Catfish

[BIG SHRIMP]

Since this is my last weekend home and my last weekend to try and land a nice CAT,I am wondering if ANYBODY has a spot of water they might be so kind in sharing with me.I have even got my wife ,my oldest boy ( 4 ) ,and my nephew going.I plan on setting several lines and possibly some rod n reel action.I live in Laclede co and like the Gasconade and Niangua.I am wondering if ANYONE has ever fished or floated on the Niangua near Berry Bluff Conservation area.How hard is the access to find and is there any depth to the water or a long deep eddie within a couple of miles .I know me asking for these tips takes all the fun out of finding good holes to fish but I got a 30 day leave to come home so without a summer to spend with my family on our local rivers I thought I would give this a shot.If you have anything please respond.

[Chief Grey Bear]

I am sorry but, I have not fished the area you are asking about. But it shouldn't fish much if any different than most other rivers.

Deep holes, especially if it has some brush or log jam, is a great place to start with the rod and reel or limb lines. If you want some big cats, I would put some perch in the 6-8 inch range on those lines. Don't foget to set some of those lines along some of the shallows and tailend of riffles. When the lights go down, the cats will prowl. I have got them in water shallow enough that their backs were out of the water.

If you can seine some shiners, worm them on to your limb line hook. Channel cats are not picky as to if it is alive on not. Flatheads are.

For your rod, and since you only have this weekend, I would just go to the bait shop and get a jug of some brand of catfish dough bait. I like the blood flavors. Though I must admit I haven't bought any since they quit making bloodbait. Anyway just roll a small ball of it on your hook and toss into those brush piles. That should keep you plenty busy. I used to do that years ago and it was nothing to catch 20, 30, or so channel cats. Nothing huge by any means, but up to a couple of pounds at times.

Most importantly, if you set some lines...take them out when you are done. I hate nothing more than seeing old limb lines hanging everywhere with bare hooks.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Thanks for the nice PM. Please be sure to post a report for us!

Sorry that I couldn't help you any more. There are others on this forum that fish that area quite a bit from all the reports I see. Maybe one will chime in and offer more details.

[G-ROD]

I would go to the Osage River. I fished it a couple of weeks ago and caught 2 nice channel cats while bass fishing. Both hit a jig in log jams..

[Dan052]

As uncouth as this is going to sound......

it seems like the times I have had the best luck cat-fishing is when I have gone for the sole purpose of just sitting around with some friends and drinking a few beers. I have tried catfishing seriously a few times, but just end up getting frustrated. 95 percent of my tackle is geared around bass, so I don't have much to work with either.

[fishinwrench]

Since this is my last weekend home and my last weekend to try and land a nice CAT,I am wondering if ANYBODY has a spot of water they might be so kind in sharing with me.I have even got my wife ,my oldest boy ( 4 ) ,and my nephew going.I plan on setting several lines and possibly some rod n reel action.I live in Laclede co and like the Gasconade and Niangua.I am wondering if ANYONE has ever fished or floated on the Niangua near Berry Bluff Conservation area.How hard is the access to find and is there any depth to the water or a long deep eddie within a couple of miles .I know me asking for these tips takes all the fun out of finding good holes to fish but I got a 30 day leave to come home so without a summer to spend with my family on our local rivers I thought I would give this a shot.If you have anything please respond.

The last time I was at Berry Bluff "access" they didn't have a road cleared down to the river yet. I put in at Bird island (private access below Berry Bluff on the same side of the river) they charged 3 bucks I think and it was a good place to drop in.

I paddled (more like "fought") my way upstream to the Berry bluff area. Nice water, good fishing, but a little dangerous (heavy water and lots of strainers) so be on your toes if you go there.

There are some big, slow bluff holes and backwater areas between Berry Bluff and lake Niangua that I'm sure are home to some nice kittens. There are some Aligator gar in there too.

[BIG SHRIMP]

The last time I was at Berry Bluff "access" they didn't have a road cleared down to the river yet. I put in at Bird island (private access below Berry Bluff on the same side of the river) they charged 3 bucks I think and it was a good place to drop in.

I paddled (more like "fought") my way upstream to the Berry bluff area. Nice water, good fishing, but a little dangerous (heavy water and lots of strainers) so be on your toes if you go there.

There are some big, slow bluff holes and backwater areas between Berry Bluff and lake Niangua that I'm sure are home to some nice kittens. There are some Aligator gar in there too.

I decided to float the Gasconade and we put in on HWY.32 E at Gravens campground.(nice campground w/ elec. n water).We put on super late so there was more padeling than fishing.The hole I wanted to set lines in didnt provide a good gravel bar.I caught up to two boats bass fishing and heard them hooping and holering.they later revealed an excellent stringer of largemouth and a 20 inch smallie.With little time I set up camp,give my four year old worms and his pole,and started settn lines.A trotline and four limblines.My son had and my wife had 20 nice lively bait including sunnies and black perch ( my favorite ).Upon checking lines the next morning all I could see as I approached was motionless limblines but as I got to the trotline I could see it bouncing (yes I thought).The trotline had two channels with the biggest weighing 6lbs and 20inch smallie.The smallie died so I could not turn him back.I did put eme on ice and made a meal oput of him.Two nice smallies came out of the same hole and I had high hopes for the rest of our float,but it didnt happen that way but we didnt get skunked.This wasss a very good float and did I mention my wife and I decided to bring our 23 month old.All I can say is its in his blood.If anyone plans floating this section there is a log near the end that can be a problem if you are loaded down as we were.Thanks for all the advice and good luck to all.I will return in December and can be found on the Niangua in search for BIG BROWNS.