Missouri River

[Individualist]

OK, we have the namesake river posted and a dandy river it is. But we also need to get the missouri river up too. It's my personal favorite and because it's nearly in my back yard.

River levels are coming down and in a few more days things should stabilize and be back to normal, I hope. I'm ready to get back into action like before the rains came. Anyway, I need a new Avatar, this Avatar is kinda fuzzy, my wife must have been falling asleep when she took it. We'd had just got home at 4:00 in the morning when she said, "Hey hold up that flatty and let me take your Avatar", soooo like a good hubby I did.

[crazy]

Yep river is on its way down. Although more rain in the forcast for this week and the weekend. I don't think there calling for a lot though. Then again what do the weather people know.

[GaryF]

The forecast says sunny for the next two days. Tomorrow AM the roofers come to tear off my old roof. Please pray for me and my house, lol. Charlie, keep them clothes on! :mad:

[Individualist]

I've included you and your house in our dinner time prayer Gary. I hope it works out for you and if not, I'll then pray that your insurance premium is paid up current.

[McFlat]

Good luck Gary. The last time I had to go through that there were enough sheets to replace that I decided to dig deep into the coffers and have it re-decked.

[GaryF]

Yup, It's 2 layers of asphalt shingles over the original cedar shake, it all comes off and new plywood goes down. No suprises there, though, I've been planning this for a couple of years. I did a roof like it myself about 15 years ago, and I'm happy to pay somebody to do it this time. :)

[kcgeoff]

Good luck with the roof Gary. Hopefully the weather will cooperate.

[Individualist]

Geoff, Did you here anything about a catfish tourney up in atchison recently. I know a gal that owns a resturant across the street from the south boat ramp up there and she said that the winner was 40 something lbs but that most of the people didn't do well at all. Just wondering?

[kcgeoff]

Brian,
Yea they had a tourney. It was a Super Cats tourney. It was at the Indepence park which is across from the restraunt right by the river. I believe that is the restraunt you are refering to something like the Landing? :confused:

Anyways, I heard the big fish was something like 38-39lbs and the 2nd biggest was only 20 something. It was VERY hot and in the middle of the day. They wanted $250 to enter it which seemed really steep for your average catman. One of these days I'll go by Southside bait and get more info on it. Its just that I don't like going in a bait shop if I'm not going to buy anything. Everything as far as hooks etc I buy online at Catfish connection or ebay. With the occassional item at Cabelas or Walmart.

[kcgeoff]

I just read online at the Atchison Globe that the the big fish was a 46.8lb blue cat. It was caught off a leopard frog. They had 3 fish total for 64.1lbs. There were 25 teams total. 2nd place was 7 fish that weighed 62lbs total.

[Individualist]

Geoff, Thanks for the info. $250 a pop is a lot of money to fish in the hot sun.

I need to hunt down some leopard frogs, that has got to be one of the top baits for cats. Every time I have used them, they produce bites quick. The gar love them too. I caught one on a wing dike last time out and thought ok this should get me a cat. That frog was gone to a gar in 3 minutes, couldn't find any more so back to the carp I went. That wasn't a good night for fishing.

[GaryF]

That's what always happens to me when I get a good bait going, I'm thinking, man this is gonna draw in a monster. Then a turtle or a gar gets it, or I throw it off the hook with the first cast, lol. I had a 2lb carp ready to go, but he ended up laying on my garage floor all day before I even got a chance to try :crying:

[kcgeoff]

I'm still lost! LOL It took me forever to find this thread again.

Brian,
I wouldn't pay that kind of money either. According to the article 1st place got $500 in cash and prizes per person. That doesn't seem like put for pay $250 for 2 people. Seems like you could $250 on lottery tickets and have a better shot at more money! :cool:

I caught a leopard frog a couple days ago and thought I'd get a big channel on it real quick. I tossed it out and watched it sit there for hours. While I proceeded to catch 3-4 channels off shrimp on my other poles. I reeled it in, took the frog off and put shrimp on. Never got a bite on that pole even with shrimp! I reeled the pole in and put it in the car. Fished with 2 poles and still caught cats. Lesson learned that pole was just bad luck! LOL

Gary, I hear you on the bait issue. I don't know how many times I've tossed my best bait off the hook on the first cast right when I get to the river.

