Sad to say, but for the most part, there is a reason you rarely hear of catfishing in any of the SEMO Lakes.
I tried for 25 years between there an Clearwater an the two rivers that feed them, with very little luck. I did see a picture at a baitshop once, showing a monster, 25 lb, catfish caught below Clearwater. LOL
Until I learned here on the BOC where to fish, my best would have to have been around 8 pounds.
Now, as others here have seen, I get very upset when a 20 lb baby steals my bait.
It isn't that I've become that much better, it's that now I know where to go and what to do when I get there.