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Billie R. Cooper
2009
Here are some great places for catching catfish near Kansas City and St. Louis.
As my daddy used to say, a catfish face is so ugly, only a mamma catfish could love it. Well, that was a stretch even for my dad. He spent much of his leisure time chasing catfish of one sort or another. And being a small time row crop farmer, dad had a lot of spare time on his hands to fish for the fish with the ugly face, which, by the way, he loved far more than any other.
Cat fishermen come in all shapes and sizes, but it seems that the successful guys have a few things in common. They either have a lot of time to fish, or they take a lot of time to fish. They have the patience of Job, know the waters they fish like the backs of their hands and know what conditions provide the ultimate in catfishing opportunities. And they fish whether the current conditions are the best or not. They simply love to feel the powerful tug of a fighting catfish on the end of their lines.
Then you have the cat fishermen of the big rivers. They are a breed unto themselves. Hardy outdoorsmen who ply the big powerful rivers, they possess the knowledge, skill and a sixth sense about how to wrangle the big fat cats from their lairs. Long standing superstitions and river myths have fashioned an ambience of awe about these often solitary men who regularly call the big rivers home. One witty observer noted that many of those guys, too, have faces which only a mamma could love. Maybe there is an attraction between fish and fishers which resemble one another.
Catfishing is a popular sport, but there is still plenty of room for more anglers. And this month is the time to try your luck on the big rivers. A series of events over the last few years have brought catfishing to the best levels in decades. Commercial fishing was banned on the Missouri River in 1992. Record floods in 1993 and 1995 gave big river catfish expanded opportunities to feed and spawn. And high waters in 2008 did the same. The tremendous increase in food and cover when rivers over flow their banks increases the survival rate and growth rate of both young and old catfish. It also insures survival rates and good production rates for prey species for catfish. An additional bonus for the fish is the fact that fewer anglers get out when rivers are flooded. All these factors combined equals super catfishing for years to come.
“The Missouri River near Kansas City is an underutilized resource,” said the voice on the other end of the phone line. Jake Allman is the fisheries management biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation on that section of the Missouri River.
The state record blue cat, a behemoth fish of 103 pounds, was caught in the vicinity of Kansas City. “There are big blues out there,” stated Allman, “but not a lot of people fish for them. Fish can be caught right in Kansas City.”
Allman recommended fishing in the deep holes at the ends of wing dikes for blues during the day and on the flats between the dikes at night. A good rule of thumb for June catfishing is: deep in the day and shallow at night. Blue cats move up into the shallows to chase shad and pick up whatever foods are available. The strong light of daytime moves the fish to deeper water where they lay in wait for whatever food sources wash downstream.
It is an established fact among blue fishermen that cut shad is the best bait to use. The strong, oily fish leave a scent trail that blue cats will follow for quiet some distance to find the bait. Allman recommended another very plentiful bait source – the invasive silver carp. “A lot of guys run their boats behind the wind dikes until a silver carp jumps into the boat. They then filet it out and use it for bait.”
Chasing silver carp is not without its hazards, however. Allman has been injured twice by flying carp while contacting studies on the Missouri and Grand Rivers. “I suffered a slight concussion on the Missouri River when I was struck by a silver carp. Another jumping carp dislocated my shoulder while I was working on the Grand River.”
Flatheads can be caught around woody cover. “There is not a lot of woody structure in this section of the Missouri River,” Allman pointed out. “However, it would be a good idea to fish any woody cover you find. There is a good chance it will hold flatheads.”
The upper third of the Missouri River is the best bet for those seeking flatheads. High water periods provide ideal conditions to find flatheads in the first mile of tributary streams. Logjams, rocky banks, and debris around wing dikes are the best places to find sulking flatheads at lower water levels.
Channel cats are plentiful throughout the entire length of the Missouri River and may be easily caught on a wide variety of baits. However, they are real suckers for big, fat nightcrawlers. You will find channel cats on mud flats with a little current, chutes and the upstream side of wing dikes. The mouths of tributaries entering the big river can provide fast fishing action at times.
Bank fishing opportunities are available at English Landing Park, Parkeville and LaBonette at 291 and Sugar Creek. LaBonette offers wing dikes and riverbank fishing. For further information about fishing the Missouri River near Kansas City call: (816) 792-8662.
