Truman Lake & Lake of the Ozarks

[hanson]

Did somebody say Santee-Cooper!

You guys ever dream of taking a cattin' trip like this? I know I have. I keep tossing around the idea that I need to do this trip sometime, either Santee-Cooper or the James River. Big Blues & Giant Flats!! Someday...

Anyone have a dream cattin' destination in the US?

Lockport doesn't count.

[Guest]

Every day hanson, every day... especially when the thermometer is reading below freezing here.

Now if I only had as much for finances as I did for time...

However.. I did recieve an invite to fish the Columbia river in June.. A REALLY big sturgeon might have to suffice for this year!

[DARK30]

Heck with the lakes. A 1 day drive will get you to the Cumberland River. A 2 day drive can put you in range of some major James River piggies! I'm currently in negotiations with my CFO about such a trip.

Thanks for the pics Robby!

[Dennis Steele]

That doesn't look like fun...just looks like work.

[hanson]

Hmmmm.... 1 day drive to the Cumberland ya say??

I better start doing some research.

[Mr Special]

HOLLY HANNA

Dark,

Any idea on the weight of those piggies? I'm pretty sure I'll need help to hold one of those.

[katchaser]

Mr Special

This cat was 50 1/2 inches long

36 inch girth

77 pounds of blue lightning pullin my string.

Mike Magis caught the other 2 blues

This 67 1/2 pound brute

and this 62 pound hog!

We caught several other fish over 50 pounds on that James river trip.

[Mr Special]

Cool thanks,

I can only imagine for now.

Good luck can't wait to see more pic's

[DTro]

ROAD TRIP!

[hanson]

Quote:

---

ROAD TRIP!

---

That's what I was thinking dtro.

If winter is going to be crappy around here, we need to go find some good cat waters. But I suppose mid-March is going to be off season for the kitties down south as well.

[DTro]

Here's a little info on the Cumberland:

Fishing for these cats starts around January as temperatures are getting cold. Donny said he feels this is the most overlooked fishing in the winter. Channel catfish and Blue catfish will congregate in the channel itself instead of being spread out in the creeks. In the winter they get in the deep holes making them a little easier to catch. Channel catfish and Blue catfish will be related to certain structures at this time of the year. Donny told me that on the deeper sharper drops you would tend to find the Blue catfish. Big Blue catfish will be located in these areas if you have a heavy concentration of baitfish. If you do not have a heavy concentration of baitfish in these areas you will probably catch more Channel catfish. Locate concentrations of baitfish with your depth finder around these steep drops in the river channel. Catfish will be down below the baitfish feeding on the remains of these shad being eaten by other fish above them. When fishing in the river for big catfish you need to use bigger equipment. Heavy line is a must. Donny does not mess around when it comes to heavy line. He is using 130-pound test Spider wire with 8/0 and 10/0 hooks. Rigging heavy prepares you for the current you will be fishing in when the gates are open at the dam. Leaves and other items will get on your line as it gets washed down stream. Rigging heavy also prepares you to possibly tangle with a world record catfish. To get your bait deep down where these catfish are use a 5/8-ounce sinker.

Remember that when operating a boat below the dam life jackets are required at all times. Access to the river is not plentiful below the Old Hickory dam until the river rolls into Cheatham County. Expect long ramps down into the river in the upper end of the lake through Nashville. Walking back up these long steep ramps at the end of a long day is not easy. Some fishers launch on the Old Hickory Lake side of the dam and lock through. Here are a few safety tips for locking through a dam. As you approach the lock observe the navigation channel as marked by buoys. Make sure you have at least 50 feet of line to moor to a floating mooring post. Your boat should be equipped with proper deck fittings to tie off to. All open flames should be extinguished and all passengers should remain seated. After your boat is moored off to a mooring post shut off your engine.

Keep this fishing in mind one winter for some monster catfish. This fishing can be expected through the middle of March. Then the cats start moving into their spring migration. These cats will travel until they reach the dams at each end of the Cumberland River. After running into the dams the catfish begin their spawn. The Cumberland River offers some great catfishing.

[blacksportsman]

I would gladly exchange the rest of this ice season for just one blue cat road trip. Is an out-of-state cat gathering in the works?? I like the idea...

[DARK30]

Hey Manny, You get slapped by one of them piggies and you'll go over the side

I fished the Cumberland two years ago at Clarksville TN. in February. Still a big river up that way and no dams around. We got lots of Blues from 5-20+ including a 55 for me and a 65 for my partner. I hired Jim Moyer for 3 bills a day...very good deal.

[DTro]

Speaking of that slapping video...........

I converted it and put it on my phone. Whenever the workday needs a little comic relief I hit the play button. Never fails, I laugh every time I see it, as well as my co-workers. I have a bunch of funny videos, but this one always gets the best laugh. It's just a great combination of visuals and commentary.

[fisherking32]

Sounds like a great idea.

Makes me want to go back home, below the Harry S Truman dam on the Osage river in MO. Where I got the 52 lb blue. Fish right from shore with fresh cut shad. This was listed on the In-Fishermans top ten blue cat waters. There are many cats in the 20-30lb range and reaching into the 70's. Just do a search on the dam or catfishing warsaw,MO.