[Individualist]

Ok guys, I have to admit it, oh yea I throw the bait off my hook, about four times last weekend. I tried to blame on the new reel I just got, and then it happened on another pole that I use all the time so I can't use that excuse. I'm patient when it's in the water just not patient getting it in the water.

Geoff, That's funny about your jinxed fishing pole, all of mine act that way sometimes.

[kcgeoff]

Was headed out to a local lake last night to get some gils to have ready for fishing this weekend. The sky turned dark and the wind/lightning showed up. I turned around and headed home! LOL We got dumped on! I've noticed the Missouri has raised 2 feet since then. It outta make for some good fishing if the debris is at a minimum.

[crazy]

I always have better luck when the missouri has been stable for a few days. On smaller rivers I know the water rising makes them bite.

[kcgeoff]

I think when the Missouri rises with all the debris the cats move to deep holes such as scour holes off the tip of wing dams. I've caught cats when the water is dropping, rising and stable. I've always heard rising is better but I've caught most my big fish when the river is stable aswell.

[GaryF]

Fish the backside of the dam during a small rise of 1-4 feet. It's a tip I read in Catfish Insider that paid off a couple of times this spring. The theory is that the fish are fleeing the debris.. all of the small crud like what collects on your line when you fish in those conditions.

[Individualist]

I'll be heading out on the big river tomorrow night. I usually don't do that well after the river rises. We will see what happens though. I was on to something before the monsoon came. Now me and the fish are all jacked up. Behind the dam is probably the only place to cast and be free of debris for maybe 15 min at a time. I'll post the results of this expedition. Good luck to you all.

[crazy]

Went out and caught some perfect size carp for a hook tonight. Man the Ameristar has a great pond for carp & bullhead. Just scope the place out first so you don't get caught. Feed the carp some canned sweet corn go in have a few beers then go out and throw the net. Only problem is the security office is close by oh and the cameras.

[Individualist]

Went out last night on the river without much luck, just a couple bites. Lots of grass and weeds hanging in my lines, what a pain that crap is. My son hooked about a 6 lb channel that he lost right at the waters edge, he took it out on a couple gar that he and I caught. I only know of one person that caught anything and that's Dennis who went with me last weekend. He posted it on the old site in the missouri river section. Congrats Dennis!

[crazy]

Went out last night for a few hours. Only had a couple gar bites. Starting to think with this nice cooler weather and rain. There feeding all day.

[Individualist]

Your probably on to something there Crazy. The bite is nothing like what it was before the rains moved in. My once good spot is producing notta. I'm trying to come up with a different tact. Have you been fishing in front of the wings? How about the scour holes on the tips?

[crazy]

I was still fishing infront of the dikes like I have been. If the weather is nice this weekend I'm thinking of going out in the daylight. Fish the scour holes and in the eddy.

[kcgeoff]

Crazy, that sounds like a good idea to me. Maybe deeper water in the day time will produce something. The big fish fishing on the Missouri has been pretty hit or miss. With the occassional good fish. No real patterns seem to be working. Hopefully something will change sooner than later.

[Individualist]

Agreed Crazy, Geoff, The pattern is definitely different than 3 weeks ago, if there is a pattern at all? Probably more like russian roulette out there. They are forcasting more rain tonight, tommorow, hopefully it will not affect up river too much and leave the current levels stable, guess we will see?

[crazy]

It's nice to have this cooler weather for once. I just don't think it's helping the bite at night. At least for me on the missouri. Individualist, just when you think you have a pattern it changes. This is only my 2nd year fishing the missouri still learning lots. The hard part I find for me is change. You keep fishing the same way because you caught some fish that way. I think the key is to keep trying different things. Have any of you two tryed fishing outside bends? I keep telling my self I'm going to try it but I never do. I guess I just look at the bend and can't figure out what part of it to fish. Some of them are just so big and long. Unlike the dikes you know the fish are going to be holding around them.

