Catfishing Big Niangua?

[Deerhunter2]

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?

[Wayne SW/MO]

Be sure and check the regulations for the lake.

[FishinJack]

It's been good. The flatheads are really getting with it. I've been bass fishing with plastic worms and catching flatheads. We caught 6 or 7 flatheads last week on plastics worms off points. Biggest was around 30 to 35 lbs.

Been doing some blue cat drifting and trolling with some success. It's been working too. The shad are coming up to the surface and easy to catch in the evenings. Then just cut em up a little bit. Chuck em out behind the boat in deeper water and let the wind blow you around.

[OzarkFishman]

When you drift for cats, what kind of lead do you use?

Are you fishing more a dropshot type set-up OR the normal Carolina rig type set-up for cut bait?

Thanks for any answers.

I always have a lot of luck setting lines and plan to do so in a few weeks (24-26th). I mainly catch and release, but my dad always gives me fits until we keep some. I am telling him this year that anything over 10 pounds goes back in the drink.

Have a good one,

ozarkFishman

[Kayser]

Are the blues in the deeper water around the old river channel? And would you think that the flatheads move back into the coves at night? I'm headed down this weekend, staying at a place just below Hurricane Deck bridge on the Osage, hoping to get a couple 5-10lb flatheads for the freezer. I was thinking about hanging 5ft lines off the big docks at night, but really don't want to be wasting my time.

Rob

[OzarkFishman]

I can see the Hurricane Deck bridge from where I usually stay. You will catch a lot more blues than flathead around there. At least I have over the past few years.

Just put out some hooks and you won't be disappointed. Live bluegill or sunfish work best for me.

I have fished the channel some, but there is a BIG mud flat right in front of where I stay and I usually catch some healthy fish. Last year on one anchored jug, I had a 3 1/2 foot gar, followed by a 20 pound blue, with a 2 pound "kicker" channel.

Good luck and show us pictures,

OzarkFishman

[MOsmallies]

I was down on Memorial Day weekend and the fiance actually caught a small flathead on a 4" green pumpkin senko. First flathead I've actually seen out of our cove.

We're in the midlake section around the 25 mile marker. I didn't actually fish for cats that weekend, but in the past we have done pretty good. I usually throw cut Green Sunfish on a "Carolina" type rig and have caught some really nice blues and smaller channels just fishing the middle of our cove.

Best of luck and post some pics. I'll try and get a few pics posted of the blues we've caught in the past.

Paul

MOsmallies

[MOsmallies]

I was down on Memorial Day weekend and the fiance actually caught a small flathead on a 4" green pumpkin senko. First flathead I've actually seen out of our cove.

We're in the midlake section around the 25 mile marker. I didn't actually fish for cats that weekend, but in the past we have done pretty good. I usually throw cut Green Sunfish on a "Carolina" type rig and have caught some really nice blues and smaller channels just fishing the middle of our cove.

Best of luck and post some pics. I'll try and get a few pics posted of the blues we've caught in the past.

Paul

MOsmallies

[OzarkFishman]

Nice pics, I will hopefully have some pictures to add in a few weeks.

[Seth]

How bad is the boat traffic closer to dark on LoZ? I normally stay below Bagnell Dam when I go catfishing, but have wondered how the lake side would be on points and in the coves at night.