Here is a guide service I stumbled across, web page , they have some nice pics.

[blacksportsman]

Quote:

---

Hey Manny, You get slapped by one of them piggies and you'll go over the side

---

Hmmmm, I don't know, Kevin. I might be able to take a punch a little better now. I've been working out in the off season, not to mention the 130 pounder I keep at home has been knocking me around a lot lately

Come on kitties, the gloves are off...BRING IT ON!!

By the way, you think you and I should start getting royalties for the "Manny Slap" video clip? (j/k, enjoy it while it's free )

I'm up for a road trip. Late February (after Valentine's Day week) works for me!

[Guest]

Manny, and anyone else here that may be able to help a little bit...

Anything within a 600 mile range in an area that should be somewhat productive, and where its not in suburbia with lodging no less than $60/night per person?

This would allow a trip of reasonable drive time(12 hours), and not be so far away that one would have to be gone a full week to make it worth the trip, or cost $200 in fuel each way.

My van has comfortable seating for 4, my boat will handle 4 comfortably(not going to win races, but comfortable and safe). Plenty of room for all the gear for 4, and reasonable gas mileage loaded and towing. I would estimate $160 in fuel @ $2.50 round trip for a 1200 mile outing. With reasonable priced lodging, this might be possible...

I think I know one other person who might be able to go... and 20 that would like to go and wont be able to make it.

1st.. what are the options?

[hanson]

Dave-

I like the way you think.

Research time!!

Gonna have to shoot for late March I believe.

[Guest]

Fact...

Warsaw, MO from Minneapolis, MN

Miles 559

Drive Time 8 hrs 21 minutes

Fishing License(2005 rate) year $35/ daily $5.50

This weeks weather Highs mid 50's - Lows mid 30's

110,000 acres of prime catfish waters with good year around fishing.

My only question is... why am I sitting here talking about it, and drilling holes in the ice when I want to fish?

[hanson]

Manny-

How's the Mississippi between the Alton Dam and the Miss/Missouri confluence near St. Louis sound to you?

600 miles 1 way.

BTW- Current world record blue was caught from this stretch of the Miss.

[blacksportsman]

Quote:

---

How's the Mississippi between the Alton Dam and the Miss/Missouri confluence near St. Louis sound to you?

---

Definitely an interesting stretch of water, to say the least. I've scanned this area before (maps) just out of curiousity right after the current world record blue was caught there last year.

Late March though? I think I'd want to scratch the itch sooner rather than later. Dave's got some good general ideas as to the where, when, and how long questions. Besides, our own urban kitties will start to become active in late March and that will be enough to keep all of us busy by then.

[DARK30]

Well, my trip to the James is gonna have to wait. Just a little too much pinga for now. I would want to fly over there and spend less time driving and more time fishing. The CFO put her foot down.... I guess I'm lucky the foot is attached to such a nice leg

I think a shorter drive would work. I'm thinking of the Mo River around Yankton SD. We'll see.

[Guest]

At this time, I have my sights set on Truman Lake with the research I have done for a February trip. The fishing potential is awesome year around, and there are reports of success now with blues up to 30 on the average... that seems pretty realistic to me, not every fish is a record. The reservoir puts out many trophy fish every year, so the potential is always there for one to end up on the end of the line.

Lake of the Ozarks is very close, and easily accessable if there is a better bite happening. The Missouri DNR claims the Osage river(right there) below the dam is the best shore fishing in the state if the weather makes it impossible to get the boat out.. or somehow becomes inoperable(oops, didnt see that rock).

Fishing here will turn on by mid march at the latest. April, the flatheads are already biting.

I will likely take 2 trips south, one in Feb(positive), and also another in March that hanson is shooting for.

I'm tired of waiting for spring.. I'll go find it.

[hanson]

Changed the title of the post to something a little more appropriate.

Was doing a little more research Dave and it sounds like they are catching Blues right NOW on Truman Lake. The reports I was reading indicated lots of fish in the 30 lb range with a few in the 40 lb range as well. Flatheads are not active yet and the Blues are in more of a winter pattern.

I think we definitely will have to try and figure out a pattern for both flatties (hope they are biting) and blues when we head down there.

I am in for a late March trip. I just have to get my shack off of Red on March 15th and then I'll be free of commitments.

[Guest]

hanson.. if I can find numbers of active flatheads here in the 1st week of April regularly, I dont think its going to be any problem at all finding some flats to bite in a warmer climate in March. They are still the same specie of fish, and should have similar habits in all bodies of water. They will have the feed bag on, and be stacked up somewhere.

I am so excited about this its hard to walk outside today with the mid 40 degree temperatures.. Makes me want throw the rods in the vehicle and drive.

My challenge has mainly been interpiting the regulations on how many rods are allowed. The bait allowed is clear. The best I can interpit is we are allowed 3 rods that are labeled and unattended, but what are we allowed for rods in a normal fishing situation(not trot or limb lines). I dont think it will be an issue going over the 33 hooks per line allowed?

It seems this all will be happening in the paddlefish snagging season. I dont know if I am ready to go that route, but it would be a welcome experience to get one on hook and line.