Use this article to comment on any fishing issue in Region 2 or Northeastern Kansas. Keep discussions polite and appropriate. Any inappropriate comments will be deleted.
To view or add a fishing report, CLICK HERE.
Use this article to comment on any fishing issue in Region 2 or Northeastern Kansas. Keep discussions polite and appropriate. Any inappropriate comments will be deleted.
To view or add a fishing report, CLICK HERE.
61 comments:
Will the both north and south islands at Milford have buoys on them this year again???
I'm pretty sure they usually do. Not to tell you there are fish there but to let you know where the shallow water is.
I would like to see KDWP Stock wipers in Tuttle or at least Rocky Ford.Not sure what impact that would have on the crappie in the lake or the Saugeye at RF?
Stocking wipers at Tuttle Creek is not a new idea and is discussed from time to time. The reason wipers have never been stocked is studies have shown that wipers easily move from the lake to the river system below. Tuttle is a high flow through impoundment and our investment would be lost in a reservoir of this type. Wipers are occasionally taken at Rocky Ford and these fish have moved from other upstream reservoirs, such as Milford.
Chuck
Topeka, Region 2 Fisheries Supervisor
I would have to second that. Rocky Ford is one of my favorites, and has never really had a shortage of wipers. I will say that at times i would like to take a 22 out there and take some of the Fafillion Gar out of there. All in all RF is a well rounded site with: drum, carp, flathead, channel, white bass, wipers, walleye, saugeye, crappie, rock and largemouth bass. What isn't there to like. Getting back to the wipers thing though, I have hadd days at RF where I caught close to 50 fish, wipers and whites mixed, within a 3-4 hour period. It is a matter of experimenting with presentation. I plan on hitting up RF more than a few times this spring/summer.
I know from time to time you can catch a Wiper at Rocky Ford. I have fished there every year since I was 11.I live on Rocky Ford Ave!The point I guess I was trying to make is I would like to be able to catch them on a more regular basis.As for the white bass at RF. They used to be really abundant but I would say their population has really decreased in the last 15 years.While the Saugeye population has greatly increased.Thank's for your input Chuck.Maybe you guy's could stock some in the river below RF? Have Wipers ever been stocked in a River?
No, wipers have never been stocked in the rivers. We concentrate our stocking efforts in reservoirs with lower amounts of water flow through the outlet and other smaller impoundments to utilize high concentrations of gizzard shad, the wiper's favorite prey.
Hey, is there any way I can get those lake depth maps I've heard about ? Seems that someone from the state was out mapping the lakes with a sonar unit, seeing how deep they were and stuff. Anyone know about that ?
To Chuck Beaver. I was wondering why there is no weekly report on the white Bass in Hillsdale? I know they are there I have caught them. It would be nice to at least get a spawning run report. Heck maybe you could give a tip on the run here.
thanks
Thanks for the heads up on Hillsdale white bass fishing report. We will work on getting it updated in future reports. Yes, Hillsdale white bass fishing should provide some entertaining days this spring. Generally, the species will initiate spawning activities in water 55 to 60 degrees. If there is adequate in-flows in the tributaries, white bass will move into the streams to spawn. The rip rap of the face of the dam is another location to try with jigs, shad imitation lures or spinners. Good Luck!
Is there is place I can get a current water surface temp. report?
Thank's for your input on the Wipers Chuck.I go to Milford every fall and fish for them from shore.Caught 2 Master Angler's this past fall.Just wish I could catch em here where I live.
Lake levels and temps are posted at:
http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/lakes/
click the lake you want and then look at the daily info!
I caught a ton of whites in Hillsdale this winter....seemed as if they were way more present than white crappie...Everyone I talked too said they caught plenty of whites but not many crappie...I caught plenty of crappie as well. I fished mostly in Little bull creek arm only...The new brushpiles did change the fish in that arm and have improved fishing by a million percent. I would guess to find them look for shallow pools off the main river or any shallow gravel areas or rocky areas up stream...havent ever tried to pursue them up shallow...Everything is moving in that direction so with all of this fabulous rain weve had it should be real good this week..If we get a gully washer all bets are off for next week...
