Bull Shoals Lake is a beautiful waterway known for its clear water and excellent fishing.   Located in southern Missouri, this artificially created lake or reservoir straddles the border between Missouri and Arkansas.  The lake covers over 45,000 acres of which about 16,000 are located on the Missouri side.  Nineteen parks are located along the many miles of shoreline and these include campgrounds, swimming areas, marinas and boat launches.  The Missouri side of the lake boasts various lake bottoms and shorelines made up of bluffs, rock or gravel.

Bull Shoals Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project that was begun in 1947, completed in 1951 and dedicated by President Harry S. Truman in 1952.  The Bull Shoals Dam was built to impound the White River and is one of the largest concrete dams in the United States.  The lake is the farthest downstream before the White River opens into the Mississippi River.  Three other artificial lakes also created by the White River are (from farthest upstream) Beaver Lake, Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo.  The upper part of the lake below the dam is known as the “Pothole.”

The heavily forested shoreline of Bull Shoals Lake is completely undeveloped and is managed by the Army Corps of Engineers as a buffer zone.  The lake elevation fluctuates normally from 630 to 680 feet with the average of 654 feet.  The average depth of the lake is 60 feet.  The lake bottom is mainly made up of bedrock.   Recreational activities in the area include fishing, boating, water sports, camping, hunting, horseback riding and hiking.  There are three full service marinas in Missouri – at Pontiac, Theodosia and Kissee Mills.  Lodging is available from primitive campgrounds to lakeside resorts.  The nearest state park is Bull Shoals- White River State Park in Arkansas, near the dam.

Fishing is excellent at Bull Shoals Lake and a number of state record catches have been made there, including the current record for Largemouth Bass at 13 lb. 14 oz.  The average water temperature ranges from 40 to 85.  The lake does not freeze over.

Fish Available in Bull Shoals Lake & Best Baits

Black Bass – Spawning in April-May

Spring:                  Jerkbaits, Jig-Pig, Spinnerbaits

Summer:             Top Water, Plastic Worms and Craws

Fall:                        Top Water, Crankbaits, Spinnerbaits

Winter:                Jig-Pig, Spoons

Crappie – Spawning in April-May

Spring:                  Jigs

Summer:             Minnows

Fall:                        Minnows

Winter:                 Jigs, Minnows

Bluegill – Spawning in June

All Seasons:        Crickets, Worms

White Bass – Spawning in March-April

All Seasons:        Jigs, Spoons

Catfish – Spawning in May

Spring:                  Cut Shad

Summer:             Cut Shad, Stinkbait

Fall:                        Cut Shad

Winter:                 N/A

For further information:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Bull Shoals Lake

Missouri Fishing Guide – Bull Shoals Lake

Bull Shoals Lake / White River Chamber of Commerce

Everyone has a person in their life that is, let’s just say, froo-froo. They want the nicer things in life. They don’t like the hot days of summer, they don’t like the idea of sleeping on the hard ground, and they certainly don’t like the idea of eating from a can over a fire.  While those things are all a part of the camping experience, we have to take the time and appreciate the differences between us all.

For those that want to avoid a hot tent, The Landing Current River is just the place.  This riverside resort is you’re place to get a nice comfortable rest before and after your float trip.

Rooms

With over 50 rooms on their 17+ acres, The Landing Current River is a great place to spend a weekend relaxing or a week fishing. No matter how long you stay, there will be plenty for you to do.   From the comfortable rooms, restaurant and bar to the riverfront access for swimming and fishing, there’s something for everyone.

Mother In Law Quarters from WhereIsMyBusiness on Vimeo.

Floating Options

The Landing has a huge variety of floating options, from one man tubes to rafts and sit-on-top kayaks.  The Landing also serves many of the local campgrounds around the Van Buren area, so if you are a tent-dweller, you can still get hooked up with a great float trip compliments of their campground kiosks.

The float trips available range from 3 to 6 hours.  The Landing’s vans take you and your floating-device-of-choice to the drop off point that you’ve selected, and you float right back to The Landing.

Food

Let’s not forget about food – The Blue Heron restaurant has menu items from burgers to steak, and everything in between.  Our group sampled the salmon, fried chicken, stuffed pasta and a grilled steak.  It was all good.  They also have drinks including beer, wine and some mixed drinks.

For those that want a quick snack, there is a convenience store full of goodies.  In addition to snacks, they also have everything you need for floating, from river shoes to sunscreen.  And if you forget the sunscreen, there’s even aloe lotion for when you return to The Landing in all of you sunburnt glory.

The River Centre

The Landing also has a terrific event area called the Riverfront Centre.  This beautiful building hosts events from concerts to weddings to business conferences.  The main room is tiered, so everyhave has a terrific view of the stage (with the river as the backdrop in the large windows behind it). The Riverfront Centre has played host to the likes of Marty Stuart, and has a beautifully decorated lobby complete with one of a kind art from local artists.  The chandeliers were all hand made by Tim Burrows – the same artist that did all of the Bass Pro shops throughout the country.

Visiting The Landing

The Current River is one of the most popular float trip destinations in Missouri. It’s beautiful, crystal-clear water makes a hot day very enjoyable. There are plenty of fish to be caught, and we pulled in a variety of sunfish, smallmouth and largemouth bass.

No matter what the season, there’s always going to be a good time awaiting you at The Landing Current River. They are open year-round, which means taking an early spring or late fall float trip very appealing.  You’ll have a great time, sleep in comfort, and have a lot of good memories to share with friends and family.

Set Up a Trip to The Landing Now