Ondrejka

No. Clinton has been complete crap. Ever since the water levels have been where they actually should be, it completely shut the fishing down. I haven't wet a line at Clinton for weeks. And it's my home waters. Just not worth it. Spend the extra 20 minutes and go to Lone Star.

Well Melvern was real good to conorsixtakc and I today, despite some motor troubles I had towards the end. We were on the water by 7ish, only one other truck in the parking lot, and holy FOG. I haven't navigated through fog that thick ever. We started out pitching up to the marina rip rap, no takers. Decided to just head to the dam and work our way north to south until the fog burned off. Conor had the first few fish in the boat on the Ned. Two of my first big ones came unbuttoned before I could boat them, one on a tube and one on the Ned. Conor had the upperhand for most of the tour of the dam, channeling his inner Kehde. After the fog burned off, we headed back to the north end of the dam to fish the sunken island. I caught a few decent ones on a 3" 1/8 oz. tube, and Conor, a swimbait, and decided to just keep drifting to the first main lake point, which had the wind blowing right over it in about 3-6 fow. We ended up making 3-4 passes over that point and boated 10 or 11, as well as our biggest fish of the day.That was a fun one. Next pass that didn't produce we made our way to Turkey Creek cove. Ended up striking gold on a few more windblown points and caught probably 8-10 more. My tubes continued to produce, and Conor was switching between a tube and his swimbait, both of which caught fish. Conor had a toad come off and I'm sure he's still sick about it. All in all I'd say we put about 50-60 respectable bronzies in the boat between the two of us (Conor caught a nice channel cat too). Dozens that came unbottoned. A ton of the smallies we caught were spitting up shad as opposed to craws. Ended up patterning the fish real nice, had an absolute blast breaking in my new rod, and getting personal redemption for last weekend's slow trip. My work schedule changes to 6:30 next week, so I won't make able to make any more Thursday nighters. But I'll be at a Saturday morning or two. Sorry for the huge post.

I was gonna say, it was still 76 last Saturday and can't imagine it could have changed much.

Good to hear that report cbass. Headed to Melvern tomorrow morning with Conor. Hoping to be fishing by 6:30. Very much looking forward to doing better than I did solo last week. Been dreaming of bronze all week.

Had a Ned Kehde sighting leaving my house after lunch today. Walked outside to my truck and right at the intersection of 19th and Kentucky, there he was with his white Alumacraft tiller/Honda 4stroke. Not surprising, seeing that we are both Lawrence residents, just never seen him out before.

Licked my wounds from Melvern yesterday and went to Lone Star this morning. Caught a bunch of the usuals, and this 3.5#.

Man, Melvern has really had it out for me lately. Granted today's trip was definitely better than the last few, it was still making me work for it. Hit that snooze button for an hour this morning and was on the water by 8:15. How about those temps eh? Beautiful morning. Caught a few small ones off the shoreline east of the marina on a shakyhead in the first half hour and then decided to make a break for the dam. Caught 2 on the south side on a squarebill (1 of which ended up the "biggest" of the day). My buddy and his wife launched around 9:30 and I met them over in the Turkey Creek cove. Caught 1 or 2 major dinks on a shakyhead, when all of the sudden I got a big bite. Thought I had a 4 pound brownie on but, I should have known better. Drum. Shortly after I idled across the cove to my buddy. When I got over to him and started up my trolling motor, I heard a real high pitched whirring and I wasn't moving. Pulled it up and no prop. Shear pin must have broken and the prop finally gave way while I was idling across the cove, as the trolling motor was still down. Awesome. To make a long story short I made a break for the marina to see if they had ANYTHING. Turns out they have a repair shop a short walk from the marina. Went up there and told the guys what I needed, boom. Done deal. Had the exact MotorGuide shear pin and nut I needed. My buddy let me borrow his spare and I was back in business. Over the next few hours I caught a few more dinks. A few Largemouth too. And...2 more big drum that really had my heart pumping. One of which still has my shakyhead in it's lips. Bailed a little earlier than intended on account of free tickets to the KU football opener. Almost in the right mind to make a run out again tomorrow morning but will probably stick with Lone Star. All I need is one 3-4# bronzeback to make my day. Been a year to the month since my last Melvern trip that was one for the books.

En route solo to Melvern. Anyone else gettin out?

GO PACK GO!

Late notice I know, but I've got an open seat in the boat tomorrow morning. Trying to possibly hit Lone Star by 6:30 if anyone wants to join as all my usual fishing buddies are down at LOZ For the weekend. If anyone wants to join shoot me a text. 913-484-9055.

Beer me.

I WISH we had a Gander Mountain here. Definitely miss them being from WI.

She "forgot"... I know the feel brother. Looks like I'm out also. Totally forgot that's the night my Packers are gonna stomp your Chiefs

Had a pretty fun morning at Lone Star. On the water by 6:45 and off by 9:45. Found a few solid 2-2.5# fish and boated probably 15 others in the slot. Bite was dead by 9:30 and the wind picked up quite a bit so I was over it. All T-rigged plastics, Fatty Craw and Pit Boss. Bigger ones came in deeper water under docks, probably 7-10 foot. BASS THUMB! I'm confirmed for Thursday at Olathe.

I'm certainly down for Olathe

I'm down for Thursday

Whatever gets you on the water my friend

Had a great time last night guys. It was tough fighting the wind but the fish were on and I'm glad good fish were caught by all. Here is my 4.29# kicker that we landed at 8:50 in true tourney style right at the buzzer.

Anyone catch the water temps for Coffee County today in the paper? 100+ at the discharge, mid 90s main lake. Woof. See you guys in a few hours

Smallies: just comb the dam with a squarebill. You'll run into a few I'm sure. Wipers: basically anywhere you can find heavily concentrated bait. Anywhere off of the flats (east of the beach). I've been finding more schools of bait deeper off the flats, but once that sun starts to set, shad will be busting everywhere with whites/wipers mixed in. You could literally be throwing a turd and still catch them. Let me know if you make it out Saturday as I'll probably be out also.

Alternatively could go to Clinton for the same, but a hell of a lot better

When I first moved to KS in 2000 all we fished/boated was Hillsdale. I caught a few Largemouth way back then. My old man rarely fishes Hillsdale anymore, but he was out this weekend drifting the flats with crawlers for Walleye and caught 3 cats. Biggest going 11 lbs. So that's definitely true.

Pick a different lake.

Conor............LOL

Love me some Clinton Smallies. And literally have caught them on nothing but squarebills.