Missouri Lakes Fishing Report by Steve Wilson

Lake - Lake of The Ozarks 05/10/06:

Bass are biting top to bottom on Lake of the Ozarks!

Lake level: 658 medium generation is scheduled for the next few days. Predicted lake levels of 658.4, 658.8 and 659.2. Truman lake level: 708.53

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

Dam and Gravois areas: Clear with some stained to dirty 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 up to Tan Tara. They have adjusted and moved into the new water and started beds. There is a lot of spots but some good largemouths are up to.

If you can’t you most likely need a new pair of sunglasses. And without a good pair of sunglasses the glare keeps you from seeing into the water. I use Maui Jims because they have a real glass polarized lens. This makes all the deference in the world. I take people on guide trips and they can’t see a thing. Put on the glasses and there they are. And with the full moon coming up there are going to be even more up!

This will be the last wave of spawners and then they will be done. And all you will have in the shallows in this part of the lake is males guarding fry. The females are still parked on those small secondary points just in front of the spawning pockets. If you see males on beds you know there are females near. I usually start off with topwaters in the mournings on these fish.( Chuggers and spooks) After that the carolina rig is the easiest way to catch these fish. Because the weight is away from the bait it also keeps that green slim off your lure.Which is key to this technique.

That green slim will go away soon. It is from the water being low and clear. Employ the rig in 4'-12' range of these small points. Experiment with the speed of the drag sometimes they want it fast others really slow. As for as plastics. Use a wide variety. That is what the MAO-Store is for. It pays to use something different and you can get by with darker colors now there is a little color in the water.

Glaize: Clear with the upper Glaize stained to dirty. 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. The fish relating to deeper brush and brush around docks can be caught on Texas rigged worms, tubes and jigs.

In the upper Glaize there is a good post spawn crankbait and spinnerbait bite around the horizontal wood on flats. A big 10" power worm also catches these fish. On out of the Glaize towards Tan Tara and Linn Creek the topwater bite picks up on the points. Those same points are good for the carolina rig.

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, chuggers and buzzbaits.

After the mourning action if you don’t like to carolina rig points you can pitch the back of docks with RattleBack Jigs. I like 3/8 in Blk/Blue for these conditions when there is a little color in the water. This technique is all about patience you’ll catch less keepers but better quality fish. For more bites just switch to a lizard or brush hog and pitch to the same targets. In buddy tournaments it pays to have one angler pitching plastics and the one with the most patience fish the jig.

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. It is almost just right to have some really good flooded cover. Right now the fishing is much better on the lower Osage where you can Texas rig plastics in the spawning cuts are carolina rig points at 4'-8'.

The upper Osage has been very turbulent with all the water rushing out of Truman Dam. But that will change soon. The fish move into the newly flooded areas fast. There is a lot of baitfish feeding on the nutrients in the newly flooded cover. Now granted there are a lot less fish here than on the lower end of this lake and they are spread out with the rising water but this is adventure in its purest form.

With all the growth bass will be using different cover than they used in the past. Fish shallow and cover water. Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and square billed crankbaits work good whenever you need to cover water. Once you establish what cover they are keying on then slow down and pitch the worms, tubes 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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