Originally posted by: John C. Taylor on 10/24/2006 7:48:51 AM

Hello Trace and welcome aboard. It's a tough road to travel when you get injured but I'm glad you're able to get out and fish with your son.

How's the water level in your local lakes? Kanopolis is so low the boat ramps are dry. Marion seems to holding up okay but we're heading for some serious trouble if we have a dry winter and spring. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed.

As far as fish are concerned, if it swims I want it.

Later--------------JCT

Originally posted by: Trace on 9/23/2006 9:14:18 PM

I live in Sedan Kansas, was injured in the Army,sometimes hard to get around but I have a boat, not a big fancy boat but it is a boat and I fish every chance I get. My son and I have some places that we run trotlines for Flatheads and we fish the old and new Sedan Lakes. Both lakes are ranked in the top 5 bass lakes in Kansas and I have never had any trouble catching all the bass I could handle out of either one. If anyone is ever in the area or would just like to escape from Wichita for the day to fish someplace new, I would be happy to take you out to fish for whatever type of fish you desire.

I was on new Sedan Lake today with a friend and caught a walleye, white bass, some crappie, largemouths and a channel cat all on panfish jigs. I really wanted some crappie and some big blue gill but any and all fish are fun even if they are not the target for the day.

Let me know if anyone out there wants to do some fishing in this area, I would be happy to take you out with me!

Originally posted by: Trace on 10/24/2006 9:44:36 AM

Hello John,

Water level is down, it is much worse in the Old Sedan Lake than New Sedan Lake. The boat ramp in the new lake (well I guess it should be called newer lake, it is 25 yrs old) is in good shape and putting the boat in is not a problem. The main river I fish over by Cerdarvale is in good shape also. The shallows are just right at the moment, we ran trot lines last weekend and made a great haul. We put 150lbs worth of catfish fillets in the freezer from two 25 hook sets and only one night. We released 2 flatheads over 25 pounds and all the small fish under 5lbs. The biggest flathead was pushing the 50lb mark.

It is a good thing I have a small boat, in the new lake where the river feeds in, you can see the rocks and stumps just under the water. My boat only sets down 6 inches so I can get up into the feeder creek with little trouble and tossing jigs up around the stumps and rocks has been producing some real nice crappie as well as bass, a few white bass and channel cats. The walleye have become a bit illusive but there is no shortage of fish.

Water level has been down a bit but it hasn't kept me off the water.

Originally posted by: retired stump jumper on 7/31/2007 11:46:19 AM

Hellow TRACE Welcome to the land of OZ & fishing I will be gone all of august but when I get back I would love to have your Email address so I can get ahold of you to set up a fishing get together between you & your son & I. You can Email me at any time for I can check my mail from my brother in laws computor. Emaiil me at ehuffman@cox.net Just an old retired 1st sgt. & a stump jumper.

Originally posted by: retired stump jumper on 8/4/2007 2:22:41 PM

Hellow TRACE I live in Cherryvale How about getting together in early Sept & doing some fishing in your Sedan lakes I`ve never fished them. I mostly fish Big Hill or Elk City lake somtimes I fish Montgumery state lake or buffalo lake. I would like to fish with you if you could put up with an old man. I spent 31years with Uncle Sams Army hoping to hear from you some time Earl Huffman

Originally posted by: Trace on 9/4/2007 8:30:38 AM

Stump Jumper, I sent you an email, let me know if you got it. I would be happy to take you fishing on some of these lakes here. I have been wanting to fish Card Creek and that is in your neck of the woods. Recent floods have kept me away from there but as soon as things are back to normal, I woul,d like to put my boat out on that river.

Originally posted by: retired stump jumper on 9/10/2007 5:15:49 PM

Sorry Trace but I had my computor unpluged while I was cone. We just got back home & ready to do some fishing so E mail me & let me know when you can go. ehuffman@cox.net

Originally posted by: Trace on 9/12/2007 7:52:57 AM

I sent you another email.

Originally posted by: retired stump jumper on 9/12/2007 2:22:24 PM

Sorry Trace my friend But I never got it I do not know what is wrong but would you try again please.
stump Jumper

Originally posted by: Trace on 9/13/2007 11:50:42 AM

I figured I might try to make this easier. I sent you a PM through this MB with my phone number.

