Hey Guys...Got a Question

We're thinking of moving to MO and would like to know which is the best 2-3 lakes for fishing. That should stir the pot!

I fished 2-3 days a week while living in "south LA" (Louisiana that is) and tied crappie jigs a lot. Mom had a stroke and we moved back to Tulsa to take care of her till she passed (almost 5 yrs ago) did a little fishing there. Then built a new house in the Rio Grande Valley of TX and hardly ever fish :( last 3 yrs. We are thinking of selling and moving closer to the kids/grandkids (but not too close) and MO would fit well as they are in KC/Lawrence KS area. Mostly looking south of I70 to the Arkansas border.

I want to be able to catch a variety of fish...Crappie, Bass, Catfish, Trout are my main targets but am open to anything that swims. I am boat less at the moment but will quickly remedy that upon getting moved!

We will be up there approx.. April through October. Then back to the border, where we'll keep our RV lot in a 55+ community, November through March. Warm weather (shorts) and trips to Mexico to drink Margaritas all winter!

OK...I've given you my history and kind of what I'm looking for...Let's hear from "the wisdom of the forum" !

Thanks! :biggrin

Truman lake, Lake of the Ozarks, Pomme de Terre, Stockton Lake,


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:welcome:hesaid

Truman, LOZ and Stockton would be my choices


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Truman, Stockton and LOZ. LOZ has a lot of good fishing, but gets insane rough in the warmer months with huge boat traffic.

if trout are your thing, agree with what others are saying but you could live in area between stockton, truman, Pomme and LOZ hit all those and still easy drive to taneycomo. would stay off of LOZ because of boat traffic. also easy drive to KC or lorance. depends too if you want to have house on water with own dock or just near to all. good luck in your moving as grandkids are where it is at and have to be near them for part of year.

If you target your base of operations south of Truman, that will put you within range of Bennett Springs Tanycomo as well as Roaring River for trout.


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Truman, pom, and Stockton requires a pass from me, so bring gifts and you may get a pass ,,,, Move to springfield area and you will be close to all the fishing you can handle

Reason I am trying to find a house in the Bolivar area. Stockton, Pomme, Truman and I will still be within a hour and a half from LOZ.

If your top two fish are trout and bass I would get a place at Tablerock Lake.

Will probably stay off LOZ in summer...I hate rough water and inconsiderate skiers and big boats. April and October might be OK.

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Originally Posted by Clownfish

Truman, Stockton and LOZ. LOZ has a lot of good fishing, but gets insane rough in the warmer months with huge boat traffic.

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Will probably stay off LOZ then. I hate rough water, inconsiderate skiers, and big boats. April and October might be OK.

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Originally Posted by hdhntr

if trout are your thing, agree with what others are saying but you could live in area between stockton, truman, Pomme and LOZ hit all those and still easy drive to taneycomo. would stay off of LOZ because of boat traffic. also easy drive to KC or lorance. depends too if you want to have house on water with own dock or just near to all. good luck in your moving as grandkids are where it is at and have to be near them for part of year.

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Grandkids are the best. You can enjoy playing with them...give them Red Bull....and LEAVE....hehehe payback.

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Originally Posted by jigfisherx

If you target your base of operations south of Truman, that will put you within range of Bennett Springs Tanycomo as well as Roaring River for trout.


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Growing up both sets of grandparents lived around Cassville. Dad's parents built and ran a small motel right by Roaring River. I was probably 12-13 before I knew you could fish with something other than a fly rod! Still have 5 or 6 around!

Springfield - Boliver area would put you right in the middle of the best missouri has to offer.
Get closer to looking at it seriously let me know I have an Aunt that is a realtor based out of Boliver. If it's for sale she will most likely be listing it.

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I love living in Bolivar right in the middle of the action for fishing and Springfield is only a short drive away if I need anything

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I would stay off tablerock in the summer very busy great lake but lots pleasure boating in summer. Truman is a great crappie, catfish, white bass- hybrid lake. Stockton and Pommie are both good lakes. Missouri is a great place to live. Welcome

Triangulate between Tablerock,Norfolk,Bull Shoals and Greers ferry,Bennett springs,Meramac,etc....and move there. You are gonna need Arkansas and Missouri license. You can sit on one body of water it has its advantages.

