Spoonbill

[Bill Butts]

Did anyone catch hybrid, stripers or whites in the lower Neosho in 2005?

Would appreciate knowing where best stretches are.

Is it wadable like the Spring River?

I know nothing about that big river, but we do fish the Spring River east of Miami.

The Neosho is wadable in some areas but it is very muddy and has a mud bottom unlike the Spring.

The Miami dam and the Chetopa Dam and any riffles between the two are great places for whites and a few hybrids. I don't know if I have ever seen a Striper up that far, are there stripers in Grand? My dad always said if the Neosho came up two feet in the spring and then cleared up a bit thats the time to go. Have you ever tried the Spring River dam at Baxter Springs? I have caught a lot of Whites there and it is fun to wade.

There is a store in Chetopa, KS called Warwicks Jump Start-telephone #'s 620-236-7524/7200. If you call them they will tell you if the Spoonies are running or not and how many they checked in the last day or so. I live in Parsons which is 30 miles away so I call every time to make sure.

Kelly,

Your input is greatly appreciated and helpful to develop a better understanding of the Neosho.

Your dad's wisdom also applies to about every stream I've fished for the Striper Family species.

They will really shoot up a river when there is a rise from fresh rainwater, which usually murks or muddies the clarity, and the very best time to hit it is as it is clearing.

I've never fished as far up as Baxter Springs, but that sounds interesting and a spot to try this year.

Have you seen or caught hybrids or stripers up that far?

Keep in touch.

[kelly]

Kelly,

Your input is greatly appreciated and helpful to develop a better understanding of the Neosho.

Your dad's wisdom also applies to about every stream I've fished for the Striper Family species.

They will really shoot up a river when there is a rise from fresh rainwater, which usually murks or muddies the clarity, and the very best time to hit it is as it is clearing.

I've never fished as far up as Baxter Springs, but that sounds interesting and a spot to try this year.

Have you seen or caught hybrids or stripers up that far?

Keep in touch.

I have never caught a Striper or Hybrid that I know of. They just don't live where I fish. My White bass fishery is just seven miles from my house so I can't see going anywhere else unless there is something special about the trip itself. My experience with the Spring and the Neosho is mainly from fishing them before Big Hill Lake developed a fishable population of whities, however I still go to Chetopa from time to time with my dad since he lives closer than I do.

I do remember some rather large Hybrids being caught at the Chetopa Dam. I watched a man catch a number of five to six pounders, on nightcrawlers, during snagging season and heard from my dad about a thirteen pounder being snagged one year. I've snagged some awfully big Walleye down there also. I think since I have gotten into this forum I will start paying more attention. When they start running I will try to put the word out.

[Bill Butts]

I have never caught a Striper or Hybrid that I know of. They just don't live where I fish. My White bass fishery is just seven miles from my house so I can't see going anywhere else unless there is something special about the trip itself.

Kelly,

I have several really good white bass rivers close to where I live and for many years it was hard to drive past them to reach rivers that held opportunities for stripers and hybrids. I realized what I'd been missing when I hooked my first Hybrid even though it was only about 4#. They are like catching white bass on steroids, and of course get much larger, commonly 6 to 10#.

This forum might shorten your learning curve to finding and catching some of these great fish without driving too far from home. Where do you live? Perhaps I can offer some suggestions for other opportunities for you to consider.

Keep in touch.

BB

[kelly]

Kelly,

I have several really good white bass rivers close to where I live and for many years it was hard to drive past them to reach rivers that held opportunities for stripers and hybrids. I realized what I'd been missing when I hooked my first Hybrid even though it was only about 4#. They are like catching white bass on steroids, and of course get much larger, commonly 6 to 10#.

This forum might shorten your learning curve to finding and catching some of these great fish without driving too far from home. Where do you live? Perhaps I can offer some suggestions for other opportunities for you to consider.

Keep in touch.

BB

I live in Parsons Kansas. Thats about fifty miles west of joplin. I don't mind driving to catch good fish, I just like the local stream's because I can be on them in fifteen minutes. But please, by all means broaden my horizons.

[Bill Butts]

I live in Parsons Kansas. Thats about fifty miles west of joplin. I don't mind driving to catch good fish, I just like the local stream's because I can be on them in fifteen minutes. But please, by all means broaden my horizons.

Kelly,

Sure I know where Parsons is and have been there and through there many times.

There is a large printing business there, Sun Graphics, that I've been to several times, and my son was recruited by the baseball coach at Labette CC a few years back (didn't sign).

Have you taken the time to read my posts in the Striper Family topics? I'm wondering if they are so far down the page that many are not finding them. ??

Let me know what questions you have and which direction you are interested in traveling to broaden your horizons.

Keep in touch.

BB

[kelly]

Kelly,

Sure I know where Parsons is and have been there and through there many times.

There is a large printing business there, Sun Graphics, that I've been to several times, and my son was recruited by the baseball coach at Labette CC a few years back (didn't sign).

Have you taken the time to read my posts in the Striper Family topics? I'm wondering if they are so far down the page that many are not finding them. ??

Let me know what questions you have and which direction you are interested in traveling to broaden your horizons.

Keep in touch.

BB

Sorry I didn't get back sooner. Started a new second job.

My father in law retired as the accountant for sun Graphics after twenty five years (Harvey Gaither)

I had not caught your posts yet but I will tonight. I would probably prefer Missouri as the direction to fish. As for Q's, just when and where? I think I would prefer DIY riverbank fishing, less $ you know.

[Bill Butts]

Sorry I didn't get back sooner. Started a new second job.

My father in law retired as the accountant for sun Graphics after twenty five years (Harvey Gaither)

I had not caught your posts yet but I will tonight. I would probably prefer Missouri as the direction to fish. As for Q's, just when and where? I think I would prefer DIY riverbank fishing, less $ you know.

Kelly,

I wasn't acquainted with your father in law but they were a very financially sound company so I am sure he had a lot to do with that.

The best opportunity I can suggest for you to expand your horizons outside of KS would be the Sping River.

We've discussed this some already. I doubt you will find more catchable Whites than in that river in the spring.

The AR River holds lots of great opportunites for wild (not stocked, though that isn't a big deal as far as fighting quality) Striped Bass from below Kaw Lake all the way down and across Arkansas. The stretches below Keystone and Kaw hold resident feeding fish all year.

In MO, the closest opportunities are the Sac and Little Sac Rivers above Stockton Lake for whites which are very average in size. The James River between Galena and the confluence with Table Rock Lake holds some of the very largest Whites, some over 4#, in the Ozark Region.

For most of the above, the month of April and first half of May are the prime weeks.

That gives you some opportunites to ponder.

[gonefishin]

Anything being caught in the Neosho?

Bud

[kelly]

Anything being caught in the Neosho?

Bud

I haven't heard. I doubt it though, since there has not been enough rainfall to raise the river any. I will try to find out.

Kelly

[gonefishin]

Ok. Thanks. I am just trying to keep on top of what is going on over there. I plan to take you up on your offer to meet me there sometime. Especially catching some flats on fly rod. That sounds line real fun.

Bud