I need your expert advice

[Mr Twister]

I am taking a couple of the guys in my youth group fishing for the first time tonight. I want it to be a good experience, so where should I take them for the best chance to get into some good cats? We are in Raytown, and am willing to drive 30-45 min... Thanks for the quick response.

Eric

[Chris]

I would take them up to the park where the Kaw and Mo river connect, bring some bluegill and some shad sides.

chris

[cook]

Sorry,I'm no expert so I can't help you.If your looking for just catching a lot of fish,I would target crappie,or try to get on a farm pond and use worms.Cats are transitioning now and is real hit or miss.Also,keep an eye on the weather,calling for T-storms tonight.But then again,we were supposed to get 12 inches of snow a few weeks ago:D :D

[kspor]

I would pack for severl species. That way if the cats arent biting you can hit the crappies, or God forbid bass. Best of luck to you all.

[Mr Twister]

OK...thanks for all your help. I think we will just swing over to Jacamo. Water temps may be up a little in the creek arms and I caught me some gills to hopefully give more bait selection. Thanks for all your help

Eric

[Bigmagic]

Jacomo is great for channels. Chicken livers thrown towards the bank like bass fishing from a boat will produce at night. I used to fish it all the time when I lived up there. They might enjoy James A. Reed wildlife area since they keep those lakes stocked and some large Channels have come out of there over the years.(If its still open). See ya on the water!

[explayer]

I would use worms just to catch something because you can a least catch bluegrills and some fun

[SeaArk1]

BigMagic,

A few buddies and I have been thinking about heading to Jacomo some time this year. We have heard that they have a big average on channels. I heard they have a horsepower limit and you have to buy a permit? I have a 225 horse on my boat. Do you know anything about this?

Thanks

[Bigmagic]

Sorry 25hp is the max allowed and then only on a Pontoon.( or boat classified as such). A Jackson county permit is also required. Nearby Praire Lee Lake doesn't have a horsepower restriction and has some nice channels in it also, if its still there and still open.(still need a permit I think) Its been a long time but when I was a youngster we caught a lot of Channel cat out of those two lakes. See ya on the water!

[Mr.T]

Prairie Lee Lake is still open but don't know much about the fishing there. My neighbor takes his family there from time to time looking for crappie. You'd probably do better on Blue Springs Lake for catfish.

Jacomo has some good spots to fish from the shore, at least until it gets hot and the moss takes over. Personally, I won't fish from the shore there as it seems to attract a pretty seedy element. I don't need to fish bad enough to risk a robbery or at minimum, a hassle from a bunch of loud drunks.

James A Reed wildlife area has several nice lakes with decent size channel catfish. The trick is finding the right place on the right lake at the right time of the year and the right time of the day.

The fee for a day-use permit on any of the Jackson County lakes is $17. The annual permit fee is based on the horsepower of your boat -- for a 225 hp bass boat, it's around $150 or so. Which makes it prohibitive unless that's the only place you're going to fish or you're going to use the lake a *lot*. And the horsepower limit on Jacomo is 25hp, though I don't think it's limited to pontoons only; I see a lot of 16 ft aluminum bass boats there with engines about that size.

[Chris]

You also might give Longview Lake a shot, its been years since I have been over that way so I dont know how much has changed. Just a thought.


Chris

[Chanellocked]

No horsepower limit on Longview, this time of year should be good for staging crappie & bass or fish near the dam for channels. Just need the Jackson County daily permit which can be purchased at the marina. If I'm not mistaken, the marina opens at 6am. Fished there in late February or early March of 2005, froze my butt off, but still had a good time...Good luck