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The lake level was 658.7 (660 is normal pool level); with heavy generation scheduled the lake should rise to 659.1 by the weekend. Truman Lake is nine feet over pool. Surface temperature at Bagnell Dam is 81 degrees with upstream temperatures of 79 to 83 degrees depending on location and time of day. A thermocline is setting up 8 to 11 feet deep throughout much of the lake. The lake is clearing but rising water levels are causing some floating debris, boaters should exercise caution.
BLACK BASS – It took 18.2 pounds to win the Wednesday Evening tournament, Big Bass was 5.9 pounds. Lower Osage: Excellent on Bullseye jigs, Carolina-rigged Zoom Brush Hogs, crankbaits like Norman’s N series and Storm’s Wiggle Wart. Glaize Arm: Very good on jigs and shaky head rigs on main and secondary points. Try Zara Spooks or Rebel Pop R’s early and late. Mid-Lake: Good on jigs and spinnerbaits fished half to in the backs of coves, also try crankbaits like Storm’s Wiggle Wart and Norman’s Little N fished in shallow water. Niangua Arm: Very good with red shad or blue-flake Texas-rigged 10-inch Berkley Power Worms around brush, also try Texas-rigged Berkley HAVOC Craw Fatty and Norman’s Little N on points and flats. Gravois Arm: Very good on small crankbaits, spinnerbaits and Bullseye jigs. Upper Osage: Very good on main lake points with jerkbaits. Osage 60 MM: Very good on main lake points with Carolina-rigged watermelon-red-flake colored Zoom Brush Hogs. Early and late try topwater poppers or jointed Arbogast Jitterbugs.
CATFISH – Bagnell Tailwater: Good on cut shad and beef spleen when the flow is good. Lower Osage: Try traditional catfish baits using rod and reel. Glaize Arm: Good on chicken liver or live bait on juglines. Mid-Lake: Good drifting with live shad. Niangua Arm: Good on rod and reel with shad sides fished on the bottom. Little Niangua River: Very good on blood bait when there is current. Also try limblines at night. Gravois Arm: Good drifting with chicken livers. Upper Osage: Good on cut shad or shrimp. Osage 60 MM: Very good on juglines baited with goldfish or nightcrawlers. Truman Tailwater: Fair on cut shad.
CRAPPIE – Bagnell Tailwater: Fair. Lower Osage: Very good on small Sebile jerkbaits. Glaize Arm: Fish are suspended; try jigs with blue and white or chartreuse. Mid-Lake: Good, fish are 2 to 4 feet deep on pea gravel. Niangua Arm: Fair to good on small crankbaits fished in front of docks and suspended in front of flats. Also try red-and-chartreuse Road Runners around brush. Gravois Arm: Very good on minnows, Road Runners or small Sebile jerkbaits fished 5 to 10 feet deep. Upper Osage: Good with minnows tipped with Crappie Nibbles. Osage 60 MM: Good on medium minnows fished 15 to 18 feet deep. Truman Tailwater: Fair on minnows or Slab Hunter jigs, they are still spawning.
The lake level was 658.7 (660 is normal pool level); with heavy generation scheduled the lake should rise to 659.1 by the weekend. Truman Lake is nine feet over pool. Surface temperature at Bagnell Dam is 81 degrees with upstream temperatures of 79 to 83 degrees depending on location and time of day. A thermocline is setting up 8 to 11 feet deep throughout much of the lake. The lake is clearing but rising water levels are causing some floating debris, boaters should exercise caution.
BLACK BASS – It took 18.2 pounds to win the Wednesday Evening tournament, Big Bass was 5.9 pounds. Lower Osage: Excellent on Bullseye jigs, Carolina-rigged Zoom Brush Hogs, crankbaits like Norman’s N series and Storm’s Wiggle Wart. Glaize Arm: Very good on jigs and shaky head rigs on main and secondary points. Try Zara Spooks or Rebel Pop R’s early and late. Mid-Lake: Good on jigs and spinnerbaits fished half to in the backs of coves, also try crankbaits like Storm’s Wiggle Wart and Norman’s Little N fished in shallow water. Niangua Arm: Very good with red shad or blue-flake Texas-rigged 10-inch Berkley Power Worms around brush, also try Texas-rigged Berkley HAVOC Craw Fatty and Norman’s Little N on points and flats. Gravois Arm: Very good on small crankbaits, spinnerbaits and Bullseye jigs. Upper Osage: Very good on main lake points with jerkbaits. Osage 60 MM: Very good on main lake points with Carolina-rigged watermelon-red-flake colored Zoom Brush Hogs. Early and late try topwater poppers or jointed Arbogast Jitterbugs.
