Missouri Lakes Fishing Report by Steve Wilson

Lake - Lake of The Ozarks 12/27/06:

Some of the biggest fish of the year are caught during the winter months at Lake of the Ozarks. And this is the best time of year to catch a trophy spotted bass.

Lake level: 658.14 Minimum generation is scheduled for the next few days. This should hold the lake steady at 658.2 Truman lake level: 705.51

Water temp: Temps are around 48-50 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 in the 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. This portion of the lake gets the bulk of the winter fishing pressure. It is the warmest and the clearest. The water cools off as you head up the Gravois. In the warmer water of the main channel and the mouth of the Gravois fish can be caught on the vertical bluff points and rock slides. Heavy football jigs with trailers that make a larger profile (Paca chunk and Zoom Super Chunk) fished right against the bluffs out to 30' has been consistently taking fish in this area of the lake. On inside the Gravois the jerkbait and wiggle wart fished on the creek channel banks have been taking a few fish. These same banks can also be fished with finesse jigs and chompers grubs. Don’t overlook any pea gravel secondary points in this section of the lake. Especially with a slow rising lake. Pointer 100's are very productive on those secondaries.

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. The steep bluffs where the channel touches are holding fish. Jigs have been the best way to get them. If they are holding right against the rocks in 2'-12' the 5/16 ball head jig is best. If they are deeper and positioned off the bluff wall fish a ½-3/4 football head. Give this jig some bulk it is dark down there and they need to feel this bait push a lot of water. In the small feeder creeks of the lower Glaize fish jerkbaits and wiggle warts. Shad colored jerkbaits and crawdad colored wigglewarts.

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. There is good fishing on the main river bluffs in this area of the lake also. Same technique as the other sections. They do prefer a darker colored jig down deep though. Blk/Blue flk has been working good. On the days where the wind is blowing you off those deep spots. The small channel banks in the feeder creeks can offer some shelter from the wind. Chompers, finesse jigs, jerkbaits and wiggle warts all work on these banks.

Thanks and Good luck!

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