The lake level was 659.3 (660 is normal pool level). With light generation scheduled, the lake should hold at that level. The surface temperature at Bagnell Dam is 77 degrees and 75 to 80-degrees upstream depending on the location, time of day and air temperature. Truman Lake is one foot over pool. Very little has changed in the fishing report this week.
BLACK BASS – No tournaments reported last week. Bass are still scattered and not relating to brush. Lower Osage: Fair, try topwater early, later try Texas-rigged 10-inch Berkley Power Worms, Norman’s DD22 crankbaits or a shaky-head rigged with Berkley’s Shaky Worm 20-feet deep on points. Glaize Arm: Fair to good. Try 10-inch Berkley Power Worms, shaky heads or DD22’s on points around brush. Mid-Lake: Fair, try between main and secondary points early, late and at night with topwaters like Rebel’s Pop-R. During the day try 7 or 10-inch Power Worms around dock brush, also try DD22’s or Rapala’s DT10 on main lake points. Niangua Arm: Fair, try topwaters like Berkley’s Frenzy Popper early. Later or at night, try DD22’s, DT10’s or shaky heads tipped with watermelon-red Shaky Head Power Worms around brush. Little Niangua River: Fair, try around laydowns with spinnerbaits or soft plastics. Gravois Arm: Fair, try Eakins’ jigs, shaky heads with Berkley Shaky Worms or DD22’s on points. Upper Osage: Fair on Northland’s Slurpies rigged shaky head style. Osage 60 MM: Good halfway back in coves, try Power Worms or Zoom’s Brush Hog or black-and-blue lizards rigged Texas-style.
CRAPPIE – Bagnell Tailwater: No reported fish. Lower Osage: Fair on jigs around brush. Glaize Arm: Fair, try minnows 8 to 12-feet deep around brush. Mid-Lake: Fair, try minnows around deep brush. Niangua Arm: Fair, try minnows or Blakemore Road Runners around brush in 15 feet of water but fish are small. Gravois Arm: Fair, try minnows or Road Runners 8 to 12-feet deep around brush. Upper Osage: Fair, try Roadrunners over brush, some fish are small. Osage 60 MM: Fair on minnows or blue-and-chartreuse or orange-and-chartreuse jigs 10 to 12-feet deep. Truman Tailwater: Fair on minnows, most fish are small.
WHITE AND HYBRID BASS – Bagnell Tailwater: Fair on jigs and spoons. Lower Osage: No reported fish. Glaize Arm: No reported fish. Mid-Lake: Fair on points. Try trolling Norman’s Deep Baby N, Road Runners or Worden’s Rooster Tails on windy main lake points or humps. Niangua Arm: Good, cast or troll Norman’s chartreuse/purple Deep Baby N or Rebel’s silver/black Deep Wee R. Little Niangua River: Fair for hybrids, use traditional white bass lures. Gravois Arm: No reported fish. Upper Osage: No reported fish. Osage 60 MM: Fair on main lake points, try minnows or poppers with a small jig tied 18 to 20 inches behind. Truman Tailwater: Fair early and late.
CATFISH – Bagnell Tailwater: Good on cut shad. Lower Osage: Very good on nightcrawlers. Glaize Arm: Good on nightcrawlers and chicken entrails. Mid-Lake: Good, drift with rod-and-reel baited with live shad. Niangua Arm: Good drifting with cut shad and nightcrawlers. Little Niangua River: Poor to fair on limblines. Gravois Arm: Fair on cut shad. Upper Osage: Very good on rod-and-reel, trotline and jugline using cut shad and nightcrawlers. Osage 60 MM: Excellent on minnows and nightcrawlers. Truman Dam Tailwater: Poor.
WALLEYE – Bagnell Tailwater: Fair to good on jigs and spoons. Little Niangua River: A few knowledgeable anglers are catching fish. Osage 60 MM: No reported fish.
BLUEGILL – Little Niangua River: Excellent for bluegill, redear and other sunfish. Elsewhere: Excellent around docks using nightcrawler pieces, Berkley’s Gulp Earthworm or pieces of Gulp! Alive! Minnows.
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).
Fishing times
A. M. P. M.
Minor Major Minor Major
11 11:20 5:05 11:50 5:35
12 — 6:05 12:20 6:36
13 12:48 7:04 1:19 7:34
14 1:44 7:59 2:14 8:29
15 2:37 8:51 3:05 9:19
16 3:26 9:39 3:53 10:06
17* 4:14 10:26 4:39 10:52
18** 5:01 11:14 5:26 11:38
19*** 5:51 — 6:16 12:03
20** 6:44 12:31 7:09 12:56
21* 7:39 1:26 8:05 1:52
22 8:37 2:24 9:03 2:50
23 9:35 3:21 10:01 3:48
24 10:32 4:18 10:58 4:45
Day ratings for fish activity
*Good, **Better, ***Best
— Compiled by Darrell Taylor