Which arm is Little Bull? I was thinking that the area where the road goes over the lake might or on the rocks or on the dam. Maybe even in the outlet area. I am still new to fishing Hillsdale and would like to get into the Whites there. Can you get to the Little bull by boat?
who manages these blogs? They are very useful and appreciated. The only real draw back is it is hard to find threads on a specific lake or res. I was wondering if the fishing report blog could be organized in categories to make finind info easier. A section for each major res. in the region and a section for SFLs and community lakes.
Answer to little bullarm...if you look at the map of hillsdale...then everything is split by hillsdale point...the big bull arm is kind of strait north and somewhat west...little bull is towards the east of hillsdale point and when you go thru the bridge just keep going all the way to upper end where youll find it narrows and starts to go into the creek arms...if you have small boat you can put in at the cedar niles area on north side of little bull arm...no boat ramp but has some rocks going out into water...
Check out this post on the catfish forum about a new map of Gardener Lake in JoCo. Pretty cool ! I hope they do Leavenworth County Lake real soon, and maybe Hillsdale.
http://www.catfish1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108703
I would go for the Wipers in Tuttle,as I live up stream near the junction of the Big and Little Blue rivers. They run just like the whites do and are a blast on 8 or 10 lb line in a skinny creek!Be on your GAME and fish the fast water! I have beaten 12 lbs more than once.
Any reports from Banner Creek? Walleye, Bass or Crappie?
Thanks
Any KDWP officials or others that might be able to tell me why it is that the discharge at Milford has been dropped to 25cfs? Also if possible when they might "crank it back up"?
Where is the enforcement at the state lakes? I spent the afternoon and evening at Brown County State Lake and saw a lot of bank fishermen putting whatever they caught into the buckets, baskets or stringers. A lot of short bass left the lake today. I also noticed that most of the people had out of state tags. I called the Sheriffs Office and was told that they would try to get somebody out there....nobody showed up
The public can look on the internet at http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/WaterManagement/ This website will be helpful. It presents the 3 day reservoir forecast for elevation and release from several impoundments in Kansas. The Army Corps of Engineers reduced outflows last week due to heavy rainfall and high flows in the Kansas River. The website is showing that outflows will be increased this week since the Kansas River has available space for reservoir outflows.
Thanks for the help Chuck!
I was one of those out of state bank fisherman filling my stringer full of crappie,HaH! I also purchased a one day Kansas License. Oh by the way i went back Sunday Morning and did it again. So don't worry about everyone else!
Tom if you're reading this , you've found it . I talked to flemberry, he's wanting to go clean out some crappie tomorrow too.
I read a comment posted above that did not sit to well with me. Someone posted that they were at Brown County State Lake on 5/2/09 and watched bank fisherman filling thier stringers and buckets with fish and they observed that most of these fisherman had out of state tags. I'm assuming he is referring to thier license plates on thier vehicles they were driving. Apparently this individual did not like the fact that fisherman from out of state were enjoying a nice afternoon of fishing fun, so they called the sheriff's department. I ask for what reason was the sheriff's department called for?? This person also goes on to comment that a lot of short bass were taken from the lake. Unless this person was right there close enough to tell the lengths of the bass being taken, how would they know, if they were sitting across the lake watching, I assume they are just assuming. We all know what happens when one assumes. I for one frequent this Kansas State fishing lake, Brown County every spring. I am not a Kansas resident. I am a Missouri resident. I obey all Kansas fishing regulations just as I would if I were fishing in my home state. I stop in at Elwood or Hiawatha and pick up my OUT OF STATE FISHING PERMIT. Kansas Department of Parks and Wildlife does offer a fishing permit for fisherman from out of state. These fishing permits for out of state fisherman are slightly higher in cost then they would be for in state fishermen. Missouri offers these same out of state permits that are available to those that live in other states that wish to fish in Missouri waters. I often fish a lake in northern Missouri that receives a lot of fishing pressure from fishermen from Iowa and Nebraska. When I see these out of state fishermen on one of my home states waters, the first thought that crosses my mind is Missouri's Department of Conservation is making some good money from these out of state fishermen, this money will go directly back to improvements, research, stockings, etc.. One of the last things that I would think of is wow, jeez, these guys are from out of state,,,I better call the Sheriff's Department. Just so you know, I will be traversing to Brown County Lake this week to take my limit of springtime crappie home. Legal out of state fisherman.