“There is a very good chance of catching a 50-pound blue catfish in the Missouri River in the St. Louis region,” said Danny Brown, the MDC fisheries management biologist for the area. “I see pictures of 50-to-70-pound blue cats in the Washington paper almost every week,” he continued.
Although Brown was unable to survey the river in 2008 and 2009 because of consistent high water, he feels confident that the catfishery is in good shape. “High water gives catfish and other river fishes expanded opportunities for spawning and feeding,” he stated.
Columbia Bottoms, at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers offers excellent bank fishing opportunities. Large blues are caught here every year. Klondike Park and Weldon Springs are excellent access points for fishermen wanting to access the river. Access further up river can be found at Washington, Hermann, Gasconade, Chamois and Bonnotts Mill. Further information can be garnered by calling the MDC office at: (636) 441-4554.
The Mississippi River near St. Louis is another bonafide catfishing heaven. Chris Morrow, an MDC Regional Protection Supervisor, lives to chase big catfish. While hunting big blue cats on the Mississippi, Morrow concentrates most of his efforts north of St. Louis. “Unlike the Missouri River, the Mississippi has lots of structure that catfish like,” Morrow began. “There are scour holes, rock ledges, blowdowns, barges and some rip-rap. However, the number one structure which catfish relate to on the Mississippi River is dams.”
Morrow has been keeping notes about his catfishing expeditions for a long time. “I have discovered that blues migrate as water temperatures change. Most fishermen say that the cold weather months are the best times to catch big blues. My personal research indicates otherwise.”
Morrow has concluded that blues stay in deep scour holes until the water temperature reaches 50-degrees. “I’ve noticed over the years that blues begin to travel once water temperatures begin to climb into the fifties. They concentrate near the dams and stay there until the water temperature reaches the mid-sixties. And, there is little fishing pressure, because few people have made this discovery.”
As temperatures climb out of the mid-sixties, the blues begin to move back down stream and disperse in preparation for the spawn. This is the time to fish the rip-rap along banks and wing dikes.
Morrow proclaims emphatically that when water temperatures hit the seventies the blue catfish go crazy. “Look for barges that have been moored for a good while. They will have brush under them. Position your boat so that you can fish under the barges and you will be in business.”
Another of Morrow’s favorite areas to fish is scour holes. “Find a bowl shaped scour hole, go to the middle of it and move upstream. You should drift your baits to the point where the sides drop to the bottom of the hole.”
Rock ledges are another place to look for big blues on the Mississippi River. “You have to find this structure on your depth finder. Look for three stair steps into a deep hole,” Morrow remarked. “Many anglers scrimp on depth finders. That is a mistake.”
Morrow disagrees with the vast majority of anglers about the best bait for blues. “Skipjack herring is the very best catfish bait available,” Morrow offered. “I call it catfish candy! I catch them behind moored barges on the Mississippi. I use dropper rigs with three flies attached to catch them. They run in June. I catch a bunch and vacuum seal them for future use. My second choice for bait is mooneyes. They can be caught with a cast net about anywhere you find eddies at tributaries and feeder creeks.”
Morrow utilizes medium-weight saltwater equipment, including Surge Rods and Shimano baitcaster reels. He spools with 80-pound braided line tipped with 50-pound strength monofilament line. The monofilament allows for stretch when he sets the hook on a big blue. “I used to fish with circle hooks, too,” he said. “When I got a bite, I simply had to pick up the rod and the fish hooked itself in the corner of the mouth. I switched to Kahle hooks in sizes 8/0 to 10/0. They allow the pleasure of being able to set the hook myself. I absolutely love making the hook set on a big blue catfish.”
Catch big blues – Morrow does it on a regular basis. Last year he wrestled a 71-pounder from the Mississippi. “I had hooked a much larger fish before hooking the 71-pounder,” Morrow admitted. “I fought that fish for over an hour. The power of the fish and the current combined proved a bit more than me and my gear could handle. That monster broke off three feet from the boat!”
