Thanks to the 1992 ban on commercial fishing and the huge floods of 1993 and 1995, monster blue catfish are common in the Missouri River. Here's what you need to know to find and catch 'em.
The Missouri River has fascinated explorers and outdoorsmen ever since the tantalizing reports of bountiful fish and game along its course by the members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Two hundred civilized years later, the Missouri is not the river the expedition force encountered. However, despite its length being shortened by 300 miles in Missouri, channelization for the barge industry, and other insults to its fish and game habitat, the Missouri River fishery has responded quickly to a few amends made by humankind. Of course, Mother Nature, coupled with the Missouri's nasty temper, unleashed their combined forces during the 1993 and 1995 floods to reclaim much of what rightly belonged to them.
The fierce reputation of the Missouri has come to the forefront throughout recorded history. It is said to be the muddiest river in the world. The old-time river farmers say it's so because of "her eternal habit of eatin' up farms and shiftin' sandbars." But the river's old fishermen say "Ol' Muddy" got that way from "the rootin' and wallerin' of the big ol' catfish" that call the Missouri River home.
It's also said that the Missouri's bad temper claimed many a boat over the years just to provide hide-outs for the big cats that swam her murky waters. According to Capt. Bill Heckman, who spent 64 years on the river, whiskey and carelessness sent many a side-wheeler and stern-wheeler to the bottom of the Missouri. Perilous snags and ever moving sandbars claimed even more. "We used to separate the men from the boys at the mouth of the Missouri. The boys went up the Mississippi, and the men went up the Big Muddy," Heckman said.
Then when Heckman hauled in what's said to have been a 250-pound Missouri river catfish, caught on a spoiled ham and a hay hook, people began to believe that the catfishing on the Missouri River was for the men, too!
Ol' Muddy has changed a good deal since the days of the stern-wheelers. It is much safer these days, but still commands respect from those who ply her muddy waters. Boat hulls still litter the river bottom and catfish still use them.
The great floods of '93 and '95 proved to be positive forces for the recovery of the cat fishery, as well as providing additional habitat for other fish and game species. Scour holes and new courses and more shallow water habitat induced highly successful spawns that regenerated the big river's catfish population. Gordon Farabee used to be the big-river programs coordinator with the Missouri Department of Conservation. He explained that Missouri's big-river catfish have adapted their reproduction cycles to the natural occurrence of floods. "In fact," Farabee said, "the catfish of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers rely on floods to successfully spawn and for their young to survive. In the wake of the broken levees, the flood waters gouged out deep holes at the break points and reclaimed hundreds of acres of flood plain habitat for the rivers' catfish."
The prolonged flooding during the summer of '93 provided the Missouri river's fishes with access to much of the original flood plains for feeding, spawning, escape and growth. In fact, the '93 flood lasted so long that it greatly reduced the fishing pressure as well. Fishermen were kept at bay for months. Growth rates were excellent, and spawning success was the best in many years.
The prolonged flooding during the summer of '93 provided the Missouri river's fishes with access to much of the original flood plains for feeding, spawning, escape and growth. In fact, the '93 flood lasted so long that it greatly reduced the fishing pressure as well. Fishermen were kept at bay for months. Growth rates were excellent, and spawning success was the best in many years.
Cut shad or skipjack herring cut into chunks make the best blue catfish bait. The oily nature of the bait fish leaves a scent trail in the water that catfish can easily follow to the bait.Jack Robinson, an MDC fisheries biologist, studied catfish in the Missouri River for over 20 years. His studies led to the ban on commercial catfishing on the Missouri in 1992. The commercial ban and the great floods combined to produce a catfishing bonanza. Catfishing on the Missouri River is now nothing less than phenomenal.
Mike Paffrath of Warrenton is a long time veteran of fishing for catfish on the Missouri River. Paffrath frequently jug-fishes 25 miles of the river between Hermann and Washington. The last few years have been his best ever.
"I can catch catfish all day long on my 1-liter-bottle jug sets now, whereas a few years ago I had to work really hard to put a couple of fish in the boat," Paffrath said. "There is no doubt in my mind that the ban on commercial fishing has greatly improved the catfishing opportunities for sport fishermen in the part of the Missouri where I fish."
