Author: Aerica

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Best Crappie Brush Piles for Wichita Lakes (And How to Build Your Own)

Crappie don’t roam β€” they cluster. The fish you’re chasing in El Dorado or Cheney are tucked tight against brush, fallen trees, or dock pilings. Find the brush, find the slabs.

Why Brush Piles Work

Crappie are ambush predators. They hold tight to vertical structure and wait for baitfish to swim past. A good brush pile gives them:

  • Cover from bass and bigger predators
  • Shade from direct sun
  • Ambush positions to attack baitfish
  • Spawning structure in spring (3-6 ft of water with brush)

One stack of cedar in the right spot can hold 30+ crappie.

Finding Existing Brush in Wichita Lakes

πŸ“ El Dorado Lake

Standing timber in the Bluestem Point bays. Marker buoys often indicate fish attractor sites. Brush piles tend to be 12-20 ft deep in summer.

πŸ“ Cheney Reservoir

Less natural cover β€” look for the established fish attractor sites maintained by the KDWP. Map at kdwp.ks.gov.

πŸ“ Wilson State Fishing Lake

Stocked brush piles in 8-15 ft. Smaller lake, easier to find.

πŸ“ Marion Reservoir

Native timber in the headwater arms β€” drive a bit further for less pressured fish.

πŸ“ Farm Ponds

If you’ve got access, ponds with submerged structure (dropped Christmas trees, old fence posts) hold all the crappie. Ask permission.

Building Your Own (Legally)

πŸ“‹ Public Lake Rules

Most Kansas public lakes require KDWP permission to add fish attractors. Check kdwp.ks.gov before dropping ANYTHING into a public reservoir. Private farm ponds β€” your land, your call.

Best materials

  • Cedar trees β€” last 5-10 years underwater. Cheapest crappie magnet.
  • Bamboo bundles β€” last 3-5 years. Easy to sink with concrete blocks.
  • PVC structures β€” pre-built fish attractors that last decades. More expensive but permanent.
  • Hardwood (oak, hickory) β€” lasts longest (10+ years) but harder to sink.

How to sink them

  1. Wire 2-3 trees together at the base
  2. Wire a cinder block to the base
  3. Drop in 10-20 ft of water near a known transition (point, drop-off, creek channel)
  4. Mark the GPS location β€” you won’t find it later without one

When to build them

Winter is the best season to build brush piles. Water is low (you can wade out farther), fish aren’t pressured, and the brush has 3-4 months to settle before spring crappie spawn.

Fishing the Brush

Once you’ve found (or built) a brush pile:

  • Anchor 15-20 ft away (don’t spook the school)
  • Vertical-jig small jigs (1/16 oz, chartreuse or pink) just above the brush
  • Live minnow on a slip bobber works at the right depth
  • Move when the bite slows β€” crappie move with light and temperature

For full crappie tactics see our Crappie Fishing in Wichita guide.

Related

Visit Mr. Mc’s Market

πŸ“ 1901 E 21st St N
Wichita, KS 67214

πŸ“ž (316) 265-9930

πŸ“§ admin@mrmcsmarket.com

πŸ• Open 9 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week

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Wichita Snake & Mouse Control Guide: Kansas Fall Rodent Prep

Fall in Kansas means mice looking for warm walls and snakes looking for the last warm rocks of the season. Here’s how to stop both before they show up in your house.

Mice β€” Stop Them Before They’re Inside

By October, every Wichita house with an unprotected gap is hosting at least one mouse. Female mice can have 5-10 litters per year, 5-7 pups per litter. You don’t have ONE mouse β€” you have a problem brewing.