Originally posted by: retired stump jumper on 9/19/2007 8:17:47 PM

Well TRACE I got home before 8:00 PM & did I catch it She said she did not know where I went She said she did not even have a telephone number to call& why did`nt I take the cell phone so I could at least call her. I did not take the cell phone because it needed charging & she did not remember me telling her where I was going oh well I knew she proble would`nt remember me saying anything her remember is about 2 minuteslong any way I had a wonderfull time thanks for the invite & hope to do it again sometime just an ole retired 1st sgt.

Originally posted by: Trace on 9/19/2007 9:31:28 PM

Happy to hear you made it home OK. I was wondering how bad you would get chewed out, my Wife is the same way, the problem is, mine still remembers everything I have ever done wrong. I had a fantastic time and really look forward to the next trip. My 4 yrs in the Army and 2 very short combat experiences can not compare to your 31 yrs and 3 wars. You are a fascinating individual.

Originally posted by: retired stump jumper on 9/28/2007 6:17:51 PM

Hi ole buddy. Well I got the wife home from the hospital today, & it looks like it`s going to be awhile before I get to go fishing again
she is`nt in the best of health right now some one has to be with her all the time for the moment & i`m elected for the time being as I have no one to leave her with right now. Bot have hopes of finding someone before long. will let you know when I can go again .

Just an ole stump jumper & retired service man of 30 yrs.

Originally posted by: Trace on 9/29/2007 9:22:44 AM

Sorry to hear about that Earl. I have been busy working on my project and have only been fishing 2 times in the last 2 weeks. I did not make it over to Big Hill last weekend, I had other things come up. I still plan on getting over there, I just have to find the time to do it. Some unforeseen problems came up and I have been trying to get them worked out so I will be fishing soon also I hope.

Originally posted by: retired stump jumper on 9/30/2007 2:47:24 PM

Hellow TRACE well let me Know when you will be comming to Big Hill & I will meet you there. I have someone to stay with my wife when I need them too so I will be able to fish once in a while. Just let me know a couple of days ahead so I can make arrangements for somewon to stay with her. EARL

Originally posted by: retired stump jumper on 10/5/2007 5:23:31 PM

Well a grandson & I went to toranto lake fishing early this morning & caught a couple of nice flatheads one 25 lbs. the other one was only 12 lbs both just a nice eating size. so we kept them & cleaned them We caught a few channel but they were to small to keep my grandson caught a three lb. bass on chicken liver, he was reeling it in when the bass hit. We sure had a good time. wish I had taken my camera along with us. will take it next time. just an ole ret. stumpjumper

Originally posted by: Trace on 10/6/2007 10:17:18 AM

Sounds like a great day out on the lake. I have been fishing a few times but other stuff has me tied up at the moment. The crappie seem to be biting again but not real well. I took a friend out yesterday and he caught 23 crappie. I only caught 2 but I was trying a few new things trying to catch some walleye. I did catch 3 and missed several others. I was crawling some of those Hoochie Koochie Shad along the bottom, something I had not tried, and it seemed to trigger the walleye well enough. I did land the biggest walleye I had ever caught out of the lake, it was 28" long. We were fishing the new lake where you and I fished. As far as I know, that is the biggest walleye anyone has ever pulled out of that lake.

Originally posted by: Trace on 10/8/2007 11:43:03 AM

Earl, I ran into the state biologist out at the new lake where you and I fished. He said that to many people have been catching and releasing fish and it has caused problems. He was doing a survey of the lake and said that 15 bass per acre in the 10" to 12" range still need to be removed and that comes to about 2000 fish. He also mentioned that the state may be banning all catch and release tournaments during the months of June through August because recent research has shown that large bass caught and released during those months have a 70% die off rate after being released. He said even those that are caught and released immediately during those months only have a 30% survival rate. He said it would be just as good for people to keep 100% of the fish no matter what size they are during those months because chances are they will die anyway. Catch and release fish during the months of December through January have a 70% survival rate and fish caught during the temperate months have a 50% survival rate and he said that research shows 50% survival is acceptable in most fish populations.

It was an interesting conversation and I learned a lot from it.

Originally posted by: retired stump jumper on 10/10/2007 11:49:04 AM

Well Trace when are we going to get together again & do some fishing. Stump Jumper

Originally posted by: Trace on 10/12/2007 8:32:19 AM

That is a good question Earl. I have only been fishing 4 times since you were here. I have had a few things come up that have interfered with my fishing. I really want to get out to Big Hill but I just haven't had time.