[kcgeoff]

Crazy,
I don't have a boat so I would need a "crazy" amount of weight to cast that far and hold in that much current. LOL :glare:

Once I have my boat I do plan to fish more areas such as bends, channels, more dikes, feeder creeks, sand bars, riprap, etc. I think the key would be to move until you find the fish. Its sounds easy sitting on the bank not catching fish. I can just say well if'n I was in a boat I would be catching them all! But then when I go out in a boat with somebody I don't catch anything. I wish the April/May bite would stay on all year. :D

[Individualist]

I set up to fish Weston Bend about a month ago, had anchored the boat next to a 35 foot hole which showed some sonar bounces at the bottom of it. I had all my poles in the water and was all kicked back and then I looked up and saw the MOTHER OF ALL BARGES headed right for me. You've never seen a guy wind em up so fast. I never tried that spot again after that cuz I hit a rock on the bottom getting out of there, it was quite a jolt. No damage just a big scrape mark but enough to hack me off about the whole thing.

All the holes I've found on bends are right at the beginning of the bend, right were the water that's moving straight is forced to turn and pushes up against the bank. The sharper the turn the bigger\deeper the hole.

[crazy]

That would make a fellow reel in the lines fast. I never seen a barge in that area. Brian you plan on fishing this weekend?

[Individualist]

Josh, I'm going out early in the morning (Saturday) figure I'll throw them a curve ball and see if they swing. I might go again Saturday night or Sunday during the day, depends on the home front.

[kcgeoff]

Brian,
Good luck out there tomorrow. I was going to go tonight. But got hit with a horrible headache. On a Friday night! Ended up taking a couple hour nap. I may still head out later tonight but will most likely fish tomorrow night. Let us know how you do out there!

[crazy]

I have to run by a couple of stores before I can go. I'll will probably put in at Leavenworth though. Might just see you out there. If your there Brian I drive a dark gray GMC.

[Individualist]

Alright guys, Taylor (son) and I are fixin to head out. Boy it's early to start moving around alot 4:30 AM! Josh, I'll be fishing south of the ramp today, my truck is a maroon ford super cab lariat, maybe we will see ya out there? I'll post the results later.

[Individualist]

Oh boy guys, you should of been there. I was reduced to anticipating gar bites, but not a one. ZERO BITES any and all included. That's it, I'm starting a new web site. It shall be known as the BODCFWTHAT! That's brotherhood of disillusioned cat fishermen where the he11 are they. I'm out, birthday party for wifes 4 year old niece starts in minutes.

[kcgeoff]

Brian,
I'm sorry to hear you didn't get any bites. I've been deabating weather I was going to fish the Missouri river or try a local lake for flats. After hearing that I'm headed to the lake to try my luck.

[crazy]

You and me both. I had gar swimming by the boat but not a taker. Can't catch them at night, can't catch them in the heat. Just where the hell are they? Heck I even had trouble getting my bait at the casino tonight.

[Individualist]

I fished from about 5:30am to 2:00pm. I started in front of a couple long wings, then I fished the tips and behind the wings. I could see the fish on my depth finder down in the holes but could not get them to move. Was using carp live and cut, frogs, gizzards and shrimp. Fishing the river has been off for about 3 weeks now, not sure what to make of it.

[fishin_fool]

We fished around Farley last night 6pm to midnight. Systematically worked the wing dams: in front, tight behind, and the flats in between. Used cut shad and silver carp and not even a nibble. You guys must have caught 'em all!

[kcgeoff]

Bryan and I are getting stuff ready to head out to the Missouri tonight. Got a 30lb flathead out of a local lake last night. I hope we have as good of luck on the river. :D

[crazy]

Tonight looks like a perfect night for it. Instead I get to stay at home and listen for a pager to go off. Good luck guys.