How they get in

  • Any gap a pencil fits through (1/4 inch)
  • Foundation cracks
  • Under garage doors with worn seals
  • Around utility lines coming into the house
  • Through dryer vents with broken flaps
  • Up the toilet (rare but real)

Stop them β€” outside first

  • Seal every gap with steel wool + caulk (mice can’t chew through steel wool)
  • Replace worn garage door bottom seals
  • Cover dryer vent with a fine mesh
  • Trim bushes back 2+ feet from the house β€” denies cover
  • Move firewood and brush piles 20+ feet from the house

If they’re already inside

  • Snap traps β€” most effective per dollar. Bait with peanut butter, not cheese
  • Bait stations β€” for outdoor / garage use. Mice eat bait, die in walls. Smell happens for a week
  • Glue traps β€” work but slow death; avoid if you have a soft heart
  • Snap traps in pairs against walls in pantry, under sink, garage, basement

Snakes β€” Common Kansas Species

🐍 Bullsnake

Big (4-6 ft), non-venomous, eats mice. Beneficial β€” leave alone if possible.

🐍 Garter Snake

Small, harmless, eats bugs and small frogs. Don’t kill.

🐍 Rat Snake

Black/brown, climbs trees. Eats rodents. Beneficial.

🐍 Copperhead

Venomous. Coppery diamond pattern. Found in rocky/wooded areas around Wichita.

🐍 Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin)

Venomous, near water. Rare around Wichita but found in southeast Kansas.

🐍 Rattlesnake (Massasauga)

Venomous. Small. Found in prairie/grassland in central Kansas.

☎️ If You’re Bitten by a Venomous Snake

Call 911 or go to the ER immediately. Don’t try to suck out venom. Don’t apply ice. Don’t use a tourniquet. Keep calm, immobilize the limb, get to a hospital β€” antivenom is available.

Snake Prevention

  • Eliminate cover β€” remove brush piles, rock piles, woodpiles within 30 ft of the house
  • Mow tall grass short β€” snakes prefer 6+ inches
  • Eliminate prey β€” control mice (above), and snakes leave
  • Snake repellent granules work in some cases (sulfur-based or naphthalene). Apply along foundations, garage perimeter
  • Snake-proof fence for high-traffic yards β€” 1/4 inch hardware cloth, 30 inches tall, buried 6 inches, leaning outward

What We Stock

Snap traps, bait stations, glue boards, steel wool, snake repellent, mouse-proofing supplies β€” all in our Pest Control aisle.

Related

Visit Mr. Mc’s Market

πŸ“ 1901 E 21st St N
Wichita, KS 67214

πŸ“ž (316) 265-9930

πŸ“§ admin@mrmcsmarket.com

πŸ• Open 9 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week

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Why Sunday Soul Food Hits Different in Wichita (And Where to Get It)

There’s something about Sunday soul food that no other meal hits the same way. The smoked meat, the slow-cooked greens, the mac with the crust on top. Here’s why it matters in Wichita and where to get the real thing.

It’s Not Just Food β€” It’s Tradition

For Black families across the South and now across the country, Sunday dinner is a ritual. Church in the morning. Family gathered around the table by 2 PM. A spread that took someone β€” usually Mom or Grandma β€” half the morning to put together.

The food itself has roots in West African cooking, brought through the Middle Passage, adapted in the American South with what was available, and passed down through generations. Collard greens. Smoked meats. Cornbread. Yams. Black-eyed peas. Rice and beans. Mac and cheese.

When you eat soul food on Sunday, you’re eating a tradition. That’s why it hits different.

What Makes Real Soul Food Different

  • Time. Real greens simmer for hours. Real ribs smoke for hours. Real beans soak overnight. You can taste the time.
  • Seasoning meat. Smoked turkey wings or hocks in the greens. Bacon in the beans. The flavor isn’t from a packet.
  • Cornbread that’s actually cornbread. Not the sweet box mix. Real, savory, golden crust on top.
  • Mac with a crust. Baked, not microwaved. Three cheeses minimum. Crispy top, creamy middle.
  • Sweet tea that’s actually sweet. Diabetic-coma sweet. Lemon optional.

