For Us KC Area Guys - Fishing Reports

[KansasBASS9948]

Lies!! Awesome job man. What part of the lake are you catching them on? I lose confidence in that lake so fast when I'm out there I barely have time to figure anything out. 

 

If you put in at the main ramp take an immediate left hand turn and start fishing those trees.  Honestly we didn't even have to put the boat on plane that day.  You're right though....if someone had told me that Hillsdale had that many fish in it I'd have told them they are a liar haha.  The majority of what we caught came in about 5-10 feet of water in the wood.  Like I mentioned the bigger one I caught came out of about a foot of water...in fact when he hit I wasn't paying attention and just looked up and saw my line going sideways.  That is a bummer about Gardner lake too....it LOOKS so dang good, but it seems like the more people I talk to the more I hear it isn't that great of a fishery.  I have been told it has some giant crappie in it, but the only time I catch crappie is by accident.  Maybe I need to take it up lol.

[Chris S]

said it tasted great

I hear that from my neighbor who has a guy at his work who keeps and eats bass from the dotte.  

[pbrussell]

Nah not every fish we caught was worth talking about...of course we had our fair share of dinks.  Plus the day came with a snapped rod after I was a goober and tried sling shotting my rod to get it unsnagged.  We only had maybe 5 fish that were near the 15 inch mark.  The rest were all short fish....I used to HATE Hillsdale with a passion.  That was the first day that I've ever done well on that lake.  Most of the time I'm on Perry which even lately with all the rain we've had has been tough.  About two weeks ago we went out and the only fish I caught was a little 15 incher off the new brush they put in by Rock Creek marina.  

I wouldn't mind hearing you disclose more information about perry. That lake kicks my butt almost every time. But in the last year, I've caught one 4.25 smallmouth, one 5.5 largemouth and a handful of healthy 4's and 3 pound green fish, so it keeps me coming back. 

[KansasBASS9948]

I wouldn't mind hearing you disclose more information about perry. That lake kicks my butt almost every time. But in the last year, I've caught one 4.25 smallmouth, one 5.5 largemouth and a handful of healthy 4's and 3 pound green fish, so it keeps me coming back. 

 

Well the most productive way to fish Perry this time of year is flipping the docks.  Generally I'll put in at Rock Creek and work that area pretty well....also hammer the rip rap around the marina.  All these areas get pounded of course, but I still will pull a few fish out of Rock Creek.  Then fire up the big motor and run down to Perry Marina.  Again beat up the rip rap and fish the docks...I like fishing Perry Marina MUCH more than Rock Creek.  My partner pulled a nice 7 pounder off a cable in Perry marina about 2 years ago.  Again once you've worked that area head down the lake and cross under Slough Creek bridge and fish the rip rap....you'll catch them.  As far as smallies are concerned I've never caught anything worth bragging about, but the one you caught doesn't come as a surprise.  I know the owner of Ozawkie Boat Company right there at the marina and he caught a giant smallie about the same size as yours straight across from Rock Creek.  As far as what to use....9 times out of 10 I've got either a crank bait or spinner bait in my hand, but you just cant beat a 1/2 ounce or 3/4 ounce black and blue jig out there.

[pbrussell]

Well the most productive way to fish Perry this time of year is flipping the docks.  Generally I'll put in at Rock Creek and work that area pretty well....also hammer the rip rap around the marina.  All these areas get pounded of course, but I still will pull a few fish out of Rock Creek.  Then fire up the big motor and run down to Perry Marina.  Again beat up the rip rap and fish the docks...I like fishing Perry Marina MUCH more than Rock Creek.  My partner pulled a nice 7 pounder off a cable in Perry marina about 2 years ago.  Again once you've worked that area head down the lake and cross under Slough Creek bridge and fish the rip rap....you'll catch them.  As far as smallies are concerned I've never caught anything worth bragging about, but the one you caught doesn't come as a surprise.  I know the owner of Ozawkie Boat Company right there at the marina and he caught a giant smallie about the same size as yours straight across from Rock Creek.  As far as what to use....9 times out of 10 I've got either a crank bait or spinner bait in my hand, but you just cant beat a 1/2 ounce or 3/4 ounce black and blue jig out there.

