A short cast away: Best bets for fishing by species in Missouri and Kansas
LARGEMOUTH BASS
Missouri
▪ BEST BET: Mozingo Lake in the northwest part of the state is still a relatively well-kept secret. Though it doesn’t have the national reputation that Table Rock or Lake of the Ozarks do, Mozingo may be Missouri’s best bass lake. In surveys last year, 35 percent of bass sampled measured more than 15 inches. And bass exceeding 20 inches are fairly common, biologists say. Winning weights of five bass weighing 25 pounds have been reported in tournaments there. And that’s tough to beat.
▪ BEST OF THE REST: Table Rock is still a national power when it comes to largemouth bass fishing. Electrofishing surveys in 2014 revealed very high numbers of fish in the 12- to 14-inch range. Those bass should reach the legal size limit of 15 inches this year and next. … At Smithville, the number of bass 8 inches and longer is the highest it has been in more than 20 years. … The bass population also is booming at Pomme de Terre, thanks to strong shad reproduction. … Others to try: Bull Shoals, Lake of the Ozarks, Stockton, Mark Twain, Jacomo and Clearwater.
Kansas
▪ BEST BET: Sebelius Reservoir in northwestern Kansas is under the radar of most serious bass fishermen. But that’s a mistake. The 2,300-acre reservoir located near Norton is loaded with bass. Surveys show that Sebelius has by far the highest density of bass measuring 12 inches or more in Kansas. It doesn’t have a lot of big fish; in fact, the biggest bass found during surveys weighed 4.41 pounds. But if it’s action that you’re looking for, Sebelius might be your place.
▪ BEST OF THE REST: Despite a run of poor fishing this winter, the Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism still touts La Cygne Lake as one of the best bass lakes in the state. Surveys indicate the lake south of Kansas City still has the best population of big bass in the state. … Big Hill has a steadily improving bass population, and biologists predict excellent fishing there this spring. … Perry also has fared well in recent surveys, rating fourth in the state in density rankings (bass 12 inches and larger) this year. Others to try: Coffey County, Milford, Wilson and Cedar Bluff.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
Missouri
▪ BEST BET: Looking for a fishing trip high on scenery and plenty of action? Try floating the Gasconade River, particularly the stretch that runs through Laclede County. Surveys last year by the Department of Conservation found the highest number of smallies in this section of river since 2002. About 20 percent of those fish were larger than the 12-inch minimum length limit.
▪ BEST OF THE REST: Table Rock Lake should continue to produce good fishing, particularly in the stretch from the Highway 86 bridge to Campbell Point, where smallmouths make up a large part of the black-bass population. …Others to try: the Current, Big, Black, Jacks Fork, Eleven Point, James, Niangua, Meramec and North Fork of the White rivers.
Kansas
▪ BEST BET: With its miles of riprap and rocky banks, Coffey County Lake has the look of an ideal small-bass reservoir. And it is. Coffey County leads the state in all survey categories — density of fish, preferrred fish and lunkers. That’s why fisheries biologists predict excellent fishing there this year.
▪ BEST OF THE REST: Melvern is another reservoir that has developed an impressive smallmouth population. It ranks second in the Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s density rankings and in number of lunkers (17 inches and longer). … Others to try: Glen Elder, Milford, El Dorado, Clinton, Big Hill, Wilson and Perry.
CRAPPIES
Missouri
▪ BEST BET: Kansas City-area fishermen don’t have to travel far to find some of the best crappie fishing in Missouri. For the last several years, Smithville Lake’s fishing has been very impressive. And this year should be no different. Surveys found a large number of keeper fish and others poised to move into that range. Don’t get discouraged if it takes a while for the crappies to move into the shallows to spawn, where they can be easily caught. The spawn at Smithville generally doesn’t take place until May. But it’s worth the wait.
▪ BEST OF THE REST: Expect big things at Stockton. The white-crappie year class produced in 2011 was the largest surveyed since 1992. Because of the slow fishing last summer, many of those fish survived and have grown to sizes greater than 11 inches, biologists say. … Pomme de Terre also should makes waves this spring. Densities of crappies sampled during fall surveys increased dramatically from recent years. … Others to try: Lake of the Ozarks, Truman, Thomas Hill, and Mozingo.
Kansas
▪ BEST BET: It’s been a while since John Redmond Reservoir has topped any type of list for the best places to fish in Kansas. With its siltation problems, the reservoir has slowly filled in, dramatically reducing spawning areas. But this year, it is the unlikely No. 1 in the Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s density rankings for white crappies. In fact, it leads all three categories — density (fish 8 inches or longer), preferred (10 inches and longer) and lunkers (12 inches and longer). Biologists predict excellent fishing there this spring.
▪ BEST OF THE REST: Perry and Hillsdale also should provide plenty of bites for Kansas City-area fishermen. Both have good numbers of fish and rank two-three in the state’s density rankings. … Clinton ranks fifth and also has fair numbers of crappies 10 inches or longer. … For big fish, try La Cygne. It yielded a 2.98-pound crappie in surveys, the biggest fish sampled in the state. … Others to try: Toronto, El Dorado, Big Hill, Milford, Fall River, Coffey County, Lovewell, Kirwin and Pomona.
