Muskie Fishing – Anglers fishing for muskie must have a lot of patience and perseverance to be successful. Muskie fishing continue to be good. Spring sampling results from 2013 showed higher than average numbers, with nearly 25 percent of all muskies exceeding the 36″ minimum length limit and about 3 percent exceeding the 40″ mark. Muskie fishing is typically best during the months of June, September and October at water temperatures between 60 degrees F and 70 degrees F. Muskie anglers should use heavy fishing tackle with a minimum of 30 lb. test line, a stiff rod and a 6″ steel leader between the line and the lure. Large bucktails or plugs fished over shallow water humps or points are normally best for muskies.
Bass Fishing – There is a 13″ minimum length limit for all black bass (largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass) at Pomme de Terre Lake. Many of the largemouth bass captured during spring surveys were between 12″ and 17″ in length. Approximately 50 percent of the largemouth bass population should reach or exceed the 13″ minimum length limit.
White Bass Fishing – Angling for white bass continues to be poor since the die-off that occurred in the fall of 2009. However, it is encouraging that anglers started reporting an increase in the number of white bass caught in 2013.
Crappie Fishing – Numbers of black and white crappie have jumped in recent fall samples compared to previous years, with about 50 percent of the population exceeding the 9″ minimum length limit and 30 percent exceeding 10″.
Cat Fishing – fishing will remain fair to good for channel and flathead catfish with nightcrawlers and cut shad being the choice baits.
Wallye Fishing – Walleye population densities are good due to past stockings. Many of the walleye exceed the 15″ minimum length limit, and the opportunity to catch a legal-sized fish is good.
History of Pomme De Terre Lake
Pomme de Terre Lake is located in southwest Missouri at the confluence of Lindley Creek and the Pomme de Terre River (for which it is named). The lake is located in southern Hickory and northern Polk counties, about 50 miles (80 km) north of Springfield. The name is French and literally translated means “earth apple”, which in English is a potato.
The lake is part of a series of lakes in the Osage River Basin designed and constructed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers for flood control. Construction began in 1957 and was complete in 1961 at a cost of $14,946,784. Storage of water began on October 29, 1961 and the multipurpose pool was reached on June 15, 1963.
The dam is adjacent to Pomme de Terre State Park and is crossed by Route 254. It consists of a 14-foot (4 m) circular tunnel with two 6.5 X 14-foot (4 m) hydraulic slide service gates and a single 24-inch (610 mm) circular low flow gate. The dam is 7,230 feet (2,204 m) long, 30 feet (9 m) wide at the top and 950 feet (290 m) wide at the base (maximum).
There are two arms of the lake that extend from the dam site. The Pomme de Terre arm follows the Pomme de Terre River and extends for 17 miles (27 km). The Lindley arm follows Lindley Creek for 12 miles (19 km).