Coffey County

Friday, October 08, 2010 , , 0 Comments





Last week I went to Coffey County Reservoir on a fishing trip. Coffey County is a cool-off lake for Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant. This makes a few things interesting. First of all to get on the lake you have to have your boat checked, livewell bleached, sign some papers, answer a few questions, and show identification. This is an effort to protect the power plant. First and foremost to prevent Zebra Mussels' from becoming introduced to the lake which could cost the plant millions in damages. Secondly, since 9/11 there is an awareness of potential attacks on Nuclear Power Plants and the lake wants to be certain of who is allowed to fish there. Secondly, once allowed on the water you must wear a life jacket at all times and are given a beeper that can call you off the lake should you violate the rules or the current becomes too swift. Finally, the water coming off the plant is hot, really hot. We fished the outlet for a moment and were still relatively far away and the water temp was still well into the 90's. As far as the power plant itself. It was far smaller than I expected. You can see a pic in the above left, and it looks more like an Observatory than a Nuclear Station. Despite the fact that the lake has a nuclear powerplant on it. It doesn't serve as a tremendous eye sore like the powerplant on La Cygne in that you cannot see it from most locations on the lake and the rest of the lake may be some of the most beautiful water I have fished in Kansas. 

Coffey County has a reputation as being an excellent fishery year round, due to the high water temps and is also known as Kansas's best Smallmouth destination. I have wanted to fish it for some time and while we didn't do as well as I would have hoped it was still enjoyable, surrounded by surprisingly beautiful terrain, and if nothing else provided a few stories. I had a great time and would love to fish it in November or March to take advantage of the warm water. First time anywhere is spent largely learning the water. For the day we caught three Largemouth, one Wiper, one White Bass, one Smallmouth, and one Drum. We will forget about the drum... also I had two fish break my line. For the time being I am going to running braid on my pole I use for wacky rigging. Here are the pictures: 


3 lb Wiper caught on Sebile Crankbait. 


The north shore line provides excellent cover for Largemouth fishing. The two fish that broke my line were caught around this area. 


2 lb Largemouth from Tri. Wacky Worm. 


As noted, a beautiful lake to fish. 


2 1/2 lb Smallmouth. Caught on Grub. 

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Two Bass

Wednesday, October 06, 2010 , , 0 Comments


Several weeks ago I went to La Cygne to fish for the first time. I have to admit its kind of a creepy place at night and the power plant is less than scenic. Went there for flathead but all of our bluegill died en route so we tried for channel catfish with no luck. Being 3 AM I started messing around with a chartreuse spinnerbait and to be honest accidently caught two largemouth. Biggest was 3 1/2 lbs. 



A few days later I took a friend fishing from work who hadn't fished in years. It was an interesting experience he caught one bullfrog and a bluegill. To his credit the wind was very severe and casting was difficult. I caught six largemouth including my biggest yet of the year a touch over 5 lbs caught on a crankbait. Was quite a fight, he was not cooperative coming in. 


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Reed Memorial

Tuesday, September 07, 2010 , , 1 Comments


Reed Memorial is a nature reserve located a few miles south of Lee Summit, Missouri. Over 3,000 acres of trails, woodland, prairie, and twelve fishing lakes. Ten of these lakes are open to the general public, one is a kids only pond, and the other is open only by reservation for groups. Catfish, Largemouth Bass and Trout populations are all good, with Crappie, Panfish, and Wiper present as well. Pond size ranges from the one acre kids ponds up to 42 acres, all are easily accessible.  See link below for a map of Reed Memorial Wildlife Area:


Yesterday was my second trip to Reed Memorial. We fished three lakes: Bodarc, Bluestem, and Catclaw. Between the three of us we caught 11 Largemouth Bass, with the largest being 4 1/2 lbs. Fishing was tough and reliant completely on finesse techniques: fishing near structure and shade, but from what we saw and heard from others we were wildly successful. Give it a few weeks to allow for cooler weather and it should be hot with much more active fish. Overall it has loads of potential, the rumor of 8-9 lb Largemouth and 10 lb Wiper, and is very scenic. If you live in the KC area and fish, Reed Memorial needs to be on you list of spots to hit this fall.  Here are the pictures: 





View of Bodarc Lake


Bret Wacky Rigging.




Derek's first fish of the day, a monster largemouth. I have to give him a hard time for this small one because he caught 6 of the 11 bass that day. 


