kansascitysports

Celebrating fish and wildlife — with out-of-the-ordinary festivals

Looking for something different? How about a toad race or a big bowl of porcupine stew?

Outdoors digest | Catch of the week

Kansas City angler using vintage tackle hauls in big bass on the final cast of the day at Happy Holler Lake.

Fishing report for May 23

Brent’s best bet: The fishing is hot at Pomona Lake this week. The crappie spawn appears to be over, but that doesn’t mean they have stopped hitting. In fact, many limits of crappies have been caught in 15 to 18 feet of water in the brush. Wipers and white bass are being caught on the flats, and catfish also are hitting.

Fishing Tournament Trail for May 21

Results of area fishing tournaments and events coming up.

The fish are back at Tuttle Creek, and so are the fishermen

Tuttle Creek Reservoir near Manhattan, Kan., is enjoying a rebirth. Its crappie fishing is once again booming, and the fishermen are showing up in force.

What a strange spring it has been

It’s been a long wait, but the crappies have finally moved to the spawning banks on Missouri reservoirs.

Outdoors digest | Catch of the week

After several hours of failing to call in a turkey on a farm in southeast Kansas, Paul Curtiss of Kansas City and his friends decided to take a break and go bass fishing at a pond on the farm. He ended up hooking an 8.2-pound largemouth.

Kansas City area fishing report

Check out where the fish are biting — and where they aren’t.

Fishing Tournament Trail for May 14

Results from fishing tournaments in the area and upcoming events.

Kansas legislators champion the outdoors

The Kansas Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus is striving to create awareness of how important hunting and fishing are to the economy in the Sunflower State.

The governor goes fishing

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback advanced quickly in the fishermen’s ranks when he experienced his state’s reservoir fishing for the first time last week. After he got off the water at Milford Reservoir, he was talking about the big one that got away, not the fish he caught.

Enjoying the best spring has to offer

Kansas City man delights in the season. He shoots a big turkey in the morning in Miami County, then catches a big crappie that afternoon in Linn County.

Fishing report for May 9

Brent’s best bet: Looking to catch a limit of crappies? Try Smithville Lake. The fish have finally moved to the spawning banks and the fishing has been hot. Fishermen also are catching some nice-sized bass in the shallows, and the channel catfish have started to hit, too.

Fishing Tournament Trail for May 7

The Fishing Tournament Trail is published each Tuesday of the fishing season. To report upcoming events and results, call 816-234-4319 or send email to bfrazee@kcstar.com by noon Monday. For upcoming tournaments,, list the lake, tournament hours, takeoff site, entry fee and contact information. To report results, spell the first and last names of the top two places and big-bass winner.

Arkansas float stream is a beauty of a fishing spot

When Jeff Fletcher wants to get back to basics, he launches his johnboat on the Kings River and chases smallmouth bass while soaking in in the spring beauty of the Ozarks.

Outdoors Digest | Catch of the week

Shawnee fisherman in search of foul-weather trout ends up reeling in a lunker wiper at Shawnee Mission Lake.

Fishing report for May 2

Brent’s best bet: The bass fishing has been excellent at Bull Shoals Lake, with the fish moving to the spawning banks. Keeper fish have been caught on topwater lures early and grubs during the day.

The Fishing Tournament Trail: April 30

The Fishing Tournament Trail is published each Tuesday during the fishing season. To report results or upcoming events, call 816-234-4319 or send email to bfrazee@kcstar.com with information by noon Monday. For upcoming tournaments, include the name of lake, the takeoff site, entry fee, and a contact telephone number. For results, include spellings and hometowns of the first two placers, plus the big-bass winners.

One last fishing trip with J.D.

A legendary fishing guide and a newspaper writer reunited last week to relieve the good old days and fish for one last time at Table Rock Lake.

Fishermen play waiting game as cool weather delays the fishes’ spawning timetable

Unusually cool weather is leaving its mark on spring fishing, delaying the spawn of species such as crappies and testing fishermen’s patience.

A guide to some great camping spots

Take a float trip in the Ozarks

The Ozarks region is renowned for its shallow, scenic float streams. Whether you'e traveling by canoe or by johnboat in search of fishing adventure, the area has plenty to offer. Here are 20 rivers and creeks that offer great floating.

Hiking heaven: Check out these Missouri trails

Looking for a way to hike into Missouri's outdoors? Here are plenty of options.