Clinton Lake

[cat4life]

Anybody had any luck at Clinton latley?

[center12]

Haven't been on the lake in a couple of months. Need to though, freezer could use a little more stocking. Sorry.

[brian sax]

i heard from someone at school they were catchin a bunch on sonnies and danny king.

[CatDaddy23]

where is clinton lake at .

[Individualist]

It's a couple miles west of Lawrence.

[cat4life]

I have heard of many big fish comming out of there but I cant seem to find one that has come out of there over 80 lbs. I would like to see if anybody could find that. I have looked forever. Tons of 79 and 80 pounders but none over 80. Good luck let me know if you find one.

[center12]

Keith, if you can't find it get a hold of me and I'll draw you a map :p

I see you figured out how to get your picture back up, that's really to bad :cool:

Whats really scary is I'm starting to understand your sense of humor.........I better have a cold one and think on that a bit.

Rivers up and got a little debis, but doubt it will stay up long(the river).

[center12]

Mcflat and myself took 14 eater's off of Clinton today. Some on a trotline with little shad for bait(lakes full of em) and some on dipbait over chum. Chum bite was slow. Let the freezer filling begin, I broke out the soap :rock-big:

[kcgeoff]

Charlie,
Sounds good on the eatters. Bryan and I hit Atchison state lake a few night back. We caught a bunch of 2-4lbers. We were going to keep some to fillet but I was too tired that night. Went back the next day and caught one too small to keep. :sad: Go figure! LOL We are going to try again soon. I'm going to try focusing some energy on the lakes around to find some flatheads for the freezer. I haven't eatten any flats in forever!

[McFlat]

Charlie forgot to mention that he caught most of the fish. LOL

How did you do today Charlie?

[center12]

Only had 2 fish on the trotline, but did finish out the limit over the chum. Tragically, I had 3 that went over 4lb..........you know I hate cleaning "big" fish,hehe. Because I can, I switched one pole over to a circlehook and went 6 for 6 on that rod. I missed one fish but it was just a tap-tap hit and probably wasn't big enough to get the bait in it's mouth. Didn't rebait the trotline but still plan on catching my limit in the morning..........maybe I won't get wet tomorrow.

Enjoyed the heck(must be careful) out of our trip Mike, next time we'll get serious with some big steel and bigger baits!!

[kcgeoff]

Charlie,
I tried to respond to that message we had going on the arcade but the system only allows one message every 3600 seconds. :cursing: :cursing: :cursing:

The first time I only played once. I didn't relize you could keep going. The 2nd time I played atleast a dozen times. LOL I wouldn't have put that 92 up if I would have known that.

[center12]

Geoff, check my thread directed at you in the Kansas talk section.

Even now...................it's about to hit the fan :crying:

[McFlat]

Charlie, despite me being bad luck, you know I had a great time too. Gimme a holler before your next 7 off.

[McFlat]

MMmmmmmm. MMMmm. Charlie's Clinton Catfish sure are good. Just got a batch fried up and now I am inspired to the get the freezer properly stocked.

[CaTfIsH90]

HEy, i went to Clinton in the middle of this summer and fishing was excellent. I had 90 keepers in 3 days using soy beans and Sonnys dip bait. We fished about 3 hours a day and ended up with 90 not counting the ones we threw back.

[Individualist]

At least you were within 20 of your daily creel limit if they were channels?

[CaTfIsH90]

Couldnt throw back any keepers especially if they keep on biting, and the limit on channel is 10 i believe. Yes they were channel

[brian sax]

how many people were with you

[center12]

30/10=3. I'm going with 3 fisherman. Chumming is a dang good way to get some fish in the freezer, it also keeps my 9 year old from whining about no bites :D

[cat4life]

IS there a different limit on Flatheads?

[CaTfIsH90]

hEY SKy, did you catch that fish you are holding? How much did it way?

[Individualist]

Skyler, It's 5 on the flatheads.