If you've been fishing for any period of time you can tell when a bass is short. Maybe not if you're 500 yards away, but it's been my experience that it's pretty difficult to set there and catch keeper after keeper from the shore most times.
I applaud the person who alerted the authorities after seeing some people keep short fish.Most "meat" fishermen don't have the proper respect for our fragile bass fisheries.I don't care if the offenders are non-residents or residents,they should be fined heavily.It is a shame our wardens are stretched so thin that they just can't keep up with all the law breakers.
I was at Clinton Lake and caught a wiper/striper? It had unbroken lines on one side and and a little broken spot(less than 1/4") on the other. Do all wipers have many broken lines? How do you tell the differences?
There are two different types of wipers. It all depends on the combo of egg and sperm they use( male/female and vice-versa). One is called the palmetto and the other is a sunshine bass. look it up on KDWP it explains the whole thing.
What I did not like was that out of state people were were taking advantage of the fact that there is next to no enforcement on our lakes. This shows a lack of respect. Brown county dosn't have very many bass that are 18" let alone over the legal limit. There is also a lenght limit on other fish. Is it ok to buy your license and then remove short fish? If this keeps up then the lake will not be worth fishing!
I to fish in other states, but unlike MO or OK we here in KS have very little enforcement. I just returned from fishing at Truman Lake for 4 days and was checked 3 out of the 4 days, not only boat stuff, but the fish in my live well as well.
I have no problems with out of state fishing. My problem is with the lack of enforement on our lakes. What would you do if it was obvious to you that rules were not being followed and one of your lakes was being devastated?
While I think that the officers out there are doing a great job and I highly respect them. It is impossible to watch everybody. You can't have an officer on every dock, every shore, every campsite WATCHING to make sure you behave. The state can't afford it and I can't afford as a taxpayer. No matter how much enforcement you have there are going to be people that break the law and get away with it. It is up to the rest of us to practice good conservation to help keep our fisheries healthy. Anyway that is my soapbox and I am not scared to put my handle to it.
To Chuck Beaver if he is still watching this I have a question. I was out on Hillsdale where there is a 20 crappie limit and someone told me that if I am fishing with my wife I have to have 2 separate baskets to keep the fish in, one for me and one for my wife. Is that true? If we don't surpass our limit for 2 people what does it matter? Thanks.
It has always been my understanding that multiple fishermen need to keep their fish separate.
Yes, it is true that anglers should keep separate creels when they are in possession of a fish species with a creel limit. Of course, this becomes very important when the anglers combined number for a species exceeds the daily creel limit for one angler. This regulation also pertains to bag limits during hunting seasons. Regardless, you do not want to spoil a great day in the outdoors with an unnecessary oversight.
I think it is time to eliminate the old fishing reports.
My buddy… who’s a pretty inexperienced angler (though he’s a fine engineer) sunk a treble hook deep enough into his thumb last weekend that it required a Dr. visit. If you have young or inexperienced anglers bend those barbs down. It could save a lot of pain, trouble and a costly Dr. Visit
I also applaud the guy that called the cop's on the people keeping small fish.I have seen something like this at Milford only this person was keeping more than their limit of Wipers. I didnt call the cops because it was my best friend! I explained how he could really hurt the population by taking that many every day he didnt see it that way. We no longer talk. That was 2 years ago.
