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The lake level was 658.3 (660 is normal pool level); with medium generation scheduled, the lake should hold at that level through the weekend. Surface temperature at Bagnell Dam is 45 degrees with upstream temperatures of 43 to 49 degrees depending on location and time of day. Truman Lake is at normal pool.
Anglers should observe caution; immersion in water temperatures under 50 degrees can quickly cause hypothermia.
BLACK BASS – Lower Osage: Fair to good with jerkbaits like the Luck “E” Strike RC Stick Jerkbait or Smithwick’s Rogue on main lake points and rocky shorelines. Also, try Storm’s Wiggle Wart on ledges and jigs on chunk rock and submerged brush. Glaize Arm: Fair, try RC Stick or Rogue jerkbaits along shallow shorelines on cloudy warm days. Mid-Lake: Fair, try shaky heads early and along bluffs with Storm Wiggle Warts later. Niangua Arm: Fair to good, try jerkbaits or jigs tipped with Berkley’s Chigger Craw fished around dock brush and jerkbaits on main lake points or small rocky juts into lake. Gravois Arm: Fair, try buzzbaits and jerkbaits along rocky shorelines; also try bluffs with Storm Wiggle Warts. Upper Osage: Fair to good on RC Stick Jerkbaits and Rogues, also try buzzbaits on rocky shorelines. Osage 60 MM: Fair, try jigs tipped with green pumpkin colored plastics or jerkbaits on rocky shorelines.
CATFISH: Bagnell Tailwater: Fair, try ‘perch’. Lower Osage: Fair on juglines and trotlines baited with traditional catfish baits. Glaize Arm: Fair, try nightcrawlers or chicken livers. Mid-Lake: Fair, try cut shad 30 feet deep behind islands. Niangua Arm: Fair in coves with nightcrawlers, cut bait and chicken livers. Little Niangua River: Fair to good, drift with cut shad or chicken livers. Gravois Arm: Fair drifting with chicken livers. Upper Osage: Fair on cut shad or shrimp. Osage 60 MM: Excellent on nightcrawlers 10 to 12 feet deep. Truman Tailwater: Fair for blue catfish on whole or cut shad.
CRAPPIE – Crappies are the hottest bite on the lake right now with many fish over 11 inches being caught on jigs tipped with red plastic and a red Berkley Crappie Nibble. Bagnell Tailwater: No reported fish. Lower Osage: Very good, try jigs fished 20 to 25 feet deep. Glaize Arm: Very good, try jigs fished 20 to 25 feet deep. Mid-Lake: Very good, fish are 6 to 10 feet deep in front of docks. Niangua Arm: Very good on small jigs fished 3 to 8 feet deep, try Blakemore Road Runners. Gravois Arm: Good on minnows or Road Runners fished 10 to 12 feet deep. Upper Osage: Very good with minnows tipped with Berkley Crappie Nibbles. Osage 60 MM: Very good on orange or chartreuse jigs fished around large docks in 30 feet of water – fish are 5 to 6 feet deep. Truman Tailwater: Very good on minnows or Slab Hunter jigs.
The lake level was 658.3 (660 is normal pool level); with medium generation scheduled, the lake should hold at that level through the weekend. Surface temperature at Bagnell Dam is 45 degrees with upstream temperatures of 43 to 49 degrees depending on location and time of day. Truman Lake is at normal pool.
Anglers should observe caution; immersion in water temperatures under 50 degrees can quickly cause hypothermia.
BLACK BASS – Lower Osage: Fair to good with jerkbaits like the Luck “E” Strike RC Stick Jerkbait or Smithwick’s Rogue on main lake points and rocky shorelines. Also, try Storm’s Wiggle Wart on ledges and jigs on chunk rock and submerged brush. Glaize Arm: Fair, try RC Stick or Rogue jerkbaits along shallow shorelines on cloudy warm days. Mid-Lake: Fair, try shaky heads early and along bluffs with Storm Wiggle Warts later. Niangua Arm: Fair to good, try jerkbaits or jigs tipped with Berkley’s Chigger Craw fished around dock brush and jerkbaits on main lake points or small rocky juts into lake. Gravois Arm: Fair, try buzzbaits and jerkbaits along rocky shorelines; also try bluffs with Storm Wiggle Warts. Upper Osage: Fair to good on RC Stick Jerkbaits and Rogues, also try buzzbaits on rocky shorelines. Osage 60 MM: Fair, try jigs tipped with green pumpkin colored plastics or jerkbaits on rocky shorelines.
