It is Labor Day weekend and the daytime surface temperature of the water is 86 to 88-degrees, great for swimming – bad for fishing, plus the lake is crowded. These facts cause anglers to use tactics unlike those that produce in other upper Midwestern reservoirs.

The lake level was 658.3 (660 is normal pool level); with minimum generation scheduled the lake should hold there through the weekend. Surface temperature at Bagnell Dam is 86 degrees with upstream temperatures of 83 to 89 degrees depending on time of day. The thermocline is still 20 to 25-feet deep in most areas. Truman Lake is at normal pool.
BLACK BASS – Bass fishing has worsened, it that is possible. The Wednesday Evening Tournament reported taking 14.05-pounds to win; Big Bass was 4.9-pounds

No other racer holds more Lake of the Ozarks Shootout Top Gun titles that W. David Scott. On Saturday, a blistering run of 208 mph on the water gave Scott his eighth Top Gun, his third in a row.
"Every one is special," Scott said. The veteran of boat racing was quick to deflect much of the attention to his crew.

I walked into the lobby of the Missouri Department of Conservation in Jefferson City and there on the walls were murals by one of the greatest wildlife artists Missouri has ever known, Charles Schwartz. If you have never been there, and have never seen those fantastic wildlife paintings surrounding you, you should see it sometime. Schwartz was such a gifted person; his paintings make fish and wildlife come alive on a canvas. He was a dedicated man who lived fairly simply, and he was a man who believed in conservation... the wisest use of our natural resources.

Her graceful curves and slender fingers beckoned while the faint aroma of her body stimulated my senses. No doubt about it, I was being seduced – enjoying the moment – feeling no guilt - and looking forward to the experience.
Truman Lake can have that effect on anglers.

According to AAA Midwest Traveler magazine, the Lake of the Ozarks is home to two of the top three state parks in the Midwest.

Table Rock Lake State Park in Branson claimed top honor amongst AAA Midwest Traveler readers. Lake of the Ozarks State Park settled for second place silver, and Ha Ha Tonka State Park finished third in the voting.

The magazine asked its readers to vote for their favorite places to visit, eat and shop. This spring, more than 2,500 readers cast ballots for their favorite places to visit in the Midwest.

The lake level was 658.6 (660 is normal pool level); with light generation scheduled the lake should hold there through the weekend. Surface temperature at Bagnell Dam is 86 degrees with upstream temperatures of 88 to 92 degrees depending on time of day. The thermocline is still 20 to 25-feet deep in most areas. Truman Lake is at normal pool. BLACK BASS – The Wednesday Evening Tournament reported taking 16.75-pounds to win, Big Bass was 5.65-pounds. Bass World Sports Night Tournament reported 18 pounds to win and a Big Bass of 5.5 pounds.

The crawdad is an unusual creature, always looking back where he has been, and going where his isn't looking. Quite often where he has been appears quite safe and there looms a bass or walleye or catfish where he is going and he winds up not going as far as he thought he would. That's why the crawdad, or crayfish if you prefer, spends most of his time under rocks. You may be standing in the knee-deep water of a small stream or good-sized creek and not see a crawdad anywhere while there are dozens of them around you. Turn over the rocks and they start scooting off backwards.

Powerboaters and enthusiasts can find boat racing paradise at Skaterfest 2010, held Aug. 27-29 at the Camden on the Lake resort in Lake Ozark.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will sponsor a voluntary bowhunter education program Aug. 23 and 24 and Sept. 6 and 7 from 6 to 10 p.m., both evenings at the Camdenton MDC office at 783 Thunder Mountain Rd.

The lake level was 658.7 (660 is normal pool level); with light generation scheduled the lake should hold there through the weekend. Surface temperature at Bagnell Dam is 89 degrees with upstream temperatures of 88 to 92 degrees depending on time of day. The thermocline is still 20 to 25-feet deep in most areas. Truman Lake is at normal pool. Nothing has changed in the report from last week.

The only thing hotter than the Ozarks’ weather has been BASS Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam from Kalamazoo, Mich. In fact he has been on fire by winning the Elite Series tournament on Kentucky Lake, finishing third in the postseason on Lake Jordan near Wetumka, Ala. and winning on the Alabama River near Montgomery to sew up his third consecutive Angler of the Year title.

A nature poem: "The heat we've been a havin' ain't necessarily pleasin', but there ain't no snow in the tomato patch, and there ain't nobody freezin'. It's only in the 90's, and the fishin's fairly good, so I figure summer's goin' pretty much the way it should."

The lake level was 659.0 (660 is normal pool level); with medium and light generation scheduled the lake should fall to 658.8 by the weekend. Surface temperature at Bagnell Dam is 90 degrees with upstream temperatures of 88 to 92 degrees depending on time of day. The thermocline is 20 to 25-feet deep in most areas. Truman Lake is at normal pool. Nothing has changed in the report from last week.
BLACK BASS – The Wednesday Evening Tournament reported taking 18.05-pounds to win, Big Bass was 5.15-pounds.

Already found in Osage River, Asian carp are an invasive, non-native fish that grow at tremendous rates. If caught, Asian carp should not be released back into waters.

In the middle of the week, on a stretch of river where the canoe renters don't operate, you can get off to yourself and not see another soul all day. Especially now, while it is so hot. Dennis Whiteside and I figured on that, a week or so ago. So we set off down an Ozark river one morning expecting to catch some big bass on topwater lures right off the bat. I have never been able to figure out why there would be times I don't catch fish.

The lake level was 659.7 (660 is normal pool level); with heavy generation scheduled the lake should fall to 659.2 by the weekend. Surface temperature at Bagnell Dam is 88 degrees with upstream temperatures of 86 to 90 degrees depending on time of day. The thermocline is 20 to 25-feet deep in most areas. Truman Lake is 1-foot over pool. Little has changed in the report from last week.
 

Bluegills have a bad rap. Most people think they are only good for kids learning how to fish, so like Rodney Dangerfield, they “get no respect.” Actually, they are a great ‘teaching fish’ because they are eager eaters, but as table fare their sweet tasting fillets are among the best. Here is a look at the bluegill, its habitat, how to attract and catch them, and some tips on cooking their tender fillets.

The voice on the other end of the line told me he had worked for the Missouri Department of Conservation for a number of years. "There is one thing they are afraid of," he said, "and that is public opinion. They almost have complete control of what is said about them in the news media and press. That's why you had better be careful with what you do, they will make an example of you."

That was two years ago. It had been preceded by a call from an MDC ex-director who was so angry he threatened to come to my home and do me bodily harm. He had resigned from the Department and had received a substantial bonus in the six-figure category, after being part of a very large monetary gift in the millions to a private corporation

The lake level was 659.3 (660 is normal pool level); with medium generation scheduled the lake should rise to 659.6 by the weekend. Surface temperature at Bagnell Dam is 88 degrees with upstream temperatures of 83 to 89 degrees depending on time of day. The thermocline is 20 to 25-feet deep in most areas. Truman Lake is 2 feet over pool.

BLACK BASS – The Wednesday Evening Tournament reported taking 17.1-pounds to win, Big Bass was 6.5 pounds. Bass World reported 21.7 for an all-night tournament.