Missouri Lakes Fishing Report by Steve Wilson

Lake - Lake of The Ozarks 03/07/06:

Great fishing! Both numbers and size at Lake of the Ozarks! But the best is still ahead with warm rains expected to fall on area lakes and raise the water temps.

Lake level: 654.6 lake levels are expected to remain steady at 654.6 for the next few days. Runoff from rain could change this if there is a good soaking.

Truman lake level: 705.68

Garmin surface temps: Dam and Gravois area: 43-47 Glaize 44-upper 40's on up the Glaize. Main Osage Toll bridge to Hurricane Deck Bridge 44-46 Nianguas 43-upper 40's in upper portion of Big Niangua. Osage above Hurricane Deck Bridge 43-47

Dam and Gravois: Clear. There are fish being caught a number of ways in the lower end. But jerkbaits and jigs have been catching the bulk of the large fish. I know of two big fish one over 8#’s caught on a Specialty Tackle Z-Wave jerkbait (That can be found at the MAO E-Store) and another 9 ½ #er that was caught on a Pointer 100. Most of the jerkbait fish are being caught on secondary points.

These points can be pea gravel or chunk rock. But the key is to have deep water in the form of a channel near by. Now that the water is warmer speed up the retrieve on the jerkbaits. Shad colors are working best. In the Gravois there is some warmer water in the creeks. Fish the creek channel banks. You will notice rock transitions on these banks. Example(Bluff to chunk rock) Fish them with 5/16 Finesse Jigs and 1/4 RattleBack jigs in natural colors. (Greens and Browns)

Ignore the docks and fish the rocks form the banks on out to about 8-10' Also fish wiggle wart in crawdad colors on the same transitions. The wiggle wart bite is starting to really get good.

Glaize: Clear: These area has been starting to produce strong. There is also some warmer water and wiggle wart conditions on up the Glaize. After the rain this area should turn on real good. It offers lots of undeveloped shorelines that have excellent main river and creek rock transitions. The jerkbait bite in this area is on main and secondary points.

The main points are bluff end. And the secondaries are in the back of pockets. The same areas are also producing jig fish. Football jigs with chompers grubs fished around and through brush on points. Natural colors are best. Green Pumpkin and PBJ are hard to beat. Some fish are also being caught on traditional chompers fished on light jig heads and 8-10# line. These lures are being fished on secondaries. Cast them out and reel them in slow bouncing them on the bottom every few feet or so.

Nianguas: Clear to slightly stained. Rock transitions in creeks are where the fish are in the Nianguas. Lure options very with water color and temp in this area. Around the stained water that’s in the mid 40's The wiggle wart and jig have been producing best.

In the clearer cooler water in Little Niangua and Lower Big Niangua jerkbaits are best. In the real clear water in the upper Big Niangua try switching to a more translucent crawdad colored wiggle wart. One thing is for sure about the Nianguas. One day the bite can be the best in the world. Then the next is a whole different story. I think the warm water from the springs keeps them on the move here.

Osage River: Clear to Stained. The river is very low and clear. Could use some rain. Any one headed up river over the weekend should use caution. With lake levels where there at right now sandbars will be exposed. And you can’t get back into creeks the way you can when the water is up. But the fishing has started to pick up in this area. The fish are on rock transitions in the creeks.

Jigs and wiggle warts fished on the channel banks. Natural colors are working now. But look for Blk/blue to be good after the rain. Also enough rain will dirty up this section of the lake and make it a real gamble for this weekend. But there are good fish up there and that’s why they make colors such as blk and chart. Though it usually takes a few days after the rain for everything to settle for the river to produce again.

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.

There is a new Tackle Store in Osage Beach (Right next to Town and Country Motel) called Osage Beach Bait & Tackle 573-348-9333. They have a good inventory to support your tackle needs when your down at the lake.

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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