[kcgeoff]

Does anybody ever actually catch 5 flatheads in a night? LOL :glare:

[Individualist]

Good point Geoff, My personal best is three if you count 1 pounders.

[kcgeoff]

Brian,
I could see where if somebody was running lines they might get into that many flatheads. But I never catch more than 3 or 4 in a night unless you count little ones. I'd like to see 5 50lbers in one night! :D :D

[bigbearfireman]

Here is a ? for all to reply to. Where would be a good spot to go chumming on clinton lake in a boat.

[center12]

Personally, I like timbered flats just off a channel break.

[bigbearfireman]

hi charlie, i go fishing all the time with warcraft1975 on clinton and we do good. i just want to take my fiance fishing with me and let her have a good time catching alls the cats, she can handle. She loves to fish just want her to go and remember. I been brewing some chum since late june till now. and want to take her for putting up with the smell.

[center12]

I'm going to warn ya, as the weather starts to cool the cat's go off the chum bite.............I've actually been skunked before during the fall.

Shott me a PM and I'll tell you where I was chumming last week. There should be some fish left in the area from my chumming. If it turns out to be something you and the soon to be enjoy maybe we can get a good hole started. My shift doesn't allow me to keep a spot chummed up right...........now 2 or 3 groups working a spot is the ticket. Give a shout if your interested.

[CaTfIsH90]

Bigbearfisherman, So far the best place ive chummed at was right out in the trees about 300 yards off the boat ramp. Thats where ive caught all mine!

[CaTfIsH90]

bigbearfireman, im sorry! :o

[slimcat]

Hey Charlie, hows it going? Do you think the flats are feeding up yet out on Clinton. Have you been hanging any lines lately? I can't seem to get Clinton off my brain. Lots of timber, Wakie channel, FAT FLATS!!!

[center12]

Thanks for the call the other night Slimcat, looking forward to this coming spring. I'll be in touch.

[slimcat]

Same here Charlie, Can't wait till next spring. Clinton had better be ready!!!lol. I think it will be fun. I have gotta order me a map soon.

[center12]

It's going to be overcast, but the temp. is supposed to in the mid 50's and more importantly the wind is "supposed" to be at 10mph(famous last words). I'm heading for the lake in search of tasty catfish and fresh shad. Report to follow. Have a nice day:)

[lbaker3]

Hey Charlie, what part of Clinton holds the catfish this time of year.
I was there about a month ago and caught a bunch of big shad by the
marina but did not catch any catfish.

[center12]

I got in on those BIG shad also, wish I could find them year round!!

I haven't found any big channels yet this year. I've been fishing in the Coon Creek area and the Wakarusa arm, have caught eater sized fish in both places. Fishing 3-5 foot timbered covered flats next to decent channel breaks.

Today, the fishing Gods were not on my side:sad: Ended up catch 3 eatter sized cat's, didn't miss a hit either. Caught one in the area described above on soured shad(soured is an understatment), one drifting SureShot punchbait, and one on SureShot while anchored. Chumming didn't do a bit of good. I threw the castnet a zillion times today and finally caught 2 big shad at the end of the day. Never made it to the Marina cove so don't know if those big shad are still up. Did net a catfish, 2 whitebass and 1 crappie........yea ha. Felt good to get out on the water, but had dreams of a catfish dinner...........looks like it'll be chicken tonight:rolleyes:

[simplecollegekid]

Can any of you guys on this thread give me information on catfish spots at Clinton. I don't have a boat. So I would like to find some good bank fishing spots. I am going to college up here and can't find any good spots on the lake. Especially ones for this time of year?

Thanks!

[KansasCat]

We were running lines last year at hillsdale and pulled out a 52 48 and a 39 flatheads in a night

[simplecollegekid]

Also, Could you guys give me some good spots where I can go and castnet for some shad at clinton? I really appreciate your help. I have no one else.

