Favorite KC Area River for Spring Spawners?

[DADAKOTA]

Got a link?

[snagged in outlet 3]

2 hours ago, DADAKOTA said:

Got a link?

Just for you.  
 

 

[BilletHead]

4 hours 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.  

        Exactly the problems. I have seen people smoking crack even. Some good fishing upstream of the millpond for smallmouth. 

[DADAKOTA]

Hard to get legal access to be above the millpond.  I've floated from Hwy 32 to Blackjack.

[basska]

Cool video. Looks like a great spot to fish. However, can't encourage private fishing.

[BilletHead]

57 minutes ago, basska said:

Cool video. Looks like a great spot to fish. However, can't encourage private fishing.

                   You can fish there. If you go downstream very far wear waders and stay in the water.   Use caution and if you see water coming up get out. It can get downright dangerous during generation from Stockton. Like I have shared before Pat and I recovered a body there.  @snagged in outlet 3 I thought in the video the poster said he was there in November?  A passed OAF member and I flyfished there one November wading just below the dam. Spots and largemouth were stacked against the dam. We throwed streamers. I used a T&A in fire tiger and tore those fish up. We had a couple four pounders. It's really shallow but there are a couple scoured out holes tight against the dam. You can walk right to them but that last step is a doo zee. It is slick as snot wading out there. Back then we had nothing but felt soles and it was the best on snot. Pick wading times to do that because if there is anyone on the bridge fishing towards the dam it is worse than being in a boat downstream. 

[BilletHead]

           And another thing about Caplinger mills. I was fishing there before Pat and I were married and that was well over 47 years ago. Lots of changes since then like in bank erosion. On the east side downstream, there was a road. Everyone would drive down that road including me. A steep cutbank formed there. It was closed when a guy drove too close to the edge, and it gave way and a chevy pickup went in the river. Luckly it was not a generation period. I had a 67 mustang right after we were married you could still drive across the bridge. Pat and I did just that and had a picnic in the park/conservation area that is now posted. If you were fishing on the bridge and someone drove across the bridge it was very scary that bridge would make all kinds of noises. I had two friends I fished with often. We would boat up to the island that is almost no longer there and anchor. Below that where the split river came back together was a deeper hole. With the river up and down due to generation there was a sweet spot in depth. If you timed it right walleye would be there. We hit it right and caught well. My friend Scotty said he was hungry. I called Pat on the giant Alltel cell phone and ordered lunch. We lived thirty miles away. She went through Eldorado Springs and got a couple pizzas at pizza hut then drove over to deliver. We motored over to the bank and grabbed the pies and right back to our spot. 😁 Good times and good memories.

[snagged in outlet 3]

53 minutes ago, BilletHead said:

                   You can fish there. If you go downstream very far wear waders and stay in the water.   Use caution and if you see water coming up get out. It can get downright dangerous during generation from Stockton. Like I have shared before Pat and I recovered a body there.  @snagged in outlet 3 I thought in the video the poster said he was there in November?  A passed OAF member and I flyfished there one November wading just below the dam. Spots and largemouth were stacked against the dam. We throwed streamers. I used a T&A in fire tiger and tore those fish up. We had a couple four pounders. It's really shallow but there are a couple scoured out holes tight against the dam. You can walk right to them but that last step is a doo zee. It is slick as snot wading out there. Back then we had nothing but felt soles and it was the best on snot. Pick wading times to do that because if there is anyone on the bridge fishing towards the dam it is worse than being in a boat downstream. 

I thought it was Christmas but knew it was during a holiday.   Turkey or ham.  Same thing.  😆

[basska]

1 hour ago, BilletHead said:

                   You can fish there. If you go downstream very far wear waders and stay in the water.   Use caution and if you see water coming up get out. It can get downright dangerous during generation from Stockton. Like I have shared before Pat and I recovered a body there.  @snagged in outlet 3 I thought in the video the poster said he was there in November?  A passed OAF member and I flyfished there one November wading just below the dam. Spots and largemouth were stacked against the dam. We throwed streamers. I used a T&A in fire tiger and tore those fish up. We had a couple four pounders. It's really shallow but there are a couple scoured out holes tight against the dam. You can walk right to them but that last step is a doo zee. It is slick as snot wading out there. Back then we had nothing but felt soles and it was the best on snot. Pick wading times to do that because if there is anyone on the bridge fishing towards the dam it is worse than being in a boat downstream. 

I've done some additional research, and it really does appear to be quite the haven for bank fisherman when water levels are right. Seriously seems to be a surprisingly equal number of Smallies, Largemouth, Spots, Whites, and Walleye reported. I'm starting to get confident that on the right day in Spring a simple jig and minnow would tire your arms out in no time, but I will have to see. I am excited. Seems like a blast of a river. Will also have to go downstream to Hwy 9. 

[DADAKOTA]

Be wary of the rising water.  I always had the best fishing on rising water, then the peak was not bad.  Falling water was no bueno.  Amazing how many crappie can be caught there.  Hybrids as well.  Never bothered with minnows.  A roadrunner, rattle trap, and a shad rap were all I needed.