WALLEYES
Missouri
▪ BEST BET: Regular stocking efforts by the Department of Conservation has built a strong walleye population at Smithville Lake. Not only does the reservoir north of Kansas City contain good numbers of fish, it has quality too. The percentage of walleyes measuring 20 inches or longer is the highest the Department of Conservation has seen at Smithville. And a stocking of 220,000 fingerlings last year should ensure that there will be plenty of walleyes to cast for in the future.
▪ BEST OF THE REST: Lake of the Ozarks and Truman also are benefiting from regular stockings. Fishermen there are increasingly able to target walleyes rather than catching them incidentally while casting for other species.…Bull Shoals is recovering nicely from a fish kill in 2011. There, numbers are increasing, and more 18- to 20-inch fish are being seen.…Others to try: Stockton, Longview, Mozingo, Pomme de Terre and Norfork lakes and the Black River below Clearwater Lake.
Kansas
▪ BEST BET: Western Kansas should produce the state’s best walleye fishing this year. Webster, Kirwin and Cedar Bluff all have good walleye populations this year. Webster has the highest three-year average of walleye densities in the state, but Kirwin and Cedar Bluff offer good fishing, too. In fact, the largest walleye sampled in surveys, 7.69 pounds, was taken at Kirwin.
▪ BEST OF THE REST: South-central Kansas also should produce plenty of bites for walleye fishermen this year. Marion, El Dorado and Cheney all have strong populations, though not many lunkers. … Closer to Kansas City, Hillsdale, Clinton and Pomona should produce fair fishing. … Others to try: Glen Elder, Wilson, Lovewell, Milford, Sebelius, Kanopolis and Coffey County.
WHITE BASS
Missouri
▪ BEST BET: Truman Lake has a tradition of producing outstanding white-bass fishing, and this year should only add to that reputation. White bass numbers have increased substantially in the last two years, according to the Department of Conservation. Fishermen should see plenty of fish one pound and larger in 2015.
▪ BEST OF THE REST: With excellent shad reproduction the last three years, the white bass are thriving at Smithville. Look for good numbers of 12- to 15-inch fish. …Bull Shoals, Table Rock and Norfork are traditional powers in white bass fishing, but numbers there have declined somewhat. … Others to try: Lake of the Ozarks, Stockton, Mark Twain and Clearwater.
Kansas
▪ BEST BET: Kanopolis Lake isn’t showing its age. Though it is the oldest of the state’s major reservoirs (construction was completed in 1948), it still produces outstanding white bass fishing. Look at Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s survey ratings for the species. Kanopolis leads Kansas reservoirs in most categories and has one of the highest three-year averages for white-bass numbers.
▪ BEST OF THE REST: John Redmond is poised for a big year, too. It ranks second in densities of white bass and biologists predict excellent fishing there this year. In the Kansas City area, Clinton (fourth) and Perry (sixth) also rank in the top 10.…Others to try: Webster, Cedar Bluff, Cheney, Marion, Fall River, Glen Elder and Melvern.
WIPERS
Missouri
▪ BEST BET: Lake of the Ozarks and Truman are still the class of Missouri when it comes to fishing for wipers, a cross between white bass and stripers. The giant reservoirs are stocked regularly by the Department of Conservation, and it shows. Fishermen catch large fish below Truman Dam, mixed with schools of white bass on Truman Lake, and in spring-fed areas on Lake of the Ozarks.
▪ BEST BET: Blue Springs Lake has quietly developed a trophy fishery of wipers. The Department of Conservation stocks 7,000 fish annually to maintain the population and fish up to 10 pounds have been caught. Still, the resource is relatively underutilized. Not many fishermen specially target wipetrs at Blue Springs..…Others to try: Thomas Hill, Long Branch and Paho.
TROUT
Missouri
▪ BEST BET: Lake Taneycomo is a unique trout fishery. Located just a long cast from the bright lights and country music of Branson, the lake produces incredible fishing. About 700,000 rainbow trout and 15,000 browns are stocked into the lake each year. Special regulations ensure that a portion of those fish grow to trophy sizes. During electrofishing surveys in September 2014, 60 percent of the rainbows exceeded 13 inches and 44 percent of the browns were 16 inches or longer.
▪ BEST OF THE REST: Missouri’s four trout parks — Bennett Spring, Roaring River, Montauk and Maramec Spring — provide fishing for the masses. The Department of Conservation stocks the streams daily during the regular season, and thousands of trout are caught. …The upper stretch of the Current River includes two trout management areas below Montauk State Park that provide outstanding fishing.…Others to try: the Eleven Point, the Niangua, the North Fork of the White, and Meramec rivers and small creeks such as Crane and Mill.
