Deerhunter2

Thank you. That is the type of opinions I was hoping for. My boat is a 1984 Skeeter SF-150 with a 1985 Evinrude 150 XP. The boat itself is 16.75' long, 86" beam, 1040 lbs dry weight. Old rig, but looks and runs like new. I usually never use to trolling motor more than about 3 hours at a time and was thinking of using the 12 volt one with more thrust than keep up with two batteries for the lower thrust 24 volt motor.

My Minn Kota 55AT is 12 volt only. I was asking if you all would prefer a 24 volt - 41 lb thrust motor or a 12 volt - 55 lb thrust motor. Which one would be best?

I have a 17' long by 56" wide welded flat bottom boat (Alweld brand) with a 90 hp Merc. with a jet on it. Has stick steering set up about 7 feet ahead of the motor. I can run the boat fully loaded in water down to 4 inches deep, which is great for the small rivers here around my home. I also run it in the tail water below bagnell dam some. Also run the Missouri river around Herman, Mo. and Washington, Mo. So in short the set up works great for me from supper shallow water to deep muddy water, although it is not worth a crap in a big lake with waves over 1 1/2 feet. In waves the jet comes out of the water alot. A riveted boat will start seeping around the rivets after just a little use with a jet on it no matter what size the motor is, (personal experience). Tiller steering is fine with a jet motor no bigger than a 40 hp, jet motors bigger than that (prop motors also for that matter) will wear you out with tiller steering. I personally would not run a prop motor if I plan on running any shallow water, unless the motor is 15 hp or less. Never a good thing when a prop motor touches the bottom, (something will and has to break). All of this is just my personal opinion from my experiences with several different boats that I have owned. Others my disagree with some of my opinions, but I hope it helps you out somehow. Oh, I don't know where you live but around here (Central Mo.) you could find a decent older 16 foot welded boat with a running 40 hp jet motor for around 3,000, if you wasn't afraid to buy one that might need a little tlc. And, I totally agree with Old MFU, the thicker the aluminum the better the boat. My Alweld brand boat is 0.100 thick and it has taken a beating without much problems.

Dusky, I know the Min Kota is only 12 volt. I am wondering why the motorguide has less thrust when it WILL run on 24 volt. LogPerch, I understand the 24 volt Motorguide will last longer but how would it be stronger when it only says 41 lbs on it and the Minn Kota says 55 lbs? My confusion is: Why would the 24 volt motor be rated at a smaller thrust than the 12 volt one.

I have a Minn Kota 55AT - it is 12 volt and 55 lbs thrust. I also have a Motorguide model 750 - it is 12/24 volt and says 41 lbs thrust. Why does the one that will run on 24 volt list a smaller thrust and wouldn't it be stronger on 24v than it would be on 12v? Any input will be appreciated.

Thanks for the advice folks! I always seem to get great advice from this forum.

Was wondering what time of year would be best to plan a week long stay at LOZ. When Crappie fishing would be best and weather temps. would make for comfortable fishing (not real cold or hot). Possibly around the Hwy 5 bridge on the Niangua arm. Or am I asking too much for super Crappie fishing and decent weather at the same time?

I'm staying at a resort right by the Hwy 5 bridge from Monday the 6th until the 12th. Hoping to catch some catfish and wondering if anyone has any idea's as to if the current conditions are favorable or not. Also, anyone got any advice to give me?

Thank you Seth.

Needing to try out an older bass boat that I just bought. Is the water at the Mari-Osa ramp suitable to run a 16 foot fiberglass bass boat with a 115 hp prop motor? I am wondering because it is closer for me than the Lake of the Ozarks and I just need a mile or so of water deep enough that I can run without having to be concerned about hitting something. Thanks in advance for anyone's input.

Well, snagging just isn't my thing I guess. I haven't given up on the spot, I've heard great things about it from lots of people I know. I figure that I just haven't hit it at the right time, and the water is still cold, so maybe after it warms up I will learn to love fishing it like I do the Missouri river.

Well we got there at 7:45am, My buddies went on down river to snag, My son and I fished several spots from the dam down to the bridge. We managed to catch an 10" white bass and a 12" channel cat on worms, and a 13" large mouth on a crappie jig. We tried jigging spoons as well as every thing else in the tackle box with no luck. So far I'm not overly impressed with the place, but I've only been there 3 times so far and the water is still cold. I will try it again after water temps warm up some. My buddies in the other boat snagged 5 keeper sized spoonbill.

My weekend plans got changed, so I'm going to try it again Sunday morning. Should arrive there around 7:30 am. Plan on trying to catch a cat or two with the new advice you guys have given me. A guy I work with is also going to snag again, He went last sunday and they came home with 2- 40 pounders and 1-30 pounder, I might try my luck at snagging if the cats don't bite. I'll be in a Silver F-250 with black fender flares and a silver Alweld brand boat with a Mercury 65 hp Jet (90 hp motor/ 65 hp out the jet). I'll let you all know how we did afterwards.