Where to Get It in Wichita: Fat Boyz at Mr. Mc’s Market

Fat Boyz is the kitchen tucked inside Mr. Mc’s Market. We run Soul Food Saturday & Sunday every weekend, and trays are available take-and-bake all week.

The menu rotates but the staples don’t:

  • Smoked ribs β€” fall-off-the-bone
  • Smothered chicken β€” gravy thick enough to stand a spoon up in
  • Fried chicken β€” buttermilk-marinated, hand-breaded
  • Collard greens β€” slow-simmered with smoked turkey
  • Mac and cheese β€” the crust on top kind
  • Yams β€” sweet enough for dessert
  • Cornbread β€” buttery and golden
  • Hotlinks from Wichita’s largest selection
  • Black-eyed peas
  • Potato salad β€” old-school recipe

When We’re Open

  • Soul Food Saturday & Sunday β€” fresh, hot, served by the plate
  • Take-and-Bake (all week) β€” grab a tray, heat at home. See our take-and-bake guide
  • Catering β€” events of 10 to 200+. Family reunions, funerals, churches, weddings. See soul food catering page

πŸ– Hosting Sunday Dinner This Weekend?

Pre-order a Fat Boyz tray by Friday for Saturday/Sunday pickup. Use our preorder page or call (316) 265-9930.

Why It Matters That It’s Local

Mr. Mc’s Market is family-owned and Wichita-rooted. When you support Fat Boyz, you’re supporting a local Black-owned kitchen, local hires, local suppliers, and a tradition that’s been keeping families together for generations.

That’s the kind of Sunday dinner worth showing up for.

Related

Visit Mr. Mc’s Market

πŸ“ 1901 E 21st St N
Wichita, KS 67214

πŸ“ž (316) 265-9930

πŸ“§ admin@mrmcsmarket.com

πŸ• Open 9 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week

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How to Clean & Cook Catfish Like a Wichita Pro

You caught a stringer of channel cats on the Arkansas River. Now what? Here’s the start-to-finish on cleaning, filleting, and cooking Kansas catfish the way Wichita does it.

First β€” Keep Them Alive Until You Clean Them

Catfish flesh goes soft fast. Best practice:

  • Keep on a stringer in the water while you fish, OR in a cooler with ice + a little water
  • Clean within a few hours of catching
  • Don’t let them sit in warm sun β€” quality drops by the hour

Cleaning Method 1: Skin & Gut Whole (Old School)

  1. Nail the head to a board through the eye socket
  2. Cut around the head behind the gills with a sharp fillet knife
  3. Use pliers to peel the skin back from the cut, working from head toward tail (catfish skin is leathery)
  4. Once skinned, cut off the head and tail
  5. Slit the belly, remove guts, rinse clean
  6. Cook whole, on the bone

Pros: faster, less waste. Best for small to medium fish.

Cleaning Method 2: Fillet (Boneless)

  1. Make a cut behind the gills down to the spine
  2. Turn the knife flat and cut along the spine toward the tail, riding the bones
  3. Cut down through the rib cage on each side
  4. Lift the fillet off β€” should come away cleanly
  5. Flip the fish and repeat the other side
  6. Skin each fillet: lay skin-side down, hold the tail end, slide knife between skin and meat
  7. Trim out the red lateral line meat (looks like a dark stripe) β€” it’s where the strong “muddy” flavor lives

Pros: boneless, restaurant-grade. Best for bigger fish.

πŸ’‘ Pro Tip β€” Trim the Red Line

Many people think Kansas catfish taste muddy. The dark red strip along the lateral line is the culprit. Cut it out and your catfish tastes clean and mild.

Soak Before Cooking (Optional but Recommended)

Soak fillets in salt water or buttermilk for 1–4 hours before cooking. Buttermilk pulls out any remaining muddy taste and tenderizes the meat. Pat dry before breading.

