Went out to Kanopolis, Friday night mostly to catch up with family. Threw in the rods and tackle figuring I’d get a chance to see how warm weather fishing for trout in Kansas might work. On the KDWP site it mentions that trout were caught last year into July–and that some again survived the summer. I’m thinking that at least one might have survived two summers.
Got to the stream about 7:30 Friday night.
Headed down the road, in my shorts and sandals, hoping that things were not too overgrown, yet.
I knew from experience that the stream would be buggy in the evening but would the trout be there and willing?
Look closely in the water on the near shore—not only do you see a rising trout but also the long concrete bunker that KDWP put in several of the holes for trout sanctuaries.
More rising trout:
I didn’t move off this spot for the next hour and a half. Caught a half a dozen trout and about a dozen bluegill. All the trout were browns. All fish were caught on an olive caddis, #16.
The bluegill ranged up to the size of my hand.
Had a much larger bass hooked for 3 aerials before I lost it.
Gave it up since I had to walk out through rattlesnake country, in the dark, without a flashlight and with only my Chacos for protection….hmmm, which side of the continuum do I reside? Feerless……Witless? No need to answer that, my wife let’s me know plenty.
Got up early the next morning for more of the same for a couple of hours. Sampled a couple of other pools. The top action was not quite as active but still I fished the dry. Caught about as many fish and I didn’t sample a 1/10 of the water available. Saw no other fisher folk of any kind.
This is the biggest brown, I’ve caught in KS but…..
I wish I had brought in the one I hooked just before this one….He was a brown that was at least 3 times larger than this on–at least in weight. Man was I surprised. He didn’t break off and I thought I had him well hooked but the hook pulled out as the fish raced for the concrete bunker. If I’m right about that fish being a brown and that size then he was either a survivor or they stocked much larger browns than they had in the past. Whewwww, I wish I had time to go back, this week.
This is why these fish can be so difficult to sneak on….they are survivors by May.
If you are looking for a fun mix of warmwater and coldwater surprises here in KS you really ought to consider heading out to the seep stream. You could mix in some lake fishing as well—I think that is why I didn’t see any other fisher folk on the stream. The lake is fishing real well right now. If you do, head out be ready to get your feet wet and stay low so no one will see you.
