LOZ question

[slabmaster]

if you were going to drive 3.5 hrs one way to fish and tent camp wheere would you go.i have heaard stories of house boats. i do not want to contend with big wakes. the boat i will bring is a 1972 richline vee bottom with a 15 hp motor. and my best fishing partner is a 6 yr old girl.its simple i want some place safe where the fish practicely jump in the boat . lol.

[wayne7009]

good luck i dont think there is any place thats safe really anmore

[slabmaster]

good luck i dont think there is any place thats safe really anmore
i meant safe from big boats im not worried about being safe camping . i mind my own buissenes and expect the same curtiousy in the camp ground.i also dont follow all thsoe no loaded firearm rules they have.

[Crispy Critter]

You'll want to stay up above the 52 mile marker to stay away from the BIG boats.Up about the 65 mm it gets more like a river with the channel being around 35' feet deep and alot calmer water.There's good fishing about anywhere you want to try though.I don't know much about campgrounds around here there's not many but there are a few i think.I'll send you a P.M.

[slabmaster]

You'll want to stay up above the 52 mile marker to stay away from the BIG boats.Up about the 65 mm it gets more like a river with the channel being around 35' feet deep and alot calmer water.There's good fishing about anywhere you want to try though.I don't know much about campgrounds around here there's not many but there are a few i think.I'll send you a P.M.
thanks and could you explain the mile marker thing . i uderstand mileage system but curious if there are mile markers on the lake or some thing. if so that would be a first for me.

[slabmaster]

is the area around warsaw the area you are telling me i should avoid?

[Itch2Scratch]

Rex this lake is about 92 miles long and yes there actually markers out there...LOL...well some anyway...between vandels and nature you won't find them all..LOL I am located just short of the 58MM...referring to the Mile Marker(MM) gives others a rough idea how far you are from Bagnell Dam...I do recommend if at all possible that you plan your trip on weekdays when the boat traffic is less.;)

[Itch2Scratch]

No Rex...the Bagnell Dam area is where the huge ships are.

[slabmaster]

thanks ken . is there a lot of fishing pressure on your lake.by that i mean tons of boat traffic

[Itch2Scratch]

On weekends its pretty bad....In the summer I don't usually fish on weekends, I wait and fish the weekdays. The stretch between Warsaw and Critters place is probably the best to avoid the big boats.

[slabmaster]

ok im going to find me a map of loz tomorrow. i really prefer to fish rivers so if its more like a river than a lake ill feel right at home. now if i can only find a lawyer that understands the missouri code so i can figure out if its legal to jug line ill be in good shape lol.

[Itch2Scratch]

Zoom in on the member map...it will give you an idea...and yes you can use jug lines here.:)

[Itch2Scratch]

Jess I heard it was tore up pretty bad and they didn't know if it would even be open this season.

[Itch2Scratch]

I have to agree with Jess on Truman...it would probably be a better place with big cats and slabs......man I hate to admit I agree with Wolfie...LMAO

[slabmaster]

thanks for your help men.

[Itch2Scratch]

Jess...you mean when you think your right...you think your right..LOL:p

[ccso640]

I have a lake house at Nemo on Pomme de Terre and that area got hit really hard, including my Durango as I was driving through Carsons Corner running from the storm when a camper landed in the ditch next to me, scary crap. If you stay at Pomme then focus fishing on the Martins Flats area, lots of channel cats and white bass are there and easy to find. If you're facing Anglers Resort in a boat on the lake then follow the shoreline on the right, there's a nice cove there that I always catch 8-12 pound channels on a regular basis at. Truman is also hard to beat for fishing but I'd camp at the Truman State Park and then put your boat in below the dam at Warsaw, just travel back and forth to the camp site trailering the boat. Warsaw is probably better fishing right now and they're easier to find. Due to let some water out any day I would think and that will also help. Chris

[Bigmagic]

Rex I'm going to take issue with my compadres and say the Warsaw area is exactly where you want to be. Truman is a great lake but if the wind blows you don't want to be out there in a small boat with your daughter. The upper end of LOZ is much easier to deal with.

