Driftwood Outdoors: Complete the spring trifecta in the Truman Lake region

The Truman Lake Region offers the spring trifecta of shooting a turkey, catching a limit of crappie and finding a bag of morel mushrooms.
The Truman Lake Region offers the spring trifecta of shooting a turkey, catching a limit of crappie and finding a bag of morel mushrooms.

The Truman Lake Region of Missouri has tens of thousands of acres of public land and one of the best fishing lakes in the Midwest.

Fish and game thrive in the region, and opportunities to hunt for mushrooms, bird watch, hike, camp, and partake in other natural pastimes are endless. If I had to choose one place in Missouri where I'd feel confident completing the spring trifecta of shooting a turkey, catching a limit of crappie and finding a bag of morel mushrooms, the Truman Lake Region would be my top choice.

The small towns of Clinton and Warsaw are the major points of civilization in and around the region, but the true essence of the area is found in the wilds of the lake and the lands surrounding. The forests have grown back dense and wild, and Truman Lake along with numerous tributary rivers and streams provide a plethora of angling opportunities. The area is broken forest creating a beautiful backdrop for scenic outdoor enjoyment.

Very little development exists around Truman. Fishermen are left to enjoy the solitude and serenity of the wild, while pursuing an abundance of bluegills, bass, crappie, and catfish. Most locals and travelers alike keep their fishing knowledge behind tight lips. Hunting for fishing information is just one more enjoyable pursuit of the region.

Fishermen enjoy the fact that there is little water sports action on Truman Lake, and solitude is found in significant supply. There are hundreds of coves that are great fishing holes around the lake that range in size from quite small to many hundred acres. These spots are great to launch your canoe, kayak, inflatable pontoon, or float tube. Jon boats with electric motors are perfect on smaller sections of the lake. Fishing from the shore is applicable in most places, but fishing from a boat is likely going to yield more filets for your freezer.

To me, the most appealing aspect of the Truman Lake is the amount of public land available to those seeking outdoor recreation. Public access for fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation is incredibly important to the recruitment and retention of sportsmen and this area of the state abounds in it. What really makes the public land of the region valuable though is the pleasingly sufficient amount of fish and game.

Spring is the best time to experience the true essence of the Truman Lake Region. Turkey hunting is excellent in the area and Missouri offers over-the-counter tags at a reasonable price. During the mushroom rush, people flood the area to try their hand at locating one of the nature's finest natural delicacies. Countless families gather around Truman to tromp the endless acres of public ground in hopes of stumbling upon a mother load of morels.

Imagine a meal of oven-roasted wild turkey smothered in wild mushroom gravy on a plate garnished with pan-fried crappie fillets. That's a dinner you could have setting on your table after an honest weekend's work in the Truman Lake Region.

If you have never experienced area, you should make a point of it real soon. Especially if you like to combine fishing with hunting, camping, hiking, bird watching or riding. It's all waiting for you in the Truman Lake Region of South-central Missouri.

See you down the trail.

Brandon Butler is executive director of the Conservation Federation of Missouri and an outdoors columnist for Central Missouri Newspapers Inc. Contact him at [email protected].