The KinKaid Grand Slam by Colby Simms 5-31-2010

gengberg May 31st, 2010

THE KINKAID GRAND SLAM
Target the 4 Most Popular Species at this Illinois Lake for the Fishing Grand Slam
By: Colby Simms with Ray Simms
Photos by: the Simms Outdoors Team
www.SimmsOutdoors.com Kinkaid Lake is situated in the Shawnee National Forest of the magnificent southern Illinois Ozark Mountains. This lake and the wilderness that surrounds it is one of the most scenic areas of the entire Midwest. The area is rich in wildlife and outdoor sporting opportunities. The sport fishing at beautiful Kinkaid Lake is rivaled only by the spectacular sites available to hikers and boaters in this back country paradise.Colby largemouth small

*Illinois Ozarks

The Illinois Ozarks, Kinkaid Lake and the Shawnee National Forest offer much in the way of outdoor sporting opportunities. Hunting, hiking, camping, boating, scuba diving, horseback riding, rock climbing, and many more outdoor pursuits are enjoyed by outdoor enthusiasts in this part of the country, but the sport fishing is probably the most popular outdoor sport in the area, and for good reason.

*Kinkaid Lake

Kinkaid Lake is 2,750 acres in size with 92 miles of irregular shoreline and a maximum depth of over 70 feet, making it one of the deepest lakes in the region. This wilderness lake has good water quality, an abundance of cover and structure that the fish use, and tremendous populations of various baitfish species that grow healthy fish that are very heavy for their length.

The lake has been getting clearer as each year passes. The upper headwaters area of the lake, in the far northwestern end, remains moderately to heavily stained for most or all of the year, due to the sediment washed in from Kinkaid Creek and Johnson Creek. The water in rest of the lake however, usually ranges from very lightly stained to clear and sometimes very clear. This increase in clarity is due in large part to the rip rap rock that has been placed around the lake. Much of Kinkaid’s bottom and shoreline consists of various kinds of rock, but there are other areas that have exposed clay banks that took a beating from summertime recreational boat traffic. Most of these areas on the main lake and the larger bays have been covered with rip rap rock which protects the exposed shorelines and prevents erosion, resulting in beautiful clear water. What’s more is that the fisheries and fishing is definitely improving at Kinkaid, and that fact is evident to Illinois DNR Fisheries Biologists that work Kinkaid Lake. As full-time guides, we’ve also noticed the dramatic increase in fishing success on Kinkaid over the last decade.

The fishing on Kinkaid is better now than it has ever been, and its one of the very best waters in the Midwest to find good fishing for a variety of popular species. The four most popular species of game fish at Kinkaid are the largemouth bass, the muskie, the crappie and the walleye, and catching fish of each of these 4 prized species makes up what we locals in southern Illinois call the Kinkaid Grand Slam.

*Largemouth Bass

The most popular of all species at Kinkaid Lake, the largemouth bass has earned its stellar reputation. Bass grow large and fight hard for their size. Kinkaid bass can be caught in a wide variety of ways, but they are particularly known in this lake for their savage strikes on fast moving lures fished horizontally in the shallows. During much of the year, casting spoons like the Rattlin Scale, and surface lures like buzzbaits and plugs are hot presentation options. Big’un Series Bass Spinnerbaits like the Flash N Spin, Thump N Spin and Indy Spin (www.SimmsOutdoors.com * 618-521-0526) produce Kinkaid bass all year round and are the hottest baits going for both numbers of bass and trophies too, according to guides, anglers, and Kinkaid Marina Bait Shop Manager Adam Tarrants. The highly realistic Big’un Spinnerbaits perform well in Kinkaid’s clearing waters. Kinkaid has produced double digit largemouth bass. It regularly gives up great numbers of 2 to 5 pounders, and coughs up good numbers in the 6 to 8 pound range every year as well. Spring and summer rate as top times for bass fishing on Kinkaid, but these fish provide action here all year long.Colby Muskie Kinkaid Small

*Muskie

The muskie is truly an incredible game fish. These huge, powerful animals put up a battle matched by very few other freshwater fish in the world. They frequently chase lures right to the boat at Kinkaid and often attack a bait in the well known figure-8 maneuver with just a few inches of line out. It is definitely a rush. Like bass, muskies also attack surface lures like buzzbaits and spoons like the Rattlin Scale at times of the year, just in larger sizes. Big, multi-blade spinnerbaits with 3, 4 or 5 blades and swimbait trailers are the most effective presentations on Kinkaid for muskies, as these lures best mimic the schools of big shad that the muskies feed upon most. The School N Shad Spinnerbaits & Hatchet Shad Spinnerbaits (www.SimmsOutdoors.com * 618-521-0526) are the most productive muskie lures on Kinkaid, and what professional guides, local fishing club members, and Marina Manager Adam Tarrants recommend to anglers plying its waters. Kinkaid produces great numbers of muskies, thanks in large part to a barrier on the spillway which prevents these fish from escaping, a big problem in many other muskie waters through the Midwest. Fish in the 30 plus pound range are caught every year and muskies in the 50 inch class have been caught and released. Kinkaid’s muskie fishing draws anglers from all over, and we’ve even guided guests from other countries. Fall is generally the best time to fish for muskies on Kinkaid, but spring can be great too. Muskies are available to anglers on Kinkaid from September through June.Colby crappies Small

*Crappie

Crappie fishing is very popular at Kinkaid too, especially in the spring. While spring fishing is fantastic, summer crappie fishing on Kinkaid is often just as good, to the surprise of many serious crappie anglers. These two time periods offer the best crappie fishing, but they can be caught at this lake all year round as well. This lake produces incredible numbers of crappie, with lots of fish from 9 to 14 inches in length. Kinkaid has produced crappie over 4 pounds. Jigs, spinners, minnows and meal worms are all effective presentation options for Kinkaid crappie.

*Walleye

Walleye are gaining in popularity among anglers at Kinkaid. The Kinkaid walleye fishing was almost like a secret among local anglers for years, but there are simply too many big ones being caught for the word not to spread, and now it is. Anglers are experiencing some truly remarkable catches of big walleye at Kinkaid now, with some fish reaching double digit proportions.Colby Walleye small These fish can also be targeted all year round, but late spring, summer and early fall are the peak times when more big marble eyes are caught at Kinkaid. Jigs & plastics, crankbaits, minnows and crawlers are good presentation choices for walleye.

*Score A Grand Slam

Give the multi-species fishing at beautiful Kinkaid Lake a try. It can be absolutely incredible, and who knows, you might just score a grand slam with the lake’s 4 most popular species. Good luck!

SIMMS OUTDOORS L.L.C. operates the largest & most experienced guide service on Kinkaid and in the entire southern Illinois/eastern Missouri region. Simms Outdoors is the official service of Kinkaid Marina offering the best professional rates & the only lodging/guiding package at Kinkaid with excellent cabins discounted for SO guests only. SO Lead Guides on Kinkaid are some of the very few in the entire region that actually make their living fishing and are full-time pros and tournament champions. Simms Outdoors Team Guide Service also offers trips throughout the United States, Canada & Mexico, the highest quality lures through Simms Sport Fishing Tackle, and articles, detailed fishing reports, photos & more in Simms Outdoors On-line Magazine. Contact:


www.simmsoutdoors.com* 618-521-0526 / 573-358-5948 *


info@simmsoutdoors.com

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