Big Blues?

[stitch]

Not looking for gps coordinates, but where do guys catch most of the big blue cat you always hear about on LOTO?? I pretty well know how to catch them, but this is new water to me. The deeper spots in the river channel in the main lake I assume? With cut bait? I appreciate ALL of the help Im getting on this board, btw. If anyone ever needs fishing info on Iowa lakes and rivers or deer, turkey or pheasant hunting help make sure and hit me up.

[countryred]

Most of the guys I've talked to have targeted them on flats near the old channel just above the Hurricane deck bridge, but all parts of the lake are good. Big cut shad on big hooks.

[stitch]

What about way down close to Truman? I would think the area around the Truman dam should hold some bigger fish?

[Goggle-Eyed]

I have seen several come out of the 31MM Across the lake from the Old Pier 31. They really are everywhere. is the area near Truman easier for you to get to or just curious about that area?

[fishinwrench]

I'll maintain that the quickest way to figure out any kind of fish is to choose a lake arm (or even scale it down to a single decent sized cove) and fish nowhere else until you can catch fish in that cove at any given time.

You learn less about the lake, but alot more about THE FISH by doing that.

The most consistent Big Blue cat fisherman that I know has a boat that never travels out of Cartwright.

[stitch]

I have seen several come out of the 31MM Across the lake from the Old Pier 31. They really are everywhere. is the area near Truman easier for you to get to or just curious about that area?

I bought a place around the 81 mile marker on LOTO.

[Goggle-Eyed]

81MM..... Well, other than the Old Oar House, I am not much help for the fishing! I have trolled the Old Oar House and picked up a few, but that was years ago!!! Oh, and most of what I trolled up on the 81mm were above average weight for what you find on the rest of the lake!.

[Goggle-Eyed]

I'll maintain that the quickest way to figure out any kind of fish is to choose a lake arm (or even scale it down to a single decent sized cove) and fish nowhere else until you can catch fish in that cove at any given time.

You learn less about the lake, but alot more about THE FISH by doing that.

The most consistent Big Blue cat fisherman that I know has a boat that never travels out of Cartwright.

I agree 100%. I fish Linn Creek Cove like it's own "lake" and have learned much... That was such good advice, I just need to remember it!!! Oh, and also remember they are fish and rarely do 'what I want"!!!!

[Old plug]

I fish almost entirely for big catfish with a spoon. When you find the areas where the White bass feed on shad you can often find some large catfish under the schools of feeding white bass. I just bounce the spoon off the bottom. Have caught many up to 48 lbs. The reason the catfish are there is because the white bass are slashing through the shad schools and the stunned and injured shad will sink to the bottom. It is a easy meal for the catfish and also makes them a sucker for a bouncing spoon. It is fun way to catch them.

[Goggle-Eyed]

I fish almost entirely for big catfish with a spoon. When you find the areas where the White bass feed on shad you can often find some large catfish under the schools of feeding white bass. I just bounce the spoon off the bottom. Have caught many up to 48 lbs. The reason the catfish are there is because the white bass are slashing through the shad schools and the stunned and injured shad will sink to the bottom. It is a easy meal for the catfish and also makes them a sucker for a bouncing spoon. It is fun way to catch them.

Now that is something I will have to try. I am not much into jug fishing or bait fishing but could probably get into this type of Cat Fishing. Good info.

Joe