The lake level was 659.99 (660 is normal pool level). With heavy generation scheduled the lake should hold at this level. Both Truman and Bagnell spill gates are closed. 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 feeders are clearing but Osage channel is murky to muddy; Truman Lake is 10-feet over normal pool. Boaters should exercise caution; there are some half-submerged limbs in the muddy water. Also, please note the new reporting location – Greenmill Campground on Little Niangua River.
BLACK BASS – Two evening tournaments reported last week taking 18.4 and 20.0 pounds to win. Lower Osage: Fair on topwater early, later try Eakins’ jigs or Norman’s DD22 crankbaits on points. Glaize Arm: Fair, try Eakins’ jigs or DD22’s on secondary points. Mid-Lake: Good in the backs of coves early and late on topwaters like Berkley’s Frenzy Popper. Later try 7-inch Berkley Power Worms or jigs around docks, also try DD22’s or Rapala’s DT10 on main lake points. Niangua Arm: Good in the backs of coves early and late of topwater lures. Later try Eakins’ jig tipped with NetBait’s Paca Chunk or bright colored DD22’s or DT10’s on main lake points. Little Niangua River: No reported fish yet, better in the summer. Gravois Arm: Fair, try Eakins’ jigs and Power Worms on secondary points. Also, try Norman’s Deep Little N 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: Try topwaters early, later try shad colored crankbaits on points. Also try Power Worms around brush.
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 minnows around deep 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 chartreuse colored pony-head jigs. Truman Tailwater: Fair in the slack-water channel, most fish are small.
WHITE AND HYBRID BASS – Bagnell Tailwater: No reported fish. 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. Little Niangua River: No reported fish. Gravois Arm: No reported fish. Upper Osage: No reported fish. Osage 60 MM: Some fish are being caught by trolling red-white and chrome Worden’s Rooster Tails. Truman Tailwater: No reported fish.
CATFISH – Bagnell Tailwater: Poor, try cut shad. 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 juglines baited with shad sides. Little Niangua River: Very good, fish are spawning, try traditional baits. 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 perch. Truman Dam Tailwater: 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 – 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
5** 3:37 9:50 4:02 10:14
6** 4:23 10:36 4:49 11:01
7*** 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
12 9:33 3:22 9:54 3:43
13 10:20 4:10 10:41 4:31
14 11:05 4:55 11:26 5:16
15 11:48 5:38 — 5:59
16 12:09 6:20 12:31 6:41
17 12:50 7:02 1:13 7:25
18 1:32 7:45 1:58 8:10
Day ratings for fish activity
*Good, **Better, ***Best
— Compiled by Darrell Taylor
