Power Plant Fishing

It is never to cold to fish. I learned that this passed weekend when Brad Hilton and I decided to do a winter expedition. The weather here is quite chilly, usually around 30 degrees fahrenheit at this particular time in November. We decided to fish a spot we were very familiar with, Labadie Power Plant. There are multiple stories floating around of being able to catch monster catfish here, in the coldest of weather. So we picked our date and decided to give it a try.

We were very questionable on how good the fishing would be when we woke up to a snowy Missouri morning. We went with our gut anyways and decided to fish on. When we arrived the water was particularly low because of the inconsistent rain fall in the Missouri area. We casted our lines out in the midst of the warm current and waited... Within 30 seconds I had a fish on in the middle of a monster snow fall! It was a very cool feeling. It was not the monster I was hoping for, but I was quite satisfied with the 4lb Flathead Catfish caught in Missouri's first snow fall.

 

Species List:

Comments

Deftik's picture

Congratulations! Power plants are always a good place to fish when its cold, not sure if its a good or bad thing I don't have one close by!

James Mcward's picture

Thanks! The water at this power plant is very warm year round. Good for fishing!

-James Mcward-

andy's picture

Good job braving the elements to get after it.  Thats a nice flathead for sure.

James Mcward's picture

Thank you!

-James Mcward-

Dr Flathead's picture

Nice to see a flattie this time of year.  I do some warm water fishing too.  All winter long sometimes if temps allow.  Mostly Carp and Channel Cats.  Would love to catch a wintertime flathead sometime...

James Mcward's picture

Thats awesome! I have just started fishing at this particular power plant in the winter. So far the results have been promising, mainly catch faltheads and channels. I did get a shovelnose sturgeon not to long ago! I hope the fishing remains this good further into the season.

-James Mcward-

Eli's picture

Good job taking advantage of an angling opportunity like that.

No power plants around here...just dams! 

Eli

 

 

James Mcward's picture

Thank you! One of my favorite spring time fishing spots is a small dam! They can also produce some monster fish.

-James Mcward-

Jason E.'s picture

Nice fish!  I used to fish Columbia Lake in WI back in the day, but I've heard that the fishery has hit hard times recently.  When powerplants shut down and start up again in extremely cold temps, the swift change in water temp. can kill fish.  Now that I live in MN, I have a different location to try...