Structure and shade were the keys.


Fantastic 4 1/2 lb largemouth caught by Derek. Wacky Rig. 

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Frog

Tuesday, September 07, 2010 0 Comments


Bret and I were messing around at the pond the other day for a half hour or so and came up with an interesting catch. While retrieving his worm, a large bullfrog decided that plastic worm was on the menu for the day and soon enough ended up on the end of a hook. Worry not, we were able to get him off easily enough but it was still unexpected. 


We also caught a largemouth each. No Boga Grip so not sure on weight. At the moment I am only able to upload the picture of my fish due to technical issues but we will try and get Bret's fish up soon. 

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The Essentials

Thursday, August 19, 2010 , 0 Comments


In case you haven't been outside lately, we are in the dog days of summer. It's hot, really hot. For me that means two things. First, fishing is slow; and secondly, it is at times unbearable to be out for too long in the heat. Therefore I have been fishing much less and have not had much exciting news to publish. So for fun I thought I would write up a brief post on what I consider to be my essential lures. Those which have proven themselves as producers when others fail. So here it is, in no particular order, my top 10 lures. 

1.) Mepps Aglia


The Mepps Aglia, which my family and I refer to as simply a Mepps, was perhaps my first essential lure in becoming an angler. Having gained my love for fishing in Northern Minnesota, the Mepps Aglia is a consistent producer of Northern Pike and always provides action when nothing else is working up north. Size #5 and Musky Killer are great for Northern Pike. Size #3-5 work great on Large and Smallmouth Bass. I use #3 on Wiper, #1-2 for Trout, and #0 seems irresistible to Panfish. 

2.) Spinnerbait 


                                    

Semi-weedless, versatile, and available in a variety of styles; Spinnerbaits are essential lures every angler should have a few of and know who to fish correctly. Whether you hop it along the bottom, bounce it off fallen timber, or burn it along the surface; Spinnerbaits are deadly against Bass, Northern Pike, Muskellunge. When choosing one consider the size, color, and blade type. Spinnerbaits commonly employ either Colorado, Indiana, or Willow style blades. The Willow, as pictured above, is a long style blade which is tapered on either end like that of a willow leaf. It creates the least resistance of the three styles and thus will have a deeper retrieve and create less water displacement for a more subtle approach. The Indiana style is also a long blade style, but rounded on each end. It serves as an intermediary between the Willow and Colorado extremes. The Colorado is a large rounded blade which causes the most water disturbance, allowing the lure to ride high in the water and displaces a large amount of water helping to lure in actively feeding fish. 

3.) Original Rapala


                             

The Original Floating Rapala is what launched angling into the frenzy over crankbaits that we find ourselves in today. While much has changed over the years, the Original is still a productive lure. It does not dive deep, nor does it have the tightest action, but this crankbait does imitate a wounded minnow very well. I typically employ it as either a slashbait or in stop and go retrieve and find it to be invaluable when fishing from shore, because it has a large amount of space between the eye and first treble hook and due to the fact that it floats. The Original allows you to fish a crankbait from shore while avoiding snags and hookups. 

4.) Jitterbug


                               

One of the most enjoyable lures to fish. The Jitterbug has an unmistakable sound and action which has allowed itself to become one of the most productive Bass topwater lures of all time. The Jitterbug imitates a wounded baitfish struggling on the surface. If you buy just one, buy it in black and fish in low-light conditions. 

5.) Jig


                                 

In some ways the Jig is more terminal tackle than a lure, in that to fish it you need to add something to it rather than throw it in the water as is. Yet this speaks to its adaptability rather than its limitations. Perhaps the most important lure for Walleye anglers. The Jig is often tipped with a worm, leach, or minnow and slowly bounced along the bottom. Bass and Crappie anglers often add a plastic grub, and others simply tip it with bait and suspend it from a float. Regardless of your methodology, buy several different colors and sizes. 

6.) Salmo Hornet


                                

A staple of Walleye fisherman, this relatively new lure from Poland is known for its tight action and quality control. While it can be cast, its light weight makes this somewhat prohibitive, and so it is most often used while trolling. I most often use size #4 and have caught more Walleye with this crankbait than any other. The Salmo Hornet is generally available in a floating variety but a sinking edition is now becoming commonplace for deep water applications. This is my father's favorite lure.

