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to MDC Home Page1. Show-me River Showcase: Pomme de Terre
2. Foresters predict spectacular fall foliage display
3. Taneycomo trout could have been world record
4. Outdoor Calendar
It is always disillusioning to weigh your fish and measure your golf drives. Smart men estimate them. -- Havilah Babcock, My Health is Better in November
This productive Southwest Missouri stream feeds Pomme de Terre and Truman Lakes.
BOLIVAR -- Pomme de Terre, or "apple of the earth," seemed the logical name for eighteenth century French trappers to dub a southwest Missouri stream rolling out of the Webster County highlands. They reportedly found Indians near the river, eating a plant resembling potatoes.
Today, rather than making its way through bison-dotted savannas and prairies, the Pomme de Terre River twists north through cattle country in Greene, Dallas and Polk counties before it flattens out into Pomme de Terre Lake, the first of two reservoirs that detain its waters. The stream flows free again after exiting Pomme de Terre Lake, but it's heavily influenced by the lake's discharge and the backwaters of its next stop, Truman Lake, 20 miles downstream.
Floaters interested in experiencing the unimpounded portions of Pomme de Terre need to time outings to correspond with the wet season. During long dry summers even some of the lower reaches become a wading stream, but the fishing is good regardless of mode of travel. Black bass, green sunfish, suckers and catfish all can be enticed with a worm dropped in the right place.
Information on water levels below Pomme de Terre Dam is available by calling the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at (417) 745-6411. The dam outlet is a popular fishing hole in the spring, when water releases draw crappie, white bass and an occasional walleye within angler's range.
Pomme de Terre Lake, completed in 1961 by the Corps of Engineers, covers 7,820 acres with plenty of boating, fishing and water recreation potential. The Department of Natural Resources manages Pomme de Terre State Park, which is situated on two peninsulas at the confluence of Pomme de Terre and Lindley Creek. The park consists of 734 acres with lake access, camping, hiking trails and picnic grounds. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers accesses and campgrounds complement state recreation areas here and at Truman Lake.
The Pomme de Terre arm of Truman Lake is comparable in size to Pomme de Terre Lake, with an equal amount of public land and water. Both reservoirs are probably best known for fishing, but each has ample space for hunting, hiking and nature watching. The Corps of Engineers manages thousands of acres of wildlife habitat on the upper portions of Little Pomme de Terre, Pomme de Terre and Lindley Creek in cooperation with the MDC.
Angling opportunities are varied and include traditional fare such as black and white bass, black and white crappie, catfish and sunfish. All are available in the streams and reservoirs of the Pomme de Terre watershed. Additionally, anglers at Pomme de Terre Lake have a good possibility of tangling with a toothy, torpedo-shaped transplant of more northern climes -- the muskellunge. This fish has attracted a devoted following, an elite group of anglers who throw enormous lures and practice long-suffering patience in the pursuit of their quarry. They count a day a success if they just glimpse a muskie.
Fast-paced action takes place in the spring on the upper reaches of Pomme de Terre and Truman reservoirs as white bass move upstream to spawn. Minnows, jigs, spinners and crankbaits all can be effective on these scrappers. Later in the season, schools of white bass can often be found chasing shad in the open water, where they can provide frantic action. They are such aggressive feeders that anglers sometimes catch two on the same lure. A favorite white bass rig is a crankbait, or surface lure with a jig or twister-tail attached to the rear hook with about 18 inches of leader. Doubles aren't that unusual with this type of setup.