[warcraft1975]

with the water warming up i would say to go rock creek and cast out along that arm of land the sticks out in to the water i pull bucket loads of them out there,or under that bridge also

[simplecollegekid]

they are that shallow already? Do you usually go straight out from it or along the southwest or northeast side?

[warcraft1975]

shad are moving shallow allready i have been out gathering bait and have found quit a few out there at rock creek already, i cast the net straight out,wacth out for the stup under the water at the end of that land that sticks out it all ready has claimed on net last year

[kscatman]

I managed to get my limit of crappie at clinton today, and a 21" walleye as a bonus. It was one of the best days I ever had crappie fishing.

[bigflathunter]

Where were you fishing? I went out on Wednesday and tried the face of the dam and off the rocks in the marina and didn't get so much as a single bite.

[kscatman]

I was around the corner from boat ramp #2 in the state park about halfway between the boat ramp and the swim beach cove. I caught fish in several places on white twister tail jigs casting out in 6 to 8 foot of water. They arent real shallow yet, I think they are still cruising around looking for places to bed. I fished the dam last night but didnt get any crappie I caught about 10 or 12 white bass before dark though.

[bigflathunter]

Cool man. I might have to give that a try tomorrow afternoon if you don't mind me going out to the same area. I'm trying to get my fiancee into fishing and it's always easier when there are better odds of her catching something.

If you go out there give me a hollar, I'll be in a white t-shirt with oil stains on it.

[kscatman]

I bagged another limit of crappie at clinton this morning, here they are.

[kscatman]

whoops i'll try again

[bigflathunter]

I must have been close to the spot, but not quite there! I went out yesterday evening about 5:30 to 7:30, first fish I caught was an 18" walleye on a white curly tail, then between myself and Donita we managed 5 keeper crappie. Not really fast action, but it was a good time. The walleye was on 4lb test using my ultralight ugly stik, so that was fun. We both also caught a couple crappie that didn't meet the 10" length limit. I might try again tomorrow evening.

[kscatman]

I went out after work and managed to get 15 keepers before the storm hit.

[simplecollegekid]

I went out a weekend or two ago and fished in all night towards the back river part of clinton. it was up the river from elk creek by the boat ramp. I didn't catch a damn thing. I was using worms, liver, and cut perch. any advice on better spots?

[simplecollegekid]

hey warcraft I sent you a personal message, but reply on here, to becausee it will send it to my email.

[simplecollegekid]

sorry posted that on the wrong thread

[simplecollegekid]

check your personal message and then reply on here if you can, because it will notify my email and I'm not sure if the other does to make sure I get it.

[John H]

Charlie McFlat - Didn't see either one of you guys on Clinton today... no BOC sticker boats so being new to this forum and a senior to boot. I had to go where the crowd was --- I caught 4 keeper walleye off the Island drifting... HOWEVER I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPYER if I would have followed you guys to your HOLE... Did you go up the wakarusa or on the main lake channel in the tree's.... Yea I know I'am fishing!!!!!!
John H

[John H]

I Messed up reading an old post of Charlie and McFlat it was Aug 2005, I guess this old man needs to pay more attention...
TODAY 5-23-06 There were 18 boats dragging nighcrawlers on the hump out by the Island and they were picking up walleye and white bass - Most were small. I got luck with 4 keepers.
John H

[phlat]

Gonna be out at the lake this weekend and hoping to find some decent fish. Not sure if ill be shore-bound or will have a boat. Camping on the west side of the lake. Anyone else gonna brave the heat and people and try to fish at all?

[warcraft1975]

i will be out there with my son and father in law

[bigflathunter]

Where are the cats at this time of year on Clinton? I've finally got my boat (almost) done and it is lakeworthy, I've been out there the last three days but mostly just scouting around. I'd like to get a boat load of channels and have a fish fry for the family, but so far I haven't done much fishing. I haven't had any luck finding shad either, so any pointers would be helpful.

[kscatman]

Your guess is as good as mine man I was all over yesterday and never had a hit. I've had people tell me that they spawn on the dam in early june, and are caught close to shore on worms and minnows under bobbers. If I had a boat and the wind was'nt too bad thats probably where i'd try right now.