Morrow also chases cats on the Missouri river near St. Louis. He recommends the section between Weldon Springs and the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi. “Look for outside bends and scour holes, “he said. “Rip-rap on the outside bends is the key structure along this portion of the river. When fishing the scour holes, move your boat to the upper end of the hole. Boat positioning will make or break you. Drift your baits right down the seam between the current and calmer water. And hang on!”
Morrow loves to talk catfishing. He may be reached at: (636) 441-4554.
Truman Lake, southeast of Kansas City, remained one of the top producers of catfish in the state, especially big blue catfish, for several decades. However the grand old days of glory are gone. The resources have been badly damaged to overfishing and regulations far behind the times. That is not to say, however, that one can’t still catch a monster blue catfish from Truman’s waters.
“In the last five years, I could count on one hand the numbers of blues over 50-pounds I have seen come out of Truman,” said MDC fisheries biologist Kevin Sullivan. “On the other hand, Truman is loaded with all three species of catfish.”
Troy Greenwood, of Warsaw, said that 30 years ago it was not uncommon to see a good catfisherman harvest several hundred pounds of blue cats in a single day. “Fifteen to 20-pounders are still common and a big one only shows up occasionally.”
Greenwood and fishing partner Jim Wainwright still know how to get the big ones. In 2006 Greenwood manhandled an 81.5-pound blue to the boat while his partner wrangled a 51.5-pound blue at the same time.
Greenwood recommends looking for a bend in the river channel with deep water and a shallow flat nearby. After finding such a spot, Greenwood motors around slowly, watching his electronics. He watches for big balls of shad. If big arches show up on the screen, below the shad he knows he has found the big ones. For further information about Truman Lake catfishing call the MDC office at: (660) 530-5500.
Smithville Lake is another sizzling June hotspot for catfishermen. Blues are often caught in the middle potions of the lake on juglines. Flatheads are also available, but the real treat at Smithville is the abundant population of channel cats. That’s the good news. The bad news is that Smithville receives a lot of pressure from fishermen and pleasure boaters during the summer months. Best tip available; do your catfishing at night. The rewards will be worth the effort.
Catfishing opportunities are exceptional this year, especially in areas close to Kansas City and St. Louis. Hit the water, follow the recommended methods and you may well latch on to the fat cat of your lifetime!
As my daddy used to say, a catfish face is so ugly, only a mamma catfish could love it. Well, that was a stretch even for my dad. He spent much of his leisure time chasing catfish of one sort or another. And being a small time row crop farmer, dad had a lot of spare time on his hands to fish for the fish with the ugly face, which, by the way, he loved far more than any other.
Cat fishermen come in all shapes and sizes, but it seems that the successful guys have a few things in common. They either have a lot of time to fish, or they take a lot of time to fish. They have the patience of Job, know the waters they fish like the backs of their hands and know what conditions provide the ultimate in catfishing opportunities. And they fish whether the current conditions are the best or not. They simply love to feel the powerful tug of a fighting catfish on the end of their lines.
Then you have the cat fishermen of the big rivers. They are a breed unto themselves. Hardy outdoorsmen who ply the big powerful rivers, they possess the knowledge, skill and a sixth sense about how to wrangle the big fat cats from their lairs. Long standing superstitions and river myths have fashioned an ambience of awe about these often solitary men who regularly call the big rivers home. One witty observer noted that many of those guys, too, have faces which only a mamma could love. Maybe there is an attraction between fish and fishers which resemble one another.
Catfishing is a popular sport, but there is still plenty of room for more anglers. And this month is the time to try your luck on the big rivers. A series of events over the last few years have brought catfishing to the best levels in decades. Commercial fishing was banned on the Missouri River in 1992. Record floods in 1993 and 1995 gave big river catfish expanded opportunities to feed and spawn. And high waters in 2008 did the same. The tremendous increase in food and cover when rivers over flow their banks increases the survival rate and growth rate of both young and old catfish. It also insures survival rates and good production rates for prey species for catfish. An additional bonus for the fish is the fact that fewer anglers get out when rivers are flooded. All these factors combined equals super catfishing for years to come.
“The Missouri River near Kansas City is an underutilized resource,” said the voice on the other end of the phone line. Jake Allman is the fisheries management biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation on that section of the Missouri River.
