The lake level was 658.9 (660 is normal pool level). With heavy generation scheduled, the lake should hold at that level through the weekend. The surface temperature at Bagnell Dam is 88 degrees and 82 to 86-degrees upstream depending on the location, time of day and air temperature. A thermocline has developed at the 20-foot level. Truman Lake is 3-feet over normal pool.
BLACK BASS – One evening tournament reported last week taking almost 14 pounds to win. Lower Osage: Fair on 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 or new Slim Shaky Worm on points. Glaize Arm: Good, try 10-inch Berkley Power Worms, shaky heads or DD22’s on points. Mid-Lake: Good on secondary points early and late with topwaters like Heddon’s Zara Spook. Later 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 to good on points with DD22’s or DT10’s. Also, try shaky heads tipped with Northland’s Slurpie or blue-fleck Shaky Head Power Worms around dock brush. Little Niangua River: No reported fish yet, better soon. Gravois Arm: Good, try Eakins’ jigs, 10-inch Berkley Power Worms or DD22’s on points. Upper Osage: Good on Slurpies rigged shaky head style. Osage 60 MM: Fair to good, try Zara Spooks and buzzbaits very early.
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: Good on minnows or Blakemore Road Runners around brush in 15 feet of water. Gravois Arm: Fair to good, try minnows 8 to 12-feet deep around brush. Upper Osage: Fair, try Roadrunners over brush, some fish are small. Osage 60 MM: No reported fish, try minnows 10 to 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 to fair on points. Try Road Runners or Worden’s Rooster Tails on windy main lake points. Niangua Arm: Good, cast or troll Norman’s chartreuse/purple Deep Baby N or Rebel’s silver/black Deep Wee R. 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 fishing Norman’s Deep Baby ‘N’ under the shad. Truman Tailwater: No reported fish.
CATFISH – Bagnell Tailwater: Good on Sonny’s prepared bait. 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: Fair to 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 nightcrawlers. Osage 60 MM: Very good on rod-and-reel, trotline and juglines using cut shad and nightcrawlers. Truman Dam Tailwater: Good on live shad.
WALLEYE – Niangua Arm: Fair in the evening, try trolling humps with chartreuse/purple Deep Baby N or Rebel’s silver/black Deep Wee R. BLUEGILL – Very good on 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).
Fishing times
A. M. P. M.
Minor Major Minor Major
10 8:06 1:55 8:27 2:16
11 8:52 2:42 9:13 3:03
12 9:38 3:28 9:59 3:49
13 10:24 4:13 10:45 4:34
14 11:10 4:59 11:32 5:21
15 11:56 5:44 — 6:08
16 12:19 6:32 12:45 6:58
17 1:08 7:22 1:36 7:51
18 2:00 8:15 2:30 8:46
19 2:55 9:11 3:28 9:44
20* 3:54 10:10 4:27 10:43
21** 4:55 11:11 5:26 11:42
22*** 5:56 — 6:26 12:11
23** 6:57 12:43 7:25 1:11
Day ratings for fish activity
*Good, **Better, ***Best
— Compiled by Darrell Taylor
Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. —