Recipe 1: Fried Catfish (Wichita Classic)

Ingredients:

  • Catfish fillets, soaked
  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp cayenne
  • 1 egg + 1/2 cup buttermilk (egg wash)
  • Oil for frying (peanut or vegetable)

Method:

  1. Heat oil to 350Β°F in a heavy skillet or dutch oven
  2. Mix cornmeal, flour, and seasonings
  3. Dip fillet in egg wash, then dredge in cornmeal mix
  4. Fry 3–5 minutes per side until golden and flaky
  5. Drain on paper towels, season with extra salt while hot

Serve with hush puppies, coleslaw, and tartar sauce.

Recipe 2: Blackened Catfish (Cast Iron)

  1. Mix Cajun seasoning: paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, salt, pepper, cayenne
  2. Coat fillets in melted butter, then heavy on the seasoning
  3. Heat a cast iron skillet until smoking hot
  4. Lay fillet in dry pan, cook 2 minutes per side
  5. Serve with lemon and rice

Recipe 3: Grilled Catfish (Foil Pack)

  1. Lay fillet on a sheet of foil with butter, lemon slices, onion, and garlic
  2. Season with salt, pepper, Cajun seasoning
  3. Seal the foil pack
  4. Grill 10–12 minutes over medium heat

Pairs well with a cold beer and corn on the cob.

🐟 Need Bait for the Next Trip?

Pick up live minnows, stink bait, hooks, and line at Mr. Mc’s Bait & Tackle.

Related

Visit Mr. Mc’s Market

πŸ“ 1901 E 21st St N
Wichita, KS 67214

πŸ“ž (316) 265-9930

πŸ“§ admin@mrmcsmarket.com

πŸ• Open 9 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week

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Mosquito Control for Kansas Backyards: What Actually Works

By June, your Kansas backyard is hosting mosquitoes whether you want them or not. Here’s the straight playbook on what actually works to control them β€” from eliminating breeding spots to which treatments work best in our humid Kansas summers.

Step 1: Eliminate Standing Water (The Single Biggest Move)

Mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water. One forgotten bucket can produce hundreds of mosquitoes a week. The #1 highest-impact thing you can do is dump every container that holds water.

Check weekly:

  • Kid pools
  • Plant saucers under flower pots
  • Bird baths (refresh water every 3 days)
  • Wheelbarrows, buckets, kiddie pools
  • Clogged gutters
  • Old tires
  • Tarps that pool water
  • Pet water bowls (refresh daily)
  • Recycling bins left outside

Step 2: Treat Water You CAN’T Drain

Decorative ponds, rain barrels, low spots β€” use Bti dunks (Mosquito Dunks brand or generic). These are bacterial pellets that kill mosquito larvae but are safe for fish, birds, pets, and people. One dunk lasts ~30 days in standing water.

Step 3: Treat the Yard Perimeter

Mosquitoes rest in shaded, humid vegetation during the day. Treating those resting spots knocks down the daytime population.

  • Permethrin or bifenthrin yard spray β€” apply to underside of shrub leaves, tall grass, fence lines, shaded areas
  • Reapply every 3–4 weeks during peak season (June–August)
  • Don’t spray flowering plants when bees are active (early morning or evening is safest)

We stock yard sprays in our Pests aisle.

Step 4: Personal Protection

  • DEET (20–30%) β€” gold standard, lasts hours
  • Picaridin β€” DEET alternative, less greasy, doesn’t damage plastics
  • Permethrin-treated clothing β€” spray clothes (not skin) and it lasts through multiple washes
  • Long sleeves + pants at dawn/dusk during peak season

What DOESN’T Work (Save Your Money)

  • Bug zappers β€” kill harmless insects, almost zero mosquitoes
  • Citronella candles β€” minor reduction in immediate area only
  • Ultrasonic repellers β€” proven ineffective in repeated studies
  • Bats / purple martins β€” eat mostly moths, not mosquitoes
  • Mosquito-repelling plants (citronella geraniums) β€” minimal effect unless crushed

🦟 West Nile Virus is in Kansas

West Nile virus is endemic in Kansas mosquitoes. Most infections are mild but some are serious. Use repellent when mosquito activity is high β€” dawn, dusk, and warm humid evenings. Don’t ignore mosquito control.

