Coffey County Lake

Unanimously accepted as the best smallmouth (and alligator...) fishery in the state by both anglers and KDWP, Coffee County is one of the most unique lakes in Kansas. It is listed on most clubs schedules in the October and March section because of the warm water the Wolf Creek nulcear power plant produces and can support consistent fishing even in late January. The lake has anywhere from two to four feet of clarity and mainly consists of rip rap, mud banks, gravel flats, standing timber and sparse aquatic vegetation.
Since (and before) the lake was opened to fishing 16 years ago, anglers have marveled over the fisheries excellent population of wiper, channel catfish, white bass, and especially smallmouth and largemouth bass. In its early years, 5 fish for 25 lbs was not uncommon. The fishing has declined since then, but remains excellent.
Almost as extreme as the fishing opportunities that the lake presents is the extreme situations that Coffey County anglers have stumbled into over the years. While there is a great chance of catching a 3 lb. smallie, there is also the off chance that you will get arrested for being a terrorist (not really, as long as you don't cross the buoy rope by the outlet and inlet...). Security is tight, and tightening as national security increases. You can expect your vehicle and boat to be searched every time you enter the park.
The fact that zebra mussels are making their way through Kansas only furthers their paranoia. Being a power plant lake, zebra mussels pose a huge financial threat to Wolf Creek. Zebra mussels have been known to grow on tubes and other important power plant parts, rendering them dysfunctional. If zebra mussels do enter the lake, Wolf Creek will have no option except to spend allot of money keeping the power plant clean of zebra mussels. Unfortunately, Up river from Coffey County, Marion Reservoir has confirmed a zebra mussel presence in their lake. It is no a longer an "if" for Coffey County, but a "when."
On top of terrorist and aquatic nuisance threats, the lake its self is dangerous. A windy day can turn the lake into a death trap. In a little less than two decade of being open to the public, the lake has drowned four anglers. Since then, the lake closes whenever the wind begins to pick up.
If you decide that the great fishing is worth all of the trouble this lake can dish out, and show up early in the morning, you can expect to have your vehicle and boat searched and your live wells bleached. They will then check your fishing license, give you a radio so that you will know if they close the lake while your on the water, and tell you to wear your life jacket at all times. If you make it through the search, you get to wait fifteen minutes to an hour for the steam produced by the power plant over night to clear off and the boat ramp (one of the nicest boat ramps in the state) to open up. And then you are ready to experience some of the best fishing that Kansas has to offer. One of the most unique experiences I have had in this sport is fishing under the shadow of the Wolf Creek nuclear power plant; visiting this lake is really a must for anyone who loves Kansas bass fishing.

Largemouth
Population: Good
General Size: 15-18"
Big Fish: 6lb (network) 10lb (rumored)
Location: By the damn is a safe bet. Up river, when its open, produces.
Cover: Standing timber, rip rap, aquatic vegetation, laydowns, brush
Baits: tubes, crankbaits, top water, spinnerbaits, wack rig, flukes, lipless crankbaits, senkos, texas rig, shakey head

Smallmouth
Population: Excellent
General Size: 15-17"
Big Fish: 2.5lb (personal and KDWP FF) 3lb (witnessed) 5lb (network)
Location: The warm water inlet and outlet are both excellent smallmouth locations, they have large rip rap arms drop down to 20-25 ft and aquatic vegetation lines the banks, across from the arms. The damn side of the lake and the islands are also great areas.
Cover: Rip rap and aquatic vegetation
Baits: tubes, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, senkos, topwater, wacky rig, texas rig (brush hogs), shakey head

(The picture is from this site: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/photo-gallery/index.cfm?&cat=Operating_Nuclear_Power_Plants&font=9&page=list&begin=61&perpg=12)