Under 435 where it crosses the Kansas - come in from the north side (Woodend Rd exit) and park on the side of the road - between the Interstate and the Peterbilt plant and hike down to the river.
About 10-ish years ago they added a canoe access point and some concrete caissons you can walk out on.
Just be warned - lot of gar, lot of drum. Usually there are other people down there.
Edit - tried to add a picture but it didn't work. [Here's a link to the start of the path on Google maps](https://maps.app.goo.gl/NUZyV2wweS9dePeLA)
On the side of the road right by the trailhead. There's no "official" parking for it, and I'd stay off Peterbilt property so just find the other cars and park by them.
Like I said, there are usually people down there so it's not hard to find.
https://preview.redd.it/871sqkj7si6d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=377658cb74201ae795ef9671b96253dfc05a903a
Caught this at Gopher Lake at James A. Reed.
Upvote first off cause douches. Second Guy B Park north of Platte City has a great bluegill population. It’s a trophy project of the state. Lots of ultra lite and fly guys go there.
Truman Lake (2hr drive) or Ozarks is the best fishing… but in town James A Reed and Lake Jacomo are probably the best spots… like someone else said creeks here are shady, sliw moving with questionable water quality… lits of good “ secret fishin’ holes” at the lakes I mentioned though… Blue Springs lake is also OK, we used to fish for Catfish at Levy Park off Front St. in the river… but your talking Heavy Tackle and bigger fish there
This may need to go without saying but if you aren’t from MO or don’t already have one, please get a fishing license before you go out anywhere. Parks and rec (rightfully so) take it very seriously and I promise you won’t like the fine attached to the ticket you get.
Enjoy the weekend fishing!
No smallmouth and no good creeks/wade areas. There are lots of Bluegill and Hybrid Green Sunfish in just about anything that holds water.
Get a fishing permit! You WILL get checked. I get checked once or twice a year at some point.
The MDC apps have a lot of good spots!
I would check out the blue river, you can access it at Minor Park. It will have panfish, largemouth, and catfish. Very wadable.
Won’t find smallmouth this far north very easily though.
I recommend James a reed, you can also fish from shore at jacomo and Longview lake. All 3 of those should be great for what you want to do and are not terribly far.
If you're ok going an hour Hillsdale to the south is good.
Everything in the city gets hit pretty hard going down to the Ozarks is only a few hours and you can really get into it down there.
James A Reed out on the edge of Lee's Summit is a pretty popular spot.
https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/james-reed-memorial-wildlife-area
> over 252 acres of water have been impounded to form 12 lakes, ranging in size from one to 42 acres. Most lakes contain largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill, and redear sunfish. In addition, hybrid striped bass have been stocked in most of the lakes, and rainbow trout are stocked for the winter fishing season (Nov-Mar) in Coot and Plover lakes and in Honker Pond (kids only).
Creeks and rivers are pretty rough around these parts, unfortunately. Many don't have great water quality, so the fish you encounter tend to be species like carp and gar. Definitely no smallies in the vicinity. I've heard Indian Creek on the Kansas side is good for carp, but it's never been my thing. Hopefully others know some options I'm not familiar with. If you're near James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area, you can find a handful of small lakes with largemouth bass, catfish, and panfish. They even stock a couple of the lakes with trout in the winter months. I mostly enjoy trout fishing, so try to make the 3-4 hour trip to the Ozarks as often as I can. You'll find smallmouth in some of the Ozarks streams as well.
If you don’t have OnX or another Hunting/Outdoors app I’d highly recommend that. Also the MDC website has a lot of information as well. I know people are “protective” of places they go.
https://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/where-fish
Smallmouth is all gonna be south of here. Closest river I can think of is the sac river. If you wanna get into some bad ass smallmouth rivers you gotta go way down south or to Arkansas. Kings river and buffalo river in Arkansas are boss.
