Fishing Prospects- A Breakdown

Every year the Missouri Department of Conservation releases a booklet called “Fishing Prospects at Selected Missouri Lakes and Streams”.  It is an interesting read every year and if you read the booklet annually, you can actually track how populations of a species are increasing or decreasing.  You can pick up a booklet at most MDC Nature Centers and you might be able to request a copy through the MDC website.

Most years I try to read about some of the lakes I fish around the Kansas City area and take some notes about where there are more fish and when they might be biting best.  I decided to share some of these observations on this site and I apologize for not giving a breakdown for other areas, but if you fish around the KC area, then I hope you find this information insightful and/or useful.  I am primarily looking for information about fish and situations that would be conducive to fly fishing, but I will through some other info in there from time to time as well.  I DO NOT include information about crappie…just FYI.  I just don’t fish for them and focus mainly on other panfish species.  Also, there are other lakes and rivers that I am not including so if you notice a body of water is missing, then I suggest you try and get your hands on a copy of “Fishing Prospects”.  Without further delay, let’s get to it.

Blue Springs Lake

More than 7,000 hybrids are stocked in Blue Springs Lake since hybrids don’t reproduce to maintain the population.  The booklet also suggests that anglers should look for schooling fish that are busting schools of shad on the surface of the water.  From my experience, this happens most often in late summer and can happen anywhere on the lake.  In early spring however, locations like the dam and Lake Jacomo spillway should not be overlooked.  A spot known locally as the “blow hole” which is where Jacomo water discharges could be a hot spot as well if water is running.  Hybrids in the 10 pound class are common so hit the water and catch a wiper.

Largemouth bass populations seem to be on the rise and this is a trend over the last few years.

Walleye have been stocked in Blue Springs Lake since 2009 and if you want to catch this fish on a fly, you get one shot a year.  I suggest trying along the dam in late March and Early April when they move in to spawn.  Cloudy days, rainy days, and nights are great times to give them a shot on a fly.  However, you should know that these fish are not in the shallows to eat, but rather reproduce.  Finding them might be easy, but getting them to bite might be challenging.

Common carp are in lower numbers since the Koi Herpe Virus killed almost 75 percent of the population in 2012, but there are still a lot of them and I am sure they will become prolific again and soon.

James A. Reed

Lots of lakes and lots of different fishing conditions.  I think there is too much to break down with a lot of accuracy so this report is going to be vague and short.

Bluegill and Redear- best bets are at Plover, Gopher, Jackrabbit, and Nell.  These fish spawn in Late April through early June.

Largemouth- start spawning in late April and Bluestem, Nell, Jackrabbit, and Catcaw lakes are focal points.

Lake Jacomo

To quote the booklet “The largemouth bass population remains one of the best in the Kansas City area.”  Enough said.

Walleye are also stocked regularly so you might try hitting the shallows  in late March and Early April especially near the spillway.

White bass are also present in the lake and getting after them in late April  and early May along the dam.  Look for schools later in the year and try to catch them in a feeding frenzy if you can.

Bluegill have a nice population, but the booklet says their numbers are down a little from years past.

Longview Lake

***DISCLAIMER: I have never fished Longview Lake before but plan on doing so this year.  All of the following information is based solely on the “Fishing Prospects” booklet and does not contain any personal narrative.

Largemouth bass numbers are improving and fish seem to be getting bigger.

Walleye numbers are really good and you might be able to catch one on a fly along the dam or east side of the lake in late March and early April.  Flats and shallow points would be good places to target prior to them moving to the dam or east side.  They will most likely be feeding up to prepare for the spawn.

Apparently, there is a LARGE population of common carp at Longview.  The report says that fly fishermen target these fish in the shallows from May through June.  From my experience, this type of fishing is more like stalking a deer than blind casting to structure.  You find the fish, you try to get close enough to not spook them, and then you better make a good cast because it might be the only one you get.

Smithville Lake

White bass are in the lake and it looks like numbers are going to be good this year.  The report says that if you find the shad, you can find the white bass.  I am to assume that doing this early in the summer would be preferable to late in the summer when shad move a little deeper and it would be hard to get a fly down that deep.

The walleye fishing looks to be outstanding this year.  The report says that 45% of the walleye that were sampled were over 20 inches and that 215,000 will be stocked again this year.  They will be fingerlings, but that is hope for a sustainable future.  To catch them on a fly, you guessed it, hit the dam in late March or early April.  The report says that while this method can be frustrating, increased numbers can also mean increased opportunities and more fish at least looking at your fly.  I have personally tried this in the past and got skunked but at least you know they are in the water.  I fished with a spinning outfit and started fishing at about 10:00 one night.  It was a lot of fun and a little spooky fishing by moonlight, but the fun outweighed the anxiety.  Make sure you bring a good headlamp but use it sparingly as you will spook nearby fish.  I also recommend a backpack or tackle box to ensure you bring all necessary gear with you because hiking up and down those boulders in the day or night isn’t a whole lot of fun.

Truman Lake

While Truman regularly turns out TONS of crappie, I would highly recommend going after the white bass and hybrid striped bass (wipers) with a fly.  White bas numbers have increased over the last three years and 2016 should have a large number of them in the water as well.  The size was bigger in 2015 and should be even better this year with big fish getting bigger and many over a pound.  147,524 wipers were stocked in 2015 so there numbers should be similar to years passed.  In the summer, look for them chasing schools of shad near the surface and in shallows along windy points during the fall.  If you are interested in catching some of these fish by trolling and using heavy tackle, I cannot recommend my buddy Gary of Gary’s Guide Service at (816) 520-5358.  I have gone out with him a few times and tied some jigs with him and I cannot say enough nice things about him.  He knows Truman like the back of his hand, will work hard to get you on fish, and will adjust to conditions and situations to put you in the best position possible to catch fish.  He has put me on 7 pound wipers and six pound walleye.  My buddy even caught an 8 pound wiper and 7 pound walleye with him!

Watkins Mill State Park Lake

I heard a rumor last year that wipers might have been stocked or were going to be stocked here but didn’t see them mentioned in the booklet.  It looks like the bass fishing is going to be great this year and to quote the booklet, “Largemouth bass provide some of the best bass fishing in the region.”  Talk about an attention getter! 

Redear sunfish were also mentioned as having a healthy population and the term “trophy-sized fish” was even used to describe the species.  Redear over 10 inches are caught yearly and the booklet suggests using small flies such as nymphs.  Sounds like a spot worth checking out this year!