This is not official, but what I have been told by some others is that people fishing off the bank are not to fish above the orange line. People in boats are not to take their boat above the yellow line. From what I can tell, the yellow line is in line with the 75 yard arrow on the other side of the river. But again, I did not get this info from any official source.

I won't be able to make it this weekend or the next one either, but I will be going somewhere the last weekend of this month. Haven't made up my mind as to go to the Missouri River or below the dam again, might depend on what the other guys want to do. I am leaning toward the dam again, because I would like to try some of the advice you guys have given me. When it gets closer to time, I'll make a post as to where I'm going. If I end up going to the Missouri river, I'm not sure where to post on this forum because I don't see a section for the Missouri?

I have ran the gasconade river for a long time in the area of Hwy 63 bridge by Vienna. You can put in just above the bridge at the conservation ramp and go for 5 or 6 miles down below the bridge. I use to put in at the Indian Springs Camp ground and run up to the bridge, but I believe they have closed it down now. There are a few spots that you have to pay attention because it does get shallow and one spot that has some logs sticking up high out of the water, but I have no problem running it at night with my 90hp when gigging. I would advise going in daylight the first time, and looking the riffles over, but after the first time or two, you should have no problem in that area. I have never went up river from the conservation ramp myself, but everyone I've talked to there says they run up river a long way with out any major problems.

Thank you again guys! I will be trying your advice next time I can get there. As you all can see, you will have to over look my horrible spelling abilities. I'll also be watching for your reports on how you all do on your trips.

Hello, I stumbled onto this forum and just had to join up! I love to catfish and oddly enough, enjoy catching those asian carp in an un-conventional way. I have a 17 foot 56inch Alweld boat with 90hp jet. I started fishing the Missouri River at Herman, Mo. about 6 years ago. Have since then also hit the Missouri at Washington, Mo. (down river to Labide power plant). Just yesterday went below Bagnell Dam for the 2nd time ever. (See my post in Bagnell Dam Tailwater section for report). As I said, I love to catfish, but have yet to master it. Never seem to tie into any big ones but I'm trying to learn all I can, and hope to get better at it. After the waters warm up we usually catch a few asian carp before we leave the water each trip to the Missouri, because even though I didn't believe it at first either, they do taste very good. I just fillet them and cut out the thin mud streak on each fillet, cut into chunks and deep fry. My un-conventional way is to get behind the wing dikes, or anywhere there is still water, and run the boat at a fast idle in about 40 foot circles. The fish jump like mad and you would be surprised how many will jump in the boat. You just have to have to be ready to keep them from hitting you. Once went with a friend and followed each other making our circles. The boat in the back catches lots of fish, we captured 26 in about 45 minutes. Anyhow, that is just for play, my real passion is to haul in a few nice catfish and I have somewhat made it my goal to learn how to become one of those guys that seem to be able to do so! I have a long way to go and will welcome anyones advice and teachings. Looking forward to learning from you all and sharing any knowlege that I have, and reporting my findings.

Thank you all for your information, especialy Rangerman. I have never heard of using jigging spoons for Catfish before. We arrived at the ramp at 8:45am yesterday. They were not running water and never did all day long. We did not find any shad running. We fished with minnows, worms, pre-packaged shad, and artificial stuff. Between the 2 boats and 5 guys, we caught 15 baby cats (6 inches to 14 inches long), and 3 blue gill, all on worms. We fished mainly up close to the boat line and once about 200 yards below the ramp. My friend in the other boat recently purchased an underwater camera and tried it out for the first time. They said they saw lots of crappie, and a few small cats, and 2 or 3 big fish (maby a stripper). They pulled beside us so we could see how well it worked, and it did show a very clear picture which impressed me. We left the water at approx. 5:00 pm. I saw lots of fish on the fish finder but looking at them on there is one thing, catching them is what seems to evade me. I guess I need to get some jigging spoons.

Thanks Wader. I'll post tomorrow night to let you know how I did. It's good to know that someone has been catching some. I already have my worms ready to go swimming!! Also hope to find some shad.

Hello, I am new to the forum. Went below bagnell for the first time two weekends ago and caught nothing. Going back in the morning (3-07-09) to try again. Primary target is catfish. Have always fished the Missouri river at Herman, Mo. and at Washington, Mo. but some buddies of mine have talked me into trying bagnell out. Anyone that can give me information (such as how to catch cats there, any way to know when they will be letting water through ahead of time, or what ever) will be very much apprecciated. By the way, I've heard of drift fishing there, how in the world does anyone drift fish there, with rod and reel, without being hung up constantly?