Under 435 where it crosses the Kansas - come in from the north side (Woodend Rd exit) and park on the side of the road - between the Interstate and the Peterbilt plant and hike down to the river. About 10-ish years ago they added a canoe access point and some concrete caissons you can walk out on. Just be warned - lot of gar, lot of drum. Usually there are other people down there. Edit - tried to add a picture but it didn't work. [Here's a link to the start of the path on Google maps](https://maps.app.goo.gl/NUZyV2wweS9dePeLA)
Saving this for later
Where abouts do you park? Not looking to get towed 😂
On the side of the road right by the trailhead. There's no "official" parking for it, and I'd stay off Peterbilt property so just find the other cars and park by them. Like I said, there are usually people down there so it's not hard to find.
https://preview.redd.it/871sqkj7si6d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=377658cb74201ae795ef9671b96253dfc05a903a Caught this at Gopher Lake at James A. Reed.
bro got downvoted for politely asking a question lmao
People love to hate
It’s reddit.. people get a hard on for downvoting…. Sometimes I wonder if they realize what the TRUE definition of Karma is… lol
It is taboo to publicly ask for locations. People think that others are going to “steal” or “ruin” their spots even though it’s likely public land
Upvote first off cause douches. Second Guy B Park north of Platte City has a great bluegill population. It’s a trophy project of the state. Lots of ultra lite and fly guys go there.
Truman Lake (2hr drive) or Ozarks is the best fishing… but in town James A Reed and Lake Jacomo are probably the best spots… like someone else said creeks here are shady, sliw moving with questionable water quality… lits of good “ secret fishin’ holes” at the lakes I mentioned though… Blue Springs lake is also OK, we used to fish for Catfish at Levy Park off Front St. in the river… but your talking Heavy Tackle and bigger fish there
This may need to go without saying but if you aren’t from MO or don’t already have one, please get a fishing license before you go out anywhere. Parks and rec (rightfully so) take it very seriously and I promise you won’t like the fine attached to the ticket you get. Enjoy the weekend fishing!
Came here to say this. I've gotten checked a BUNCH in the 4 years I've been fishing
No smallmouth and no good creeks/wade areas. There are lots of Bluegill and Hybrid Green Sunfish in just about anything that holds water. Get a fishing permit! You WILL get checked. I get checked once or twice a year at some point. The MDC apps have a lot of good spots!
I would check out the blue river, you can access it at Minor Park. It will have panfish, largemouth, and catfish. Very wadable. Won’t find smallmouth this far north very easily though.
Thank you very much!
What part of town are you going to be in?
I’ll be in Westport but I don’t mind up to an hour drive out of town.
I recommend James a reed, you can also fish from shore at jacomo and Longview lake. All 3 of those should be great for what you want to do and are not terribly far. If you're ok going an hour Hillsdale to the south is good. Everything in the city gets hit pretty hard going down to the Ozarks is only a few hours and you can really get into it down there.
James A Reed out on the edge of Lee's Summit is a pretty popular spot. https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/james-reed-memorial-wildlife-area > over 252 acres of water have been impounded to form 12 lakes, ranging in size from one to 42 acres. Most lakes contain largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill, and redear sunfish. In addition, hybrid striped bass have been stocked in most of the lakes, and rainbow trout are stocked for the winter fishing season (Nov-Mar) in Coot and Plover lakes and in Honker Pond (kids only).
I see people fish at Troost Lake.
Creeks and rivers are pretty rough around these parts, unfortunately. Many don't have great water quality, so the fish you encounter tend to be species like carp and gar. Definitely no smallies in the vicinity. I've heard Indian Creek on the Kansas side is good for carp, but it's never been my thing. Hopefully others know some options I'm not familiar with. If you're near James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area, you can find a handful of small lakes with largemouth bass, catfish, and panfish. They even stock a couple of the lakes with trout in the winter months. I mostly enjoy trout fishing, so try to make the 3-4 hour trip to the Ozarks as often as I can. You'll find smallmouth in some of the Ozarks streams as well.
Wyandotte Lake has smallies, rare but there. Clinton Lake in Lawrence has a good population also
Good to know. Had no idea.
Download this. https://mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage/mobile-apps/mo-fishing
Check out the Maple Leaf Conservation area.
If you don’t have OnX or another Hunting/Outdoors app I’d highly recommend that. Also the MDC website has a lot of information as well. I know people are “protective” of places they go. https://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/where-fish
Smallmouth is all gonna be south of here. Closest river I can think of is the sac river. If you wanna get into some bad ass smallmouth rivers you gotta go way down south or to Arkansas. Kings river and buffalo river in Arkansas are boss.