Yard Maintenance That Helps

  • Mow regularly β€” shorter grass = less daytime mosquito cover
  • Trim shrubs back from outdoor seating areas
  • Run a strong fan on the patio β€” mosquitoes are weak flyers, can’t fight wind
  • Replace exterior bulbs with yellow “bug lights” β€” fewer attractant photons

Related

Visit Mr. Mc’s Market

πŸ“ 1901 E 21st St N
Wichita, KS 67214

πŸ“ž (316) 265-9930

πŸ“§ admin@mrmcsmarket.com

πŸ• Open 9 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week

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Kratom Strain Guide for Beginners: Red, White, Green & Yellow

If you’re new to kratom and the strain names mean nothing to you, here’s the straight breakdown. We stock kratom in our Wichita smoke shop β€” multiple strains, multiple brands. This guide helps you pick which one to try first.

⚠️ Important β€” Read First

Kratom is a botanical product sold for personal use. It is NOT approved by the FDA for any medical use. NOT intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Sold to adults 21+ only. Not for pregnant or nursing women. Talk to your doctor before use, especially if you take medications or have a health condition.

What Are the “Vein Colors”?

The vein color refers to the color of the central vein in the kratom leaf when it’s harvested. The harvest timing affects the chemical profile, which is why different colors are traditionally used differently:

πŸ”΄ Red Vein

The most mature leaf. Traditionally used in the evening or for relaxation. Generally the slowest-acting and longest-lasting of the four. Common starter strain for folks looking for calm.

βšͺ White Vein

The youngest leaf. Traditionally used in the morning. More energizing profile. Folks looking for focus or to skip the afternoon slump often try white first.

🟒 Green Vein

The middle ground. Often described as “balanced.” A reasonable first choice if you’re unsure β€” sits between red and white.

🟑 Yellow & Gold

Specialty processed varieties, often made by drying or fermenting green or white leaf differently. Profiles vary by producer. Try these after you’ve tried the basics.

Common Strain Names

You’ll see names like Maeng Da, Bali, Borneo, Sumatra, Indo β€” these refer to the region where the kratom traditionally came from, with each region having its own profile.

  • Maeng Da β€” a strong/premium-grade strain. Comes in red, green, and white. Often the most “potent-feeling” variety.
  • Bali β€” typically a red, traditionally used for relaxation.
  • Borneo β€” strong red traditional profile.
  • Sumatra β€” known for long-duration effects.
  • Indo β€” mild, often considered beginner-friendly.

Forms We Stock

  • Capsules β€” pre-measured, no taste, easy to use. Most beginner-friendly.
  • Powder β€” best value per gram. Mix with juice or water. Acquired taste.
  • Extracts β€” concentrated. For experienced users only.

Picking Your First Strain

If you’ve never tried kratom and you’re looking for a starting point:

  • Want relaxation, evening use? Start with Red Bali or Red Maeng Da in capsule form.
  • Want focus, daytime use? Start with White Maeng Da or White Sumatra in capsules.
  • Not sure? Green Maeng Da is the most “middle ground” first try.

Start with the smallest serving size on the label. See how your body responds. Don’t combine with other substances. Don’t drive until you know how it affects you.

πŸͺͺ ID Required (21+)

Kansas requires ID for kratom purchase. Bring your driver’s license or state ID. We card everyone who looks under 30.

Where to Buy in Wichita

Mr. Mc’s Market stocks multiple strains, brands, and forms in our smoke shop kratom section. Stop in and talk to us β€” we’ll show you what’s in today and answer questions honestly.