Do you ever have success fishing the main lake points north of the dam? There's 2-3 giant ones. Every time i fish points out there, all I catch are drum and white bass. 

[KansasBASS9948]

Do you ever have success fishing the main lake points north of the dam? There's 2-3 giant ones. Every time i fish points out there, all I catch are drum and white bass. 

 

I've only fished them once, but Im pretty sure I know the area you are talking about.  Funny thing is when we were fishing them I was fishing FOR white bass lol.  This weekend I might give it a run if I'm not catching them off my spots.  I've got a benefit tournament going on up there on Saturday.

[skunked_again]

anyone fished Melvern of late. were doing a father/son veterans touney Sunday. thought id see if anyone knows if the water is clear and if its high or low.

[Bluebasser86]

anyone fished Melvern of late. were doing a father/son veterans touney Sunday. thought id see if anyone knows if the water is clear and if its high or low.

Don't know how accurate it is but the KC star had it listed about 2' low and murky last weekend with all species listed as poor. KDWP's website listed smallmouth as good on small cranks off points though. 

[Bluebasser86]

Sizzle and I fished Kill Creek for about 3 hours yesterday, from 9-12. Started out pretty good with both of us catching good numbers of fish off the deeper trees by the ramp but then when we got to the deepest trees we couldn't get a bite. Started catching fish again once we realized they were more related to areas with mats of weeds than trees. Sean caught his fish on a rusty craw jig with a summer craw Rage trailer until a fish on the dam stole it from him. I caught my fish on a black sapphire Mag II worm and the same colored Super Brush Hog. None of our baits seemed to be better than the others although I think Sean's jig was getting better quality. Other than those baits I caught a crappie on a 100 series Bandit and Sean caught one bass off the dam on a SK 2.5. Nothing on a spinnerbait or deeper crank. Average size was a little better than normal, probably 13-15 inches with only a couple superdinks. Big fish was maybe 16 inches. 

[Doc-Drew]

Went to Cedar Creek Valley yesterday on my day off from school.  Not sure if this is normal for that lake, but the clarity was about 5 inches.  Managed to catch about 10 bass but caught a bunch of everything else.  I caught crappie, sunfish, catfish, drum, as well as bass...all on crankbaits.  I did manage to catch a few on jigs, though none big, and an 18" largemouth on a black buzzbait.

[MattX]

Bluebasser, I had a feeling that it was you that I saw at Kill Creek. I wasn't sure because you had the mask on, but I was the guy at the dock who asked if you caught anything.. Glad to hear you guys caught some fish. Only caught 2 there then left..

[Vavatron]

Hey all! New guy here. Just wanted to say hi!

 

Been fishing Shawnee-Mission Lake for weeks now from shore, with mixed results. Last 4 days have been rough, but fishing was solid the three days before that. SML is the closest to my house and office, so I am starting to look elsewhere as I am unimpressed with the size of fish I have been catching.

 

Thanks to you guys, and a few of your threads I drove out to Wyco Lake last night for the first time just to see it. Seems you guys were out in full force last night, I assume for the tournament. Going to give it a shot at some point soon.

 

Pulled this out of SML sunday afternoon, first good bass I have seen come out of that lake. Can't really tell in the photo, but it was a thick fish. Had a viral infection or old snapping turtle wound on the tail, not sure which.

 

[SuperFluke]

Went to Cedar Creek Valley yesterday on my day off from school.  Not sure if this is normal for that lake, but the clarity was about 5 inches.  Managed to catch about 10 bass but caught a bunch of everything else.  I caught crappie, sunfish, catfish, drum, as well as bass...all on crankbaits.  I did manage to catch a few on jigs, though none big, and an 18" largemouth on a black buzzbait.

 

Are you talking about Mize Lake that is on Cedar Creek Valley Parkway?  That's one of my favorite lakes to shore fish.  It tends to get very clear in the summer.  I've caught fish on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and topwater, but my favorite lure out there is my namesake (watermelon candy super fluke).  You can tear them up on that bait in the brush.  Really fun lake, easy to do a lap around the whole lake in about 90 minutes.  It's also loaded with dink crappie if that's your thing.