The previously mentioned public land within the reservoir boundaries, coupled with MDC's Pleasant Hope Conservation Area in southern Polk County, provides thousands of acres where outdoor types can enjoy their avocations. Turkey and deer abound. Squirrels and upland game are readily available, and during the fall, winter and spring practically every form of waterfowl imaginable can be found in the watershed. Wood ducks are present year-round. Great blue and little green herons find the Pomme's waters inviting, as do eagles, ospreys and cormorants. Winter migrations of ducks can be spectacular, and hunters, bird watchers and anglers all experience the special exhilaration when whistling wings are heard overhead. Who can resist lifting an eye to admire the mystery and beauty of migration? -
ken drenon-
JEFFERSON CITY -- Nature will go all out this year in painting Missouri
landscapes red, yellow, orange and purple. State foresters predict fall
color in most of the state will be among the most vivid we've seen in recent
years.
"You can expect above-average color this year," says Bruce Palmer, Missouri Department of Conservation forestry information specialist. "The rain and cooler temperatures that followed the dry stretch we had during July and the first part of August helped reduce stress in trees. Those conditions should produce good color."
Fall color predictions for west-central and southwest Missouri are not as bright as they are for the rest of the state. The area from Sedalia to Truman Lake will be minus color from shingle oaks. Many of those trees were defoliated early this summer by a leaf eating insect called the oak-leaf skeletonizer. Heavy infestations of fall webworms will affect color on walnuts and persimmons.
"There are lots of places you can go to see fall color," Palmer says. "You'll definitely want to ride through the river hills. Those areas have good soil in which a variety of trees grow. Those trees will give you a good assortment of colors. Drive along the north side of the Missouri River from Jefferson City to Hermann and continue into St. Louis along Highway 94. The Ozarks are heavily forested, so any road you drive on you're bound to see fall color. Kansas City area residents can see good color by going up Highway 45 to St. Joseph along the Missouri River bluffs."
Fall color will peak in northern Missouri and the Branson area around Oct. 15. Peak color will occur Oct. 20 in central and southwest Missouri and October 25 in the Bootheel area.
The U.S. Forest Service provides a toll-free hotline for information on fall color. Call (800) 898-8895 for information on the progress of fall colors in the Mark Twain National Forest.
Check out our Missouri Fall web pages
arleasha mays-
Old age probably caused this monster brown trout to go belly up, but experts say they wouldn't be surprised if the lake produces equally big fish.
BRANSON, Mo. -- Every once in awhile, something comes up from the depths of Missouri's waterways that drops the jaws of experts and novices alike. Such a fish surfaced at Lake Taneycomo on Sept. 10.
Mike Adams knew the brown trout was unique as soon as he saw its 3.5-foot carcass floating about 70 feet from the bank just upstream from Lilley's Landing Resort and Marina. The fish had been dead at least 24 hours before Adams, the dock manager at Lilley's Landing, fetched the fish out of the water. Signs showed it may have been in poor health before that.
"This was a very old trout, and it's possible that its condition was going downhill even before it died," said Mike Kruse, a fisheries research biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation. Even in its "downhill" condition, the measurements of the fish provided to the Department by resort owner Phil Lilley showed this behemoth brownie was a one-of-a-kind fish " perhaps the only of its kind in the world.
The carcass weighed 37.1 pounds, which would have shattered the current brown trout state record of 24.95 pounds. Its girth was an impressive 27 inches. But the most intriguing aspect of the fish was its length.
The fish measured 41.75 inches, which easily surpassed the 40.25-inch length of the current world-record brown trout. Since this fish was longer, Kruse said there's a chance, in its healthier days, it also could have weighed more than the 40.25-pound brown trout recognized as the all-tackle world record by the International Game Fish Association. The dead trout's girth was close enough to the world-record girth of 28 1/8 inches to fuel speculation even further.
Since the fish was found dead, it won't show up in any record books. No trophies. No certificates. From an angling statistical perspective, it's just a dead fish. It's much more than that to the Department's fisheries biologists, though. This giant provides encouragement to those who manage Taneycomo's trout . . . and anticipation to those who fish for them.
"This fish shows that the lake has the capacity to produce world-record trout. I think that's important in regards to our efforts to restore the big fish-aspect to that fishery," said Chris Vitello, MDC southwest regional fisheries supervisor. Putting the size back in the lake's trout population has been one of the requests Taneycomo anglers have made to the Department of Conservation in recent years. It was one of the reasons for the regulation changes that went into effect on a portion of the lake March 1.
