The lake level was 659.2 (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 84 degrees and 82 to 86-degrees upstream depending on the location, time of day and air temperature. A thermocline is developing at the 20-foot level. Truman Lake is 8-feet over normal pool.
BLACK BASS – One evening tournament reported last week taking 19.6 pounds to win; big bass was 6.25 pounds. Lower Osage: Fair on topwater early, later try 10-inch Berkley Power Worms or Norman’s DD22 crankbaits on points. Glaize Arm: Good, try 10-inch Berkley Power Worms, shaky heads or DD22’s on points. Mid-Lake: Good on secondary points 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 on points with DD22’s or DT10’s. Also try shaky heads tipped with Northland’s Slurpie or blue-flake 7-inch Power Worms around dock brush. Little Niangua River: No reported fish yet, better in the summer. Gravois Arm: Good, try Eakins’ jigs, 10-inch Berkley Power Worms or DD22’s on points. Upper Osage: Good on Slurpies rigged wacky 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 jigs over brush, many 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, try Road Runners or Worden’s Rooster Tails on windy main lake points. Niangua Arm: Good, cast or troll Norman’s chartreuse/purple Deep Little 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 Norman’s Deep Little ‘N’ to fish 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: Very 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 small crankbaits.
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);
Fishing times
A. M. P. M.
Minor Major Minor Major
3 2:32 8:44 2:57 9:09
4* 3:17 9:29 3:42 9:55
5** 4:03 10:16 4:28 10:41
6** 4:51 11:04 5:16 11:29
7*** 5:40 11:52 6:04 —
8** 6:29 12:17 6:52 12:41
9* 7:18 1:07 7:40 1:29
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
Day ratings for fish activity
*Good, **Better, ***Best
— Compiled by Darrell Taylor
