Fishing Smithville Lake 3/7/11

If you are a person who enjoys the outdoors and loves to spend some quality time relaxing on your weekends, throwing the old fishing line in the lake. One of the best known Kansas City Northland best kept fishing secretes is located off of U.S. 169, near northbound heading up to Smithville, Missouri.

Most freshwater lakes in Missouri, Smithville is man-made in 1982, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers back in the 20^th century dammed up the Little Platte River and providing a recreational opportunity, and create animal habitat. In 1965, the worst flood ever recorded swept away most business and homes in downtown Smithville.  Recent population increases around Smithville have brought in growth of new enthusiasts in the outdoor sports community.

The city limits, lots of local business and family owned generation to generation businesses still exist. Providing excellent places to get your fishing tackle, boat rentals, old liquor store gas stations that give you all the essentials.

Visiting Burton’s Bait and Tackle is like walking back into time, where the good old days when mankind lived off the land. Gigantic stuffed trophy fish line the walls of the bait shop, providing an impressive visual display of the best catch of the day. Thousands of pictures from successful families and friends are placed in every corner, telling the countless good times.

  The sense of a family owned business with a friendly customer greeting once you walk on in, but with the bait fish aroma greets you with just as much surprise as the locals that reside their free time inside.

Spending time with strangers, to some might seem dangerous or abstract, but those strangers can teach you a lot about the local communities and residents that make fishing their daily life. I walked into the tackle shop earlier in the week to scout out the potential future fishing spots, and discuss what fish are biting early and the baits that work best. Sitting in a wheelchair, with a bumper sticker saying “Veteran” on the back a young solider whom was injured from combat was drinking a Budweiser and rigging up several poles.

I couldn’t help myself to start initiating conversation to the young man about his military career, due to my family’s history with my armed forces and numerous friends that have enlisted since 9/11/2001.

 “The best places that I have seen is by the Camp Branch grounds, if you have a boat its only a 20- minute ride across the lake. There is this spot I’ve found off of the J – bridge, I think Crappie are spawning, the weather is warming up if we use bright color jigs and follow where the rocky bottom parts of the area, I think this can stir up some activity and catch some fish,” says the angler.

Taking his word and wanting to start my season off right, I asked the guy if he would like to go fishing, I don’t have a boat up I can drive. I even brought my new puppy along in the pickup truck. We load up all the materials into the truck and get along the way. From downtown Smithville, highway J is feed from W which was 5 miles east from 169s, long story short, it was across the whole lake from where I was at.

Camp Branch is a quiet campground located in a remote area of the lake, providing a very serine spot for schools of fish to thrive. Expect a full hour to completely maneuver around all the small roads and one- lane bridges.

Nothing can explain the feeling you get when you release your pole for the first time, carefully placing the jig into specific rocky, but potential dangerous waters for your line to get snagged in, but yet knowing the scientific research of years on the water ensures your confidence of catching fish.

At first this area was a bit slow, bright colored jigs in semi-clear water were not getting any bites. After 20 or so minutes of waiting, I finally got a bite. Nothing big enough to actually take the jig and run, so the bite fell off. It seemed this area was a bust, at least here on March 3^rd, 2011. The waters are still a bit rough and cold; water temperatures still around 38 degrees.

From years past I had another spot off Rock Cove, just a quick 20- minute drive to the North West section of the lake. This particular location is off of F highway and 305^th street. Other fishermen are quick to start the season early on boats, and it looked from the distance they were Bass fishing, but we couldn’t tell if they were having any luck.

Perhaps I jumped the gun to early this season, figuring as soon as the weather permits I grab my poles and roll to the lake. Upon making this mistake every year, realizing I need more consistent warm weather fronts for the activity of the fish to increase is always a painful lesson learned. I will be returning bi-weekly for my own update on fishing hotspots on Smithville Lake.

Canine Field Expertise

If you are an outdoors men or woman at one time or another you have run across the every so friendly working dog. Mankind has been using dogs for hunting approximately 15,000 years, domesticating them from the Grey Wolf. Humans have coexisted used these animals for various tasks from herding, pointing, field trails, security, comfort and other necessary tasks. Since domesticated, some breeds have maintained their ancient heritage by using their skills, and not letting the natural instincts of the wolf and domesticated dog fade away into oblivion.

            If you are looking for a perfect type of pup to raise and work for you; some should take some consideration on the particular breed, size and nature of the animal that is best suited for you.

Australian Sheepard: The “Aussie” is not originally from Australia, but was brought up to work on western United States ranches for herding. They are noted for their toughness and ability to work hard for their owners and nearly impossible to wear out. The Sheepard comes from the branch of dogs which are loyal, devoted animals that try to please their owners, and its attitude reflects that. Able to work long days, herd cattle; which are known for their stubbornness, the Aussie makes one of the best working-outdoors dogs.

