Missouri Lakes Fishing Report by Steve Wilson

Lake - Lake of The Ozarks 01/03/07:

The bite continues to be strong as the calendar turns into 2007. A great year of fishing in the Ozarks is ahead.

Lake level: 658.20 Minimum generation is scheduled for the next few days. This should hold the lake steady at 658.2 Truman lake level: 705.96

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 bite has changed slightly since the rains last weekend. The fish seem to be on the bottom more and near brush. Which helps the jig bite. The water temps are a lot warmer than last year at this time. Which opens up more pattern possibilities. (Spinnerbait) But for the most part jigs, jerkbaits and wiggle warts (traditional winter lures) are taking the majority of the bass. Fish are located on the steeper bluff channel banks on the main lake and in the creeks. Also secondary points are a big deal with the water level this high at this time of the year. Usually the lake is pulled down pretty good at this time of year. Pick you jigs based on the depth you are fishing. If you are fishing main lake bluffs. A 5/8 Jewel football jig is hard to beat if your fishing 10'-30' down on the ledges. If you are fishing the steep banks in the creeks 3/16-5/16 is a better size.

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 ½-5/8 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. The water temps drop as you head up lake. The fishing is the best in the small feeder creeks that are known as coves. Fish the steeper sides where the winter fish hold up. If there is a lot of docks on the steep bank the jig is the best way to go. Search around the dock for brush piles with your lure. Once brush is located fish it very slowly. On natural channel banks fish wiggle warts and jerkbaits. This allows you to cover more water since there is less docks which makes the brush harder to locate on these banks.

Thanks and Good luck!

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