CATFISH: Bagnell Tailwater: Fair, try ‘perch’. Lower Osage: Fair on juglines and trotlines baited with traditional catfish baits. Glaize Arm: Fair, try nightcrawlers or chicken livers. Mid-Lake: Fair, try cut shad 30 feet deep behind islands. Niangua Arm: Fair in coves with nightcrawlers, cut bait and chicken livers. Little Niangua River: Fair to good, drift with cut shad or chicken livers. Gravois Arm: Fair drifting with chicken livers. Upper Osage: Fair on cut shad or shrimp. Osage 60 MM: Excellent on nightcrawlers 10 to 12 feet deep. Truman Tailwater: Fair for blue catfish on whole or cut shad.
CRAPPIE – Crappies are the hottest bite on the lake right now with many fish over 11 inches being caught on jigs tipped with red plastic and a red Berkley Crappie Nibble. Bagnell Tailwater: No reported fish. Lower Osage: Very good, try jigs fished 20 to 25 feet deep. Glaize Arm: Very good, try jigs fished 20 to 25 feet deep. Mid-Lake: Very good, fish are 6 to 10 feet deep in front of docks. Niangua Arm: Very good on small jigs fished 3 to 8 feet deep, try Blakemore Road Runners. Gravois Arm: Good on minnows or Road Runners fished 10 to 12 feet deep. Upper Osage: Very good with minnows tipped with Berkley Crappie Nibbles. Osage 60 MM: Very good on orange or chartreuse jigs fished around large docks in 30 feet of water – fish are 5 to 6 feet deep. Truman Tailwater: Very good on minnows or Slab Hunter jigs.
WALLEYE – No reported fish.
WHITE AND HYBRID BASS – Bagnell Tailwater: No reported fish. Lower Osage: No reported fish. Glaize Arm: Fair for quantity and size on white jigs in coves and on points. Mid-Lake: Fair to good on windblown shorelines and points. Niangua Arm: Poor, try points for whites and hybrids with large Rooster Tails or Dixie Jet Spoons. Gravois Arm: Poor, try points and creek mouths with and Blakemore Road Runners. Osage 60 MM: A few fish are being caught by crappie anglers around marina and condo docks. Truman Tailwater: Fair on spoons and large swimbaits.
BLUEGILL – Poor, try worm pieces, Berkley’s Gulp Crickets or Nightcrawler pieces 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 – Dam Bait Shop (573-216-2084); Lower Osage and Glaize Arm – Guide Skip Surbaugh (573-365-0006); Midlake and Gravois – Mike Foree @ Osage Beach Bait & Tackle (573-348-9333); Niangua Arm – Darrell Taylor; Upper Osage – Guide John Blankenbeker (573-280-1455); Little Niangua River – Greenmill Campground, (573-363-5577); Osage 60 MM – Bryants Osage Outdoors, www.osagetackle.com (573-374-2278); Truman Dam – The Station Bait & Tackle (660-438-7664); Tourney Results – www724outdoors.com; Lake Level (573-365-9205).
Lake of the Ozarks
Best Fishing & Hunting Times
26 * 7:19 1:09 7:41 1:30
27 8:08 1:57 8:29 2:19
28 8:56 2:45 9:17 3:06
29 9:42 3:32 10:04 3:53
30 10:29 4:18 10:51 4:40
31 11:15 5:03 11:38 5:26
Day ratings for fish activity
* = Good ** = Better *** = Best
(F) = Full Moon (N) = New Moon
Compiled by Darrell Taylor
