Is It Worth The Drive?

[redbird]

I'm a backsliding trout addict who's addiction was rekindled by a couple of fishing trips to my brothers home waters in Wyoming. I live near KC and good trout water is a bit of a drive from here. Have taken the kids to Bennet the last few weekends. Im just looking for some different waters and it appears as though I can save myself about an hour round trip going to Hickory. Im not expecting the action that a trout park can offer, but also woulndt mind a little less crowded area.

Is Hickory Creek worth the drive? Ive heard a mixed bag of comments here and elsewhere.

[roundtrout]

Redbird,

I've only been to Hickory once, last year. It wasn't nearly as crowded as the parks. The action was slower, but I really enjoyed it and am looking to go back soon. If you've got a couple of days, Capps and Crane aren't too far to combine a trip.

I think its worth the trip, but the recent flooding may have made it unfishable for a while. There was a clean-up effort after last year's flooding and it may need it again.

You may want to start from the park and work your way downstream. That's my plan, anyway, the next time I get the chance to run down there. I've been wanting to work my way down to the Spring River confluence.

Good luck and post a report if you go any time soon!

Bob

[redbird]

Redbird,

I've only been to Hickory once, last year. It wasn't nearly as crowded as the parks. The action was slower, but I really enjoyed it and am looking to go back soon. If you've got a couple of days, Capps and Crane aren't too far to combine a trip.

I think its worth the trip, but the recent flooding may have made it unfishable for a while. There was a clean-up effort after last year's flooding and it may need it again.

You may want to start from the park and work your way downstream. That's my plan, anyway, the next time I get the chance to run down there. I've been wanting to work my way down to the Spring River confluence.

Good luck and post a report if you go any time soon!

Bob

Thanks I think Im going to try it out in a couple weeks, Ill post if I do.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Hey let me know when you are comming and I will meet with you if you want.

As roundtrout stated, Capp's and Crane are close also. Capp's is about a 15 minute drive from Hickory and Crane will be about 45.

I haven't fished any since all the flooding we have had lately. But by the looks of things there is not a lot of wood in the water. The holes and gravel bars have sure changed though.

Bring a spinning rod also to hit some of other creeks as the smallies will be feeling pretty good.

How long do you plan on staying? One day? all weekend?

Oh, if you plan on working your way down to the Spring River confluence, better bring some comfy footwear and a Kan. license as well. Its a long walk from Neosho to Riverton Kan. What roundtrout meant to say was Shoal Creek. I have worked that section a few times. There are some nice holes, but not a lot of action.

[redbird]

Hey let me know when you are comming and I will meet with you if you want.

As roundtrout stated, Capp's and Crane are close also. Capp's is about a 15 minute drive from Hickory and Crane will be about 45.

I haven't fished any since all the flooding we have had lately. But by the looks of things there is not a lot of wood in the water. The holes and gravel bars have sure changed though.

Bring a spinning rod also to hit some of other creeks as the smallies will be feeling pretty good.

How long do you plan on staying? One day? all weekend?

Oh, if you plan on working your way down to the Spring River confluence, better bring some comfy footwear and a Kan. license as well. Its a long walk from Neosho to Riverton Kan. What roundtrout meant to say was Shoal Creek. I have worked that section a few times. There are some nice holes, but not a lot of action.

Great thanks for the info! I will be down probably 2 weeks from tomorrow probably just with my fishing buddy, (leave the family at home until I get to know the area). Id love to find some smallie spots too. Are they close to Hickory? What should I bring to catch them. As far as I can tell for trout in Hickory it looks like attractor patterns, how about maribou jigs? Do they ever take a dry fly? Thanks again, Im so glad I found this sight what a great place to share with other addicts like myself.

[Chief Grey Bear]

We will have some brownie fishing with in a reasonable drive. Meaning just a few minutes drive. Right now I think cranks with a crawdad pattern ( Reble or Wiggle Wart) or Bass jigs with a crawdad trailer. Spinners should start working any time. Of course you know how this time of year can be. Very finicky or anything you toss at them.