Jugging is definately allowed and the locals are friendly and helpful. From the Warsaw area you can decide if Truman is safe or LOZ is the way to go or fish both. The snagging buzz is at least begining to subside although on weekends there will always be a Bass tourney launching from below the dam so be extra careful at 7:00am if its foggy. Some of those knuckleheads race down the river at 80mph regaurdless of visibility(GPS).

I have fished all the local lakes including Stockton and LOZ and Truman have the best catfish population as well as equal or better popualtions of the other species.(yes I'm even including Walleye) I know that will get a rise out of someone but if they had seen the 16lb Walleye my father-n-law got a couple of years ago...oh well I'm rambling. If you decide to fish Truman even if there are 10,000 people on the lake you can find a spot all to your self. Come on down spend a week and you'll be hooked. See ya on the water!

By the way a Richline is a great boat my father-n-law has used them for years!

[Bigmagic]

Well the upper end better be part of LOZ or my lot titles have me in the wrong spot. Jess you need to get out more. There's a whole lot more to the lake up here than just "The river". What about Gravois Mills, Buffalo Creek,Cole Camp Creek,Deer Creek, Turkey Creek and numerous other side arms to LOZ. When the water is at full pool you'll be hard pressed to beat some of these places for whatever kind of fish your trying to catch. I never figured you for a "LOZ snob" but is clear now that if your not a stones throw from Bagnel ya just ain't LOZ. I'll have to tell the folks at Oceola that that ain't Truman lake their fishing in. Does this mean that Bull Shoals at Forsyth isn't part of Bull Shoals? Come on Jess while we may not have the numbers you have down there there are way to many condos springing up and dock permits being issued to think that this isn't the same lake. If ya come up to go snagging I'll show ya a bunch of million dollar homes on what used to be prime hunting land. I wish we were just a river, hell I wish we had some current! See ya on the water!

[Mr.T]

On the jugging, it's legal on nearly all Missouri waters. You may *not* jug fish between Truman Dam and the Hwy 65 bridge about 4 miles downstream from the dam.

You have to "personally attend" your jugs at all times unless they're permanently anchored. That means you have to be within eyesight of all your jugs -- you can't throw them out and go take a nap. Jugs have to be labeled with your name and address also. Limit is 32 hooks per person. "Permanently anchored" means having a weight of at least 2 lbs on the end of the jug.

Also be aware of the recently changed limits on catfish: 5 blues per day per person, 10 in possession. Channels are 10 per person per day, 20 in possession, and flats are 5 per day and 10 in possession. In the "no boats" zone just below Truman dam, the limit is 4 catfish in the aggregate (any combination of species), with only one fish greater than 24"

Hope this helps. Personally, I'd take the kids to Truman Lake. Stay at Osage Bluff or Long Shoal park and enjoy yourself. There aren't many campgrounds available on the upper LOZ - certainly no public campgrounds, maybe a couple of privately-owned ones here and there.

[Mr.T]

I'll have to tell the folks at Oceola that that ain't Truman lake their fishing in.

Well, truth be told, those poor folks at Osceola really got the shaft when the lake came in -- big promises of how great it would be, beautiful views, all the tourism, etc. and all they really have is a big shallow muddy flat most of the time... :sad:

Back in the day, the Lake of the Ozarks went way beyond Warsaw -- I lived on the Benton / Henry county line off 7 hwy, on "Lake of the Ozarks Lake Road 7-100"... Not sure what the mile marker was there - but it's a good 15 miles upstream from Truman dam... Though we never really thought of it as being LOZ.

[libertyfisher]

I camp at a privately owned campground called Greenmill 573-363-5577. Owner's name is Mike. It is up the Little Niangua river from LOZ, where J Highway crosses it. There is also another campground right across the river from it - I think it is called the Little Niangua campground. Your size boat would fit right in there - water is shallow enough the huge boats stay away. White bass can be good upriver from the campground. Some catfish, but they are only very good when it has rained enough to raise and muddy the river some.

