Is There Any Link For James A. Reed?

[troutfiend1985]

I was just wondering if there was any way to get a link here for JAmes A. Reed Conservation Area just outside of Kansas City? I see there is a link for Busch in St. Louis, and I know that I'm not the only one who chases fish around James A. Reed. By the way, happy holidays.

[Phil Lilley]

By "link" I think you're asking for a separate forum for James A Reed Conservation Area, right?

Here's the only thing I found on google - http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/applications/moatlas/AreaSummaryPage.aspx?txtAreaID=5501

If there's enough interest of those on the forum who may fish these lakes, sure. But I don't want to put up a ton of forums (like there's not a ton now) and not get any activity on them. I do go through and check forums occasionally and remove forums that aren't being use. Haven't done that in a while though.

So we'll see how many respond to your topic. I'd love to add it if there's interest.

Thanks for suggesting.

[Dave Cook]

It's 5 minutes from my house. I checked Tuesday and the lakes still had ice on them. I could break it easily but wasn't willing to open up any holes on Coot for trout. There were some already off of the handicap dock. On Wednesday I figured there could be some open water after the warm night. I was ready to go out there around 3pm but then the thunder started. So I cancelled that plan.

Whatever wasn't frozen this afternoon (Thurs) will be frozen all next week and then some, Highs in the teens for the next couple of days, and then it is suppose to turn colder.

When it isn't frozen, I usually fish olive mini-jigs (like a John Deere) about 12 -18 inches deep under a cork. I start at the boat ramp. That is where the trout are stocked. Fish the brush close to the bank. If that doesn't work, just a short roll cast out is far enough out. If you don't get bit, just keep working the shoreline to your right. There are a few fly fishermen out there that know some hot spots. If you see anyone with a fly rod --- follow them. They probably have a honey hole. Talk to them. We're a friendly bunch.

If you a thinking something other than trout or fly fishing no problem. I spend more time crappie fishing out there than I do trout fishing.

Dave

[Wayne SW/MO]

Not sure what you mean by link, but you can go the MDC site-fishing-atlas-Jackson co or James a Reed for a lot of information.

[shaker]

Dave, do you fly fish for crappie at Reed? I have never fished there but don't live far away, Pleasant Hill, and swing by there now and then just looking. Most of the lakes look like they would be pretty easy to walk around and fly fish but is on the "To Do" list. Thanks.

[Dave Cook]

I usually fly fish jig and cork for crappie in the brush near shore.. I do that starting in Feb when the ice melts and keep fishing until the moss gets bad. Woolly buggers (unweighted) work pretty good in April for crappie and bluegill. If I can't find crappie near shore, then I'll try jig and weighted cork over the brush way offshore with a spinning rod.

The neat thing about trout fishing at Coot with a jig and cork is if you start catching crappie there, then you have some idea about when to fish the other lakes. You can catch a bucketful of crappie at Coot but most are under 7 inches. The lake with the biggest crappie is Jackrabbit but the numbers are down on that lake. The best all round fishing lake is probably Nell.

The other trout lake is Plover. Besides trout in the winter, there are a few big crappie there. It mosses up first with algae and can be a mess to fish.

Most people fish both lakes. It seems like one winter you will do better at a certain lake and the next year it could be the other lake.

Spin fishing is good in both lakes with things like rooster tails or little cleos.

There is some nice sized redear fishing in all the lakes at JAR but you don't usually find them in big numbers. During their spawn, shady banks seem to hold them.

You need a pair of rubber boots to keep your feet dry in the spring. They keep the area around the lakes mowed so you stay out of the chiggers and there is usually room for fly casting.

[Phil Lilley]

So do you think a forum for James A. Reed Conservation Area would be useful on the forum?

[troutfiend1985]

So do you think a forum for James A. Reed Conservation Area would be useful on the forum?

I'm prejudice about this, one because I live in Kansas City and the other because I don't have to do the work it takes to create a forum Personally I would like to see a test run maybe this spring. I know that the ice on the lakes doesn't have everyone out looking for largemouth bass and crappie right now, two species that are probably the most popular to go for in this area. This area also holds hybrid stripers that get pretty big and there are flathead catfish and channel cats among other things.

Again, if it’s too much work I can understand, but I do know that I would post more often as I fish here about once a week on average, in the summer when school is out I probably fish here two to three times a week. I know for a fact that this is a very popular fishing area in KC I just think it might take warm weather plus a few people telling their friends about a forum on here to make it a popular forum.

On the other hand there have only been a few posts on this link. However, its only been a few days. Also, there seems to be at least three people already interested and I’m sure that when spring hits there will be even more people that have heard about the topics on a forum for James A Reed. The forum will probably never be as big as the Busch forum, but I would be willing to bet that it would be fairly popular during the spring, summer and fall months. It’s at least something to consider.

I’ll be coming down tomorrow to stay at your lodge for a couple days Lilley. My brother and dad will be joining me and we are looking forward to it.

[shaker]

Dave thank you for the info, I'll give it a shot soon as the ice goes out. That might be a while the way the weather forecast looks. As for a forum I don't have any ideal how it would work, I know that there is very little said on the Truman forum, wish there was more. I know that I could post more than I do, I fish there from early spring to winter usually, just don't think about posting any info about it. So if you see someone wondering around that looks like they don't know what they are doing it'll probably be me. Thanks again.

[Randall]

I wouldn't mind seeing one. I live in KC and am looking for a place to catch hybrids besides the spillway below Jacomo. I'd probably post results this spring. Sounds like there are a few others who fish it too.