Obviously, the big fish shows that brown trout are doing well at Taneycomo.
However, Vitello said the fish's large size is a good sign for rainbows
as well.
"We won't be finding 40-pound rainbows, but this shows that the conditions
are there for growing big trout "both rainbows and browns," he
said. Even before this month's giant surfaced, Kruse and Vitello suspected
that big trout were lurking in Taneycomo.
"Arkansas has been the producer of some of the biggest brown trout in the world, and Taneycomo is part of the same system," Kruse said. "Biologically, Taneycomo has better conditions for growing large trout than Arkansas. The impoundment has more deep-water refuge that can hide big fish. Also, a trout doesn't have to use as much energy in Lake Taneycomo. There are more low-velocity areas where a fish can lay around and get fat."
Lilley agreed.
"I think the lake has gotten a bad rap the past few years in terms of food base and growth of fish," he said. "I think the brown trout have shown, just from what we've seen, that the growth rate is there. You just have to give the trout a chance to grow. That's what this new regulation will show. And I think the rainbows will grow as fast as the browns."
Although Adams was impressed by the big brown he pulled out of Taneycomo
on Sept. 10, he wasn't surprised. He's fished the lake for 26 years, and
he knew the big fish were there.
"I have fished up and down the lake and I've seen shadows and I've
seen fish," he said. "We always had a feeling that these types
of fish were here."-
francis skalicky-
MUSKELLUNGE -- Introduced to Pomme de Terre Lake in 1969, this "wolf of the water" is a trophy sought by an exclusive sect of anglers; folks who measure a successful day by just seeing a muskie follow their lure. Hours of fishing are often invested before a hook-up finally occurs, but when it does the ensuing battle usually results in a life-long muskie addict. The cool season (water temperatures in the low 60s) is best for success, both in angling and in assuring released fish survive. Contact MDC at 816-530-5500 for a tips brochure on handling muskies. Cloudy and rainy days are perfect for fall fishing as muskies cruise shallow shorelines near points, submerged islands and wooded coves. Use BIG bucktails, spinner baits or deep running lures to tempt muskies to strike. There's a one fish per day limit and a 36-inch length limit.
BLACK BASS -- Black bass season on the unimpounded portions of the Pomme de Terre River runs from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend until the last day of February. Black bass must be 12 inches or larger before they can become part of the six fish daily limit. On Truman there is a 15-inch length limit, and Pomme de Terre Reservoir sports a 13-inch length limit for all black bass. Season is open all year on these two impoundments.
CRAPPIE -- A reservoir mainstay, black and white crappie are the quarry of the majority of anglers. MDC fisheries surveys indicate 50 percent of those fishing Pomme de Terre Lake are targeting crappie. A 9-inch length limit and 15-fish creel limit has helped maintain this popular fish in the two lakes. Minnows or jigs, or jigs tipped with minnows are one element of being a successful crappie angler. The other element is location, which varies according to season.
CATFISH -- Channel, blue (locally known as white) and flathead catfish are all present in the Pomme de Terre watershed and ready to challenge anglers regardless of the tackle. Pole and line, set lines and jugs are all pressed into service by those seeking whisker-fish. Flatheads are pretty much live bait eaters (bluegill, goldfish and green sunfish are good baits), while the channels and blues can be taken on a variety of less pleasant baits, which include commercially prepared stink-baits, chicken liver and shad guts. Of course, all three species are fond of nightcrawlers and minnows.
(Average stream gradient approximately 3 feet per mile.)
RIVER MILE 93.5 -- Bridge on Hwy. H in Polk County.* Pleasant Hope 1 mile south.(Water levels suitable for floating are seasonal.)
RIVER MILE 86 -- MDC Sunset Park Access. Boat ramp. No camping.