7.) Casting Spoon
                                 

The spoon may be one of the most basic artificial lures in modern angling. Typically one side is painted and the other side is plain metallic. The shape and color cause the lure to wobble and flash as it is retrieved through the water. A great multi-species lure, match the size to the target fish. 


8.) Plastic Worm 


                           

My personal favorite for catching bass. Wether you fish it in a Carolina, Texas, or Wacky Rig the plastic worm is one of the most effective tools for landing bass in a variety of conditions. See my rig series for specific rigging tactics and retrieves. Buy many colors and styles, this will be one of the cheapest items in your tackle box. A few of my favorites are the Gary Yamamoto Senko, Berkely Powerworm, and Zoom Trickworm. 

9.) Beetle Spinner


                              


In many ways similar to the Spinnerbait, the Beetlespinner is an adaptation which uses a spinning jig harness, jig, and plastic grub. While you can buy Beetlespinners pre-rigged I prefer to buy the parts seperatly and build my own to suit my personal needs. This allows you to control the weight, size, and grub type. I most often often use small Crappie tubes for my grub and have been very impressed this year with a grub called "The Slab Buster", which comes garlic pre-scented. I would guess I have caught more fish on a Beetle Spinner than on any other lure. 

10.) Rapala Shad Rap


                      


If you own one crankbait, it should be the Rapala Shad Rap, due to its versatility in the models offered and appeal to a multitude of species. The reason for this is its shape: thin enough to pass as a minnow imitation, for nomadic feeders like Stripped Bass and Walleye, yet has an erratic enough action to imitate small gamefish, in order to entice Largemouth and Pike which feed from cover. Size #5-7 seems to be ideal for most purposes. Shallow and deep diving varieties are available as are models with and without rattles. 


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Minnesota Vacation '10


I just returned from my annual trip to Bass Lake in Minnesota. As always I had a great time, enjoyed the beautiful country around me... oh and I did some fishing. This year I hit four bodies of water Bass Lake, Deer Lake, Lake Winnibigoshish (Winnie), and the Mississippi River. Deer Lake was a beautiful body of water, very clear and blue, and I caught a lot of Rock Bass and one Largemouth and one Smallmouth. Also the first time I fished Winnie, the fifth largest lake in Minnesota, did very well on Walleye. Overall Fishing was good but slower than last year and we had some windy days that made boat control a bit difficult. I went in to last week with two goals: catch a Northern Pike on my fly rod and catch a 10 lbs Northern Pike on Bass Lake. I achieved the first but not the second. To be honest I came away a bit bummed that I didn't boat a large Pike but that's fishing and the appeal and challenge of the sport. Some days you can't pattern the fish and there is always more to learn. Here are the pictures of the trip: 


Evening on Bass Lake



Nice Walleye from my Dad, bottom bouncer and leech on snell. Lake Winnie


Bass Lake Largemouth: despite its name catching Bass, Smallmouth or Largemouth, on that lake is always a challenge. Wacky Worm


First Northern Pike caught on a fly rod. 8 weight rod, Clauser Fly


Engine blew on my Uncle's pontoon. It was my job to be Theodore Tugboat and bring them to shore. 


Nice Bluegill. Jig 


Fly fishing the Mississippi River


Nice Northern Pike from Chris. Mepps Aglia #5


Baby Ducks


My first Walleye of the trip. Bottom bouncer and leech on Snell. Lake Winnie.


Smallmouth from Chris at the Mississippi. Wacky Worm


Another Pike on Fly Rod. They put up a good fight. Clauser Fly


Fishing the reeds at Bass Lake.


A few Walleye from Winnie, thanks to guide Reed Ylitalo. 


Lots of Rock Bass caught. Feisty little guys. Wacky Worm 


Chris working really hard on Winnie to catch Walleye. 



My Mother's Northern Pike. Mepps Aglia #5 

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Rig Series: Wacky Rig

Tuesday, July 06, 2010 , , 0 Comments


The Wacky Rig was developed a few years ago in Japan. Since then it has apparently been boiling under the surface as the new secret of the Pro's. The problem with professional tournament angling is if your matches are televised your technique is bound to get out. However, unlike most new techniques billed as the hot new thing in fishing--this rig works. Let me reemphasize, it really works well and will help catch a lot of bass. I promise. 