I'm in a holding pattern on Hickory at the moment. Due to the floods, poaching and just plain keeping fish, I'm not for sure there are any in there. I spent some time there this morning and never even saw one. I think we need a stocking. Now I hit the regular holes and not some of the lesser known honey holes.

I have no idea what is going on over at Capp's at the moment. It has been a couple or 3 months since I fished it.

[Buzz]

Hickory Creek is a great little White Ribbon fishery from Nov. thru March 1st. I have fished it only once since the catch and release ended. I was there on March 23, less than 2 weeks after catch and keep started, and caught only 3 trout. I would think that without a restocking recently it would not be very productive. That is unfortunately the way White Ribbon fishing is around here. I would be surprised if it is restocked again until Oct.

As for Bass, Chief is right. If you can get down to Shoal Creek or where Hickory runs in you could probably catch a few smallies and biggies. I've caught some nice largemouth and spots in the last couple of weeks on SB's, HawgTails and Wigglewarts at a different part of Shoal creek.

If you want trout I'd have to agree that MAYBE Capp's, but definately Crane would be the ticket. I'm not sure if Capp's has been restocked since the first big flood.

In a couple of weeks without anymore blowouts Shoal creek is going to be hot.

If I fish it next weekend I'll post something. Maybe Chief wants to do a little scouting???

Welcome to the site. It is the best I've found.

Buzz

[redbird]

Hickory Creek is a great little White Ribbon fishery from Nov. thru March 1st. I have fished it only once since the catch and release ended. I was there on March 23, less than 2 weeks after catch and keep started, and caught only 3 trout. I would think that without a restocking recently it would not be very productive. That is unfortunately the way White Ribbon fishing is around here. I would be surprised if it is restocked again until Oct.

As for Bass, Chief is right. If you can get down to Shoal Creek or where Hickory runs in you could probably catch a few smallies and biggies. I've caught some nice largemouth and spots in the last couple of weeks on SB's, HawgTails and Wigglewarts at a different part of Shoal creek.

If you want trout I'd have to agree that MAYBE Capp's, but definately Crane would be the ticket. I'm not sure if Capp's has been restocked since the first big flood.

In a couple of weeks without anymore blowouts Shoal creek is going to be hot.

If I fish it next weekend I'll post something. Maybe Chief wants to do a little scouting???

Welcome to the site. It is the best I've found.

Buzz

Thank you. I will definately keep Hickory in mind for the C&R season. I have been looking for a way to keep fishing through those long cold winter months. I would love to catch some smallies or largemouths down there though, hows the fly fishing for smallmouth? Also I would love to catch some of those McClouds on Crane. How far from Neosho is that? They are beautiful. It reminds me a little of the little wild cutthroat and cutbows my brother and I were catching in the mountains in Wyoming last summer. They weren't real big, but they were WILD, and they were beautiful.

[Buzz]

I only started fly fishing for bass the last two summers and have caught some very nice 2 and 3 lb. smallmouth along with qiute a few nice largemouth from Shoal Creek. I haven't tried it yet this year but I might in some of the more wadeable places. Next to trout I love catching smallies on the fly because they are such great fighters. Woolybuggers in olive, black, and brown really call them out.

Crane is about 45 mins. from Neosho. It's an easy drive. I want to get back down there soon. Those fish are definately a beautiful strain, and them being wild makes it that much more fun.

Just let us know if we can help anymore. And definately keep Hickory and Capp's in mind for next fall and winter trout .

Buzz

[Chief Grey Bear]

Hey, I'm always up for some "scouting". In fact my plan is to do a little floating WED and THUR after work. I was going this even but didn't feel like dodging the storms.

Ain't it about time we make a run to Bushwhacker and Lamar? We also need to make a run up to Harmony Mission.