The lake level was 659.99 (660 is normal pool level). With heavy generation scheduled and 11 spillgates open, the lake should hold at this level. The surface temperature at Bagnell Dam is 74 degrees and 70 to 74-degrees upstream depending on the location, time of day and air temperature. The upper lake and feeders are very murky; Truman Lake is 14-feet over normal pool. Boaters should exercise caution; there are many half-submerged limbs in the lake.
LARGEMOUTH AND SPOTTED BASS – One evening tournament reported last week taking 16.5 pounds to win. Lower Osage: Fair on topwater early, later try jigs or Carolina-rigged lizards on secondary points. Glaize Arm: Fair, try jigs or crankbaits on secondary points. Mid-Lake: Good in the backs of coves early, try Carolina-rigged lizards and jigs. Later try crankbaits like Norman’s DD22 on main lake points or Norman’s Deep Little ‘N on secondary points. Niangua Arm: Good in the backs of coves early, later try Eakins’ jigs tipped with NetBait Paca Craws around brush. Later try bright colored crankbaits like Norman’s DD22 on main lake points. Gravois Arm: Fair, try jigs and soft plastics toward the backs of coves. Also, try Norman’s Deep Little N’s and Storm’s Wiggle Warts on the last points in a cove. Upper Osage: Good on Zoom’s Brush Hog and Yamamoto’s Senko. In the evening, try Berkley’s Frenzy Popper or Rebel’s Pop R. Osage 60 MM: Good on Zoom’s Brush Hog and Yamamoto’s Senko. In the evening, try Berkley’s Frenzy Popper or Rebel’s Pop R.
CRAPPIE – Bagnell Tailwater: Fair on jigs and minnows. Lower Osage: Fair to good on jigs around brush. Glaize Arm: Fair over brush, most fish are small. Mid-Lake: Fair to good, try jigs 5-feet deep over brush. Niangua Arm: Fair, try minnows or red-and-chartreuse colored Blakemore Roadrunners in front of spawning banks. Gravois Arm: Fair, try jigs or small jerkbaits around brush in front of spawning banks, most fish are small. Upper Osage: Fair, try jigs over brush, many fish are small. Osage 60 MM: Fair to good on minnows or bright colored pony-head jigs. Truman Tailwater: Fair in the slack-water channel on white or chartreuse jigs or minnows.
WHITE AND HYBRID BASS – Bagnell Tailwater: Fair to good on spoons. 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 around rocky points in the headwater. Gravois Arm: No reported fish. Upper Osage: No reported fish. Osage 60 MM: No reported fish. Truman Tailwater: Good for hybrids and white bass, try spoons and pearl Sassy Shads.
CATFISH – Bagnell Tailwater: Fair on cut shad but hard to fish because of heavy flow. Lower Osage: Very good on nightcrawlers. Glaize Arm: Good on nightcrawlers. Mid-Lake: Good on nightcrawlers or shad halfway back in coves. Niangua Arm: Fair to good on shad sides while drifting with a rod and reel. 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 on Rod-and-reel, trotline and jugline using cut shad and minnows. Truman Dam Tailwater: Very 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 – Riverview RV Park, (573-365-1122) – Bagnell Dam; Osage Beach Bait & Tackle, Mike Foree, (573-348-9333) – Glaize Arm; Osage Guide John Blankenbeker (573-280-1455) - Mid-Lake; Darrell Taylor – Niangua Arm; Upper Osage - Guide Wayne Clemons (573) 345-0123; Osage 60 MM - Osage Tackle Co., (573) 374-2278; White Branch Marina (660-438-6344) - 89MM; the Station Bait & Tackle (660) 438-7664 - Truman Dam Tailwater; tourney results - 7/24 Outdoors. Lake level; (573) 365-9205.
Lake of the Ozarks Best Fishing Times
A. M. P. M.
Minor Major Minor Major
29 10:50 4:37 11:17 5:03
30 11:45 5:32 ----- 5:57
31 12:09 6:21 12:32 6:44
1 12:53 7:05 1:16 7:27
2 1:34 7:45 1:56 8:08
3 2:14 8:25 2:37 8:48
4 * 2:54 9:06 3:18 9:30
5 ** 3:37 9:50 4:02 10:14
6 ** 4:23 10:36 4:49 11:01
7 *** (F) 5:13 11:25 5:38 11:51
8 ** 6:04 ----- 6:30 12:17
9 * 6:57 12:45 7:22 1:10
10 7:51 1:39 8:15 2:03
11 8:43 2:31 9:05 2:54
Day ratings for fish activity
* = Good
** = Better
*** = Best
(F) = Full Moon (N) = New Moon
Compiled by Darrell Taylor