[bigflathunter]

We should get together some time and hit the lake. If neither of us knows where we're going we can look together. I set a trotline from a dead tree today, I'll be going out tomorrow to check that and see if I caught anything, I'll scout around a little bit more but I won't be fishing much since Donita and I will be painting our new place.

I'd imagine that Rock Creek wouldn't be too bad a place to try if you're going without a boat.

I'm trying to talk Charlie into taking or going with me some time to show me a spot or two. Maybe he and I can get a chum hole going? I'd keep it going while he was on his 7 days, that'd keep it pretty hot...

[kscatman]

yeah, that sounds like fun Aaron, we'll have to get together and fish sometime. I'd like to get some channel cats from clinton for the skillet too. I've been catching alot of fish in the river, but I do'nt care to eat those. It would be fun to meet you even if we don't catch anything.

[bigflathunter]

Right on. I'm getting ready to head out to check my line, I might drown a worm or two and see if I can't catch any that way, too.

Shoot me a PM some time if you want to go out. I get off work at 5 and I don't have lights on the boat yet so I'm very limited in the time I can spend out there. I'm hungry for catfish and won't eat anything out of the river...

[bigflathunter]

If you're into catching whatever is biting we could go out and drift across the hump out from the corps park. I went out today and tossed glass shad raps as we were drifting with worms and did okay. Between my dad and myself we boated two small walleye and 9 white bass over the course of about two hours. Three of the whites were keeper sized, everything else had to get thrown back, but it was fun. I marked quite a few fish on the shallow drop offs either side of the hump, and quite a few suspended about 1 foot off the bottom in 6-8 feet of water. If we'd have had some minnows we probably would have done even better.

[warcraft1975]

corners of the dam are hot right now for eater channels,if thats what you are looking for

[bigflathunter]

Thats exactly what I'm looking for, thanks for the advice. I've got worms and worms, I hope that works. I'll head out today and try.

[kscatman]

I tried 3 different spots at clinton, no luck. You guys may want to avoid the state park for a few days. The wakarusa music fest is going on and the state park is chock full of PETA loving dirty hippies. So unless you like the smell of filth, and like seeing chicks with more hair on their legs than their head, stay out of there. If it's anything like last year there will be dozens of the dirty little vagrants hanging around trying to panhandle their way out of lawrence. I know KDWP makes money off of this festival,but I can't stand hippies or any of their vegan anti hunting, anti fishing beliefs. Ok, i'm done ranting now!!

[bigflathunter]

I know what you mean, I had to wait in line about ten minutes just to get into the park, where I then saw at least one who looked like a hitch hiker, as well as several of the "hippie types" you mentioned. I won't be going back this weekend.

We anchored at the north end of the dam in about 4 feet casting with worms into about 2-3 ft of water, one strike that "could" have been a rock hanging on Donita's sinker as the boat moved (if you know what I mean). We then went back to Clinton point and drifted some more, ended up with one white bass in one pass, then we had to take off.

[center12]

Nice rant Eric, rep points sent your way:big_smile:

[center12]

Aaron, is the water still up in the willows between the beach area and clinton point?? I've always had luck on stinkbait catching eater sized fish on the willow edge and in the holes. Same goes for the willows in the Rock creek area. The water may be shallow but have not had problems catching cats on SureShot punchbait and Wicked Sticky, they also really like the Premo Super Sticky Blood from Walmart................a Looper Rig is the best for dip bait. If you can find willow edges with a couple feet of water it would be worth switching to fresh cut shad for larger channels, I've also trotlined Flathead off the flats between the willows and the channel.

I hope that helps because I just told you EVERYTHING I know:sad2:

[Rajun_Cajun]

my uncle said that the crappie are like pretty much done for the summer cause he said there catching like little males at around 20ft. =/

[kscatman]

Ya know, after reading the paper I don't think we'll be having a music fest in our state park next year. Seems the hippies like our state park but aren't real fond of our state police. heh,heh,heh....

