinton or Melvern, but lately I haven’t had the availability to go out to either.

 

[Bluebasser86]

3 hours ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

Finally got the keeper smallmouth I have been after at WYCO!

 

This time of year I probably have a better chance at Clinton or Melvern, but lately I haven’t had the availability to go out to either.

 

They're in there. Haven't been there in a few years now. I wish it wasn't so expensive, I can't do $100+ to fish 1 lake.

[Dirtyeggroll]

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

They're in there. Haven't been there in a few years now. I wish it wasn't so expensive, I can't do $100+ to fish 1 lake.

I have the benefit of having a Wyandotte county address so doesn’t cost me that much. Also it’s the closest lake to my house so us probably still pay it.

 

you haven’t missed anything the last couple year because something has really changed and destroyed the water clarity. It seemed to get a little better this last year but nothing like 2020 when I first moved here and it was easily 10ft+ visibility 

[wanderful]

On 1/4/2023 at 11:54 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

I do pretty well at Olathe Lake, but it's not an easy one to figure out.

Man, I'm embarrassed to ask this question but: What does it mean for a lake to be hard to figure out? Is that just where the fish are and what do they bite?

[Bluebasser86]

@wanderful it's just kind of a weird lake. I've had success with things that didn't make any sense for them to be working at Olathe. I like fishing the lake but the waterpark has attracted so many "tourist" to the lake that it's almost unbearable in the warmer months.

[SuperFluke]

Congratulations to the KC legend @Bluebasser86 on the top 15, in-the-money finish in the Bassmaster Kayak CLASSIC down at Tenkiller! The guy just catches fish and he showed it on a the big stage this week! 

[Robinhood21]

Congrats Clayton!  Always putting fish in the boat/kayak!

[Bluebasser86]

1 minute ago, Robinhood21 said:

Decided to give Melvern a break as it has been average at best this past month. 

I had my best day ever on the water this past Sunday on a small lake in SE Kansas.  6 bass over 18".. 1 hit 19" and another just over 20".

 

First one came on a Vision 110 on the second cast of the morning.

Second & third came on a Firecraw Jackhammer with a Spunk Shad trailer.

Fourth came on a 1/2oz War Eagle Spinnerbait White/Chartreuse/Orange Double Colorado

Fifth on a Hot Craw BIG TRD

Sixth came on the last cast of the day as I flipped under the dock ramp before loading up on a Bama Bug TRD BUGZ

 

Also caught some 15s 16s & 17s on a wacky rig, squarebill, & d-bomb.

 

This was a highlight day for me since getting back into fishing.  I feel like I've learned so much over the past few years.  Even thinking about entering a tourney or two.  I know I'll get my money taken from me but the competition and comradery would be fun. 

 

Great day, definitely some signs of spawning activity in those fish. 

[Robinhood21]

1 minute ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Great day, definitely some signs of spawning activity in those fish. 

Yes sir!  That bass with the bottom of her tail half gone was literally bleeding in my boat. 

[Dirtyeggroll]

3 hours ago, Robinhood21 said:

Decided to give Melvern a break as it has been average at best this past month. 

I had my best day ever on the water this past Sunday on a small lake in SE Kansas.  6 bass over 18".. 1 hit 19" and another just over 20".

 

First one came on a Vision 110 on the second cast of the morning.

Second & third came on a Firecraw Jackhammer with a Spunk Shad trailer.

Fourth came on a 1/2oz War Eagle Spinnerbait White/Chartreuse/Orange Double Colorado

Fifth on a Hot Craw BIG TRD

Sixth came on the last cast of the day as I flipped under the dock ramp before loading up on a Bama Bug TRD BUGZ

 

Also caught some 15s 16s & 17s on a wacky rig, squarebill, & d-bomb.

 

This was a highlight day for me since getting back into fishing.  I feel like I've learned so much over the past few years.  Even thinking about entering a tourney or two.  I know I'll get my money taken from me but the competition and comradery would be fun. 

 

that’s a good little lake and somehow still produces despite and enormous amount of pressure.

[Dirtyeggroll]

Is it just me or has the fishing been tougher "round these parts" the last 2 years. I thought I was just off last year and not as focused, but this year is proving equally tough.

[Bluebasser86]

Numbers are great, no idea where the big fish are.

[Dirtyeggroll]

21 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Numbers are great, no idea where the big fish are.

Ive yet to have a skunk but I can't even catch numbers. Been 1-2 fish per outing for me. I have been trying new water.

[Robinhood21]

Another good day on the water but it didn’t start out like it was going to be.  Caught an 18.75” within the first 20 minutes then proceeded to go about an hour and a half before my next.  It started raining and they turned on!  The harder it rained the better the fishing was.  

My best of the year, 21.25” hit my jackhammer right at the boat.  Forgot my scale at home though.   
 

I did have a really good one that when I set the hook I thought my knot failed but when I reeled my line in the jackhammer snap broke in 2 😲.  Saw him jump and throw my bait.  Really wish I didn’t lose that one!  
 

Wet and cold when I got back to the truck but was well worth it. Almost every fish came on the jackhammer.  A handful on the Ned and a good one on a black and blue jig.  
 

[Dirtyeggroll]

Fished only “new to me water” 4 outings last week.

 

My streak of relatively lackluster fishing continues.

Caught a total of 7 bass for the whole week.

 

I did manage to catch one decent one at Smithville.

[Bluebasser86]

I tried to go to Mound yesterday but there must have been a tournament, 12-15 boats were already there and fishing when I got there at 6:30. Hate to see it on such a small lake. Went to a couple different small lakes and scratched a few here and there but nothing worth writing home about. Black and blue bladed jig, blue/chartreuse with orange/copper blades Covert spinnerbait, and a black/gold jig did most of the damage. 

[Robinhood21]

Is there a lake around that fishes a jig really well?  I need to gain some confidence in my jig fishing.