[okie catfish hunter]

I'm going to a family gathering in Rock Port over Labor Day weekend. Plan to do some catfishing while I'm there. Going to have access to a boat but have limited space to haul gear in the vehicle we are taking. I have several rod and reel rigs but need to limit myself to two or three. I have a Penn 8500 SS spinning reel, 2 Mitchell Orca 70's spinning reels, 2 Penn 309 casting reels and an Abu Garcia Black Max 3600. Not knowing the area or what I can expect to hook into I'm having a tough time deciding what to take. Any suggestions ??

 

[crazy]

It all depends man. Do you plan on fishing the missouri river where 90 pounders are. Or do you plan on fishing lakes and ponds where 20 pounds is big. If your fishing the river take your big stuff only. If you are fishing small lakes and ponds in the area. take your medium stuff.

 

[okie catfish hunter]

We'll be fishing the river. I like to fish mainly for blues but may go after flats after dark. I've mainly fished smaller rivers and reservoirs in the past. I'm really looking forward to fishing a bigger river. I've got the tackle to handle big fish but haven't got ahold of anything over 30 pounds here. Usually use cut shad. live blue gills or DK for blues around here and gills for the flats. I assume they'll work equally as well on the Missouri River.

 

[crazy]

Try cut carp strips if you can get one of the suckers to jump into the boat. Or if you have a throw net, net one. Cut shad,mooneye,skipjack there all good baits for blues here. I don't really target flatheads so I would take it anything live baby carp bluegills fishing the sticks would be good. I keep meaning to go after them just don't.