[bigflathunter]

Thanks for the advice, Charlie. The lake is still 1.5 ft high, and I'm pretty sure I saw the water up into them. I'm thinking real hard about going and trying...we'll see. I'll let you know how I do if I go.

[center12]

Went and bought another 100lb. of chicken scratch today, got it soaking as we speak. Serious chumming is just around the corner:big_smile:

I'll let you local boys know where the "hole" is once I get a good one going. Probably start one Sat. then fish it a bit on Sunday. Got to get started filling the freezer for my sons birthday/fishfry party.

[center12]

Dumped some chum, but Clinton was hard on me this evening. Will probably fish the chum tomorrow, after I go to Cabela's:big_smile:

[center12]

It's so bloody hot I think I'll night fish this evening, also bought a blacklight so I have to play with that:big_smile: . Hope I get to see some of that Solar Green Trilene dancing tonight.

[John H]

Keep us posted Charlie... Yea to Hot for this old man... Night or Morning for me. I got one of those green lights from Cabela's just the other day also/// Let me know how it works. Looks like you will be able to get to the water before me..
Oh, I had plastic surgery - couldn't afford very much as you can see, but exceptable enough for this forum. ha ha

John H

[center12]

Nice to put a face to a name John, I won't name names but I've seen worse pictures on this site:ooooh:

Had plans of getting out today but I fell in love with the AC. I'll let you know how it goes and where if I do any good.

Got pheasant on the grill, got to run........yum!!

[center12]

Dead calm when I got to the lake last night, by 12 it was starting to whitecap in the north end. Nothing like being in the tree's and stumps after dark when the whitecaps start kicking up:sad2:

Blacklights rock!!

Shad are very scarce for me, did catch enough for the evening though.........one BIG one.

Caught a couple little 10-12" channel that had their heads all swelled up just like spawning males, never seen fish so small in a spawning suit.

I'll be happy when the spawn is complete.

[OsageCountyCatman]

Ya know, after reading the paper I don't think we'll be having a music fest in our state park next year. Seems the hippies like our state park but aren't real fond of our state police. heh,heh,heh....

Douglas County SFL isn't being used for the next couple years, maybe they can move it there?:lol:

Just when did the hippies start showing up in the park? Turnpike cops had carloads of stoners in handcuffs practically every time I went through the Lecompton exit on turnpike. This was 2 weeks before Wakarusa festival.

[center12]

Tell me a fish story John H., how'd ya do today???

[John H]

Tell me a fish story John H., how'd ya do today???

Hey Charlie and everyone interested in Clinton. The SoyBean Chumming has started. First trip Wed spent much of my time checking for good spots on the channel. picked up 7 channel to 6 pounds. Thurs headed out with my wife, who seldom has fished with me. She tore me up. She got three over 6 pounds most 2 to 3.5 pounds limited out. We mainly fish for the skillet not looking for record large one's. We were on the water first bait in the water at 8:05 and headed for the ramp finished at 10:30 great day, but getting terrible hot. I was glad to get off the water at that time. There are a lot of chummers on the wakee channel directly across or south of the State Swimming beach. I tend to stay away from the large groups, however with all that chumming there had to be a lot of channels attracted to the location. I located a few little cut backs in the channel and spent our time on those. I will not venture on the lake over the holiday' to many jet ski's and I don't have enought ammunition!!!!!!! I will wait now until the lake settles down and the NUT's are away from the lake.
Stay safe and afloat John H

[center12]

Good to hear John. What you using for bait? Did you find the leak yet?

[warcraft1975]

went to clinton last night for a bit netted some very small shad around the corners of the dam,me and my friend got a about 8 channels all where about 1-2 pounds on shad and dip bait

[slimcat]

Was wondering if there were any reports of any 80lb flatheads been caught from Clinton this year yet. I have heard the Moore guys got another hog but don't know exactly how big.