Fishing Truman Lake For Cats

[catfisher]

I have never fished truman lake,

We were looking into going to Truman lake/Dam near Warsaw MO, We don't own a boat so we have to fish from bank,

We fish for usually catfish, We have only caught Channels and Flathead sin the rivers, and we heard that they're a vast amount of flats, channels and blues here, So we were looking for some advise of the best cat fishing areas,

We heard that below the dam is a good cat fishing area, but not positive and would love for it to be confirmed.

So, Basically,

Is Truman Lake/Dam a good fishing spot?

Is there alot of catfish here?

Is there good bank fishing?

And what is the best bait?(Stink bait, Shad, Live, Cut bait...ect)

Thanks,

Rick

Also,

How long of a drive is it from STL?

[bclift65706]

below truman is probley the best place in the state for bank fishing catfish. I have the best luck with shad if you dont have a good way to keep them alive bring a cooler of ice and let them die on the ice so they stay fresh. I use 15 ft long rods fishing otherwise be prepaired to lose alot of lead hanging up on rocks. I bought some cheap 15 ft rods at the fleamarket across 65 from walmart for I believe $27 havent had any trouble with them. Be sure to check the fishing regs from the no fishing zone down to the no boating zone you can olny have 4 catfish and 1 can be over 24 inches .

[bclift65706]

I am goin to go up tomarow and run some lines and jugs on truman try to catch the new missouri record probley not but one never knows what might come up when you check your lines.

[catfisher]

Cool,

Yeah we just have , I would say like 8-10Ft poles? We dont usually fish heavy , Most we usually will catch is 5 lber cat, It sounds like theyre is some interesting stuff down theyre, We have a zebco 733(20lb test) and a zebco special edition 33 I beleive with 15lb line, Do you think this will do?

Also,

By saying Below truman, Where is that exactly, I have never been theyre so I am not too sure of where everything is.

If you wouldnt mind, Can you tell me is all the water on the map(The large area) Lake truman!? Wow if so it is huge!

Also, If you wouldnt mind and have the time could you circle were "below truman" is, Thanks.

Also, Do you cut the shad, or keep it live, or just let it die and use whole?

Much appreciated!

Rick

P.S

Which do you fish for, Channels, Flats, or blues? Andnwhich tastes the best? (I have only ate channels)

[bclift65706]

Its all lake 25000 surface acers I think the lighter blue shading on the right is below the dam lake of the ozarks. I use the shad whole cut and live catfish will bite as long as it is shad in any shape or forum. I mostley fish for flats and blues flats wont eat dead stuff live bait is a must. the long poles allow you to rip your hook and sinkers off of the bottom ware shorter poles tend to drag the bottom when you retrieve your line and get hung up shorter poles worke fine just get hung up more with lead weights $1 each dont take long to pay for a 15 footer

[Ealy]

If you're going to fish below the dam and off the bank, don't worry too much about the map. Take 65 Hwy to Warsaw 2nd exit, go West maybe 3 miles and look for the dam turnoff. That road takes you across Truman Dam. After crossing the dam, make a right into Bledsoe Ferry Park. You'll find what he's speaking of. It's not uncommon to see people seining shad off the bank in this area.

He might be able to give you better detail of where to go from there.

By the way, the road across the dam takes you back to Warsaw, by Wal Mart and McDonalds, and out 65 Hwy.

I don't catfish, so I can't tell you much else.

[bclift65706]

Bledsoe ferry is the place to fish just look for the people. go on past bledsoe ferry to the station bait and tackel little red building on the west side of the road them gals are pretty sharp and will fix you up with every thing you need or need to know.

[catfisher]

Thanks,

Also,

How do you guys catch the shad?

I have always used perch for flats in lakes, this is basically the first time I will be fishing in the huge of a lake/river, Only other river was the meramec and was 3ft-4ft. But do you catch the shad with a small net or a small hook?

Thanks,

I am a beginneer btw at these huge lakes, Biggest was down in the ozarks years ago when was like 8-10, So dont remember much.

Thanks,

Rick.