[Doc-Drew]

Are you talking about Mize Lake that is on Cedar Creek Valley Parkway? That's one of my favorite lakes to shore fish. It tends to get very clear in the summer. I've caught fish on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and topwater, but my favorite lure out there is my namesake (watermelon candy super fluke). You can tear them up on that bait in the brush. Really fun lake, easy to do a lap around the whole lake in about 90 minutes. It's also loaded with dink crappie if that's your thing.

The lake I'm talking about is 310 acres. I think we are talking about two different lakes here. Bluebasser told me to give it a try so I figured why not.

http://kdwpt.state.ks.us/news/Fishing/Where-to-Fish-in-Kansas/Fishing-Locations-Public-Waters/Region-5/Garnett-Cedar-Creek-Valley-Reservoir

[Chris S]

Hey all! New guy here. Just wanted to say hi!

 

Been fishing Shawnee-Mission Lake for weeks now from shore, with mixed results. Last 4 days have been rough, but fishing was solid the three days before that. SML is the closest to my house and office, so I am starting to look elsewhere as I am unimpressed with the size of fish I have been catching.

 

Thanks to you guys, and a few of your threads I drove out to Wyco Lake last night for the first time just to see it. Seems you guys were out in full force last night, I assume for the tournament. Going to give it a shot at some point soon.

 

Pulled this out of SML sunday afternoon, first good bass I have seen come out of that lake. Can't really tell in the photo, but it was a thick fish. Had a viral infection or old snapping turtle wound on the tail, not sure which.

 

Nice bank fish and welcome to the nut house, I mean board!

[kanasbassfisher08]

Hey all! New guy here. Just wanted to say hi!

 

Been fishing Shawnee-Mission Lake for weeks now from shore, with mixed results. Last 4 days have been rough, but fishing was solid the three days before that. SML is the closest to my house and office, so I am starting to look elsewhere as I am unimpressed with the size of fish I have been catching.

 

Thanks to you guys, and a few of your threads I drove out to Wyco Lake last night for the first time just to see it. Seems you guys were out in full force last night, I assume for the tournament. Going to give it a shot at some point soon.

 

Pulled this out of SML sunday afternoon, first good bass I have seen come out of that lake. Can't really tell in the photo, but it was a thick fish. Had a viral infection or old snapping turtle wound on the tail, not sure which.

 

hey man welcome and wow out of sml now thats an impresssive fish for there lol maybe pm me some time and we will go pond hopping in shawnee u should make it out to the fall classic fish off there is a thread about it and come out to meet some of the guys

[Bluebasser86]

Chris and I fished Wabaunsee Thursday. It was his first time on the lake and fishing was steady but never real fast. I think the bigger fish are still in a post spawn funk but we still had our chances and failed to convert big bites into big fish. I lost a big one off the dock before the boat was even in the water on a swimbait. I had a big one come off on a senko under a dock, got my line cut on the edge of a pontoon on what felt like a big one ona jig, Chris had the hook on his ned rig broken and had a nice smallmouth toss his ned rig. We both had fish that felt solid on the hookset run straight to the boat and just come off. Worse one was a pig smallmouth that wrapped me up in a dock and as soon as I got it loose it came off my jig. It was at least in the 4-5 pound and was up in the mud in less than 2' of water for some reason. Chris caught his biggest of the day on a deep running crankbait and was a crappie catching machine with the same bait.

I had 2 or 3 largemouth near keeper size and my biggest smallmouth was probably pretty close also, it ate a senko under a dock in about 4' of water.

[pbrussell]

Sounds like a string of bad luck there. Sorry to hear that.

I'm going out to do battle with Perry tomorrow. If I make it out of there with a 5+ pound class fish I will be happy (that's the goal I'm shooting for).

I suppose I'd be happy if I came out of there with numbers too since that has never happened. 

 

I'll let you all know how I did here tomorrow or sunday.

