Missouri Lakes Fishing Report by Steve Wilson

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

June is one of the best month of the year to catch numbers of quality bass at Lake of the Ozarks. Bass are feeding aggressively after the spawn and migrating from mid depth structure to deep structure.

Lake level: 659. 34 minimum generation. Light generation scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Predicted lake levels of 659.4 and 659.2 for those two days. Truman lake level: 707.66

Water temps: The weather has been pretty mild this week and temps have stayed the same. Low 70's in the Dam area in the mourning and high 70's in the shallows of the river in the afternoon. The main lake is averaging 74-76 degrees.

Dam and Gravois areas: Clear with some stained in the back of the Gravois and larger creeks. This area of the lake is mostly post spawn to summer patterns. Sure there are a few still in the pockets on beds. But the majority of the population is finished and moving to structure. At this time of year it is important to know where the fish have been (spawning pocket) and where they are going (deep structure in the form of a point, hump or ledge). The key is to find mid-depth structure ( ledge) from 4'-12'. These migrating fish will pass right through this zone headed towards deep structure from 14'-25' on the main lake. They can be caught on Zara Spooks good in the mourning and cloudy days. Fish docks around these structure zones. On sunny calm days fish texas rigged power worms in the 7" and 10" size and jigs through the brush on the structure. A carolina rig can also be used and works better if the position of the brush is not exactly located. Night fishing is very productive this time of year around the same structure and the dock brush. I fish two baits at night. 10" Blk/Neon Power Worm and a ½ Blk short arm spinnerbait with a #4 Colorado blade. Both on 20# line. I would much rather fish during the day though. Hot, sunny and calm conditions with current generating puts fish tighter to cover.

Glaize: Clear with the upper Glaize stained. The better largemouth are on the steeper points. They can be caught on topwaters in the mournings. After the topwater bite dies down. Fish the mid to deep structure with carolina rigs, texas rigs and jigs. These fish want a big meal but they don’t want to work hard to get it. Most fish are being caught on carolina rigs with big plastics (brush hogs and power worms) But once you locate the cover(brush) switch to the texas rig or jig and fish the brush slower. Up the Glaize there is some fish biting spinnerbaits and shallow cranks fished through horizontal wood on flats.

Nianguas: Clear with some stained in the upper portions of both rivers. Bass can be caught on topwaters such as Zara Spooks, chuggers and buzzbaits in the mournings or cloudy days. After the mourning action 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. Docks on creek channel banks with 45 degree banks have been best. Fish the brush in back of these docks slowly. There is also some good structure fishing around the first couple of miles of Big Niangua and the mouth of the Little Niangua. There are a few good points that drop off into the channel with brush on them.

Osage river: Stained to about 40 mile marker then it starts to color up and dirty past the 60 mile marker. The fishing has been more consistent on the structure just inside creeks from Hurricane Deck Bridge to the 50 mile marker. The fish are doing the same things they are doing on the lower lake. The difference is the structure is shallower. Carolina and texas rigs, football jigs and medium running cranks have all been good on structure from 4'-8'. On up the river where the water is dirty. The fish can be caught on traditional shallow techniques (Spinnerbait, shallow cranks and flipping). But these fish are moving in and out of the flooded cover as they raise and lower the lake a few inches. For example if it is 659.8 they are in the flooded grass with there backs almost out of the water. At 659.3 they pull out to the wood and docks in 2'-5' of water. It is amazing how much a person can learn from this lake everyday. This lake is almost 100 miles of adventure. We are blessed to have this type of recreation. What a great country we live in!

Thanks and Good Luck!

Note* On June 10th There is a special benefit tournament out of PB 2 for Ursula McQuire. Marty Mc Quire of Marty’s Marine wife. A few months back she was diagnosed with cancer. These is a great way for fishermen to help out another fisherman. So check your calendar and try to attend this tournament. If you can’t attend and would like to make a donation.

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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