Some of Paffrath's most consistent action comes near the ends of dikes. He varies the depth of his jug-lines according to the depth of the water, but most are 3-to-6 feet long, without weights. Cut baits and worms are his favorite baits.
Some of Paffrath's most consistent action comes near the ends of dikes. He varies the depth of his jug-lines according to the depth of the water, but most are 3-to-6 feet long, without weights. Cut baits and worms are his favorite baits.
Giant catfish, like the one Capt. Heckman caught, are a thing of the past. However, there is a growing corps of anglers who adamantly pursue the giants of the Missouri River. Young and old cat fishermen alike still enjoy spinning the yarns about the monster catfish that prowl the muddy waters of the big rivers. But, the truth is, these guys are not just telling big fish stories.
Danny Brown is the Missouri Department of Conservation fisheries biologist for the St. Louis Region and an expert cat fisherman himself. "With a little education, persistence and common sense, most anglers can gain access to quality-sized catfish in the Missouri River," he instructed.
Battling a monster blue catfish is the ultimate high for river men who fish the muddy waters of the Missouri River.Al Struckhoff of Washington is a fanatic when it comes to fishing for big blue catfish. "Fishing for big blue catfish in the Missouri River is as good as it has ever been in modern times," he began. He should know. Struckhoff fished his way to the point lead in one of the most popular year-long catfish tournaments in 2006 sponsored by Bass Pro Shops.
Struckhoff, too, attributes the growing abundance of big catfish in the Missouri to the ban on commercial fishing in 1992. "Following the ban, the great floods of '93 and '95 came. Catfish had lots of food and spawning success was phenomenal. We are now reaping the rewards of these three factors."
Danny Brown is the Missouri Department of Conservation fisheries biologist for the St. Louis Region and an expert cat fisherman himself. "With a little education, persistence and common sense, most anglers can gain access to quality-sized catfish in the Missouri River," he instructed.
Battling a monster blue catfish is the ultimate high for river men who fish the muddy waters of the Missouri River.Al Struckhoff of Washington is a fanatic when it comes to fishing for big blue catfish. "Fishing for big blue catfish in the Missouri River is as good as it has ever been in modern times," he began. He should know. Struckhoff fished his way to the point lead in one of the most popular year-long catfish tournaments in 2006 sponsored by Bass Pro Shops.
Struckhoff, too, attributes the growing abundance of big catfish in the Missouri to the ban on commercial fishing in 1992. "Following the ban, the great floods of '93 and '95 came. Catfish had lots of food and spawning success was phenomenal. We are now reaping the rewards of these three factors."
Struckhoff landed the two biggest blue catfish of his career in 2007, one an 81-pound bruiser, and the other an 86-pound monster.
Struckhoff began fishing as a child, but drifted away from the sport in his adolescence. He returned to catfishing in 1990. With an old spark rekindled, he began fishing in local tournaments that ran out of the Weldon Springs Access on the Missouri River. In 2006 Struckhoff was named Co-Angler of the Year of Ken Freeman's Outdoor Promotions Catfishing Series.
Struckhoff began fishing as a child, but drifted away from the sport in his adolescence. He returned to catfishing in 1990. With an old spark rekindled, he began fishing in local tournaments that ran out of the Weldon Springs Access on the Missouri River. In 2006 Struckhoff was named Co-Angler of the Year of Ken Freeman's Outdoor Promotions Catfishing Series.
"TOW," Struckhoff explains. Time on the water is important if a person wants to catch big blue catfish and catch them consistently." He practices what he preaches. He fishes at every available opportunity. Besides the monsters he caught last year he coyly admitted to having caught three dozen blues in the 50-to-60-pound range last year."
Struckhoff is death on detail when it comes to pursuing big blues on the Missouri River. Anglers would do well to heed the advice of this seasoned veteran.
Struckhoff is death on detail when it comes to pursuing big blues on the Missouri River. Anglers would do well to heed the advice of this seasoned veteran.
Al Struckhoff is a master at catching big blue catfish. He insists on using a big boat, big motor and the best equipment he can find."The Missouri River is big water with strong currents," Struckhoff began. "Many people fear big rivers, but those fears can be relieved with proper equipment. Safety issues have to be uppermost in an anglers mind when tackling the big rivers. Big boats and big motors are a must. Every angler should make sure that their boat, personal floatation devices and emergency equipment is at least up to Coast Guard standards. Skimping on equipment is not the wise thing to do when fishing the Missouri."
