Missouri Lakes Fishing Report by Steve Wilson

Lake - Lake of The Ozarks 01/25/06:

Winter Patters Remain Steady at Lake of the Ozarks!

Lake level: 657.08 The lake came up slightly. There is no generation scheduled for the next few days. The lake should remain steady at 657.1 Truman lake level: 705.93

Garmin surface temps: Dam and Gravois 44 on Northern banks in the Dam area to upper 30's in the upper Gravois. Glaize 43 to upper 30's in the upper portions of the Glaize. Main Osage from Tool Bridge to Hurricane Deck 43-41. Nianguas 41-45 degrees.

Dam to Gravois area: The fish are sticking with the jerkbaits on the secondary points pattern. This pattern is holding true on most of the lake. It just fishes different in different sections of the lake. In this portion of the lake. Make longer casts towards the secondary points using 8-10# line. And pick jerkbaits that are more natural in color.

The Japanese translucent ones are hard to beat. Try the one MAO E-Store has from Specialty Tackle called deadly black. This bait along with both Lucky Craft Pointers 78-100 and MegaBass 110 in blue translucent colors have really been working great this winter.

The short pockets that are near deep channel bluffs have the best secondary points. The best ones are where everything in the cove is steep and there is a pea gravel secondary point. This rock transition seems to always hold feeding bass when these variables are present. Don’t forget to throw a wiggle wart on these points before you leave them.

On warm days they have been biting the crankbait really well. Green Crawdad and natural Crawdad #37 have been working awfully good. You can also find these at MAO-Store. They are getting a awfully good selection of lures and colors at that store. Which is nice with the cost of gas. I would rather spend my money on boat gas then driving around looking for baits.

In the mid Gravois (Soap, Cedar and Indian Creeks) there is a good little jig bite (5/16 Eakins Jig) Fish steep banks inside the creeks. Fish from 6-14' deep. Behind docks with brush have been holding better fish. Green Pumpkin and PBJ have been the top colors.

Glaize area: The fishing gets tougher here as the season wears on. The release fish start to disperse and are able to reach the Osage because the tournament fisherman aren’t catching them and taking them back to PB 2. You can really see the difference.

There are some relating to the secondary points in the coves. But my best success in the Glaize has been on the steep channel bluffs at the mouth of the Glaize to a couple miles past PB 2. Jerkbaits and jigs. The jerkbaits I fish off the steep points and let them suspend for a good minute. Then barely move them and let them suspend some more.

Patience catches the biggest fish using this technique. That and a suspended jerkbait that is tuned perfectly. On cloudy days fish 5/16 jig right against the rocks. Fish it out to about 6-8'. Do the bass a favor and every keeper you catch in the Glaize release anywhere else. Over population leads to disease. And that is not good for anyone.

Tool Bridge to Hurricane Deck Bridge: Some of the best fishing water right now is in the little pockets off the main Osage. The ones that have secondary points and steep channel banks on the western side of the cove will have a little warmer water on there banks. The water has a little stain to it once you get past the mouth of the Glaize.

So the fish will be a little shallower. Jerkbaits, 5/16 jigs and wiggle warts all work good in this area. Fish them on the same secondary point and steep channel bank structures you would in the lower end. If the bank has some cover in the form of boat docks all the better. But it is not necessary. It is the vertical rocks of the channel banks that hold these winter fish.

Nianguas: The same patterns are working in this area also. The only difference is the spinnerbait bite. Work the spinnerbait and wiggle wart along creek channel banks in this portion of the lake. The wiggle wart will take numbers. And the slow rolled spinnerbait will take the quality fish. White for the spinnerbait and crawdad color on the wiggle wart (#37)

Osage River: I haven’t been fishing the Osage river much. There hasn’t been any reason to yet. The fishing has been too good within 4 miles off my house to venture much further. I have been saving my gas money for this spring. It is going to be unreal here! We should see some really big fish showing up at weigh-ins this spring.

Thanks and Good Luck!

Note: Thanks for all the support for BassFactory Instructional Bass Fishing Trips. I am booking up really fast for this Spring. So check your calendars, reserve a date and Lets Go Fishing!!!!!!!! To inquire about or book a trip email me at BassFactory@Netzero.Net or call 314-406-3913

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