Help please

[Rwren]

Hey, I need some help on finding some smallmouth streams close as possibe to Lawrence, Ks.  I know we will need to drive a bit.   I am blessed with numerous streams here in   S. W. Missouri, but I need to help someone locate streams up there that are suitable for float fishing.   Thanks for any info.

Bobby

[Troutnut69]

There are no floatable, public smallmouth streams in Kansas. I live 20 minutes from Lawrence and spend most of my time in Southern Missouri just for that reason. Kansas laws differ rom Missouri and the landowners also own the streambed, so even if you found a floatable stream with smallies (you won't) you wouldn't be able to access or fish it without permission from every landowner along it's banks. There are some smallmouth in several area lakes that can be decent fishing, but no floatable streams.

[Rwren]

I knew there wouldn't be anything in Kansas.  I was hoping someone would have some info on streams not too far away.  In particular,  south of Kansas City, Mo.

Thx

[fshndoug]

there is good smallmouth fishing at Wilson,milford and melvern lakes.the best smally fishing in ks. is at coffey co. lake.It is a powerplant lake down by New Strawn ks.You must check in and  receive a pager before you go out on the lake,they will call you in during high winds.You must wear a lifejacket at all times.This being said,the smallmouth fishing is pretty good.The steam fishing in mo. occurs in so central mo to the elk river in the s.w. mo.Call the Mo.Dept of Conservation for their free fishing prospects book for more info.The elk river by Noel mo. or the Niangua river by Bennett Springs are the nearest to K.C.170 miles to either of them

[Al Agnew]

Geology insures there isn't anything very close to KC.  You have to find hills and rocks before you find smallies.  That being said, there are streams closer to KC than the Elk and Niangua that do have smallmouth, though none that are what you'd call good smallmouth fishing or where smallies are the dominant species.  The closest river system to KC that holds smallmouth is the Lamine.  The larger tributaries, wadeable but not floatable, have somewhat of an Ozark character with not too murky water and gravel bars.  The Lamine itself is somewhat floatable, but only holds smallies in upper portions which are barely floatable (and strictly do it yourself...no canoe liveries on the Lamine.

Other floatable streams just a little farther away...Moreau River system, Sac River system, Pomme de Terre River system, Spring River system.  You're on your own on all these, too, except for one canoe livery below Pomme De Terre Dam.  That stretch has very few smallies.

[drew03cmc]

PM sent.