The lake level was 659.9 (660 is normal pool level). With heavy generation scheduled the lake should drop to 659.5. The surface temperature at Bagnell Dam is 75 degrees and 74 to 78-degrees upstream depending on the location, time of day and air temperature. A thermocline is developing at the 15-foot level. The feeders and Osage channel are murky to muddy because of recent rains; Truman Lake is 3-feet over normal pool. Boaters should exercise caution; there are still a few half-submerged limbs in the muddy water.
BLACK BASS – One evening tournament reported last week taking over 17 pounds to win. Lower Osage: Fair on topwater early, later try Eakins’ jigs or Norman’s DD22 crankbaits on points. Glaize Arm: Good, try Eakins’ jigs, 10-inch Berkley Power Worms, shaky heads or DD22’s on points. Mid-Lake: Good in the backs of coves early and late on topwaters like Berkley’s Frenzy Popper. Later try 7-inch Power Worms or jigs around docks, also try DD22’s or Rapala’s DT10 on main lake points. Niangua Arm: Good on points with DD22’s or DT10’s. Also try shaky heads with tipped with Northland’s Slurpie or blue-flake Power Worms around dock brush. Little Niangua River: No reported fish yet, better in the summer. Gravois Arm: Good, try Eakins’ jigs, 10-inch Berkley Power Worms, shaky heads or DD22’s on points. Upper Osage: Good on Slurpies rigged wacky style. Osage 60 MM: Good, blue fleck Power Worms and DD22s on main and secondary points.
CRAPPIE – Bagnell Tailwater: Fair on jigs and minnows. Lower Osage: Fair to good on jigs around brush. Glaize Arm: Fair to good, try minnows 8 to 12-feet deep around brush. Mid-Lake: Fair to good, try minnows around deep brush. Niangua Arm: Fair, try minnows or red-and-chartreuse colored Blakemore Road Runners around brush. Gravois Arm: Fair to good, try minnows 8 to 12-feet deep around brush. Upper Osage: Fair, try jigs over brush, many fish are small. Osage 60 MM: Fair to good on blue ice colored jigs 12-feet deep around brush. Truman Tailwater: Fair in the slack-water channel, most fish are small.
WHITE AND HYBRID BASS – Bagnell Tailwater: Fair to good on minnows. Lower Osage: No reported fish. Glaize Arm: No reported fish. Mid-Lake: Poor, try Road Runners or Worden’s Rooster Tails on windy main lake points. Niangua Arm: Fair to good. Troll 1/4-ounce Road Runners or Rooster Tails very early over the deepest water. Little Niangua River: No reported fish. Gravois Arm: No reported fish. Upper Osage: No reported fish. Osage 60 MM: Good on main lake points, try Norman’s Deep Little ‘N’ to fish under the shad. Truman Tailwater: No reported fish.
CATFISH – Bagnell Tailwater: Fair to good, try cut shad. Lower Osage: Very good on nightcrawlers. Glaize Arm: Good on nightcrawlers and chicken entrails. Mid-Lake: Good on nightcrawlers or shad halfway back in coves. Niangua Arm: Very good on juglines baited with shad sides. Little Niangua River: Very good for eating sized fish, try traditional baits. Gravois Arm: Fair on cut shad. Upper Osage: Very good on rod-and-reel, trotline and jugline using cut shad and minnows. Osage 60 MM: Very good, fish are shallow, try nightcrawlers. Truman Dam Tailwater: Good on live shad.
BLUEGILL – Fair, try nightcrawler pieces, Berkley’s Gulp Earthworm or pieces of Gulp! Alive! Minnows around docks.
NOTE: The Lower Osage is from the dam to the 22-mile mark; Mid-Lake is between the 22 and 38-mile marks; the Upper Osage is between the 38 and 55-mile marks; the Osage 60 MM is between the 55-mile mark and the 89-mile mark; and the 89 MM is between the 89 MM and the Rt. 65 Bridge.
UPDATES – Bagnell Dam – Riverview (573-365-1122); Lower Osage – Mike Foree @ Osage Beach Bait & Tackle (573-348-9333); Glaize Arm – Mike Foree; Midlake – John Blankenbeker (573-280-1455); Niangua Arm – Darrell Taylor; Upper Osage – Guide Wayne Clemons (573-345-0123); Little Niangua River – Greenmill Campground (573-363-5577); Osage 60 MM – Osage Tackle Co. (573-374-2278); Truman Dam – The Station Bait & Tackle (660-438-7664); Tourney Results – www724outdoors.com; Lake Level (573-365-9205).
Lake of the Ozarks Best Fishing Times
A. M. P. M.
Minor Major Minor Major
19 2:18 8:32 2:46 9:00
20 * 3:08 9:23 3:39 9:54
21 ** 4:05 10:21 4:37 10:53
22 *** (N) 5:07 11:23 5:40 11:56
23 ** 6:12 12:05 6:45 12:29
24 * 7:19 1:04 7:50 1:35
25 8:25 2:11 8:53 2:39
26 9:26 3:13 9:52 3:39
27 10:22 4:10 10:47 4:34
28 11:14 5:02 11:37 5:25
29 ----- 5:50 12:01 6:13
30 12:23 6:34 12:46 6:57
1 1:06 7:17 1:29 7:41
2 1:48 8:00 2:13 8:25
Day ratings for fish activity
* = Good
** = Better
*** = Best
(F) = Full Moon (N) = New Moon
Compiled by Darrell Taylor