[crazy]

Anyone been doing any fishing on the river?

[kcgeoff]

I've fished the river a couple times in the last week but it has only been for a couple hours in the evening. I located alot of gar on one and trip and didn't get any bites on the other trip. Thinking of trying day time fishing with the cooler temps. The blues outta be bitting now.

[crazy]

Yeah i'm thinking the same thing. Going out tomorrow for a day time trip. Will see how things go. The water temp. should be dropping pretty nice with the nights being cooler.

[Individualist]

Went out with Dennis (Mr Cat) and fished just past the Platte river, no bites were had on this outing. We fished a couple wings on the way back but the results were the same. It's been slow for quite a while.

[kcgeoff]

Bryan and I fished the river for about 4 hours yesterday afternoon. I caught about a 6lb drum that took off with my clicker. :cursing: :cursing: lol

Bryan caught a catfish! Its just a shame it was only about 4-5". It became bait. We haven't caught any decent catfish on the Missouri for almost 2 months. :confused:

[crazy]

Well so goes the morning fishing. Got out there and the lightening was just to bad. I might try later in the day if it clears up some.

[Mr cat]

Well,Well,Well, I can see by all of these posts that I am not alone in my deep depression! I have also been spending a lot of time on the river, absolutely no luck either. I have abandoned the insanity of trying the same thing over and over , hoping for a different outcome.
I have been trying about everything I can think of, above and below the rock piles, in tight to the point, out into the deep water at the seam. High mud banks, shallow sand flats. Been fishing daytime and doing all nighters. You can't get any better bait, live and cut carp, whole and cut shad, live perch and sun grannies. Haven't had a rip in the last month. I am starting to think dynamite is next!!!

[logchain]

the river is up a little here in sioux city i have had better luck geting channels on the river than in the lakes around here lately

[Dave53]

It is soooo good to hear you guys are having problems too! I thought I was loosing everything I ever thought I knew about catching catfish. Went out a week ago and caught 5 with the biggest one being about 3 pounds. I threw everything I had at them. But 5 small cats, 3 turtles, 2 drum, and 1 large gar was all I could muster from sun up to sunset! Oh, I really didnt mean I was glad that you guys were not catching fish..though it did sound like that! :rolleyes:

[kcgeoff]

Has anybody been fishing the Missouri? I haven't fished in over 2 weeks. Got a new job and have been working 12 hours shifts. Bryan and I are planning to head out there today. I hope all the rain we got last night/this morning doesn't put alot of debris and crap in the river. I'll post about what we catch. :confused:

[Mr cat]

Hey Geoff, I skipped out this weekend. The storm saturday night had way too much lightning for me to be sitting out on the water. I did drive over the bridge at Leavenworth sunday afternoon, the water was way up and plenty of big trash floating. Maybe next weekend??

[kcgeoff]

That was a heck of a storm! I skipped on fishing this weekend after I found out how much rain we got! There was alot of flooding around here! One of my local bluegils lakes flooded so bad that the road leading to the lake were 10 feet under!

[kcgeoff]

Anybody hitting the Missouri lately? Bryan and I are headed out soon to try our luck. I'll see if I can remember how to catch a catfish.

[fireman10535]

Hey Geoff :)

Went out to the MO over the last couple days with not much luck (just bank fishing, no boat) couple different spots. Did watch the water drop a lot over the last few days, personally I'm blaming that as I refuse to blame my lack of fishing skills LOL

Drop me a line, let's go fishing :)

[kcgeoff]

We fished the river for 4 or 5 hours with no action except for a drum and a struegon caught while attempting to catch goldeyes. I'm glad to see that the river has dropped alot. That gives the fish alot less water to avoid me in, lol Also it makes the wingdams easier to fish from.

[GaryF]

It's amazing how quick and how far the river has come down since the flooding rains just a couple of weeks ago. It's at its lowest level since March here in KC. I've had my best luck when the water is low, but I have not been able to get out there yet this month.

