Missouri Lakes Fishing Report by Steve Wilson

Lake - Lake of The Ozarks 12/20/06:

Good winter fishing at Lake of the Ozarks. It would be great if the water level were lower and the lake weren't rising. But this lake is so good that there is always fish to catch despite the conditions.

Lake level: 658.00 Minimum generation is scheduled for the next few days. Predicted levels of 658.10, 658.12 and 658.14 for the next few days.

Water temp: Temps are around 50 degrees in the Bagnell Dam and mouth of the Gravois areas. The water temps drop to mid 40's just past Hurricane Deck Bridge. Water temps are low 40's further up the river. (For winter fishing you want to focus on the warmer clearer water of the middle to lower end of the lake. Reports for the next couple of months will focus on the Dam/Gravois area, Glaize area and main Osage from Toll Bridge to Hurricane Deck Bridge.)

Bagnell Dam and Gravois area: Clear with stained water in the upper Gravois. What is good about this area right is the diversity of water temps. You can find 50 degree water and water in the mid 40's. In the warmer water fish wiggle warts and white spinnerbaits along chunk rock channel banks inside creeks (coves) In the cooler water fish jigs along the same type banks. Jerkbaits are also catching a few fish. At the end of these channel banks are usually a secondary point. Jerkbaits and wiggle warts fished on these secondaries catch good fish. The best ones have pea gravel and a gentle slope into a creek channel. When you find a good creek (cove) with a good channel bank and secondary point the fish will move to the secondary point and back to the channel bank as the water falls. On the bluffs and bluff ends fish jerkbaits in shad colors and football jigs in natural colors.

Glaize area: Clear with stained water in the upper Glaize. The bite is much the same in this area as the lower end. The fishing is best in the lower Glaize. It gets too cold as you go up the Glaize this time of year. The best bite has been on the bluffs and the small creek channel banks in the natural coves. Football jigs in the ½ to 5/8 size is best for the steeper bluffs and drop back to 5/16 to 3/16 for the creek channels. Jigs are taking the bulk of the fish. But jerkbaits and wiggle warts are also working.

Osage from the Toll Bridge to Hurricane Deck Bridge: Clear with slightly stained water in the Hurricane Deck Bridge area. The fishing is better as you go down the lake towards the Toll Bridge. Out on the main river bluffs fish 5/8 are larger football jigs from 8' down to 20' Natural colors work better when the fish are holding shallower and blk/blues work good on those deep fish. The warm front we had over the weekend warmed the water temps in this area and turned on the wiggle wart bite. The short channel banks in the creeks are holding those fish. If those fish refuse the crankbait. Turn around on the same bank and fish a 5/16 to 3/16 finesse jig.

Thanks and Good luck!

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