Hi all,

I have just started to fish over in Jackson County mainly Longview Lake. I havent had much luck only a Bass and a couple gills.  Any pointers or tips for these bodies of water. Longview seems like a good fishery but hard going so far.  Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

Hello elorenzen,
When I first moved out here 18 years ago I lived in Lee’s Summit. I to started fishing Blue Springs Lake, way to crowded for the size of lake, Longview Lake, a better Walleye Lake than anything I think and still very crouded, and Prairie Lee Lake, the best of the 3 that I found. I have not ever fished Jacomo Lake as my motor is bigger than 25 H.P. and I refuse to pull my prop off the motor. No prop, no can load the boat. As far as fishing methods it is a seasonal thing for me. Jerk baits in cold water along with a mixture of jig & pig. Rattle traps, spinner baits, buzz baits, and shallow diving crank baits for pre-spawn, spawn, and shortly after post spawn. From there we go into the inferno called summer time out here. My choice then is plastics on long tapering points. The more gravel or rock on them the better. Creek channels on the inside bends work for me with deep cranking patterns. Early on early off for me or launch about 6:00 pm and fish till dark. My California born and raised blood still can’t get used to this horrific heat and humidity. Hop this helps a little.

Looks like the Humminbird side imaging is working at Longview Lake. They discovered a dead man in a pick-up truck they claim has been there for 2 months. He has been missing for 1 year now but claims he has been in the lake for two months. That has got to be some fantastic gear Humminbird manufactures. I sure wish a regular Joe could afford to buy it.

Thanks for the reply Basshoe. As you can see I don't get on here much.   I am starting to get that spring fever so this is the closest to fishing as I can get right now.  All the info helps I will probably be giving it a shot out there again this year and hope for better luck.  I primarly stick to longview and occasionally hit Jacomo. I usually dont fish much in the dead of summer either as I am from Northern WI and still can't understand how people function down here in this heat.  With all hopes I will be hitting the water sometime in march! Any spring crappie advice for around here?

Hey brother, late is better than never and that’s for sure. I have not fished Longview for about 16 years now and I have never fished Jacomo because they want me to pull my prop off as it is a 25 horse limit out there. Crappies down here are just like them puppies up north though I reckon. Spring time is my favorite time for Crappie and Bass as far as that goes. I am primarily a shallow water fisherman as I have a tough time trying to figure out summer and winter deep water haunts. Hopefully the new Humminbird Side Image Unit I bought this winter will help me out there. I fish Smithville a lot for Crappie in the spring and they are easy targets because they are shallow. I am on a boat so I will use standard light tackle spinning rigs and throw small swim baits, beetle spins, and jigs along the bank as you can see them little puppies splashing around and carrying on as they are preparing beds. I have also used a 14 foot kind of a cane poll thing I bought at Rogers Sporting Goods up north in Liberty. It is a lot of fun and it gives you enough length that you can walk along the bank and dabble for them. That is a real hoot and you can load up an ice chest with the 15 fish limit pretty quickly on a good day. I wouldn’t advise Smithville Lake for Bass though. I can catch them out there but man it can be tough. It’s the largest intercity body of water we have around here and it just gets beat to death. The Crappie are always willing to munch your offering though and there are some nice ones out there to. Don’t forget Mr. Walleye down there in Longview. As you know they are some fine eating and they love the rocks up shallow and it starts getting good in the cold early March as that is when they like to spawn. I have some friends that do well there for Walleye every year. Good luck and if I am still here I will holler at ya and we will go out on some fishing trips. I have an interview for a position in Grand Island Nebraska this week and may be moving up there soon should everything line up. Take care and I hope some of this helps you out. Keep the line wet and the rest will follow.

Yeah I am hoping I can get on some crappies and walleyes once the water temps come up a bit and it starts staying lighter later so I can get out during the week. I have never been up to smithville, I have a pretty small boat so it a bit intimadating with all the boat traffic out there. Good luck on the job and take care.

Yes sir, I hear ya on the warming up a bit more. I’m kind of over this winter thing we are dealing with. It’s been a nice couple days but it’s going to get cold again they said tonight on the news. I did see a fellow wetting a line today over around Lawrence KS. I honked and gave him thumbs up as I went by. Don’t be too intimidated by Smithville brother. There are some primitive boat launches up around highway C and some nice water to fish up there too. I see guys all the time on the lake in canoes and small boats. You do for sure want to stay off the main lake though. It is the biggest body of water we have in the inter-city and it does take a horrible pounding by the recreational type. Had the interview on Thursday and it went really well. I should hear something by Wednesday I think. If I don’t get it and stay local we will hook up and do some fishing as Spring moves in. I fish a lot of Conservation Lakes all around the state. There are some big Bass in them and they don’t get a whole lot of pressure. Good luck and talk with ya later.

I know the thread is over a year old, but give the lake at Blue and Grey Park south of Grain Valley a try. I've caught 8 pound cats out of there.

Where is that located? I looked around on google maps and didnt see that park listed? Is there anything else worth the trip over there besides the cats?

On a Longview note fished a handful of times this spring and summer and didnt fair so well, tried mainly the trees for crappies and only a few keepers.... Trying again tomorrow and hoping for better luck.

You don't say where in the county you are. Take Buckner Tarsney Rd south. Go past Colbern Rd. Go about 4 miles and you'll come to an earth contact home with horse stables behind it. Turn left at the home and follow the road until your first right turn. Turn right and turn right into the parking lot, after you crest the little hill.

Also try Lone Jack Lake. Continue past the pond at the park. You'll go up a hill and follow the winding road and you will come to the entrance road of the lake on the left side. Bass, crappie, cats and blue gill. Also good for sqirrel and quail hunting.