Hey new guy here. I am used to forums but usually you would find me in car forums. I just decided to take up fishing when my hobby of working on my car got tooooo expensive. I realized I really had nothing else I was REALLY SUPER GOOD at. So, I decided why not fishing.i have been fishing a lot of different lakes around the Kansas Missouri Border. But Mostly only have luck at a smaller like 1 acre lake near my house. I am new to the fishing scene. Not so new as to not have a clue, I know about sunrise, sunset. But as far as how to hook the BIG bass, I am clueless. Any advice would be great! My friend and I are looking for good lakes to fish in Kansas. We are trying a new one ever week for the rest of summer. I don't have a boat (yet) so all fishing will be done from shore. Any help or suggestions on that would be great. Also I have no idea what kind of lures are what, so please act like you are giving advise to an idiot.

Thanks for reading!

Hi and welcome to the site

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome !

What part of the state do you live in? I'm in Johnson County fishing Shawnee Mission Lake and Heritage Park. Good fishing can be found in both, although I've landed only 3 keepers...and one of them was at Hillsdale Lake. I too am strictly a shore fisherman unless I'm camping. Smithville Lake is good too, but you have to have a boat to get to the keepers.

This month, I've been scoring using artificial worms. Blue with metal flakes and a light bottom have been working...especially when fishing off a dam and throwing them into rocky bottoms. Also, lately, nothing has been on top. Get your lure down about 5-10 feet and bring it in along a rock bed and something will hit it. I haven't had an evening without a bite this summer. It's been fun.

Ron

Welcome home!

What part of the state do you live in? I'm in Johnson County fishing Shawnee Mission Lake and Heritage Park. Good fishing can be found in both, although I've landed only 3 keepers...and one of them was at Hillsdale Lake. I too am strictly a shore fisherman unless I'm camping. Smithville Lake is good too, but you have to have a boat to get to the keepers.

This month, I've been scoring using artificial worms. Blue with metal flakes and a light bottom have been working...especially when fishing off a dam and throwing them into rocky bottoms. Also, lately, nothing has been on top. Get your lure down about 5-10 feet and bring it in along a rock bed and something will hit it. I haven't had an evening without a bite this summer. It's been fun.

Ron

That small lake I was talking about. Thats Heritage.

That small lake I was talking about. Thats Heritage.

I talked to a guy about three days ago who showed me a pic a largemouth that was in the ball park of 22 inches. He caught it right at the mouth of the channel about two weeks ago. He also released it. It was chasing a little school of chad and it went after a artificial worm. It, too, wasn't on topwater. In fact, he told me when it hit, he thought he had a catfish until he pulled it in.

My friend and I are always out ther. Do you go there often?

My friend and I are always out ther. Do you go there often?

What a small world!

Yeah...I'm out there at least twice a week. I've tried to incorporate Shawnee Mission Lake a little more because the water is clearer and deeper. Was out at Heritage last night and caught a little 7 inch largemouth off the dam.

Ron

What a small world!

Yeah...I'm out there at least twice a week. I've tried to incorporate Shawnee Mission Lake a little more because the water is clearer and deeper. Was out at Heritage last night and caught a little 7 inch largemouth off the dam.

Ron

We always fish under that tree at the tip of the penensula (sp?)

or on the dock, we usually have a whole setup, some music, coolers, drinks, the whole 9 yards.

We always fish under that tree at the tip of the penensula (sp?)

or on the dock, we usually have a whole setup, some music, coolers, drinks, the whole 9 yards.

I see your pic now. If I see around, I'll stop by and say hi.

I'm all over the lake. I'm usually prowling around in the brush around the channel pulling catfish and crappie. Or I'll be on the dam fishing for bass.

Hope to see ya around.

Ron

Not to jump in, but have you guys explored the smaller ponds around Heritage Park? There are two smaller ponds by different picnic shelters south of the main lake.

One pond has a paved walking path and excellent fishing - the biggest bass I've caught out there is 20". The middle of the pond is deep enough for squarebills or wiggle warts. I can't remember the shelter #, but will look the next time I'm out there and let you know if you want.

The second pond borders the golf course. It's pretty shallow on the park side and usually choked with vegetation, but when the frog bite is on...it can be fun. Last year during a breif rain shower, I made it to the golf course side with some rubber boots, mucking along the shore. There weren't any golfers (or marshalls) around and I caught 6 bass in 10 buzzbait casts - all were between 16-19". When the golfers appeared, I made the long and muddy journey back to the park side. I called the clubhouse to find out how strict they were on fishing that pond and they said there weren't any fish in there.

You never did say what part of KS you're from? I'm in Shawnee and I'm assuming you're from the JOCO area since you're fishing Heritage. There really aren't many lakes in the area with good numbers of big bass, especially from the bank. You may be able to catch some bigger one from the bank at Cedar Lake or Olathe Lake but usually both of those lakes are pretty tough. There are big fish to be had with enough persistance in several bodies of water close by. A fishing atlas will help you a lot in finding new bodies of water to fish. Welcome to the sight!

Welcome to the Forum.

As you can note from your introduction post, the guys on this site are great at giving you suggestions about bass fishing.

Just read, read and read some more and ask your questions. We will do all we can to give you our input to help you become a better bass fisherman.