Can a sign be installed on the boat dock @ Leavenworth State Lake (No Fishing From Dock)? It is very difficult to try to tie up a boat with lawn chairs & folks fishing off it. They have a new dock installed for fishing. Also can we put up the signs again where there is no parking 20 yard each way of center, opposite side of the boat launch. It is very difficult to back into the launch when people park right across from it.
Thanks!
Thanks for the heads-up on the missing "No Parking" signs near the centerline of the boat ramp. We will try harder to keep the area posted to avoid launching problems. We will take your comments concerning fishing from the courtesy dock under advisement and monitor the situation. In general, we do not wish to degrade fishing opportunities for shoreline anglers. However, if our evaluation of use merits a change in policy, we will do our best to alleviate negative interaction between our constituents.
Did Milford lake turnover or is their a differant problem with algae? Last weekend lake was real green all the way to farnum flats from Wakefield?? Last year it was that way at Wakefield all summer, was told it was due to runnoff from fields.
Milford's algal bloom has been caused by elevated sediment and phosphorus levels. While not toxic and not an immediate threat to health, the good water quality of Milford is threatened by increased loads of phosphorus. Phosphorus and sediments are coming in with recent rainfall run off from upstream lawns, fields, pastures and eroding stream banks. The Ks. Dept. of Health & Environment is aware of the situation and encourages everyone to promote and use practices to improve Kansas water quality.
I have a question on the smallmouth stockings at Perry, Clinton and Lonestar recently. Were these fingerlings or adult sized smallmouth that we can expect to catch now. I fish Lonestar a lot and I have caught 1 Smallmouth there in the past 3-4 years but that is it.
Also I know that Wiper are stocked in there and I had not really caught many of them either before. But last weekend when I was there they were busting shad all over the place and I actually caught quite a few. Although small, do you think this population will start to thrive in that lake?
Lonestar, Clinton and Perry lakes have all been stocked recently to improve future smallmouth bass fishing. Lonestar has had a low density population for years, but this year's fingerling stocking is an attempt to bolster future fishing. Perry has received adult stocking in the past and a 2009 fingerling stocking of 60,000 fish in our attempts to estabish the species. Clinton's fingerling stocking of 2008 were sampled this spring in decent numbers that were 5 to 7 inches long. Perry is not stocked with wipers but Clinton and Lonestar do provide fishing opportunities for wipers, in good numbers.
Chuck, I would have at least thought you would have said High Five to ya. But nothing? Do you just hand the guy the stick of Dynamite and say "Are you going to fish or talk"
KANSASLAKEMAPS.COM Web Site Launch
ASTRA is pleased to announce the launch of a new website to deliver results of our statewide lake mapping program to the general public.
Aimed primarily at boaters, fishermen, and other recreational users of our state waters, www.kansaslakemaps.com provides free lake bottom contour (bathymetric) maps of over two dozen local, state, and federal lakes and reservoirs across the state.
The site is designed to allow a user to select a lake based on its name, area, depth, location by county, or proximity to the nearest city. Users can download a map suitable for viewing and printing in PDF format from the site.
Data for creating the lake maps came from ASTRA's long-term program of reservoir bathymetric surveys, funded primarily by the Kansas Water Office under the Reservoir Sustainability Initiative.
As additional lakes continue to be mapped by ASTRA, maps for those reservoirs will be posted on the website, with the long-term intent of providing maps for nearly every reservoir in the state.
Contour maps of the lake bottom are the first product to be delivered via the website, with additional products in development.
Has KDWP ever considered installing a fish cleaning station at Hillsdale Lake? I'm sure this question has been raised before; I've just never heard the answer. Thanks!
Yes, the Parks Division is considering a fish cleaning station at Hillsdale. There are a couple style options. One is a cleaning table with a pitcher pump for washing with lake water mounted on a floating dock. The other cleaning station is on an elevated shoreline with a grinder which is connected to the sewer lift station (which also has a grinder) then the debris is pumped into the oxidation ponds. Often the cheaper floating unit is not desirable due to location, environmental concerns, frequent clean up and the potential smell. The more elaborate unit provides a more desirable environmental result but is also expensive. The entire improvement is estimated to cost 25 to 30 thousand. We would like to build this unit. However, due to the recent reductions in Parks Division budgets, capital improvement projects are limited. Hopefully, a project of this nature can be completed in the future at Hillsdale.
