The lake level was 659.5 (660 is normal pool level). With medium to minimum generation scheduled, the lake should hold at that level through the weekend. The surface temperature at Bagnell Dam is 83 degrees and 80 to 85-degrees upstream depending on the location, time of day and air temperature. A thermocline has developed at the 30-foot level. Truman Lake is still is at normal pool, however, rains this week could impact those levels by the weekend. Fishing has remained slow this month, it will improve when flow improves at Truman and Bagnell Dams.
BLACK BASS – One evening tournament reported taking 14.5 pounds to win. Lower Osage: Poor, 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: Poor, try 10-inch Berkley Power Worms, shaky heads or DD22’s on points around brush. Mid-Lake: Poor, try between main and secondary points early and late and at night with topwaters like Heddon’s Zara Spook. 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 early on topwaters like Berkley’s Frenzy Popper. Later or at night, try DD22’s, DT10’s or shaky heads tipped with Northland’s Slurpie or watermelon-red Shaky Head Power Worms around brush. Little Niangua River: Good, 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 Slurpies rigged shaky head style. Osage 60 MM: Fair, try topwaters early and late. Best bite is at night, try black-and-blue10-inch Power Worms.
CRAPPIE – Bagnell Tailwater: No reported fish. 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 Blakemore Road Runners around brush in 15 feet of water but fish are small. Gravois Arm: Fair to good, 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 chartreuse jigs 10 to 12-feet deep. Truman Tailwater: Fair in the slack-water channel but most fish are small.
WHITE AND HYBRID BASS – Bagnell Tailwater: Fair to good on cut or live shad. 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 trolling Bill Lewis Rat-L-Traps or Norman’s Deep Little N. 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 juglines baited with shad or hotdogs. Truman Dam Tailwater: Poor.
WALLEYE – Little Niangua River: A few knowledgeable anglers are catching fish. Osage 60 MM: Poor, some walleye are biting Rooster Tails trolled on main lake points for white bass.
BLUEGILL – Little Niangua River: Excellent for bluegill, redear and other sunfish. Elsewhere: Very good 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
14 12:04 6:14 12:28 6:43
15 12:54 7:10 1:25 7:40
16 1:51 8:06 2:22 8:38
17 2:47 9:03 3:18 9:34
18* 3:43 9:58 4:13 10:28
19** 4:38 10:52 5:06 11:20
20*** 5:32 11:45 5:59 —
21** 6:26 12:13 6:51 12:39
22* 7:20 1:08 7:45 1:33
23 8:15 2:03 8:40 2:28
24 9:11 2:58 9:35 3:23
25 10:06 3:53 10:31 4:18
26 11:00 4:47 11:26 5:13
27 11:52 5:40 — 6:05
Day ratings for fish activity
*Good, **Better, ***Best
— Compiled by Darrell Taylor
