Missouri Lakes Fishing Report by Steve Wilson

Lake - Lake of The Ozarks 05/03/06:

The Lake of the Ozarks has come up three feet since last week. But that didn’t seem to hurt the fishing.

Lake level: 657.8 Heavy generation is scheduled this should keep the lake steady at 657.9 Truman lake level: 708.19

Water temps low 60's to upper 60's.

Dam and Gravois areas: Clear with some stained water coming in the back of the Gravois and larger creeks. You can still seem them on their beds in this part of the lake. The largemouth seem to have stayed at the original lake level and the spotted bass have moved up and set up beds in the new water.

They are easy to catch But don’t weigh very much. The bigger largemouths are being caught on carolina rigs fished from 4'-8' in front of spawning pockets. This pattern works all day and you can catch fish on numerous plastics. In the mourning don’t overlook the topwater bite. With fish in the post spawn phase cruising the banks early mourning topwater can be very effective.

Glaize: Clear with the upper Glaize stained. The carolina rig bite prevails in the Glaize. Mainly a post spawn thing. The fish are relating to gently sloping banks in front of spawning coves. They aren’t real deep 4'-10' range. There are also a few spawning fish in the backs of docks. I like to pitch tubes at these fish. I like the 4" flipping tube (Crock-O-Gator) on 15-20# line 3/16 or 5/16 weight depending on wind.

I use natural colors when I can’t see the fish and bright colors when I can. You can get a great selection of tubes at the MAO-Store. I know I need to get some really bad. Light finesse jigs like the Eakins jig fish behind the docks and on the points is also working. PBJ has been the most popular color. For something a little different try fishing shallow up the Glaize in the newly flooded cover for post spawn fish. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits work good up here.

Nianguas: Clear with some stained in the upper portions of both rivers. This area of the lake is mostly post spawn. There are a few spots on beds but the female largemouths have finished up and are on steeper points leading into creeks. They can be caught on topwaters such as Zara Spooks. In the mourning you can usually get one or two to bite then switch to carolina rigging points or fish for males along pea gravel banks. If you want numbers go with a small texas rigged lizard or sweet beaver in a natural color fished on the pea gravel banks. For larger fish go with a 3/8 Rattleback jig and pitch it behind the docks.

Osage river: Stained to about 40 mile marker then it starts to color up and get really dirty past the 60 mile marker with lots of floating stuff to hit with a boat! The bass are starting to adjust to the new water. This will be really good eventually for the river. The flooded cover will provide plenty of places to hide for the newly hatched fry. Hopefully they hatched before the water came up.

The river needs a good spawn. Right now the fishing is better on the lower Osage. This part of the Osage river has steeper banks and doesn’t change as much on a 3 ft rise as the flatter upper Osage. Fish can be caught on Eakins jigs fished in front of the spawning coves. Fish the 45 degree banks that you fished during the pre spawn. The upper Osage raised 3 feet in one week. That’s a big change in a fishes world. They need few days to adjust so by this weekend they should of moved into that newly flooded areas and be catchable on spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and jigs.

Thanks and Good Luck!

Note: Between Osage Beach Bait & Tackle (Located near Town and Country Motel-PB 2 area) and District 78 Tackle Shop (Located in Standing Rock Hollow 32 mile marker of the Osage by water-Red Oak Resort by Land.) You should have all your tackle needs taken care of at Lake of the Ozarks. They both carry premium tackle. The good stuff!

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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