Catfish

If you're heading to Branson, Missouri with catfish on your mind, you're in for a treat. The White River chain of lakes, especially Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo, offer fantastic opportunities. Targeting catfish here means understanding their seasonal movements. Spring and early summer, as the water warms, see them moving into shallower areas to spawn. Use cut bait or live sunfish near creek mouths or submerged timber for best results. Later in the year, they'll move deeper, so adjust your depth accordingly. Lake Taneycomo, being a tailwater, has unique conditions – current is your friend. Check the generation schedule before you go. A local tip: many anglers swear by fishing the steeper banks of Table Rock with jug lines at night for those bigger cats.