Related

Visit Mr. Mc’s Market

πŸ“ 1901 E 21st St N
Wichita, KS 67214

πŸ“ž (316) 265-9930

πŸ“§ admin@mrmcsmarket.com

πŸ• Open 9 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week

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Best Kansas Lakes Within 30 Minutes of Wichita

If you live in Wichita, you’ve got serious water within 30 minutes in every direction. Here’s the rundown β€” what each lake is stocked with, where to launch, and what to bring.

El Dorado Lake (25 min east)

The Wichita angler’s go-to. 8,000 surface acres of solid fishing.

  • Stocked: Channel cats, blue cats, crappie, white bass, walleye, largemouth, smallmouth, wipers
  • Boat launch: Multiple β€” Walnut River Marina, Bluestem Point, Shady Creek
  • Camping: State park campgrounds, electric and tent sites
  • Best for: Spring crappie in the brush, summer blue cats in the river arm, white bass run in March-April

Cheney Reservoir (30 min west)

9,500 acres on the Ninnescah River. Bigger water, more wind, great fishing.

  • Stocked: Channel cats, white bass, wipers, walleye, largemouth, crappie
  • Boat launch: Cheney State Park marina + several public ramps
  • Camping: Full-service state park with hookups
  • Best for: White bass run on the Ninnescah arms, riprap dam crappie, summer wipers

Lake Afton (20 min west)

Sedgwick County park with a 270-acre lake. Family-friendly, great beginner water.

  • Stocked: Bluegill, channel cats, largemouth, crappie
  • Boat launch: Public ramp, electric motors only (no gas motors)
  • Camping: Sedgwick County campground
  • Best for: Bank fishing with kids, dependable bluegill, weekend cat fishing

Wilson State Fishing Lake (25 min east)

Small Sedgwick County lake β€” 100 acres. Quiet, easy access.

  • Stocked: Channel cats, bluegill, largemouth, crappie
  • Boat launch: Public ramp, electric motors only
  • Camping: Primitive sites
  • Best for: Quick after-work trip, dependable channel cats

Arkansas River (right in town)

You don’t even have to leave Wichita. The Arkansas runs through downtown.

  • Stocked: Channel cats, blue cats, flatheads, white bass, drum, carp
  • Access: Multiple parks β€” Riverside, Sim, Murdock, Pawnee Prairie. Walk-in bank fishing
  • Best for: Below the Lincoln Street dam (year-round cats), white bass run in spring, big flatheads at night

See our Arkansas River catfishing guide for spots and tactics.

Bonus: Just Over 30 Minutes

  • Kingman State Fishing Lake (45 min west) β€” small, quiet, good catfish
  • Marion Reservoir (60 min north) β€” crappie destination, worth the drive
  • Council Grove Reservoir (75 min north) β€” flathead factory

🎣 Gear Up Before You Drive

Pick up live minnows, stink bait, tackle, and ice all in one stop at Mr. Mc’s. Browse the Bait & Tackle Shop β†’

Related

Visit Mr. Mc’s Market

πŸ“ 1901 E 21st St N
Wichita, KS 67214

πŸ“ž (316) 265-9930

πŸ“§ admin@mrmcsmarket.com

πŸ• Open 9 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week

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How to Set Up Your First Fishing Rod & Reel (Wichita Edition)

Brand new to fishing? Picking your first rod and reel feels like more choice than it should be. Here’s the no-nonsense walkthrough β€” what to buy, how to string it, and what rig to tie on for your first trip on Kansas water.

Pick the Right Combo

For your first setup, get a medium-action spinning combo. It’s the most forgiving for beginners and handles 90% of Kansas freshwater fish.

  • Rod length: 6′ to 7′ β€” long enough to cast far, short enough to control
  • Power: Medium (versatile)
  • Action: Medium-fast (good hooksets without being stiff)
  • Reel size: 2500–3000 series
  • Budget: $40–$80 buys a quality combo you won’t outgrow in year one

Spool It With the Right Line

Skip braided line for now. Start with 10 lb monofilament β€” forgiving, easy to tie knots, cheap to replace when you snag it on Wichita brush.

