Clinton is so clear I barely even recognize it anymore. Zebra Mussels are definitely the culprit, unfortunately. With that, I have run into quite a few of these guys while Crappie fishing the past week. Can't complain.

 

Music to my ears!

I was on a cruise vacation all last week and hadn't fished for a week and a half so I hit olathe on sunday for about 3 hours.  Boated 4 fish over 15 inches, biggest was an ounce shy of 3 pounds.  If the weather this week doesnt screw them up should be a good Thursday!

Jumped in Keith's boat Saturday morning for a much needed Melvern trip. Water temps were 63-64 across the board. Fished a lot of Eisenhower arm and Turkey Creek, mainlake was too rough for much else. Keith stuck a 3.5 in the first 20 minutes. I had a big Carp gulp my Ned down in Turkey. They didn't need anything but the Ned. Caught one Largemouth on a jig, and Keith lost a TOAD Smallie boatside on a jig also. All in all I'd say we put 50+ fish in the boat by 4pm, and probably had that many come unbuttoned too. Keith's wife gave us both a run for our money! Great day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Going to be a busy week for me with my Dad's birthday on Thursday, and my sister's college graduation this weekend with family from WI coming to town. Won't make Olathe Thursday night.

Had a fun and wet trip to Lone Star last night. Got there and started fishing the homes cove with gnarly clouds looming over us. Stuck a fish on a jig right off the bat in a huge deep weed mat, then shortly after the wind picked up 25-30 mph. We bailed, and halfway back to the launch it started dumping on us. By the time DJ got the truck backed in, I was soaked to the bone. We pulled the boat out and decided to just wait out the storm. DJ fished from shore for a little bit, caught one first cast on a spinnerbait. Then switched to a shakyhead and caught 4 more, including a nice channel cat haha. After about 45 minutes the rain subsided and we headed back out. I got antsy and decided to throw a jerkbait along the thick weed edge out deep. Caught dinks on almost every cast. Went back farther into the cove and threw a wacky rig for the first time and ended up doing the same-dinks on seriously every cast. It was still slightly spitting on us, but it was a good time nonetheless. We caught probably 25-30 fish in about an hour before dark. Nothing worth bragging about, but a fun time nonetheless.

 

Lone Star is the clearest I believe it has ever been. I'm not sure if the county has done weed maintenance, or if they've already started dying off, but they aren't as prevelant in the middle of the arms as they were, but they are thick and matted about 20-30 feet out from shore. The last 1/4 of the homes cove and beach cove is completely unfishable due to the thick mats (frog country?). Break out your punching gear too! Just wanted to give an update on the weeds/water if anyone was thinking about coming out. Water temp was hovering 73-74.

Wish I could make it!

Guess I'll be throwing a topwater tomorrow.

Guess I'll be throwing a topwater tomorrow.

Jon actually put the hurt on me with a wacky rig. After all this rain though, that might not be a good option anymore. I couldn't get a bite on a jig and barely managed 2 dinks on a shakyhead, just seemed like they were looking up that day. 

Pro vs. Joe Update Chapman

We are preparing to film our second Pro vs. Joe next week. We selected the winner from the many submissions and we are excited to get on the water and make another great show.  The winner was Tracy Alcina, Tracy lives near Phoenix Arizona, but is a Louisiana transplant. We will be fishing on one of his favorite lakes near Phoenix.

It's not to late to send us your challenge and be a part of our show. Be sure to include some information about yourself and the body of water you'd like to fish. You never know, just like Tracy, you might get a phone call from me saying - "Let's go fishing."

Pro vs. Joe Update Chapman

We are preparing to film our second Pro vs. Joe next week. We selected the winner from the many submissions and we are excited to get on the water and make another great show.  The winner was Tracy Alcina, Tracy lives near Phoenix Arizona, but is a Louisiana transplant. We will be fishing on one of his favorite lakes near Phoenix.

It's not to late to send us your challenge and be a part of our show. Be sure to include some information about yourself and the body of water you'd like to fish. You never know, just like Tracy, you might get a phone call from me saying - "Let's go fishing."

 

 

Totally down.

Hanging out with Jimmy Reed, tossing pumpkin Stick-O's...

Hanging out with Jimmy Reed, tossing pumpkin Stick-O's...

Nice fish! I've only been there once way too early in the year and still did pretty well. It's just a bit far to drive to bank fish for me.

I'm probably going to try to fish Hillsdale in the wind Monday to maybe help everyone out a bit for Thursday. If anyone cares to join me in the frustration, I have an empty back seat. 

Went to Shawnee Mission Park yesterday morning for a couple hours with Micah. Caught around 10 fish. One went 20.5 inches (he forgot his scale but i bet it went 5lbs). Definitely a spawner. 

