Squaw Creek

[Bwinkert]

anyone fished it lately? Debating heading up tuesday May 24...itching to get out and after some carp/gar.

Brad

[strangercreek]

I haven't been up there in a while but they are usually draining the wetlands this time of year, and with all the rain, the water levels are probably ideal. I would go back in the Mallard Marsh area as there is alot of access to water and decent visibility most of the time. I was up there a month or so ago and actually saw a few carp hitting the top and jumping out of the water (I haven't really witnessed this anywhere except SC several times, or maybe I just don't pay attention). Of course look for the gar (lots of shortnose) in the various pools (I mostly see them on the east side of the refuge). The water control structure (if water is running out) will have hundreds of fish stacked on top of each other, but that's no fun. I was there a year or so ago during this time as well and saw literally thousands of large crawdads below the water control structure (no exaggeration, thousands of them). There are also craploads of snakes everywhere, but I think they are just diamond back water snakes, banded water snakes etc. I've never seen a copperhead there. They also have an endangered rattlesnake (Massasauga rattler) that they chip/track on the refuge but I've never seen one (there are videos on youtube of them tracking the snakes) but they are supposedly non aggressive. You can always stop by the fishing pond they built in the front area of the refuge as well. I've seen some kids pull nice crappie, bluegill, and catfish out of there (I helped out with the last kids fishing derby there).

FYI, my avatar pic is a Squaw Creek carp

Here is the Massasauga video

[Bwinkert]

I went up last year and did pretty well and loved it! I'm gonna head up tomorrow if anyone is interested. I'm leaving from South KC around 7amish. I just wasnt sure if there was still water around there or not.

I haven't been up there in a while but they are usually draining the wetlands this time of year, and with all the rain, the water levels are probably ideal. I would go back in the Mallard Marsh area as there is alot of access to water and decent visibility most of the time. I was up there a month or so ago and actually saw a few carp hitting the top and jumping out of the water (I haven't really witnessed this anywhere except SC several times, or maybe I just don't pay attention). Of course look for the gar (lots of shortnose) in the various pools (I mostly see them on the east side of the refuge). The water control structure (if water is running out) will have hundreds of fish stacked on top of each other, but that's no fun. I was there a year or so ago during this time as well and saw literally thousands of large crawdads below the water control structure (no exaggeration, thousands of them). There are also craploads of snakes everywhere, but I think they are just diamond back water snakes, banded water snakes etc. I've never seen a copperhead there. They also have an endangered rattlesnake (Massasauga rattler) that they chip/track on the refuge but I've never seen one (there are videos on youtube of them tracking the snakes) but they are supposedly non aggressive. You can always stop by the fishing pond they built in the front area of the refuge as well. I've seen some kids pull nice crappie, bluegill, and catfish out of there (I helped out with the last kids fishing derby there).

FYI, my avatar pic is a Squaw Creek carp

Here is the Massasauga video