[crazy]

I have not been able to find the time to go out there on the river in a month. Hoping i will be able too here real soon.

[AC1108]

I went out on Sunday and decided to tie off behind a wingdam and fish for a bit. I couldn't believe how low the water was. I got stuck on a sandbar and ended up finishing off all the beer I had while trying to get off. Needless to say I caught nothing. Did enjoy the weather though.

[brad kilpatrick]

Hey guys I met a guy who calls himself captian catfish the other day his real name is John Trager. He fishes and guides from Kaw point.
Were supposed to hook-up and go fishing in the near future. anyone out there know this guy? seems like a good guy just wondering if anyone knows him.

[crazy]

I have seen his boat i think has a website on it forget what the site is called. Other then that naa don't know him lots of people use the ramp...

[kcgeoff]

Anybody catching fish? I have been busy working and such. I quit my job last weekend. So now I can focus on more important things like fishing! LOL :D :D

[Chris]

I would stop by and ask the Security Guard to fish the pond. The worst he could say would be no. Better safe then Sorry.

chris

[kcgeoff]

I'm thinkg of hitting the Missouri this weekend with the nicer weather. Anybody planning on fishing this weekend?

[Catchinbiguns]

How's Everyone, I didnt know the site had changed :p :p :p .

[GaryF]

Geoff, Did you do any good? I went out on New Years Day for a couple of hours, that's the only fishing I've don in quite a while. I'm trying to get to where I have a little more time for fishing before too long.

Kendrick, Good to see you back on.

[Catchinbiguns]

Good to see you guy's, who's been catching the fish. :) :)

[kcgeoff]

Gary,
We ended up fishing a creek for bait. I caught a couple chubs and a baby bass. Also lost a monster chub, LOL Then we headed to a lake to try for more bait. It got dark before we new it and decided not to go the river. We'll try again soon if the weather warms back up.

[brad kilpatrick]

I went out sunday and fished the Mo. for a couple of hours. didn't have any luck water temp was 43* But it sure was nice to get back on the water

[Catchinbiguns]

I wish I could get out.

[McFlat]

I pulled a couple pounds of filets out of the freezer and put them in the oil yesterday. Caught my limit too! ;)

[center12]

Ate a limit of those last week;)

[kcgeoff]

Ron stopped by yesterday to take a look at my new truck. He brought the Atchison Globe Newspaper with him. Heres a scan of the article from the front page. A 74lb blue was caught by Iatan on the Missouri a couple weeks back. I'm ready to hit the river now!!!

[Catchinbiguns]

I ready now, this front in the weather is messing me up.

[GaryF]

Wow, we need to get some bait out there.

[kcgeoff]

Thats it!!! I'm hitting the MO this weekend. Who wants to fish? I just wish I had a boat to go find the kitty cats. Since I got me a truck now. The boat will follow soon.

Gary was able todo it last year. So I'm taking the honor and officially opening BLUE CAT season on the Missouri starting this weekend! :0a34:

[center12]

Anyone been by the Farley ramp lately??? Is the Platte thawed enough to get a boat to the MO?? Would hate to drive all the way over there and find out it's a no go, any info would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

[kcgeoff]

Anyone been by the Farley ramp lately??? Is the Platte thawed enough to get a boat to the MO?? Would hate to drive all the way over there and find out it's a no go, any info would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Charlie,
The ramps here in Atchison are fine to launch from right now. I'm not sure about the Platte there in Farley. Only problem I see is there aren't any blues here in Atchison! LOL I'm bound to find them this year though. Bryan and I are going to hit the Missouri all day tomorrow just trying to decide if we are going to KC or staying here in Atchison.

[BoCaHoLiC]

Hey guys. Good luck out there Geoff! Catch a monster for me lol. The warmer weather here in Iowa today has really got the "catfish fever" in me going. It won't be long now....or in your case the time IS NOW. Good luck out there bro.

