Easily, with 3 guys. It was kind of slow early, I got 2 good fish right off the bat then it slowed down. After noon it turned on, I mean getting bit on every cast and doubling up. Coty caught a 3 at about 2:30 on a rover. Had a real good fish follow a bullshad. When we started the water temp was 66, but it quickly went back up to 77. Coty did make me go to the dam so his buddy could experience it. There are some better fish up on the dam. Coty won the sunfish challenge 4 to 3 and him and Johnny had double on largemouth. Glad we were able to show Johnny a good time.

It was a good trip! Started off slow and weird... Think the boat only caught 2-3 maybe on a 1.0 which is nuts. Spook, tube, and yes, the Ned did most of the work. I probably threw a spook 90% of the day. Almost acted like they were packing up, as we would go several minutes without anything and then catch 5-6 fish on top of each other. North side of the dam was pulling 15" fish and one close to 3 on the Ned. The further south you went you got the typical 5 inch dinks.

Did have a huge white crush my spook. He had us all fooled until he got the boat... Heartbreak!

So ready for a jerkbait bite.

The boat shopping is gonna kick on hard this winter/early spring. Looking for Nitro (The savage model 1994-1998), stratos (1992-2000), and champion (1988-1993 on the champs.) at least 18' with at least a 150. Prefer mercury. Let me know if you guys happen to come across something!!!

I took the boat to Hillsdale to check on a few motor repairs. Boat did what it was supposed to do so we fished. IF we had been fishing a Bass Pass tourney we would have taken 4 bass to the scales. A lot of fish @ 14". A huge walleye, a few nice Whites, and 2 Blues I guess just didn't know better.

I took the boat to Hillsdale to check on a few motor repairs. Boat did what it was supposed to do so we fished. IF we had been fishing a Bass Pass tourney we would have taken 4 bass to the scales. A lot of fish @ 14". A huge walleye, a few nice Whites, and 2 Blues I guess just didn't know better.

How big is a Huge walleye? I've only ever caught 1 keeper eye out there and it wasn't that impressive. I'd love to get ahold of a big one though.

 

Didn't know they'd put blues in Hillsdale either? Not listed on KDWPT's website but I've been hoping and praying they'd stock them out there. That would be about the only thing worth going out there to fish for. 

I didn't think I'd turned the camera on yet Thursday night but was pleasantly surprised to catch our only fish worth showing on camera.

Cut right in front of me to catch that one didn't ya............ jerk.

How big is a Huge walleye? I've only ever caught 1 keeper eye out there and it wasn't that impressive. I'd love to get ahold of a big one though.

 

Didn't know they'd put blues in Hillsdale either? Not listed on KDWPT's website but I've been hoping and praying they'd stock them out there. That would be about the only thing worth going out there to fish for. 

I've seen 29" and 30" walleye come out of that lake, just not this year.

I've seen 29" and 30" walleye come out of that lake, just not this year.

 

Wow...  I'm stoked when I catch a 17-18" one!

Wow...  I'm stoked when I catch a 17-18" one!

I've seen 10+ pound fish in the shallow water when I wade for them during the spawn. Had one swim in between my legs a couple years ago that about gave me a heart attack.

Search Jimmy Eaker on FB, his profile pic came from Hillsdale.

Search Jimmy Eaker on FB, his profile pic came from Hillsdale.

Wow...  I'm stoked when I catch a 17-18" one!

Walleye fishing at Hillsdale has always been pretty productive, this year was lots of short fish. I know of an 8 pounder out of there from two years ago. 

Jigman forgot to report on the fish that spit up a live craw in the boat.

Jigman forgot to report on the fish that spit up a live craw in the boat.

 

Still can't get them to eat a dang jig out there either. Oh well.

 

I also forgot to mention how freaking close I came to losing an eye. Buddy hooked a decent sized small mouth that spit the spook on a last stitch jump as I was leaning down to net it. Spook shot right off my sunglasses and one hook caught my right eyebrow. So thankful I was wearing them still as it was pretty cloudy out. Not just protecting them from the sun fellas. 

How big is a Huge walleye? I've only ever caught 1 keeper eye out there and it wasn't that impressive. I'd love to get ahold of a big one though.

 

Didn't know they'd put blues in Hillsdale either? Not listed on KDWPT's website but I've been hoping and praying they'd stock them out there. That would be about the only thing worth going out there to fish for. 

