Access Along Hwy 13

[Ranger Dave]

Most of the water on Truman that you can see from Hwy 13 is only about 6 to 10 feet deep. I used to live in Clinton while the lake was initially filling. The East side of Hwy 13 looked identical to the West side of Hwy but they bull-dozed most of the trees. The land around Clinton is extremely flat so the lake didn't get too deep. You need to go East toward Tightwad and Warsaw to get into some deeper water.

[blue79]

I went to Everhearts in Clinton thursday.I hadnt been on 13 since the week before christmas and it looked bad then.Thousands of stumps and alot of mud.I was able to see the river from the path of water that didnt have any trees in it.When i went through thursday it looks like it has had a bunch of rain/snow runoff cause there wasnt many stumps visible.I bet there is quite a few boats sunk on that side of the lake.Would love to run some limblines along that channel.Ive always wanted to fish that area.Almost wreck everytime i drive across those bridges from Clinton to Osceola cause i cant keep my eye on the road.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Almost wreck everytime i drive across those bridges from Clinton to Osceola cause i cant keep my eye on the road.

I follow Taneycomo most of the way from my place to Forsyth and have the same problems. The real worrisome thing is, I'm not sure what i expect to see besides water1

[oneshot]

Been fishing here and there and finally decided it is time to take a good look at Truman. I am, wanting to know all I can for Shore, Boat, Camping Access along Hwy 13. I am making plans to hit it hard this season. What baits work best and the usual need to knows, thanks guys.

Ok for all you want I would defently consider the Park at Osceola.Lots of Guy Snag for Spoonbill there and Great Catfishing.

oneshot

[sandbc]

I too like ranger dave, grew up in Clinton and was still there when the lake filled. At that time it was the best crappie fishing in the world. as the lake grew the fish did too. I worked nights and crappie fished every day and then the limit was 30 with no length limits but that wasnt a problem cause you caught so many slabs. still a great crappie lake but nothing like it was in the late 70s and early 80s. the water around the clinton area gets muddy with a sprinkle of rain and most generally stays stained at best all the time. Still good fishing there though. I would suggest for your size of boat to head east of Clinton to the Leesville landing on the Tebo arm. You will find camping, boat ramps and smaller water area still with plenty of structure and clearer water. Best crappie trip of my life was from that area on a Memorial weekend all in a 100 yard area not far from the ramp. Good luck and be safe. Ranger Dave if you are reading this shoot me a line. sounds like we were in clinton about the same time. my name is Stacey Carter. In springfield now.

[shaker]

Wow! We have a hot topic that does'nt happen much on this forum.

I would like to add some of my knowledge of the area. I was born in Clinton and grew up on the very south edge of town this was long before Truman was built, my family moved from the area in the early sixties. We lived a couple of blocks West of the Old 13 Highway and at every opportunity my next door neighbor which was one year older than myself would sneek off and roam the bottoms West of Old 13 and south of town. I also had a school friend that his family lived on a farm SouthWest of clinton that was just perched on the edge of the hill that breaks into that bottom. Talk about a nasty old river bottom the best thing that ever happened to it was when Truman flooded that area. The whole area was nothing but a swamp land, mucky slimey flood zone, there wasn't any crops to speak of because anytime it rained a couple of drops it flooded, new layer of muck. Old river channels, sloughs is what we called them about a foot or two deep. Squeeters as big as quarters, river worms about a foot long, great catfish bait, lots of leeches too. And there was a cottonmouth or two you would see them now and then, not often but enough to keep a eye out for them. Nothing a trusty sling shot couldn't handle.

A great place for a couple of 12 and 13 year olds to be playing in, as long as our mothers didn't find out.

I can't even imagine kids now days doing something like that.

And that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Richard

[Ranger Dave]

Ranger Dave if you are reading this shoot me a line. sounds like we were in clinton about the same time.

Sandbc, I lived in Clinton from 1965 to 1986. Graduated from High School in 1981. I grew up east of town near Bucksaw (east on Hwy 7 five miles, then south on W two miles). I didn't recognize your name. My name is David Felkner. I live in Strafford now since 1999. We mainly fished at Tebo Landing (or maybe it was Tebo Crossing) and Long Shoal. Never ventured over to Sparrow Foot much.

[sandbc]

hey ranger.........yep i am a little older. i graduated there in 1974. do you remember the old skelly gas station at the junction in clinton? that was mine for 2 years until property was sold to kreislers. then i worked at clearfield/shreiber cheese for 9 years before moving to springfield in 88. i fish stockton most of the time now but my brother has a weekend place on pomme so go there too and fish with him. my boss lives in the country at strafford. Gillespie excavating.. maybe i will run into you sometime. stay in touch.

[Ranger Dave]

Hey Sandbc, was the Skelly the station that used to be owned by Al Dunning wher Golden Corral is presently? I used to attend church there at the junction at the First Assembly of God.

[AmericanAngler]

I love hearing the old stories you guys got any pics of the area from back in the day? I was just talking to my fishing buddy earlier this week got some bad news and good news at the same time. I guess his old lady wasn't paying attention one night and crashed their car into my boat in their garage. So good news is I get to rebuild it and his grandfathers Jon boat apparently got damaged as well. So I get the 10hp outboard from it. I will be starting from scratch to accommodate the motor. With Power I will be able to get all around that lake. Just need the sun to start warming things up so I can get to work. Can't cure fiberglass in this cold weather, darn ground hog.