Thank you for the replies. Ended up taking about an hour and 45 to get to Gardner from 75th street on Friday since some genius decided that Friday afternoon about 330 would be a good time to go ahead and shrink southbound 35 down to ONE lane at just south of 119th St. I mean why would you wait a couple more hours and not tie up the couple hundred thousand people who travel that way home from work right? Anyway, we just had time to go to Gardner with the little ones and caught a few crappie and a nice channel. I have never been to Douglas State Lake. We will have to check that out sometime. I need to get in a boat with a guy like you Blue that I can learn a little about these larger bodies of water from. I grew up fishing in rivers and good farm ponds and I am struggling with the lakes and what patterns different species run in them. I see spots that look like they have to be gold mines and come up dry, while catching fish in places that seemingly have nothing to offer. Anyway, thanks again.