 

 

Walleye were small except for the one that spit my bait @ the boat. That one would have went 18" easy. Huge head and mouth. As far as the Blues go I'm not an expert at seeing the differences between Channels and Blues but these fish were almost silver, zero spots. I wouldn't think it would be hard for these fish to make it into the lake with all the minnows dumped in the place. 

As far as the Blues go I'm not an expert at seeing the differences between Channels and Blues but these fish were almost silver, zero spots. I wouldn't think it would be hard for these fish to make it into the lake with all the minnows dumped in the place.

Once channel cats get to 5-8lbs they don't have spots anymore. Some lose them around 3lbs even. Blues have more of a round blunt nose, are built like a brick **** house, and are a very distinguished blue/gray.

I'd almost guarantee it was a channel.

Hillsdale has the next state record Walleye swimming around. Guaranteed. Love the spring spawn there, get to see some incredible fish. And then all the rednecks keep them.

Jigman forgot to report on the fish that spit up a live craw in the boat.

I just found an exoskeleton from my last Melvern trip cleaning the boat yesterday.

If anyone wants to tag along I'm heading to Cedar Valley Thursday. Going to be windy so be ready for that. 

Hillsdale has the next state record Walleye swimming around. Guaranteed. Love the spring spawn there, get to see some incredible fish. And then all the rednecks keep them.

I've seen way too many 8+ pound fish kept out there. Fish that big aren't even that good to eat. For me there's not much better than a bunch of 16"-17" wally's.

 

I've caught one Walleye in that size class, was when I was in the academy in Hutchison. Went to Cheney several evenings after class, caught one that easily went 7 pounds and maybe more on a chartreuse 3" grub. Hopefully she's still swimming around out there. Really wish I had taken a picture or at least had a scale/tape to measure her.

Fished at Cedar Valley for the first time yesterday.  Was windy when I picked up my brother at 5 a.m., and the wind didn't disappoint down at the lake either. 

 

Launched at first light and fished til noon.  Fishing was pretty slow to start.  Caught the first keeper on a frog, and then proceeded to lose a 2+ at the boat and then pull an Ondrejka and lose a larger fish on the frog when my 30lb braid broke on hookset.  I was getting pretty discouraged after I went another couple of hours without a bite, but my brother was catching a few here and there on a purple baby brush hog on a 1/8 oz rocker head.  He caught one just under 4lbs on that bait, and that fish allowed us to get a pretty good pattern going the rest of the day.  Went back around the lake and hit a few key areas and ended up with a 3-14, 3-1, 2-14, 1-10, and a 1-8 for 12-15 total.  All but the 1-8 came in the last hour.  Ended up with 18 fish between the two of us, and I think only one of them was under 12"...

That's what I like to hear!

Hillsdale has the next state record Walleye swimming around. Guaranteed. Love the spring spawn there, get to see some incredible fish. And then all the rednecks keep them.

Only keeper walleye I've caught out there was on a trap during the spawn on a day so nasty that I was the only fool crazy enough to be out there. Trolling motor was coming out of the water about every wave with a 20+mph north wind pounding into the dam. Caught that 1 20" male and lost a much heavier fish shortly after it bit. I never seem to time it right though. 

Only keeper walleye I've caught out there was on a trap during the spawn on a day so nasty that I was the only fool crazy enough to be out there. Trolling motor was coming out of the water about every wave with a 20+mph north wind pounding into the dam. Caught that 1 20" male and lost a much heavier fish shortly after it bit. I never seem to time it right though.

That's usually how it was for me on timing. That's why last spring I hit Clinton for a week, and Hillsdale for a week. In 14 days I caught ten males between 15-23", no big females. I take DJ to Hillsdale ONE night, and he manages one 8#. I was kind of peeved, lol.

Caught the first keeper on a frog, and then proceeded to lose a 2+ at the boat and then pull an Ondrejka and lose a larger fish on the frog when my 30lb braid broke on hookset.

 

 LOL. Glad I'm not the only one... 

Guys what's the best bass club in the area? Looking to join a club

Guys what's the best bass club in the area? Looking to join a club

I know some guys that like Eastern Kansas Bassmasters because of the buddy format. I use to fish in Leavenworth Bass Club and liked it pretty well. Don't know much about any of the others.