The state record blue cat, a behemoth fish of 103 pounds, was caught in the vicinity of Kansas City. “There are big blues out there,” stated Allman, “but not a lot of people fish for them. Fish can be caught right in Kansas City.”
Allman recommended fishing in the deep holes at the ends of wing dikes for blues during the day and on the flats between the dikes at night. A good rule of thumb for June catfishing is: deep in the day and shallow at night. Blue cats move up into the shallows to chase shad and pick up whatever foods are available. The strong light of daytime moves the fish to deeper water where they lay in wait for whatever food sources wash downstream.
It is an established fact among blue fishermen that cut shad is the best bait to use. The strong, oily fish leave a scent trail that blue cats will follow for quiet some distance to find the bait. Allman recommended another very plentiful bait source – the invasive silver carp. “A lot of guys run their boats behind the wind dikes until a silver carp jumps into the boat. They then filet it out and use it for bait.”
Chasing silver carp is not without its hazards, however. Allman has been injured twice by flying carp while contacting studies on the Missouri and Grand Rivers. “I suffered a slight concussion on the Missouri River when I was struck by a silver carp. Another jumping carp dislocated my shoulder while I was working on the Grand River.”
Flatheads can be caught around woody cover. “There is not a lot of woody structure in this section of the Missouri River,” Allman pointed out. “However, it would be a good idea to fish any woody cover you find. There is a good chance it will hold flatheads.”
The upper third of the Missouri River is the best bet for those seeking flatheads. High water periods provide ideal conditions to find flatheads in the first mile of tributary streams. Logjams, rocky banks, and debris around wing dikes are the best places to find sulking flatheads at lower water levels.
Channel cats are plentiful throughout the entire length of the Missouri River and may be easily caught on a wide variety of baits. However, they are real suckers for big, fat nightcrawlers. You will find channel cats on mud flats with a little current, chutes and the upstream side of wing dikes. The mouths of tributaries entering the big river can provide fast fishing action at times.
Bank fishing opportunities are available at English Landing Park, Parkeville and LaBonette at 291 and Sugar Creek. LaBonette offers wing dikes and riverbank fishing. For further information about fishing the Missouri River near Kansas City call: (816) 792-8662.
“There is a very good chance of catching a 50-pound blue catfish in the Missouri River in the St. Louis region,” said Danny Brown, the MDC fisheries management biologist for the area. “I see pictures of 50-to-70-pound blue cats in the Washington paper almost every week,” he continued.
Although Brown was unable to survey the river in 2008 and 2009 because of consistent high water, he feels confident that the catfishery is in good shape. “High water gives catfish and other river fishes expanded opportunities for spawning and feeding,” he stated.
Columbia Bottoms, at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers offers excellent bank fishing opportunities. Large blues are caught here every year. Klondike Park and Weldon Springs are excellent access points for fishermen wanting to access the river. Access further up river can be found at Washington, Hermann, Gasconade, Chamois and Bonnotts Mill. Further information can be garnered by calling the MDC office at: (636) 441-4554.
The Mississippi River near St. Louis is another bonafide catfishing heaven. Chris Morrow, an MDC Regional Protection Supervisor, lives to chase big catfish. While hunting big blue cats on the Mississippi, Morrow concentrates most of his efforts north of St. Louis. “Unlike the Missouri River, the Mississippi has lots of structure that catfish like,” Morrow began. “There are scour holes, rock ledges, blowdowns, barges and some rip-rap. However, the number one structure which catfish relate to on the Mississippi River is dams.”
Morrow has been keeping notes about his catfishing expeditions for a long time. “I have discovered that blues migrate as water temperatures change. Most fishermen say that the cold weather months are the best times to catch big blues. My personal research indicates otherwise.”
Morrow has concluded that blues stay in deep scour holes until the water temperature reaches 50-degrees. “I’ve noticed over the years that blues begin to travel once water temperatures begin to climb into the fifties. They concentrate near the dams and stay there until the water temperature reaches the mid-sixties. And, there is little fishing pressure, because few people have made this discovery.”
As temperatures climb out of the mid-sixties, the blues begin to move back down stream and disperse in preparation for the spawn. This is the time to fish the rip-rap along banks and wing dikes.