[skunked_again]

Sizzle and I fished Kill Creek for about 3 hours yesterday, from 9-12. Started out pretty good with both of us catching good numbers of fish off the deeper trees by the ramp but then when we got to the deepest trees we couldn't get a bite. Started catching fish again once we realized they were more related to areas with mats of weeds than trees. Sean caught his fish on a rusty craw jig with a summer craw Rage trailer until a fish on the dam stole it from him. I caught my fish on a black sapphire Mag II worm and the same colored Super Brush Hog. None of our baits seemed to be better than the others although I think Sean's jig was getting better quality. Other than those baits I caught a crappie on a 100 series Bandit and Sean caught one bass off the dam on a SK 2.5. Nothing on a spinnerbait or deeper crank. Average size was a little better than normal, probably 13-15 inches with only a couple superdinks. Big fish was maybe 16 inches. 

 

 

any Smallies?

[Bluebasser86]

any Smallies?

Nope, didn't really fish anything I'd expect to catch them on either though. I've heard they've been catching quite a few at SMP though. A guy at work goes out there about every morning and has been catching at least one each morning from the bank. 

[Bluebasser86]

Well I emailed the state about the spotted bass we caught out of Cedar Creek Valley last time I was there since they aren't listed as being in there. Very pleased with the response as he not only answered my question but also gave a little info on the lake.

 

The spotted bass were stocked when the lake was built. The only reason they are not listed is because there is no special regulation for them, and usually people have a hard time identifying a spot from a largemouth unless they are avid anglers. As far as numbers go I believe that the largemouth are more dominant in the lake. When considering both the spots and the largemouth population density as a whole I would classify it as a low to moderate density. This is good for the fish because it allows them to grow faster and with all of the stunted crappie in the lake the fish have plenty to eat. 

 

I hope this answers your question if you have any more questions don't hesitate to contact me.

 

-- 

Justin Morrison

Fisheries Biologist

Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism

(620) 637-2748

[kanasbassfisher08]

Chris and I fished Wabaunsee Thursday. It was his first time on the lake and fishing was steady but never real fast. I think the bigger fish are still in a post spawn funk but we still had our chances and failed to convert big bites into big fish. I lost a big one off the dock before the boat was even in the water on a swimbait. I had a big one come off on a senko under a dock, got my line cut on the edge of a pontoon on what felt like a big one ona jig, Chris had the hook on his ned rig broken and had a nice smallmouth toss his ned rig. We both had fish that felt solid on the hookset run straight to the boat and just come off. Worse one was a pig smallmouth that wrapped me up in a dock and as soon as I got it loose it came off my jig. It was at least in the 4-5 pound and was up in the mud in less than 2' of water for some reason. Chris caught his biggest of the day on a deep running crankbait and was a crappie catching machine with the same bait.

I had 2 or 3 largemouth near keeper size and my biggest smallmouth was probably pretty close also, it ate a senko under a dock in about 4' of water.

man thats a good pic my wrist band is percect and that cnc shirt. the best thing about being sick from work was i didnt feel like i wanted to sell all my stuff when i got home cant wait to go back to that lake for sure. and to add the that lunker smally that blue lost, we saw a bunch of carp um in the shollows sturring up mud and clayton throws up there and said ill snag one if it lets me so bam!!! laughing in disappointment he said i got one and it got me wrapped up in the dock. so we trolled up there and got it off and thats when she showed her self for the first and last time. we were like wth just happened. lol

[pbrussell]

Well. Perry chewed me up and spit me out today. I got off the water around 11:00 because the wind came out of nowhere. I knew they were forecasting some big wind but holy cow.

 

Only caught one dink. It didn't help that there were two different tourneys going on at the same time while I was out there. All of my spots were loaded with boats. I think I counted maybe 6 boats flipping docks at rock creek at any given time.

 

Caught a saugeye on a deep crank off a point. That was a surprise. Oh well, that's fishing. 

[Mr_Scrogg]

Tough luck, thats one reason why Id rather fish weekdays.

[pbrussell]

Tough luck, thats one reason why Id rather fish weekdays.

 

As a fisherman, you take what you can get. 

The only one to truly blame today for a bad days fishing, is me. But at least I was on the water and I had fun fishing some ledges with a football jig even though I didn't catch squat on em.