Favorite KC Area River for Spring Spawners?

[basska]

I think most of us Missourians are less than thrilled with the weather lately, and probably January as a whole. Since the big storm, my fishing fever has become severe. Very severe. So instead of lurking here, pretending to be working diligently, perhaps I’ll start a couple convos on bases I can’t wait to cover when Spring rolls around.

The topic is: Within around 2 hours of the KC Metro, what are some of your favorite rivers to target for White Bass and Walleye in the spring time?

I won’t ask for specific spots - I’m 20 years old and entering my first FULL year of fishing obsession, and I have a LOT of goals that need fulfilling, one being figuring out this method of fishing - If I could do that with at least some my own intuition, I would be thrilled. With that being said, I don’t have a boat, but am looking at kayaks right now. If any of you know an area or a river with some bank availability, this would be greatly appreciated.

Once spring comes around, I will end up heading down Highway Z near Warsaw to a place a buddy of mine has. Almost every other weekend. He doesn’t fish, but boy do we love that retreat, and boy do I love the fishing. With this being said, I know I will have fair proximity to the Maries Des Cygnes, Sac and Pomme De Terre.

if anyone has any opinion or advice on targeting these species in Missouri rivers, let me know! Thanks

[BilletHead]

Explore the Bates county drainage ditch from above rich hill. Conservation access and boat ramp there. Can fish the riffles below there and the deeper water below that. Crappie, walleye,whites and hybrids are there. 

 Next place down stream from there north east of rich hill on a country road is another bridge. Same scenario below the bridge and down stream. 

  One more place. Low water crossing farther down stream. We used to call it the pappensville riffles. Long straight shale riffles pools and eddies. Fish above and below the low water bridge. Used to fish it a bunch. I don't do River banks very well anymore.  

  Use google maps and look straight above Rich Hill. Start looking there. Then follow the ditch and you will see all Three places. I'm not sure when the latest google photos were taken and what the map shows. Depending on  water conditions in the spring where to fish. Start looking in February for walleye and they will be there through March. Whites March through April, hybrids and crappie through April into early May. Needless to say some of those fish roam in and out that river year around. Then the drainage ditch runs into the Osage which becomes Truman lake proper not far from Shell City. That's many miles of exploring and can keep you busy. Locals know it well, just watch them for info. 

   Good luck on your search.

     

[Terrierman]

Truman Tailrace.  There's everything there.  And catchable.

[DADAKOTA]

SAc river at Caplinger

[BilletHead]

4 hours ago, DADAKOTA said:

SAc river at Caplinger

Hush your mouth,

   Not really and I agree. Spent many hours there also. Dislike the crowd there. I have been called names I would not repeat because I was in a boat below. Had things besides jigs thrown at the boat. These guys had to really try to reach me to do that. I finally quit untangling stuff and began to just cut the line.  That made them even madder. They were going to call the law. Go ahead. I was downstream on the east side. I'm sure you know where that was. They were on the bridge. Guys on the bank behind me were laughing. I crowded out no one. 

    Thankfully you know the highway bridge below is a good spot. No wading when generation but at low water some wading. You can tear up the fish below that though. I know you know that deal also. 

[basska]

1 hour ago, BilletHead said:

Hush your mouth,

   Not really and I agree. Spent many hours there also. Dislike the crowd there. I have been called names I would not repeat because I was in a boat below. Had things besides jigs thrown at the boat. These guys had to really try to reach me to do that. I finally quit untangling stuff and began to just cut the line.  That made them even madder. They were going to call the law. Go ahead. I was downstream on the east side. I'm sure you know where that was. They were on the bridge. Guys on the bank behind me were laughing. I crowded out no one. 

    Thankfully you know the highway bridge below is a good spot. No wading when generation but at low water some wading. You can tear up the fish below that though. I know you know that deal also. 

Not far at all from the place I stay at Truman. I got a chance to look at the bridge on Hwy N, and it looks like a real nice spot, with some good bank available. I will be testing my luck here next time I go down to Truman... Knowing the Crappie bite at the Marina, I could be looking at quite the Lenten fish fry. 

[Quillback]

3 hours ago, BilletHead said:

Hush your mouth,

   Not really and I agree. Spent many hours there also. Dislike the crowd there. I have been called names I would not repeat because I was in a boat below. Had things besides jigs thrown at the boat. These guys had to really try to reach me to do that. I finally quit untangling stuff and began to just cut the line.  That made them even madder. They were going to call the law. Go ahead. I was downstream on the east side. I'm sure you know where that was. They were on the bridge. Guys on the bank behind me were laughing. I crowded out no one. 

    Thankfully you know the highway bridge below is a good spot. No wading when generation but at low water some wading. You can tear up the fish below that though. I know you know that deal also. 

Sounds like fun, and you're such a nice guy, why would anyone call you names?  😃

[BilletHead]

1 hour ago, Quillback said:

Sounds like fun, and you're such a nice guy, why would anyone call you names?  😃

   I really don't know why I get such a bad reputation. 😆

[DADAKOTA]

Been years since I went to Caplinger.  Heard the bridge was closed off as they are trying to determine ownership.  The place has gone downhill due to the riffraff that hang out down there.  Used to be a nice free campground on the eastern upstream side of the dam, but saw that it is a cabled off as private now.  I'd imagine the ground at the highway bridge is private as well.  Caught plenty of big crappie and some nice walleye down there over the years.  Sure ne nice if MDC would put in an access somewhere in the millpond.  

[snagged in outlet 3]

31 minutes ago, DADAKOTA said:

Been years since I went to Caplinger.  Heard the bridge was closed off as they are trying to determine ownership.  The place has gone downhill due to the riffraff that hang out down there.  Used to be a nice free campground on the eastern upstream side of the dam, but saw that it is a cabled off as private now.  I'd imagine the ground at the highway bridge is private as well.  Caught plenty of big crappie and some nice walleye down there over the years.  Sure ne nice if MDC would put in an access somewhere in the millpond.  

A guy on YouTube did the videos there over Christmas.