Fishing

by John Neporadny, jnoutdoors.com

The Fishing Report

Your guide to catching fish at LOZ!

The lake level was 655.5, generation of 8,000 cubic feet per second (CFS) at the beginning of the week increased to 12,000 CFS by the end of the week for a level of 655.9 by the weekend. Surface temperature at Bagnell Dam was 54 degrees. Truman Lake was at the 706.7 level.

To Note: The Lower Osage is from the dam to the 22-mile mark; Mid-Lake is from the 22- to 38-mile mark, the Upper Osage is from the 38-mile mark to the Route 65 Bridge.

Bagnell Dam spillway/Osage River

Water clarity: Clear. Fishing is slow for all species.

Lower Osage

Water clarity: Clear. Black bass: Slow on suspending stickbaits, spinnerbaits and crankbaits along gravel banks. Crappie: Good on jigs 10 feet deep at mouths of pockets in coves.

Gravois

Water clarity: Clear. Black bass: Good on suspending jerkbaits, shaky head soft plastics, jigs and crankbaits along secondary points and gravel banks. Crappie: Fair on jigs or minnows 10 to 12 feet deep around docks, brush piles and laydowns near spawning banks.

Mid-Lake

Water clarity: Clear. Black bass: Fair on suspending stickbaits and jigs around docks in the backs of creeks. Crappie: Fair on jigs for fish suspended 10 feet deep in front of docks along secondary points.

Grand Glaize

Water clarity: Stained in the upper arm and clear in the lower section. Black bass: Fair on suspending stickbaits, Alabama rigs and Chompers grubs around mouths of coves. Crappie: Fair on jigs for fish suspended 10 feet deep over depths of 25 to 40 feet in front of docks.

Niangua

Water clarity: Clear on the lower end and murky on the upper end. Black bass: Slow on Carolina-rigged soft plastics, shaky head worms, suspending stickbaits and jigs along points. Crappie: Fair on jigs and minnows 8 to 12 feet deep around docks.

Water clarity: Clear. Black bass: Fair on suspending jerkbaits and crankbaits along 45-degree banks. Crappie: Good on minnows 6 to 8 feet deep along docks. Catfish: Good on cut sunfish, chicken parts and beef livers.

Truman Dam spillway

Water clarity: Stained. Crappie: Good on jigs. White bass: Good on jigs and swimbaits. Catfish: Fair on cut shad.

Sources: Guide Alfred Chapman (573-465-3810), www. lakeozarkfishingguideservice.com; Big Ed’s Guide Service (573-692-6710) www.bigedsguideservice.com; Guide Jack Uxa (573-434-2570) www.lakeoftheozarksfishingguide.com; Guide John Blankenbeker (573-2801455); Guide Terry Blankenship (573-480-2835); 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.