[Bigmagic]

Marty I have some friends at Osceola who tear up large Blues since the lakes been it. I know some others who catch large crappie from the bank since the lakes been in. If you ask me the people below the Dam got the shaft. Inconsistant water levels lack of current etc. You know your from here.

Maybe we ought to make a run down to Cedar Creek and see Jess. Its been a few years(more like ten) since I got into them 3lb Whites they got down there. See ya on the water!

[beeheck]

Ron,
Let me interrupt this thread with a picture of the anchor that I promised you several days ago. It weighs about 35lbs and is a bit heavy but it holds in current. It has a large footprint and is thin for its weight (lead) so the current doesn't wash out under it and let it move. It was the first one me made and the rod is 1/2" a little over kill. The Missouri River is channeled here so it is one fast moving river and it holds us tight. You move around much and your going to feel it in the morning it is a workout but if you have less current you would need less total weight. One thing I thought about doing was taking a wood rasp and angling the edges at about a 45 degree angle so the water would be directed up away from going under the anchor but so far it hasn't been needed. I might be able to use a lighter anchor if I did angle the edges but it works so why mess with it.

[slabmaster]

you guys sound like me .you know more places to fish than there is time in a year to fish. critter gave me an invitation to fish his place and i intend to take him up on it in thse summer. after that i deffinatly want to try truman and pomme.i have a neighbor who is becomeing a very good friend of mine who was raised around cassville on the mark twain national forrest . he says pomme is one of the best fishing spots in missouri. i aalso will say that i am a better river fisherman than a lake fisherman. i fish both but my 1st love is the river. i understand what your saying about the rivers jess. i was born aand raised on a sand plaant on the arkansas. when i turned 12 we moved to ft gibson lake but the part i lived on was still grand river to me.you guys haave made this a great thread.

[slabmaster]

Yeah i like to give Ron a poke once in awhile, it keeps him honest...lol

Have to let me know when your going down to critters. He invited me down as well. Promised hot ribeyes and cold millers. Or was it Lobster?:rolleyes: :)

You need to try and make the get gettogether at truman in may. It should prove to be interesting to say the least.:cool:
i would be there with bells on but i already have a scheduled vacation to go shark fishing ing the gulf on those dates.next year ill checck the gathering dates before i book a vacation.

[slabmaster]

sea sickness not a problem, little sharks is what i want3-5 foot blacktip.also not only deep sea but doing a lot of surf fishing day and night.dont drink beer. it use to foam me up. when i did drink it was a fifth of w.l wellers every dayaand then sometimes i would black out aand chase all my lieing fishin buddies around the camp fire with a fillet knife and not remember any of ot the next day so i dont think its good for me to drink.now i do love me some catfish boats though.the boat loads of big catfish now thats tempting.but rakeing sand fleas in the surf.catching florida pompano.a mad run from a jack in the surf. baiting a 16/0 circle with a fish larger than a lot of people catch and paddleing it out past the second bar , while your crab traps are ffilling with the blue crab your going to have with the grilled shark aand pompano only happens once a year for me . besides i already have a house on the beach rentedand my old lady is not going to trade tent campihg on truman for a condo on the beach.

[Bigmagic]

That salt water will get in yer blood!(and yer clothes)! People ask me all the time why I go out to Virginia Beach and spend a week instead of doing something else. If you ever spend anytime around the Ocean you spend the rest of your life trying to get back. I went out there in March and went fishing for cats on the James river even though they were tearing the Striper up in the bay so it ain't the fishing. But we went whale watching,beach combing and spent a week watching the sunrise over the Atlantic. Pretty close to heaven for a redneck shad lobbing catfish gourmet. I love it here but sometimes I yearn for that salt air and seafood. Have a great trip!!

[safetybass]

Wolfman, we're thinking you already got all the crabs you can handle.:blink: