This small lake is very unique and unlike any other I have fished before in my life. While it is technically a part of the James A. Reed Conservation Area in Lee's Summit, Missouri, it is not accessible to the public. Now you might be wondering if I trespassed in order to fish this lake. Alas, the answer is no. This lake is available to nonprofit or educational groups. I have taken my fly fishing club there as well as attended church outings and kids fishing derbies. It is a catch and release lake that holds populations of crappie, redear sunfish, bluegill, bass, catfish, and carp. If you would like to reserve this lake for a group, just call the Regional Office for the Missouri Department of Conservation at the James A. Reed Conservation Area at 816-622-0900. Just tell them that you would like to reserve Prairie Hollow Lake and they will check the availability of the lake and ask you a few questions. That's it. After that, just go to the office the day before or the day of your event and they will give you some paperwork to fill out at the end of the event as well as the combination to the locked gate. You can also request to use some push-button rods and tackle but try and tell the person that is taking the reservation when you call. Oh yeah, it's free too!
If this all sounds too good to be true, it isn't. Believe me, I am a bit of a pragmatist and I cannot find a flaw in this system other than the date you want might not always be available when you want it. There are lots of fish, there is a variety of fish to fish for, and they are usually hungry. It is a great lake for kids that need to catch a bunch of bluegill to keep them interested. It is also a good lake for adults as it offers some good bass fishing that isn't so easy that it is boring. There are some nice sized fish in the lake since all the big ones have (or should have) been released. I have caught a 4 pound bass on a spook and a friend of mine caught a 20 inch largemouth on a Lucky #13 (bullfrog pattern) so they are in there and what more can you ask for?
Name
Prairie Hollow Lake
Link: http://mdc7.mdc.mo.gov/applications/moatlas/AreaSummaryPage.aspx?txtAreaID=5501
Location
James A. Reed Conservation Area in Lee's Summit, Missouri
Species to Target
Bass, redear sunfish, bluegill, and hybrid bluegill
Spots to Try
To be honest, I have seen fish caught at almost every point you can cast to on this lake. Now don't take that to mean that there are literally fish "everywhere". There are usually fish holding around the concrete pier as well as the concrete platform. You can usually pick up a few fish around the dam and around the island and the peninsula. If the water is warming or cooling, you can find fish in the sloughs around the island and peninsula but the conditions have to be just right for fish to be there. Bluegill usually hang out around the sidewalk and if you are feeling adventurous, you can fish along the east bank. This bank is a little overgrown and contains A LOT of poison ivy. Needless to say, I don't fish that part, but I have seen guys catch quite a few bass along that bank.
Flies to Use
Well, you can never go wrong with a John Deere or other mini jig under a float, but the usual suspects work as well. Woolies, zonkers, poppers, and nymphs will catch just about everything. Chase the bass with baitfish patterns and the bluegill family members with nymphs and small minnow imitations. If you have casting tackle, spinnerbaits, worms, square bill crankbaits, and chuggers can produce some bites as well.
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