CATFISH – Bagnell Tailwater: Good on cut shad and beef spleen when the flow is good. Lower Osage: Try traditional catfish baits using rod and reel. Glaize Arm: Good on chicken liver or live bait on juglines. Mid-Lake: Good drifting with live shad. Niangua Arm: Good on rod and reel with shad sides fished on the bottom. Little Niangua River: Very good on blood bait when there is current. Also try limblines at night. Gravois Arm: Good drifting with chicken livers. Upper Osage: Good on cut shad or shrimp. Osage 60 MM: Very good on juglines baited with goldfish or nightcrawlers. Truman Tailwater: Fair on cut shad.
CRAPPIE – Bagnell Tailwater: Fair. Lower Osage: Very good on small Sebile jerkbaits. Glaize Arm: Fish are suspended; try jigs with blue and white or chartreuse. Mid-Lake: Good, fish are 2 to 4 feet deep on pea gravel. Niangua Arm: Fair to good on small crankbaits fished in front of docks and suspended in front of flats. Also try red-and-chartreuse Road Runners around brush. Gravois Arm: Very good on minnows, Road Runners or small Sebile jerkbaits fished 5 to 10 feet deep. Upper Osage: Good with minnows tipped with Crappie Nibbles. Osage 60 MM: Good on medium minnows fished 15 to 18 feet deep. Truman Tailwater: Fair on minnows or Slab Hunter jigs, they are still spawning.
WALLEYE – Mid-Lake: Fish are starting to show up on primary points, try trolling points and flats with crankbaits. Niangua Arm: Fair, try trolling flats and points with Norman’s Little N or Cordell’s Wally Diver. Truman Tailwater: No reported fish.
WHITE AND HYBRID BASS – Bagnell Tailwater: Poor. Lower Osage: Fair to good for hybrids on points. Glaize Arm: Good on white jigs or cut shad. Mid-Lake: Fair, try trolling points and flats with small crankbaits or 1/4-ounce Road Runners. Gravois Arm: Fair in creeks, try Road Runners and Rooster Tails. Osage 60 MM: Good on Bass Pro Shops Lazer Eye XPS 300 or equivalent Bandit crankbait. Truman Tailwater: Excellent on white bass using Worden’s Rooster Tails, Slab Hunters and Rebel Wee-R’s.
BLUEGILL – Excellent, try around docks with worm pieces or Berkley’s Gulp nightcrawler pieces.
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 – Mike Foree @ Osage Beach Bait & Tackle (573-348-9333); Glaize Arm – Melton’s Rawhide Trading Post (873-2380); Midlake – John Blankenbeker (573-280-1455); Niangua Arm – Darrell Taylor; Gravois – Mike Foree; Upper Osage – Guide Wayne Clemons (573-345-0123); Little Niangua River – Greenmill Campground, (573-363-5577); Osage 60 MM – Osage Tackle Co. (www.superslabseries.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
A. M. P. M.
Minor Major Minor Major
10 12:51 7:04 1:17 7:30
11 1:38 7:51 2:05 8:18
12 2:26 8:40 2:54 9:08
13 * 3:16 9:31 3:46 10:00
14 ** 4:10 10:25 4:40 10:55
15 *** 5:08 11:22 5:37 11:52
16 *** (F) 6:07 ----- 6:35 12:21
17 ** 7:06 12:52 7:33 1:19
18 * 8:03 1:51 8:28 2:16
19 8:58 2:46 9:21 3:10
20 9:49 3:38 10:11 4:00
21 10:36 4:26 10:57 4:47
22 11:20 5:10 11:40 5:30
23 ----- 5:52 12:02 6:12
24 12:21 6:32 12:42 6:53
25 1:00 7:11 1:22 7:33
26 1:40 7:52 2:04 8:15
27 2:22 8:34 2:47 8:59
28 * 3:06 9:19 3:32 9:45
29 ** 3:54 10:07 4:21 10:34
30 ***(N) 4:45 10:59 5:13 11:26
Day ratings for fish activity
* = Good ** = Better *** = Best
(F) = Full Moon (N) = New Moon
Compiled by Darrell Taylor