To spool:

  1. Open the reel bail
  2. Tie the line to the spool with an arbor knot
  3. Close the bail
  4. Have a friend hold the new line spool (label side up) with a pencil through the center
  5. Reel slowly with light pressure on the line β€” about 30 seconds of reeling fills it
  6. Stop when the line is 1/8″ from the spool’s outer edge

Tie a Basic Rig

For your first trip, use a slip bobber rig. It catches almost everything and you’ll see the bite.

  • Thread a bobber stop onto your line
  • Thread a bead, then a slip bobber
  • Tie on a #4 baitholder hook with an improved clinch knot
  • Pinch a split shot 12–18 inches above the hook
  • Set the bobber stop to your target depth (4–6 ft is a good starting point)

Pick a Bait

First-Trip Spots Around Wichita

  • Sedgwick County Park ponds β€” easy access, stocked, friendly to beginners
  • Lake Afton β€” west of Wichita, family-friendly, lots of bluegill and catfish
  • Cheney State Park beaches β€” bank fishing, dependable
  • Local farm ponds β€” if you’ve got friends with access, ponds turn on first in spring

πŸ“‹ Don’t Forget Your Kansas Fishing License

Anyone 16 or older needs one. See our Kansas fishing license guide for how to get one in Wichita.

Pick up your first combo, line, hooks, bobber, and bait all in one trip at Mr. Mc’s Bait & Tackle. We’ll help you rig your first rig if you bring it in β€” no charge.

Related

Visit Mr. Mc’s Market

πŸ“ 1901 E 21st St N
Wichita, KS 67214

πŸ“ž (316) 265-9930

πŸ“§ admin@mrmcsmarket.com

πŸ• Open 9 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week

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Setting Up Your First African Cichlid Tank: A Wichita Beginner’s Guide

African cichlids are some of the most colorful freshwater fish you can keep β€” but they need specific conditions to thrive. Here’s a no-nonsense walkthrough of setting up your first Lake Malawi tank without losing fish in week one.

Pick the Right Tank Size

African cichlids are aggressive and territorial. The bigger the tank, the better the social dynamics.

  • 55 gallons: Minimum for Mbuna (smaller Malawi cichlids). 6 fish max.
  • 75 gallons: Comfortable for 8–10 Mbuna or a small peacock community.
  • 125+ gallons: Ideal. Larger groups, more species, fewer fights.

Water Chemistry Is Everything

Lake Malawi water is hard, alkaline, and warm. Most Wichita tap water needs adjustment.

  • pH: 7.8–8.6
  • Hardness (GH): 10–20 dGH
  • Alkalinity (KH): 10–18 dKH
  • Temperature: 76–82Β°F

Buffer with crushed coral substrate, aragonite sand, or commercial cichlid buffers. Test before you stock and check weekly after.

🌑️ Cycle the Tank First

Never add fish to a brand-new tank. Cycle it for 4–6 weeks first to grow the bacteria that handle ammonia. Or use bottled bacteria + a small ammonia source to fishless-cycle in 2–3 weeks.

Substrate & Decor

Use crushed coral or aragonite sand. Both buffer your pH naturally. Plain pool sand or gravel won’t.

Stack real rock β€” slate, limestone, or texas holey rock β€” into caves and crevices. African cichlids spend their lives darting in and out of rock structure. The more cover, the less fighting.

Skip live plants for most Malawi setups β€” Mbuna will eat them. Plastic plants if you want greenery.

Filtration

African cichlids are messy eaters and heavy waste producers. Over-filter:

  • Canister filter rated for 2x your tank size
  • OR two HOB (hang-on-back) filters running together
  • Strong flow is fine β€” these fish handle it

Stocking Strategy

African cichlids do best overstocked. Counterintuitive but true β€” high stocking spreads aggression so no single fish gets picked apart.