Thanks for the response Chuck. I know these economic times are not great for new projects. We'll keep it on our wish list!
Any chance of making Lvn State Lake and Atchison State Lake both NO WAKE lakes?? Saw a guy in a bantam boat on Lvn almost swamped by Ranger with 225. No need for speed on these 2 lakes!!
I won't go to Leavenworth any more. It is too dangerous.
Anybody hace any info on a boat that sunk around Farnam creek this weekend at Milford???
We are always concerned about unsafe boating activities on all of our recreational lakes. Boating on State Fishing Lakes is allowed and designed for fishing and hunting activities. Boat operators at SFL's are required to reduce speeds to 5 miles or less within 200 feet of a dock, boat ramp, another anchored, moored vessel or nonmotorized watercraft and bridges. Currently, there are not plans to post the lakes in question to allow only no-wake speeds. We do not wish to over regulate recreational activities that would put an unnecessary burden on responsible boaters that are operating their vessels in a safe and prudent manner. However, we will continue to look for boaters that do not follow regulations and pose a threat to other recreational users on our public waters.
Yes, last weekend had windy & rough conditions for boating activities throughout the Region. Milford Reservoir was the site of multiple boating incidents and a boat did sink on Farnum Flats. The large boat in question fell victim to the high seas and sank on the Farnum Flats. The water was only 12feet deep, the boat motor anchored the boat while the bow remained visible. There was a loss of equipment but all personnel were fortunately picked up by fellow boaters. The boat has been retrieved. The old saying, "It is better to be safe than sorry" comes into play when it comes to rough water and recreational boating.
KANSASLAKEMAPS.COM Web Site Launch
It would be awesome if some of those lakes were in the western half of the state. It makes it nice for everyone on the Eastern half of Kansas but as usual the western half of the state is forgotten about. I wish some of the resources we all pay for were used in the western half of the state.
The KC Star weekly fishing reports has info on a lake on the Kansas side called Kill Creek. I cannot find anything about it on the KDWP site. It is not on any of the KDWP regional reports. Anyone know where it is and anything about facilities??
Kill Creek is in the Johnson County Parks system. There are 2 separate impoundments located 2 1/2 miles south and 1/2 mile east of K-10 and Kill Creek Road. These waters are named Johnson Co. Kill Creek North Pond (1 acre) and Johnson Co. Kill Creek Park Lake (28 acres). The larger Park Lake contains large and smallmouth bass, walleye, sunfish, catfish and wipers. Since, the Johnson County Park system fishing lakes are not part of the KDWP Enhanced CFAP Program, County Park fishing access fees apply, in addition to Kansas Fishing License requirements.
The Kill Creek Lakes are not included in our regular fishing reports on the agencey website due to the long list of available public fishing sites. This is a good problem to have but we do not have the personnel time to maintain fishing reports on all the locations in the KC area. Good Luck and Good Fishing!
To comment on the smallmouth stockings at clinton,
I have in the last month caught two of the little guys, at opposite ends of the lake, each about 6 inches long, one near the marina and one way back up in deer creek near stull. so they seem to be getting around! can't wait for them to grow up!
Been going to Milford for quite a few years now, once in the spring and one fall trip (next weekend). Has anyone else had the experience of disappearing walleye in the fall. We catch alot of them in May but can't seem to locate them in the fall, just whites and wiper and catfish if we go after them. Alot of times the fishing report states that some are being caught when we are there but have not had alot of success using the tactics that are described in those reports.
Last night my son and caught three Wipers at Tuttle Creek on the reservoir. I confirmed this by both the broken lines and the two tooth patches. I know Wipers are not stocked in Tuttle, but there are some in there.
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