Went to Shawnee Mission Park yesterday morning for a couple hours with Micah. Caught around 10 fish. One went 20.5 inches (he forgot his scale but i bet it went 5lbs). Definitely a spawner. 

I saw that picture on Micah's FB. That's a great fish anywhere and an absolute monster for SMP! Looks like she's just getting ready to drop her eggs. 

Went to Shawnee Mission Park yesterday morning for a couple hours with Micah. Caught around 10 fish. One went 20.5 inches (he forgot his scale but i bet it went 5lbs). Definitely a spawner. 

 

Well done dude. It's been a while since I've fished SMP but I've had some banner days there, it definitely holds more quality largemouths than people think...

Fished LOZ this weekend around the N Buck Creek/Gravois area. It was primarily a meat fishing trip in a last ditch effort to put slabs in the freezer for a memorial day fish fry, but when we did take a break from trolling it wasn't hard to catch green fish. Nothing much bigger than 2 lbs but they were just hammering walking baits and jerkbaits worked very quickly over deeper water. I think the shad spawn might be taking place, if not it's right around the corner. Definitely post spawn fishing at it's best but we still could have bed fished if we wanted to...

 

But to be honest, the better tug wasn't to be found from crappie or bass... 30 pound class blue cats fight much harder 

 

 

Well done dude. It's been a while since I've fished SMP but I've had some banner days there, it definitely holds more quality largemouths than people think...

 

The first Largemouth I ever caught when we moved to KS in 2000 came from SMP, and it was a good one. Then Hillsdale

 

Nice fish!

The first Largemouth I ever caught when we moved to KS in 2000 came from SMP, and it was a good one. Then Hillsdale

 

Nice fish!

 

Cut my fishing teeth at SMP back when I just had a john boat.  Hate that it is trolling motor only, but I guess it keeps the traffic down.  It's a fun lake, and I'll definitely be considering purchasing a permit again if the smallmouth fishing takes off.

Went to Shawnee Mission Park yesterday morning for a couple hours with Micah. Caught around 10 fish. One went 20.5 inches (he forgot his scale but i bet it went 5lbs). Definitely a spawner.  

Never fished Shawnee Mission Park but I have been there plenty of times at the dog park.  Every time I go, I think I should have brought a fishing rod.  It looks pretty good from the bank and doesn't appear to get a ton of pressure.  Regardless, Great Fish!

There are some good fish in there. Conor is the king of SMP Wiper, and some little kid last year caught a 12# Rainbow.

Hopefully one of you Kansas Guys can  me out???

 

I heading to Topeka Kansas from Minnesota to visit family 7/2/15-7/6/15 and plan on dropping in somewhere!!  But I am pretty much clueless in what lakes to hit while I am there...  Looking at google maps looks like Clinton or Perry will be our best bet as far as location...Any suggestions or insight to those lakes? or are there better options? Any and all information is greatly appreciated!!! 

Hopefully one of you Kansas Guys can  me out???

 

I heading to Topeka Kansas from Minnesota to visit family 7/2/15-7/6/15 and plan on dropping in somewhere!!  But I am pretty much clueless in what lakes to hit while I am there...  Looking at google maps looks like Clinton or Perry will be our best bet as far as location...Any suggestions or insight to those lakes? or are there better options? Any and all information is greatly appreciated!!! 

 

I'd ask Bluebasser86 about Perry and Ondrejka about Clinton, but you also may want to consider travelling west on I70...

Cut my fishing teeth at SMP back when I just had a john boat.  Hate that it is trolling motor only, but I guess it keeps the traffic down.  It's a fun lake, and I'll definitely be considering purchasing a permit again if the smallmouth fishing takes off.

Me too. My bass raider got most of it's time on the water at SMP. Used to be a very good bass lake, shame that it went downhill.

Me too. My bass raider got most of it's time on the water at SMP. Used to be a very good bass lake, shame that it went downhill.

 

I'd fish it over Hillsdale any day based on Jake's post alone 

Hopefully one of you Kansas Guys can  me out???

 

I heading to Topeka Kansas from Minnesota to visit family 7/2/15-7/6/15 and plan on dropping in somewhere!!  But I am pretty much clueless in what lakes to hit while I am there...  Looking at google maps looks like Clinton or Perry will be our best bet as far as location...Any suggestions or insight to those lakes? or are there better options? Any and all information is greatly appreciated!!! 

 

A fellow Northerner, nice. If you can, do yourself a favor and hit Clinton. The Walleye have turned on significantly in the past two weeks. Smallies are also up on the rocks, and the big Wiper have been moving as well. The lake is the clearest it's ever been right now. It's a good time to fish Clinton, feel free PM me if you need details!