At first glance one may be repelled by its simplicity and awkward appearance. It looks anything but sexy or sleek and its not but it is subtle. Setting it up could not be easier. I use two approaches. In both I use a straight plastic worm with no tail. I prefer the Gary Yamamoto Senko and the Jackall Fick Shake. In still water I take a size 1 wide gap hook and hook the worm straight through the middle; in water with current I substitute a light jig head for the wide gap hook. 

To fish it simply cast along side a fallen timber pile, under low brush, in holes in a weed bed. Let the worm fall straight down to the bottom, let it sit for a few seconds then jerk the worm up and let it fall again. Strikes will almost always come on the fall. If this fails try slightly moving your rod tip up and down as the worm falls to impart more action. If fish are there you will get a bite. 

A sensitive rod is crucial for this approach in order to feel the fish take the worm. Most often they will tap the worm a few times like a Walleye and then you will see your line start to move. When this happens reel in your slack and set the hook. If you attempt to set the hook too early or before you have felt the fish fully on with your rod you will lose your worm as the bass is most likely just mouthing it.



Above: Senko 5" Worm with Owner Size 1 Wacky Hook
Below: Jackall Flick Shake Worm with Weedless Jig Head
*Fish pictured is 4.5 lb Largemouth Caught on Wacky Rig

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One of the Best Feelings in the World

Thursday, July 01, 2010 0 Comments


Just got this picture from the guide in an email. I always love the feeling of rehabilitating a fish after you have caught it and watching it swim away but it was a particularly surreal feeling on a Muskie, knowing it will go on to grow, thrive, reproduce and on some other day be caught again and give someone else that same excitement only this rare North American giant can produce.

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Muskellunge

Sunday, June 20, 2010 , , 3 Comments


This weekend my father and I went to Duluth, MN to fish for Muskie. I have been in love with the sport of Muskie fishing for a long long time, ever since I started traveling to Minnesota to fish. Muskellunge are large beautiful fish, apex predators and the culture surrounding them is very conservative minded. To keep a fish is almost a mortal sin amongst most anglers.

Muskie are called the fish of 10,000 casts and are notoriously elusive. The Wisconsin DNR notes on their website that the average density for Muskie on a lake is one fish every three acres and that it takes most anglers 30+ hours on the water to catch one fish. Talk to anglers who chase Muskie and seeing one is a good day. Well since we would only be fishing one day on this trip we went out with Pete Brzezinski of Muskie Northland Adventures. Last year alone Pete boated over 100 Muskie himself and many more for clients. His experience paid off: we caught three Muskie and saw four others. We caught two on bucktails and the third on a spinnerbait. Of the four we saw I lost one on a follow due to not going into a figure 8, one hit my lure from underneath throwing it into the air, we had one throw the lure out after being hooked, and one was lost during a figure 8. Of the three I boated two and my father caught one. It was a spectacular time and I am already looking forward to a few weeks from now when I will be in Minnesota again this time chasing Northern Pike. Here are the pictures:



The second and biggest fish of the day, a 44 I boated that my dad is holding. It was a strong fish. 


This was the first fish of the day, a 41 that hit really hard. I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend a weekend with my Dad. Despite the long drive it was well worth the time in the car and on the water spent with my father. 


My Dad learned from my previous mistake and didn't fail to figure 8 after each cast. After thinking we lost him on the first figure 8, he nailed the lure on second one. Nice 36.5. 


Lake Superior

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Parma Woods

Sunday, June 13, 2010 4 Comments


Over the past two weeks I have taken both my cousin and a friend to Parma Woods for the first time. My cousin shot my Rifle, first time shooting a gun, and my friend fired her new Browning Buckmark Camper Pistol. They both greatly enjoyed their time and Andrea has already been back.

Parma Woods is a rifle/shotgun/pistol range located by Parkville, Missouri, just north of Cabelas. The rifle range sets targets at 25, 50, 75, and 100 yards. Pistol Range is 7, 15, 25, 50 yards. The best thing about the range is it is open to the public year round and it costs only $3 an hour. The only concern you may have is if shooting a firearm in a milatary caliber, ie. a .223 or .308 your ammunition must be inspected and approved.

Both Andrea and Brandt shot well for the first time using the guns and I did fair shooting approximately 2 MOA at 100 yards. My goal in this next year is to get it down to 1/2 MOA. Here are the pictures:


My cousin Brandt. 


Me shooting my rifle, a Savage 93R17 BTVS. Chambered in .17 HMR


Andrea shooting her new pistol. I was super impressed with the simplicity and accuracy of that gun. 



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