Long Branch is another of Missouri's exceptionally user-friendly lakes. Visitors can find everything they need and almost everything they might want either at the lake or in Macon.

For more information, contact the MDC at (660) 785-2420.

NORTHEASTERN MISSOURI
This article defines northeastern Missouri as that part of the state bounded by the Iowa state line, the Mississippi River, the Missouri River, and US Highway 63. Much to my surprise, the MDC did not list a single interior northeastern Missouri stream among its best bets for channel cats in 2007. Be that as it may, it would be serious mistake to jump to the conclusion that there aren't some very good channel cat streams in this part of the state. In fact, I wouldn't be afraid to spend a day of my precious catfishing time on any of the streams emptying into the Mississippi River.

LaBelle Lake CA
This conservation area south of LaBelle in Lewis County is no secret among area anglers. The lake offers good to excellent bass, bluegill, redear, and crappie fishing. As a result, the lake's channel-cat fishing, which should be excellent in 2007, doesn't get the attention it deserves. MDC sampling indicates good numbers of channel cats up to 18 inches long.

A boat is a definite asset at this many-armed lake. Even so, a bank angler who's willing to invest some boot leather can gain access to points and coves that are as productive as any located in more remote areas.

For more information, contact the MDC at (573) 248-2530.

Mark Twain Lake
Mark Twain has been a consistent channel cat producer since the lake first filled, and catfishermen have every reason to believe that 2007 will be an above average year. Mark Twain's channel cats can be caught from the bank or from a boat anywhere there's flooded timber. Even so, the best action is usually found well up the North Fork, South Fork, and Middle Fork arms.

For more information, contact the MDC at (573) 248-2530.

SOUTHEASTERN MISSOURI
Southeastern Missouri is that part of the state bounded by the Missouri River, the Mississippi River, the Arkansas state line, and US Highway 63. There's a lot of good channel cat water in this part of Missouri. The following stream, small impoundment, and large impoundment deserve to be mentioned here, make no mistake about that, but a double handful of other waters are virtually as worthy of serious consideration.

The Black River
The Black River below Clearwater Lake supports an excellent channel cat population. In 2006, survey crews captured many cats in the 5-pound class. Even so, the river's black bass draw far more angler attention, and that's just fine with the local catfishermen. Pretending you've tied up your boat just to take a casting break is well within the rules of fair play on the Black River.

For more information, contact the MDC at (573) 290-5730.

Perry County Lake
Perry County Lake, located west of Perryville, is another MDC impoundment with the potential to produce 10-pound channel cats. Fallen timber is the most popular catfish structure on this lake.

For more information, contact the MDC at (573) 290-5730.

Wappapello Lake
Wappapello has a justifiable reputation for producing dandy stringers of black bass and crappie, but the lake also supports an excellent population of largely overlooked channel cats ranging in size from fryers to trophies. Surprisingly, the most reliable catfish action is found near or along the dam.

For more information, contact the MDC at (573) 290-5730.

SOUTHWESTERN MISSOURI
The remainder of the state, an area bounded by the Missouri River, US Highway 63, the Arkansas state line, and the Kansas state line, is, by default, southwestern Missouri. Believe me, I wish it was as easy to define, let alone identify, this region's best channel cat fisheries.

Osage River
One thing's for certain: From the point at which the four flows that merge to form this river cross the Kansas line to Truman Lake, in which the stream drowns itself, the Osage is the best channel catfish rivers in the state, and one of the most user-friendly. Moreover, the Osage River from Bagnell Dam to its confluence with the Missouri River near Jefferson City's no slouch of a channel cat producer either.