Missouri Lakes Fishing Report by Steve Wilson

Lake - Lake of The Ozarks 08/02/06:

Summer heat is peaking. And the fishing is getting tougher. But you can still catch quality fish in numbers at Lake of the Ozarks.

Lake level: 658.34 with minimum generation scheduled for the next few days. Predicted lake levels of 658.3 for the next few days. Truman lake level: 705.04

Water temps: The main channel is running 84-87 degrees. And the creeks up the rivers 88-90 degrees.

Dam and Gravois areas: Clear with some stained in the back of the Gravois. Patterns have remained the same. Just the bites are harder to come by. The majority of the bass are either deep on structure relating to brush piles or suspended under deeper docks. The big fish (the ones on the deep structure) are biting both day and better at night on the same locations. Look for cover (brush) on points, humps in 12'-25' deep. During the day ½ -3/4 football jigs in PBJ and Watermelon and 10" Power worms in Watermelon and Blue/Flk. Texas or carolina rigged depending on how vertical you are fishing. There is also some fish being caught on the DD 22 above brush in 12'-16'. They have a good selection of deep cranks at the MAO-Store. Another developing pattern that is just starting to show up in the upper Gravois is: Shallow docks and wood on flats. These fish are set up on cover ambushing passing baitfish. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits and pitching plastic worms to the cover is producing fish.

Glaize: Clear with the upper Glaize stained. Fish are still biting in the brush on structure. The boat traffic is awful though. This is best early in the mourning. Football jigs and 10" Power Worms in Green colors and Blue/Flk . You can find plenty of Jewel Football jigs and Power Wroms at Osage ait and Tackle near PB 2. Up the Glaize around PB 1 the water gets some color to it. You will also start to pick up the bait fish in this area. It is a lot quieter here and fishing can be very good at times. The key is to go as far as you can up the Glaize. Fish can be caught topwaters, spinnerbaits and crankbaits on the horizontal wood on the channel banks and flats. A 10" Power worms or Brush Hog is also productive around that wood.

Nianguas: Clear with some stained in the upper portions of both rivers. At the mouth of the Nianguas near the Hwy 5 Bridge the few points near the channel with brush are holding structure fish. Football jigs, Texas rigged worms and DD 22's have been taking the better structure fish. When the get fussy a drop shot finesse worm works good. The brush around boat docks dominates the night bite. Blk 10" Power Worms and ½ RattleBack Jigs. During the day bass can be caught many different ways. Jigs and plastics around the docks are a great way to catch the better fish. There are also some relating to the horizontal wood on flats. Buzzbaits, spinnerbait and cranks catch them. More pods of shad are starting to show up this week.

Osage river: Stained to about 40 mile marker then it starts to color up and dirty past the 60 mile marker. The fishing will improve in the river now the baitfish are starting to group up and come off the bottom. Even though it seems like it is late in the day when they get the most active. Shad are late sleepers. It takes sun to bring them off the bottom. There are fish doing a lot of different things in the river. The water level has dropped fast enough that it is pulled the better fish off shallow wood and put them on deeper docks with brush. Plastic lures such as brush hogs, beavers and plastic worms in dark colors have been producing best. During the hottest part of the day the fish have been suspending right under the foam. Try swimming a 3/8 Rattle back jig in any color that resembles a bluegill 2' to 4' under the deeper docks. It seems they want that jig fast to provoke a reaction strike. Spinnerbait and crankbaits will catch the smaller fish. But it takes a jig to skip way into the shadows of the docks where the bigger fish are hiding. The horizontal wood on flats is holding fish. But only if shad are present. Smaller crankbaits and spinnerbaits have been producing some fish.

Thanks and Good Luck!

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

Click here to email Steve Wilson and
schedule your fully guided dream trip today.