Hey everyone! I'm new to the forum (and the general area), lifetime bass fisherman. I've been out of the hobby for the most part the better part of the last five years, getting married, raising young kids that needed a lot of attention. Things have slowed down a little for us though and I'm hitting the water again. 

 

Originally from Wichita, I fished the heck out of the neighborhood ponds growing up and hit the excellent ponds and SFL's in southeastern Kansas. There doesn't seem to be the plethora of great spots in this part of the state, but I'm new here; I could be dead wrong. I don't know many people in this neck of the woods, so private property holes, which used to be my bread and butter, are out. 

 

I'm wondering, what are some decent smaller lakes to try either from a small boat or from the shore in the Topeka/Lawrence area? I'd love to take my almost 3yr old son with me sometimes, but he's not going to do well on a long trip, at a big lake, hours away from home. I've fished Shawnee Co. SFL and caught some nice, but pretty sparse fish. I've also tried Lake Shawnee in Topeka and Lonestar Lake south of Lawrence. Both netted some fish, albeit small.

 

Thanks for the input in advance! This seems like a great community.

Welcome to the area/forum. Check out the KC thread a few links down from this one as it has great advice on all area fishing holes. 

 

You are in Ondrejka's neck of the woods, I'd get with him and follow his advice. 

 

Only thing I can tell you is don't write off Lone Star as a small fish lake.... 

 

Good luck

Welcome aboard!

Thanks for the advice Gardner! Looking forward to contributing on the boards.

The bad thing is that most of the lakes in this area almost have to be fished from a boat. I like Douglas County from shore.

The bad thing is that most of the lakes in this area almost have to be fished from a boat. I like Douglas County from shore.

 

Some of them do, but if you have access to a small boat or 2 man you can fish most of them. I know a few guys in the area that fish lonestar, gardner, olathe, douglas, leavenworth from a 2 man. 

Some of them do, but if you have access to a small boat or 2 man you can fish most of them. I know a few guys in the area that fish lonestar, gardner, olathe, douglas, leavenworth from a 2 man. 

*cough cough* Micah *cough cough*

Lol. Subtle

Thanks for the input. I'll give Lone Star another shot. I used to fish it all the time in college from the shore, but never pulled anything over a pound out of it. Then recently, when I got my boat out on it, same result, so I figured the fish were stunted considering the consistency the few times I fished it (even though they were almost ten years apart). 

 

Gardner, I notice you list Lone Star as one of your favorites. What's your experience there been? It's a beautiful lake, so I'm all for going out there just to go, but I don't know the lake all that well. If you have suggestions, I'm listening:) 

Every-time I've been there the boat has caught an 18"+ fish. Sometimes multiples. It's listed as a favorite lake because of the many techniques you can do there. Frog, bladed jig, trig, spinner bait, crank... it all works and produces at lone star. 

 

Still waiting on the lone star guru to post..... cough BRIAN cough....

Every-time I've been there the boat has caught an 18"+ fish. Sometimes multiples. It's listed as a favorite lake because of the many techniques you can do there. Frog, bladed jig, trig, spinner bait, crank... it all works and produces at lone star. 

 

Still waiting on the lone star guru to post..... cough BRIAN cough....

very subtle