But if you are willing to go on "fishing trips" for the weekend or week whatever. You will have a lot more opportunities and go where the fishing is hot. You have to find a few natural lakes too...cause if we get a big flood it messes up the reservoirs and you need another place to fish. I am in the Southeast corner and I would die if I could not fish Illinois and Kentucky.

But if trout are your bag you want Mid South Missouri.

Have rod....will travel.

I would have to agree with the consensus here. Bolivar or the Wheatland area would be ideal if you want to fish for several species and never run out of new areas to explore. Truman, Pomme, Stockton and Lake of the Ozarks are all great fisheries. Don't let the traffic at LOZ scare you off. The upper end of the lake is fine, even in summer (55mm on up). And the traffic is minimal on weekdays. Let us know what you decide. Good luck.

LOZ and Binder Lake for a few select moon phases and tide selections throughout the calendar year, maybe every other year, or fifth year when you hit it right :dono

Well I'll jump in here. Recently retired and moved to Osage Beach, LOZ. A word of caution on living in a rural area and being a snow bird. Missouri is like all other states, crack heads will steal you blind if they figure out you are gone for the winter. nuff said bout that. Truman, LOZ, Pomme, Stockton, Table Rock are all excellent fisheries within 1 1/2 hrs of each other. Missouri has several trout areas in the southern part of the state. Clarification on LOZ, this lake is excellent fishing year round. There is heavy large boat traffic on the main channel during the summer, don't fish the main channel during this time of year or fish early in the morning. Boat traffic is minimal up on the Niangua arms and Glaize arm- there are numerous large no wake coves through out the lake. In choosing your retirement home, choose carefully so no regrets. I don't like to travel on gravel or travel on the highway just to go get a dammed loaf of bread, haircut or Big Mac. Osage Beach is the only fully developed city on the waters edge; hospital, shopping, eateries, fishing and excellent infrastructure. I just don't think it gets much better for retirement, recreation, fishing, convenience and life style. Smithville is excellent fishery up north and Liberty is excellent community to live, however it is up north.

Gator,

Listen to these guys.......... there is nothing, and I mean NOTHING to think about fishing in Northeast Missouri! Certainly not a ~20,000 acre Corp lake with no houses, limited pleasure boaters and abundant species of bass, walleye and yes, crappie.

(Insert sarcasm emoji here)!

U

If you choose LOZ there are some places that allow you to rent for up to a year that way you can see if you like it. My buddy has done that for two years now at two different locations to feel things out.

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Originally Posted by ripnlips

Reason I am trying to find a house in the Bolivar area. Stockton, Pomme, Truman and I will still be within a hour and a half from LOZ.

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Best stay out of Greene County, taxes, cost of living.

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Originally Posted by peculiarmike

Best stay out of Greene County, taxes, cost of living.

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I'm watching the taxes on the real estate listings. Property taxes are very high here!

But what Crappie_Express said "A word of caution on living in a rural area and being a snow bird. Missouri is like all other states, crack heads will steal you blind if they figure out you are gone for the winter. " worries me more. Is there a bad drug problem in south central MO?

It really depends on where you are. Where I lived for 30 years, we never locked our doors. I didn’t even know where my shop door keys were since 1987. I owned some hunting land near Wappapello and Clearwater lakes back in the 90’s. I couldn’t keep anything around there without it walking off. Had two ladder stands stolen that were chained and pad locked to the tree.
Do some research about the area you’re interested in. Call the local law enforcement agency and inquire about the areas crime rate. They are usually pretty helpful.


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If you are looking for a guide on Lake ozark to get you started, I went with this service last weekend and had a ball and caught great fish. https://www.barberfishingguideservice.com/

My vote would be Truman Lake Warsaw area. Amazing fishery especially for catfish. You would be within an hour to Bennett Springs. We aim to have a place there when we retire and move back to Central Missouri.

These guys just about covered all the bases. However I would add, living in the springfield area also gets you within two hours of some real good trout waters on the White river, in north central Arkansas.

Southwest MO should do it. Greene County has high taxes.