RIVER MILE 84 -- Slab at Polk County Rd. #470.*
RIVER MILE 80.9 -- Bridge on Hwy. 32.* Bolivar 4.5 miles west.
RIVER MILE 76.6 -- Slab on Polk County Rd. E425.*
RIVER MILE 75 -- Hominy Creek on the right.
RIVER MILE 74.8 -- Slab on Polk County Rd. S150.*
RIVER MILE 71 -- Bridge on Hwy. D. Bolivar 4 miles south.
RIVER MILE 68.2 -- Piper Creek on the left
RIVER MILE 66.2 -- Bridge on Polk County Rd. S120.*
RIVER MILE 53 -- Be on the lookout for the Pomme de Terre Lake boundary sign. Lake regulations are in effect below the sign. Reservoir lands managed for public use by MDC.
RIVER MILE 59 -- Bridge on Hwy. PP.
RIVER MILE 44.2 -- Pomme de Terre State Park on right.
RIVER MILE 44 -- Lindley Creek Arm of Pomme de Terre Lake.
RIVER MILE 42.2 -- Pomme de Terre Dam.RIVER MILE 42.1 -- Dam outlet. Be alert to changing water levels. Call US Army Corps office at 417-745-6411 for release info.
RIVER MILE 38 -- Bridge on Hickory County Rd. 273. No access.
RIVER MILE 35.5 -- MDC Hermitage Access at Hwy. 254 Bridge. Boat ramp. No camping.
RIVER MILE 33.8 -- Hwy. 54 Bridge at Hermitage.
RIVER MILE 29 -- MDC Cross Timbers Access on Hickory County Rd 281. Hwy. U, 1 mile east. Boat ramp. Primitive camping allowed on designated portion of area.
RIVER MILE 23.7 -- Ford at MDC Wildlife Management Area on Truman Corps land off Hickory County Rd 104.
RIVER MILE 23 -- Be on the lookout for lake boundary signs. Lake regulations are in effect below signs.
RIVER MILE 21.8 -- Heron rookery.
RIVER MILE 20 -- Sapp's Landing Access. Boat ramp. No camping.
RIVER MILE 4.5 -- Hwy. 83 Bridge over Truman Lake.
RIVER MILE 4 -- Little Pomme de Terre Arm and Fairfield Boat Ramp on left.
RIVER MILE 0 -- Hogles Creek Arm and Osage River Arm on left, Osage Bluff Public Use Area on the right.
*State and county roads crossing the stream. Access is questionable. As a matter of courtesy, permission should be obtained from landowners to gain access to the stream bank at these locations.
CANOE OUTFITTERS
(As listed in the Division of Tourism's Missouri 1997 Travel Guide.)
Angler's Resort, Rt 2, Box 152, Wheatland, MO 65779. Phone 417-282-5507
For more information on outfitters and streams, visit
http://www.thetent.com/arcadia
Missourians take great pride in their streams. Stream Teams are citizen groups dedicated to the stewardship of Missouri's streams. Stream Teams are supported by the Missouri Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Conservation Federation of Missouri. Stream Teams, with the consent and help of streamside landowners, adopt specific stretches of streams and conduct trash pick ups, stream maintenance and water-quality monitoring.
At present, there are four Stream Teams on the Pomme de Terre River and its tributaries. For information on joining or creating a Stream Team, contact: Streams Unit, Mo. Dept. of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 or call: 1-800-781-1989; or call: Conservation Federation of Missouri 1-800-575-2322
Maps of some MDC areas mentioned may be obtained by writing to Outreach and Eduction, Mo. Dept. of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180.
MDC AREAS OPEN DAILY FROM 4 A.M. UNTIL 10 P.M. UNLESS OTHERWISE DESIGNATED.
Purchase and development of some of the areas mentioned were made possible by the use of federal funds obtained through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Acts.
News Services Coordinator
(314) 751-4115, ext. 243
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