Missouri Lakes Fishing Report by Steve Wilson

Lake - Lake of The Ozarks 06/14/06:

The fishing has remained good to excellent at Lake of the Ozarks! Patterns remain the same with many fish moving deep to summer structure.

Lake level: 659.07 with no generation scheduled for the next few days. This will hold the lake steady at 659.1 Truman lake level: 707.58

Water temps: The weather has been pretty mild this week. But the weekend featured warm air temps raising the water temps. High 70's in the Dam area in the mourning and low 80's in the shallows of the river in the afternoon. The main lake is averaging 78-82 degrees.

Dam and Gravois areas: Clear with some stained in the back of the Gravois and larger creeks. This area of the lake is in normal summer patterns. Most of the fish are being caught from 8' down to the 14'-16' zone during the day. 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 isn’t exactly located. Deep diving cranks are effective to. Check out the MAO Store and see the Specialty tackle deep diver. Those along with the Rapala DT 14 and 16 in shad have been productive. 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.

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, jigs and deep cranks. 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. There are some bass in the shallow pockets eating spawning bluegill. They can be caught on topwaters fished around and above bluegill beds.

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. There are good main and secondary creek points from the bridge all the way to the 60 mile marker. Carolina and texas rigs, football jigs and medium running cranks have all been good on structure from 4'-8'. Above the 60 mile marker where the water is much dirtier. The bite gets shallower from 2'-6' The fish are getting on the docks with brush and being caught on 3/8 Rattleback jigs in Blk/blue and 10" Power worms in Blk/Neon and Blk/Blue. These are better females. The keepers are setting up on horizontal wood and are feeding on spawning shad and bluegill. They will bite a buzzbait good in the mourning and switch to a chart/white spinnerbait or square bill crank as the sun comes out.

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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