STOCKTON LAKE
At Stockton Lake, the flathead techniques Brown uses for Truman works perfectly. But the dominant fish here is channel cat, though the blues and flatheads are here in abundance as well. "For these fish go shallow, said Brown. "Old creek and river channels are fish magnets. Look in the back of coves and at the lower ends of the lake to find likely ones. The second option is in the structure-filled coves with old trees and rock. In either place, I get on the outside of that structure, anchor the boat and throw to that submerged treeline, rock, or structure holding fish. Those channel cats will move back and forth along that structure and try to pick up bait. Ideally I'll try and be setup so that I can throw lines from depths of 2 foot to 17 feet. Here you can use shad, worms or any type of stink bait."

LAKE OF THE OZARKS
The upper 20 miles of LOZ are Brown's bread and butter. These days he fishes here more than anywhere else. His favorite areas feature a deep channel with bends, flats, and steep banks. Here, he anchors the front of the boat and fishes out the back with Carolina-rigs featuring a mix of live and cut shad for both blues and flatheads.

"There are a couple of areas I really focus on," explained Brown. "The two areas are traveling lanes and staging areas. Traveling lanes are steep slopes along the old river channel where it meets the bottom. These create long straight runs. Those fish use that to move back and forth to staging areas. A staging area is a sharp bend or a deep hole where fish pile up because the baitfishes are there. Looking for either one and placing the boat ahead of the fish is an excellent way to up your catches of huge cats."

He said the current has a lot to do with these areas being so good, since many are located just downstream from the Harry S. Truman dam. This means the waters are constantly rising and falling and picking up swift currents.

All of these tactics employed by Brown are surefire ways to increase your catfish haul. The summer months offer up some of the most exciting fishing and give way to the most productive days on the water. You just can't beat it when you take the advice of such a knowledgeable guide. If you want to give your catfishing a boost this summer, try out these methods or look up Steve Brown at www.catfishsafari.com.

With a little legwork and a new attitude about catfish, it's easy to see why the sport can be so intense. It's not uncommon for a fish of a lifetime to be waiting in one of the exact spots described here. And when you put in the time and that monster cat bends your rod, you'll be in for the fight of your life. And those boys whizzing by in the bass boats might just feel a little odd watching you hold up a fish that makes theirs look like a minnow.