  • Add fish in one or two groups, not one at a time
  • Aim for 1 male to 3–4 females per species
  • Don’t mix Mbuna and Peacocks/Haps β€” different aggression levels
  • Don’t mix Malawi and Tanganyika β€” different water chemistry preferences

Feeding

Quality cichlid pellets sized to the fish. Twice daily, only what they eat in 30 seconds. Veggie-based food for Mbuna (they’re algae grazers in the wild). Protein for predatory Haps and Peacocks.

🐠 Get Your Cichlids at Mr. Mc’s

We stock African cichlids in Wichita β€” multiple species, color varieties, and sizes. See our cichlids & koi page for details, or stop in and see what’s in the tanks today.

Visit Mr. Mc’s Market

πŸ“ 1901 E 21st St N
Wichita, KS 67214

πŸ“ž (316) 265-9930

πŸ“§ admin@mrmcsmarket.com

πŸ• Open 9 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week

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Behind the Jar: What Makes Mr. Mc’s Magical Catfish Stink Bait Work

There are a hundred stink baits on the market. They’re not all the same. Here’s what goes into a jar of Mr. Mc’s Magical Catfish Stink Bait β€” and why it puts more channel cats in the cooler than the mass-produced stuff.

Made Right Here in Wichita

Most stink bait on the shelf at the big-box stores comes out of a factory somewhere in Texas or Missouri. Ours is made by hand, in small batches, right here in Wichita, Kansas. We use real ingredients because that’s what produces real fish on real lines.

Real Fish. Real Oils. Real Minnows.

Three things matter in stink bait:

  • Scent strength β€” how far it pulls fish in
  • Hook hold β€” how long it stays on under casting and current
  • Scent dispersion β€” how the smell spreads through the water

We hit all three with real fish oils (not synthetic flavoring), actual ground minnows (not “fish meal” filler), and a binding system that holds thick on a treble hook but releases scent steadily into the water.

Why Ingredients Matter More Than Marketing

Walk down the bait aisle at any chain store. You’ll see jars with cartoon catfish, bold claims about “secret formulas,” and prices that suggest you’re paying for the label more than the bait. Half of those jars have synthetic fish flavoring, soy meal, and a thick gel binder. The catfish know.

Catfish hunt by smell. Their nostrils are wired to detect amino acids, fish oils, and protein breakdown. Synthetic flavoring smells like food to humans β€” not to catfish. Real fish + real oils smell like food to catfish.

Three Formulas, Three Uses

  • Punch bait: Thick and sticky. Pushes onto a treble hook with a stick. Holds in current and through hard casts. Best for moving water.
  • Dip bait: Thinner. Coats a plastic dip worm or tube. Creates a bigger scent cloud, best for slack water and ponds.
  • Dough bait: Soft and moldable. Molds around a treble hook with a spring coil. Beginner-friendly.

Pick the one that matches the water you fish.

How to Actually Fish It

For the full rigging guide, mistakes to avoid, and timing tips, see our how to use stink bait guide.

πŸ‘ƒ Stir Before Every Trip

Stink bait separates if it sits. The oils rise, the solids settle. Stir it for 30 seconds before you head out β€” gets the scent and binder back in suspension.

Where to Buy

Pick up Mr. Mc’s Magical Catfish Stink Bait at our bait & tackle shop at 1901 E 21st St N in Wichita. We also carry live minnows by the pound, treble hooks, dip worms, and everything else you need to fish stink bait properly.

Wholesale accounts welcome β€” we ship case quantities to marinas, tackle shops, and convenience stores across the region. See our wholesale page.

Visit Mr. Mc’s Market

πŸ“ 1901 E 21st St N
Wichita, KS 67214

πŸ“ž (316) 265-9930

πŸ“§ admin@mrmcsmarket.com

πŸ• Open 9 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week