Struckhoff uses the best equipment he can get his hands on. "I always carry rods in heavy and medium-heavy actions. Using two rod weights gives me the flexibility to fish different water conditions comfortably. Big catfish conserve all the energy they can. I do likewise. Days may be long, but I can stay on top of things by using my equipment effectively."
Struckhoff uses the best equipment he can get his hands on. "I always carry rods in heavy and medium-heavy actions. Using two rod weights gives me the flexibility to fish different water conditions comfortably. Big catfish conserve all the energy they can. I do likewise. Days may be long, but I can stay on top of things by using my equipment effectively."
Struckhoff tops his rods with the Tekota Series baitcasting reels from Shimano. "I spool the baitcasters with 100-pound test braided line," he continued. "The opportunity exists to hook into an 80-pound plus blue cat every time I fish the Missouri. Losing a monster fish because of weak line is a real bummer. Many anglers use 40-to-50-pound line. My leaders are made of 60-pound copolymer line."
Terminal tackle is just as important as the rods and reels used, according to Struckhoff. "I generally attach an egg sinker 20- to 30-inches above my hook," he said. "It takes lots of weight to get baits down and keep them down in strong current. Six to 12-ounce weights are the norm on the Missouri, unless the water is high and currents are stronger than normal."
Attention to detail is paramount for an angler pursuing giant blues. Struckhoff prefers heavy-duty Surge Rods, fitted with the Takota Series Shimano reels spooled with 100-pound test braided line. He makes his leaders of 60-lb. copolymer leader. Terminal tackle includes size 7/0 Kahle style hooks and 8-to-12-ounce weights.Most blue cat anglers are using circle hooks these days, but Struckhoff still uses Kahle style hooks most of the time. "I prefer a 7/0 Kahle hook for most conditions. It requires a little more work for the hook set than the circle hooks, but the circle hooks require the fish to turn upon taking the bait. The hook is designed to then hook the fish in the corner of the mouth. There is one problem with that theory. Catfish do not always turn upon taking a bait. I like to feel the fish with the sensitive rod, determine the strength of its bite, and slam that big rod back when I think the time is right. I know then that I have hooked that fish solidly. I do use circle hooks sometimes when fishing the main channel. Fish may have traveled a long way following the scent trail laid down by the bait. Under those conditions a catfish is more apt to turn 180 degrees and go back down stream."
Attention to detail is paramount for an angler pursuing giant blues. Struckhoff prefers heavy-duty Surge Rods, fitted with the Takota Series Shimano reels spooled with 100-pound test braided line. He makes his leaders of 60-lb. copolymer leader. Terminal tackle includes size 7/0 Kahle style hooks and 8-to-12-ounce weights.Most blue cat anglers are using circle hooks these days, but Struckhoff still uses Kahle style hooks most of the time. "I prefer a 7/0 Kahle hook for most conditions. It requires a little more work for the hook set than the circle hooks, but the circle hooks require the fish to turn upon taking the bait. The hook is designed to then hook the fish in the corner of the mouth. There is one problem with that theory. Catfish do not always turn upon taking a bait. I like to feel the fish with the sensitive rod, determine the strength of its bite, and slam that big rod back when I think the time is right. I know then that I have hooked that fish solidly. I do use circle hooks sometimes when fishing the main channel. Fish may have traveled a long way following the scent trail laid down by the bait. Under those conditions a catfish is more apt to turn 180 degrees and go back down stream."
Fishermen chasing big blues may utilize all kinds of equipment, but when it comes to bait, they all sing like a church choir -- in unison. "Fresh shad, or skipjack, is the best blue cat bait period," says Struckhoff. "Getting that bait can be tough, but it has to be thought of as an investment in the day.
Struckhoff summarized, "Hooking into a monster blue catfish is sensational. Anyone can do it, but anglers must remember safety, big equipment, shad for bait and the fact that blues relate to current."
Opportunities to catch the big catfish of the Missouri River abound. Check out www.uscats.org for more catfishing information. Oh, there are monster flathead catfish in the Missouri River, too, but that's a story for another day.
Opportunities to catch the big catfish of the Missouri River abound. Check out www.uscats.org for more catfishing information. Oh, there are monster flathead catfish in the Missouri River, too, but that's a story for another day.
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