Catfish are probably the most sought after species from the Lamine. Pole and line anglers favor minnows, worms and chicken liver for bait, while most set lines are baited with live sunfish. Anglers using minnows and worms will draw more from the Lamine and its tributaries than catfish, however.
The Lamine River Basin is located in West Central Missouri in Benton, Johnson, Morgan, Moniteau, Saline and Cooper counties. The Lamine River originates at the confluence of Richland and Flat Creeks in northern Morgan County, and flows 50 miles northward through Cooper County to its confluence with the Blackwater River. The Lamine River above its confluence with Blackwater River is a sixth order stream with an area of 1080 square miles. The Lamine River Basin is a rural watershed. The largest community in the watershed is Sedalia with a population of about 20,000. While most of the permanent flow in the Lamine River Basin is represented by the mainstem Lamine River, Flat Creek, Richland Creek, Muddy Creek and Heath's Creek, there are 64 third order or larger streams in the basin. Flat and Richland creeks don't have much in common until they meet in Morgan County to form a prominent Missouri River tributary - the Lamine River. From its beginning just south of Highway 50 to its confluence with the Missouri, 59 river miles north, the Lamine meanders through rolling central Missouri farmland. The Lamine's waters are home to favorite fish species, and its rich bottom land produces bumper crops of corn, soybeans and milo. The uplands are pastures and oak/hickory forests. Catfish are probably the most sought after species from the Lamine. Pole and line anglers favor minnows, worms and chicken liver for bait, while most set lines are baited with live sunfish. Anglers using minnows and worms will draw more from the Lamine and its tributaries than catfish, however. Drum, crappie, bass and sunfish will be regular customers, too. For those willing to get their feet wet, wading Richland Creek can produce enjoyable green sunfish and bass fishing. There is a 12-inch length limit on bass in streams. Bass season in the Lamine River and its tributaries runs from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend to the last day of February. Throughout most of the year, the Lamine is floatable from its beginning. However, riffles will have to be negotiated by foot during the dry summer months from the juncture of Flat and Richland Creeks to Roberts Bluff Access. River access is limited downstream from Lamine CA. An exception is the 25-acre MDC Swinging Bridge site. Currently, anglers have bank access south of the old swinging bridge on MDC land. The old bridge is closed, so approach from the south on Swinging Bridge Drive north of Clifton City. Remember, landowner permission is needed when public access is lacking. The lower Lamine has three MDC accesses: Roberts Bluff, south of I-70 at the Blackwater exit, take the south outer road east to Buffalo Prairie Road; Harriman Hill north of I-70, again from the Blackwater exit, north, then east on Route M; and de Bourgmont at Highway 41 west of Boonville. Harriman Hill is one of MDC's oldest accesses. Primitive campsites are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Harriman Hill provides boaters easy access to the Blackwater River, about 500 yards downstream. Approximately six miles up the Blackwater is Blackwater Bridge MDC Access, on Route K just north of the community of Blackwater. Both Harriman Hill and de Bourgmont can put snaggers into the action during the March 15 through April 30 paddlefish season. If a wider expanse of water is your goal, it's only three miles from de Bourgmont to the Lamine's junction with the Missouri. The Lamine River provides ample diversity, from wade fishing on the upper reaches to experiencing a Missouri River backwater tributary, not to mention all that lies between.
The Lamine River ("luh-MEEN") is a tributary of the Missouri River, about 70 mi (115 km) long, in central Missouri in the United States. It is formed in northern Morgan County about 4 mi (6 km) southeast of Otterville by the confluence of Flat Creek and Richland Creek, and flows generally northwardly through Cooper and Pettis Counties. In northwestern Cooper County the Lamine collects the Blackwater River and flows into the Missouri River, 6 mi (9.7 km) west of Boonville.