[kcgeoff]

Wow its Josh! Long time no see! I doubt I'll catch any tomorrow but it sure will feel good getting back out! :)

[GaryF]

Josh

You need to come down and show us how to catch catfish again. It's good to see you posting.

[center12]

Howdy Josh, always nice to see one of the "old" faces:)

Got the Glastron started today, need to ctach shad on Sunday and head for the MO on Monday...........if I can get my truck past cabela's, it has an auto pilot mode that takes it straight there:rolleyes:

[kcgeoff]

Bryan and I just got back from hitting the river here in Atchison all afternoon. Too cold when I got up this morning so we waited til this afternoon to try our luck. We didn't even get a nibble. We were using last year's frozen mushy baby shad and some fresh cut small bluegils. The bait was slim-pickens for sure and might have actually scared the fish away! LOL

We even tried fishing for goldeye with Gary's never fail tactics but to no avail. I just can't figure them things out! Maybe they don't bite in cold water? I'm going to have to pay more attention to detail the next time I see Gary catching them. :p

[Catchinbiguns]

I want to get that tactict down myself. how ya doin Mr. Josh.

[kcgeoff]

This weather is awesome! I think I'll spend most the day out on the Missouri uphere in Atchison. Sooner or later I'll find the blues here. Or I'll give up and go fish KC. LOL

[Catchinbiguns]

Sometime you gotta do what you gotta do. Come on home lol

[kcgeoff]

I hit the river here in Atchison today. Caught 5 little channel cats in a half hour. Decided to come home and get Bryan and go back to catch more. It was pretty windy when I got home, so I decided we are going to wait til tomorrow. Hopefully there are some bigger ones there too. But I'm pretty happy to actually be catching them. :)

[Catchinbiguns]

He Geoff when are you going come down, Our when can you start giving those clinics again.

[Catchinbiguns]

Has anyone checked the river levels

[kcgeoff]

Kendrick, I'm sure I'll be down that way this spring sometime.

[kcgeoff]

Best as I can tell the rain didn't effect the river levels at all. The raised the Kaw alittle but everything was so slow to start with it didn't do much. We need more rain.

[CatfishSam]

Anybody catching Flatheads yet?

[Catchinbiguns]

None over this way.

[retired stump jumper]

the last time I was on the roof of my house I was reroofing it & steped in some saw dust on new lumber That will rap your legs around your neck so fast you will think they growed there. I broke my left leg or should say ankle & I was 6months getting over it to where I could go fishing. So if any of you get on the roof of your house be carefull, I know most of you are a lot younger than I but no matter a brocken bone still hurts like the devil. I hope all of you have a great year of fishing. is`nt this rain great.

[GaryF]

:006: :006: :006: :006: :006: :006:

Mark your calendars! This weekend is the official launch of Blue Cat season on the Missouri. The corps of engineers has started releasing from the big Gavins Point Dam. We will see a rise of a foot or two later this week, and that should be the trigger we need to get things going.

[kcgeoff]

:006: :006: :006: :006: :006: :006:

Mark your calendars! This weekend is the official launch of Blue Cat season on the Missouri. The corps of engineers has started releasing from the big Gavins Point Dam. We will see a rise of a foot or two later this week, and that should be the trigger we need to get things going.

WOO HOO! Thats the best news I've heard all day! Hopefull we'll be reeling them soon!

[brad kilpatrick]

Rock-On!!!!!! Thats Great news, I'll look foreward to getting out there next week!!!! I'm going to Milford this weekend!!!!

[crazy]

Now all we have to do is getting some nicer weather.

[dougc]

I called Gavins Point Dam hdq. and they said they were releasing 21,000 cfs. How long before we see the effects? Do you think 1-2 ft. rise is what we will see?

[crazy]

Doug, sioux city, IA has already seen a 3 1/2foot rise in there water. Omaha has gone up about 1 1/2ft. It's still going up at this time too. So who knows what we will see. The river is wider down here so it can handel more water. You should see it start to go up in about 2 days. It's not to Rulo Neb. yet.