Morrow proclaims emphatically that when water temperatures hit the seventies the blue catfish go crazy. “Look for barges that have been moored for a good while. They will have brush under them. Position your boat so that you can fish under the barges and you will be in business.”
Another of Morrow’s favorite areas to fish is scour holes. “Find a bowl shaped scour hole, go to the middle of it and move upstream. You should drift your baits to the point where the sides drop to the bottom of the hole.”
Rock ledges are another place to look for big blues on the Mississippi River. “You have to find this structure on your depth finder. Look for three stair steps into a deep hole,” Morrow remarked. “Many anglers scrimp on depth finders. That is a mistake.”
Morrow disagrees with the vast majority of anglers about the best bait for blues. “Skipjack herring is the very best catfish bait available,” Morrow offered. “I call it catfish candy! I catch them behind moored barges on the Mississippi. I use dropper rigs with three flies attached to catch them. They run in June. I catch a bunch and vacuum seal them for future use. My second choice for bait is mooneyes. They can be caught with a cast net about anywhere you find eddies at tributaries and feeder creeks.”
Morrow utilizes medium-weight saltwater equipment, including Surge Rods and Shimano baitcaster reels. He spools with 80-pound braided line tipped with 50-pound strength monofilament line. The monofilament allows for stretch when he sets the hook on a big blue. “I used to fish with circle hooks, too,” he said. “When I got a bite, I simply had to pick up the rod and the fish hooked itself in the corner of the mouth. I switched to Kahle hooks in sizes 8/0 to 10/0. They allow the pleasure of being able to set the hook myself. I absolutely love making the hook set on a big blue catfish.”
Catch big blues – Morrow does it on a regular basis. Last year he wrestled a 71-pounder from the Mississippi. “I had hooked a much larger fish before hooking the 71-pounder,” Morrow admitted. “I fought that fish for over an hour. The power of the fish and the current combined proved a bit more than me and my gear could handle. That monster broke off three feet from the boat!”
Morrow also chases cats on the Missouri river near St. Louis. He recommends the section between Weldon Springs and the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi. “Look for outside bends and scour holes, “he said. “Rip-rap on the outside bends is the key structure along this portion of the river. When fishing the scour holes, move your boat to the upper end of the hole. Boat positioning will make or break you. Drift your baits right down the seam between the current and calmer water. And hang on!”
Morrow loves to talk catfishing. He may be reached at: (636) 441-4554.
Truman Lake, southeast of Kansas City, remained one of the top producers of catfish in the state, especially big blue catfish, for several decades. However the grand old days of glory are gone. The resources have been badly damaged to overfishing and regulations far behind the times. That is not to say, however, that one can’t still catch a monster blue catfish from Truman’s waters.
“In the last five years, I could count on one hand the numbers of blues over 50-pounds I have seen come out of Truman,” said MDC fisheries biologist Kevin Sullivan. “On the other hand, Truman is loaded with all three species of catfish.”
Troy Greenwood, of Warsaw, said that 30 years ago it was not uncommon to see a good catfisherman harvest several hundred pounds of blue cats in a single day. “Fifteen to 20-pounders are still common and a big one only shows up occasionally.”
Greenwood and fishing partner Jim Wainwright still know how to get the big ones. In 2006 Greenwood manhandled an 81.5-pound blue to the boat while his partner wrangled a 51.5-pound blue at the same time.
Greenwood recommends looking for a bend in the river channel with deep water and a shallow flat nearby. After finding such a spot, Greenwood motors around slowly, watching his electronics. He watches for big balls of shad. If big arches show up on the screen, below the shad he knows he has found the big ones. For further information about Truman Lake catfishing call the MDC office at: (660) 530-5500.
Smithville Lake is another sizzling June hotspot for catfishermen. Blues are often caught in the middle potions of the lake on juglines. Flatheads are also available, but the real treat at Smithville is the abundant population of channel cats. That’s the good news. The bad news is that Smithville receives a lot of pressure from fishermen and pleasure boaters during the summer months. Best tip available; do your catfishing at night. The rewards will be worth the effort.
Catfishing opportunities are exceptional this year, especially in areas close to Kansas City and St. Louis. Hit the water, follow the recommended methods and you may well latch on to the fat cat of your lifetime!
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