·       Brittany: This breed does not come from old land’s of Brittany; old France from ages ago. This breed tops almost any list by the AAKC (American Association Kennel Club; spring loading the breed on top for the best noted for its hunting intelligence of almost any dog. This dog comes from the spaniel family, which is noted for their strong sense of smell and hearing. This breed loves to prowl fields looking for small game birds to chase down. The breed is spectacular at pointing and has traits to make it less gun shy. Perfect for families or working on the ranch, the Brittany is a high energy dog and devotes itself for having long work days with short rewards.

·       Labrador retriever: One of the most popular breeds in the States, this breed does wonders in the family atmosphere or in the fields. Labs are one of the best at swimming decent distances, and along with hunting ducks. Some breeds aren’t suited for water fowl, but the retrievers are equipped for the job. Nice thick coats cover the beast, with a nice glossy coat. Increasingly important for those late winter, early spring duck hunts.

·       Border collie: Known for their intelligence, the border collie breed has migrated its way from The British Isles. Much of this breed was to herd sheep into giant pens, while holding a security position on the farm as well. Being noted as one of the friendliest dogs, the collie is also adept at outdoor dog sports, such as fly ball, Frisbee and agility courses. These dogs are perfect with children, elderly, and the farm. The collie might be the most obedient dog, with a quick learning capacity. Making this dog the easiest to train and love.

Obedience training is necessary at early ages. Developing bad habits is easy to do with little or no interaction with your puppy. Constant interaction, love and affection goes along way. Everyday try to implicate 25-50 sits and “stay” commands to start off early commands to ensure an obedient dog. House-breaking for those of you that let your animals have free range in the home. Making sure they know to sit at the door’s when it’s time for your companion to go outdoors. Accidents do occur at early stages in canine development, but never strike the animal or violently yell. This can cause serious trauma at developmental stages and cause a lapse of trust.

Providing a quality home, environment for dog and owner can be beneficial, providing comfort and unconditional love from your pet, and a stable shelter with plenty of interaction for your dog. The cycle for both is quite positive and I would highly suggest anyone whom doesn’t own “man’s best friend” to go to a local shelter and adopt your new friend.

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Asian carp dwindles in Missouri River

If you engage in outdoor sports, or just enjoy recreational fishing you might have heard about the issue with Asian carp unleashing devastating fury upon the rivers and tributaries of America. There had been many issues with this species of fish. For those who don’t know, this is an invasive species that has its natural root’s in central Asia freshwater river systems. A migration of Asian immigrants has been consistent in Missouri throughout the decades, and some have started farm raising carp. In spring of 1993, a flood ravaged the midwest, particularly river based communities flooding the country side villages and towns. Significant damage impacts all on all the communities from North Kansas City following upstream to Parkville assorted other river communities and so forth.

The species has been an outgoing battle for most of the continental United States for nearly 20 years. Biologists have been trying to figure out how the species has multiplied to rapidly, and rearrange the hierarchy of the food chain in fresh water systems. The fish has also reproduced with other exotic species of the carp gene pool. These species vary in activity, weight, length, feeding cycle, depth of water and climates. Different theories have been brainstormed on how to eliminate the species from the ecosystem. Lots of non-profit community activists have got to drastic measures such as fish kills and fishing tournaments. These fish have been slaughtered at will of eco-friendly enthusiasts and biologists.

Many different individuals have theories on why this species is considered a negative branch for North American ecosystems. With the addition of this fish invasion, the species has no natural predator and grows in big numbers, quickly. The science of the species is quite intriguing, but comes with a serious consequence for perfect habits, such as the Missouri Rivers, and lakes. Without a natural predator, the fish freely devours anything in its way. Asian Carp changes the course of the food chain, by passing other top species such as, largemouth bass, all species of Catfish, turtles, muskrats, snakes and etc. As one could see where this problem can lead to.

 Recent data has come back from the Columbia Environmental Research department suggesting that our fears of a top notch predator with fins are losing its numbers in the Missouri river. The reasoning behind this suggests for the past decades the fish has consumed metric tons of freshwater fish from all possible parts of the ecosystem and the population is starving itself. Not to say we will never have an Asian carp becoming extinct in our world that just isn’t possible. But the data implies large, multi-spawning schools of fish won’t have a fighting edge compared to the smaller populations.

However, even reading that information sounds quite terrible. That indicates to myself fish populations must be drastically lower than usual, consumed and eaten by the more aggressive, A-pex predator of the freshwater world. As a conservationist this angers myself who uses the river for a source of food, nourishment and countless hours gazing at the sunsets overlooking the bodies of water. Even with threats of invasion species polluting our water systems, after a short while they become an essential part of our ecosystem, brought over threw the course of man’s evolution. Like it or not the fish are here to stay, but likely with less numbers as the population is slipping further down into extinction zone. Hopefully in another 20 years or so, we can restore proper fish populations to their native environments.