FISHING The Fishing Report

How the fish are biting and where to catch them!

he lake level was 655.9, generation of 10,000 cubic feet per second (CFS) decreasing to 3,000 CFS throughout the week for a level of 656.0 by the weekend. Surface temperature at Bagnell Dam was 51 degrees. Truman Lake was at the 707.0 level.

To Note: The Lower Lake is from the dam to the 22-mile mark; Mid-Lake is from the 22- to 44-mile mark, the Upper Osage is from the 44-mile mark to the Route 65 Bridge.

Bagnell Dam spillway/Osage River

Water clarity: Stained. Black bass: Good on Alabama rigs in the current breaks. Crappie: Good on small swimbaits in the eddies when the water is running. White bass: Good on Roostertails and small swimbaits in the current when water is running. Walleye: Good on small swimbaits in the evenings when the water is running.

Lower Lake

Water clarity: Clear. Black bass: Fair on jerkbaits and shaky head Swamp Bugs along secondary points. Crappie: Good on bobber-and-jig setups 8 feet deep along chunk rock banks or on jigs for fish suspended 8 to 15 feet deep over depths of 30 to 35 feet.

Gravois

Water clarity: Stained. Black bass: Fair on Carolina rigs, Alabama rigs, spinnerbaits and jerkbaits along secondary points, steep banks and gravel flats. Crappie: Good on jigs along gravel banks in the evenings or shooting jigs under deep docks. White bass: Good on suspending jerkbaits along points in the upper ends of the creeks. Catfish: Good drifting shrimp around shad schools.

Mid-Lake

Water clarity: Stained. Black bass: Fair on crankbaits and Carolina rigs along gravel banks. Crappie: Good on jigs around docks in coves.

Grand Glaize

Water clarity: Murky. Black bass: Good on jigs along logs in pockets or spinnerbaits along chunk rock banks. Crappie: Good on jigs 2 to 3 feet deep along gravel banks.

Niangua

Water clarity: Murky. Black bass: Slow on spinnerbaits, jigs, crankbaits and shaky head worms along secondary points and chunk rock banks. Crappie: Fair on jigs 6 to 12 feet deep along gravel banks.

Upper Osage

Water clarity: Stained. Black bass: Fair on squarebill crankbaits, jigs, spinnerbaits and Alabama rigs along main and secondary points. Crappie: Excellent on plastic grubs and minnows

3 to 4 feet deep along gravel banks. White bass: Fair on Roostertails along points. Catfish: Fair on cut shad, nightcrawlers and chicken parts along docks.

Truman Dam spillway

Water clarity: Clear. Crappie: Good on jigs and minnows. White bass and hybrids: Good on jigs in the current. Catfish: Good on cut shad.

Sources

Guide Alfred Chapman (573-465-3810), www.lakeozarkfishingguideservice. com; Big Ed’s Guide Service (573-6926710) www.bigedsguideservice.com; Guide Jack Uxa (573-434-2570) www. lakeoftheozarksfishingguide.com; Guide John Blankenbeker (573-280-1455); Guide Terry Blankenship (573-4802835); Guide Jim Dill (573-204-9005) www.jamesdillguideservice.com; Fitz Fishing (573-693-9299); Bryants Osage Outdoors (573-374-2278); Casey Scanlon (913-449-3176) and Cody’s Bait & Tackle (660-723-5115). Tournament Results—Thanks to www.bassingbob.com.

Compiled by Charis Patires