So I've decided to start fishing LoTO...

[45acp]

I know zip about fishing the lower part the lake.  Never done it.  Not even once.  Springtime I go catfishing on the upper section at Warsaw.

90% of my fishing is on the Missouri, Osage, and Gasconade.

So, my question is simple, do I fish the Glaize arm, or the Gravois arm?  Coffman and PB1 are about the same drive time for me.

I care nothing for ditch pickles.  I consider them a fish of last resort, only to be targeted when more desirable species can't be located.

I don't care much for crappie fishing either.  I can catch whopper panfish without leaving my yard.

Catfish and hybrids are what I'm interested in pursuing.

Point me in the right direction.  I can figure it out from there.

[fishinwrench]

The area almost within sight of Coffman access is possibly the best catfish/hybrid striper zone on the lower end of the lake.  I don't know why, or what it is about that particular area that they like.... but when someone around the lower lake area starts telling stories about catching lots of big hybrids, or big blues.....you just automatically know exactly (within a mile or so) where they were fishing.   

The only other area that could be as good as the upper Osage (Warsaw area) for hybrids and cats would be from HaHaTonka to Bridal cave. 

I hope you catch them ALL and get them out of here. 👍

[45acp]

Interesting that you mention Bridal Cave.  My Great Grampa Wilkerson was one of the original developers of the cave.  My Great Gramma owned some cabins and a bottle museum in Camdenton.  Their house sat on the corner of Hwy 54 and 3rd St.  The museum and cabins were across the highway from their house.

Great Gramma passed in '67 or '68.  The bottle collection was packed up and trucked to some big auction house in Boston to be sold.  House/museum/cabins property was sold off.  Now there's a Taco Bell where her house used to set.  My Grandparents both got sick with cancer in the early 80's and had to sell their share of the cave business to cover medical expenses.

[fishinwrench]

I've lived in the lake area since 1998 and have never even seen bridal cave.  It's just a landmark.   Seen lots of pictures, but that's it.  

Never had the desire to step foot in Jacob's cave either, and it's just over the hill from my house.  🤷

[Johnsfolly]

56 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

I've lived in the lake area since 1998 and have never even seen bridal cave.  It's just a landmark.   Seen lots of pictures, but that's it.  

Never had the desire to step foot in Jacob's cave either, and it's just over the hill from my house.  🤷

We love going through caves. Have been through both Bridal as well as Jacob's. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

40 minutes ago, Johnsfolly said:

We love going through caves. Have been through both Bridal as well as Jacob's. 

It's been years since I went through any and I just recently told my wife we need at least hit up the ones around Springfield when we are tablerock...

[DADAKOTA]

Next time I go into a hole in the ground they'll be throwing dirt on top of me.

[Mitch f]

37 minutes ago, DADAKOTA said:

Next time I go into a hole in the ground they'll be throwing dirt on top of me.

Me too

[45acp]

I don't mind holes in the ground if they're full of water and fish.

Tourist traps full of slimy rock formations, on the other hand, aren't really my thing.

[Mitch f]

I learned I was claustrophobic when I was a teenager crawling through a cave in De Soto Missouri… That ruined me. To get into one of the bigger rooms of the cave you had to call crawl through an area that was about 13 to 14 inches high 5 feet wide and 10 feet long and I got stuck.