Kansas
▪ BEST BET: Wyandotte County Lake in Kansas City, Kan., is brimming with trout by the time the season opens in early March. The Unified Government stocks the urban lake four times with good-sized rainbow trout, ensuring that there are plenty of fish to cast for. Because no ice fishing is allowed at the lake, the opener often is pushed back a week or two, while fishermen and officials wait for winter to make its exit. But it’s often worth the delay.
▪ BEST OF THE REST: Wyandotte isn’t the only place where fishermen in Kansas City suburbs can find close-to-home trout fishing. The Johnson County Park and Recreation District stocks Shawnee Mission Lake in Shawnee and Kill Creek Lake in Olathe. Kill Creek produced a 15.72-pound, state-record rainbow last year.…Lake Shawnee near Topeka also is stocked liberally and produces some large catches.…Wildlife, Parks and Tourism also stocks trout in more than 30 smaller bodies of water across the state each year.
CHANNEL CATFISH
Missouri
▪ BEST BET: The old Muddy Mo still is a great place to catch channel cats. From the northwest region to the St. Louis area, the Missouri River is loaded with the whiskered fish — and some big ones, too. Even in the shadows of the Kansas City skyline, channel catfish exceeding 20 inches in length are taken. Look for sandbars, rock banks, wing dikes, cut banks and scour holes.
▪ BEST OF THE REST: The mighty Mississippi River also produces plenty of good-sized channel cats.…Kansas City area fishermen have plenty of options. Smithville, Jacomo, Blue Springs, Longview, and James A. Reed also provide plenty of tugs. … Others to try: Lake of the Ozarks, Truman, Long Branch, Mark Twain, Montrose and Pony Express.
Kansas
▪ BEST BET: Toss a dart at the Kansas State map and chances are, you will be close to a good place to catch channel catfish. The state’s reservoirs and smaller bodies of water are loaded with channel cats. Picking one that stands out would be difficult. Especially in the eastern half of the state, you can’t go wrong in deciding where to fish.
▪ BEST OF THE REST: We’ll rely on Wildlife, Parks and Tourism surveys for this one. Marion ranks at the top of the list in all categories, including lunkers (fish 28 inches and longer). A 10.41-pound channel cat was sampled during surveys.…Others to try: Big Hill, Clinton, Kanopolis, Coffey County, Hillsdale, Wilson, Pomona, Perry, Melvern and…well, many others.
BLUE CATFISH
Missouri
▪ BEST BET: The Missouri River is still king. It might not be the most scenic waterway in the state, but it’s still home to some bruiser blue cats. The state-record fish of 130 pounds was caught in 2010 near the confluence with the Mississippi River. And fish 60 pounds and bigger are caught each year near Kansas City.
▪ BEST OF THE REST: The Mississippi River also has some big blue cats, though not as many as the Missouri. … The Platte River also contains some big blue catfish, particularly in the lower 10 miles of the river. … Others to try: Truman Lake, Lake of the Ozarks and Mark Twain Lake.
Kansas
▪ BEST BET: The Kansas side of the Missouri River contains some monstrous blue catfish. Rob Stanley of Olathe provided the exclamation point to that statement when he caught a state-record 102.8-pound blue cat on the river in 2012. Other impressive fish are caught each summer, especially in the Kansas City area.
▪ BEST OF THE REST: The blue-cat fishing on Kansas reservoirs is one of the most exciting developments in the region. Milford Lake has emerged as a top destination for blue catfish, routinely producing fish exceeding the 50-pound mark. Melvern and La Cygne also are coming on, providing trophy catches. Others to try: Coffey County, El Dorado, Wilson and Cheney.
FLATHEAD CATFISH
Missouri
▪ BEST BET: Montrose Lake has a reputation for producing some monstrous flatheads. It still holds the rod and reel state record, 77.8 pounds. And fisheries biologists say it still contains some giants. They advise fishermen to concentrate along bends in creek channels and areas where channel swing close to points.
▪ BEST OF THE REST: Smithville Lake also is home to some giant flatheads. Fishermen using limb lines or trotlines annually catch huge fish.…The Missouri and Mississippi rivers still produces some biggies. … Others to try: Lake of the Ozarks, Truman, Thomas Hill, Mark Twain, Blue Springs and Jacomo.
Kansas
▪ BEST BET: Southeast Kansas has long been known as a haven for fishermen pursuing scale-busting flathead catfish. Toronto, Fall River and Elk City reservoirs all have the murky water, woody cover and plentiful forage that flatheads prefer. Fishermen still talk about the 123-pound, world-record fish caught in 1998 at Elk City.
▪ BEST OF THE REST: Flathead catfish are difficult to survey, so Wildlife, Parks and Tourism has to use creel data from fishermen to form estimates on population status. Still, it knows from the past that El Dorado, Webster, Glen Elder and Council Grove have strong flathead populations. Closer to Kansas City, Perry, Hillsdale and Pomona offer opportunities.
This story was originally published March 14, 2015 at 12:54 PM with the headline "A short cast away: Best bets for fishing by species in Missouri and Kansas."