Mined Land Wildlife Area Trout Pit (Southeast Kansas)

[Skell9653]

Has anyone else here fished the trout pit in Southeast Kansas? I am a R.R. regular but the last month and a half have made the trip over by Scammon, KS half a dozen times. 

[Flysmallie]

I've considered it but never made the trip. Used to fish the pits quite a bit around Pittsburg in the early 80's. I need to get back over there for some of that.

[Skell9653]

Well from the experience that I've had there it's a blast. A lot of small ones (probably haul in about 20-30 in a couple hours). But it also has some of some great size that a buddy and I have gotten into lately. It's not the full experience of wading into a stream but it sure is a lot of fun! Here's a 22 in. my buddy caught on Sunday in a kayak. He sure had a fight with his ultra-lite fly rod. 

[ness]

Huh. This is news to me. The trout part anyway. Do they have certain ones stocked?

[ness]

Never mind -- I Googled. I never knew they were doing that -- apparently at several locations around the state. I knew they stocked Tuttle near Manhattan, but I've never been.

[Skell9653]

Ya it's pretty unique fishing. They stock them but since the pit is so deep they grow year round. It's a big pit as well so there are a lot of stocked ones that will survive in there for a few years. Where it's shallow I've seen lunkers just swimming under the boat. Now getting them to bite is a different story but you can catch eating sized ones all day long! A lot of times I just throw them back anyways and just go for the excitement. It's only about a forty minute drive for me and I'd encourage you to make the trip to come check it out! They got a couple cabins there that are pretty nice you can rent. It's well worth the trip. Plus you got 199 others pits there within a twenty minute drive to fish for catfish, crappie and bass. Actually the trout pit has some massive catfish and bass as well. I just haven't done much fishing for them. 

[ollie]

I have a friend that fishes that pit in the winter with his son.  They are from Carl and he has relatives over in that area.  He says it is pretty nice for lake that gets stocked.

[Skell9653]

It's pretty nice. Nice boat ramps! I put in a 19 foot champion bass boat no problem. 

[Buzz]

I fished it several years ago. I enjoyed it. Just a heads up, if you plan on putting a boat in, you had better have all of your pfds and such in order. The game wardens can be thick around the pits. As far as bass and catfish go, I've been told of some monster bass and catfish in that pit. They feed pretty heavily on the fresh stockers. I've been wanting to throw one of those big California rainbow trout swimbaits or a big spoonbill rebel. Maybe I'll give it a try one of these days.

[Skell9653]

That's true. Better be legal. The game wardens are thick, which I'm thankful for. It definitely helps preserve some good fishing and upkept pits and land for those of us who are thankful for having more places to fish. You should come give it a try! Boy it's a blast! It's be cool to get a group of some of us fly fisherman together to go out there and camp out for a night. Sure would make for some good stories. Between a group of us surely one or two would haul in a lunker.