Truman Lake

Location: Clinton, Missouri
GPS: N38°16.4856, W093°36.76572
Confirmed Species: crappie, bass, bluegill, channel catfish

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Overview
Truman Lake is located in southeast Missouri near Clinton and Warsaw County. The lake has about 56,000 acres in surface area with an additional 110,000 acres of public land around the reservoir. The lake was originally called the Kaysinger Bluff Dam and Reservoir was authorized in 1954 and later renamed in 1970 by Congress in honor of the former President from Missouri. Construction of the area began in August 1964 and completed in October 1979.

Personal Experience
Although I’ve only visited the once, I plan to return very soon. As a matter of fact in April I will be fishing in a tournament among friends and family. The area of the lake I fished is considered the north end. I was centrally located at the Bucksaw Resort and Marina and fished east of that location in the lake’s vast amount of sunken timber and cedar trees. Just like Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee, Truman Lake was formed by a flood, but in this case by the Army Core of Engineers. Because of this, the two lakes have a lot in common and can be fished with similar techniques. The cedar trees produced crappie well over a one pound in late March 2008 and should produce even more as the water continues to warm. Although minnows happened to bring in the slabs, 1/16oz jig heads with tubes fished along cedars “Reelfoot Style” were consistent. The key seemed to be finding the color combination that attracted them.