Missouri Lakes Fishing Report by Steve Wilson

Lake - Lake of The Ozarks 04/10/08:

Here comes the rain again! Strong storms are threatening the lake of the Ozark area again. But the worst of it looks to be to the south of here. Last nights rain raised the lake some pouring a little more mud into the system. But if we don’t get too much more rain the lake will recover fast. This weeks fishing has been pretty good with the warmer water temps courtesy of last weekends good weather. And some areas of the lake were starting to clear up.  

Lake level: 659.11 and rising. Heavy generation is scheduled to keep up with all this water. So this weekend if we get anymore rain you my see the lake at 660. But they will drop it just as fast as they can. They are trying to get it around 658. Truman 716.8 and rising. 

Water temps: 50-56 degrees Water temps will drop some this weekend with the cold front.    
 
Gravois and Dam area to the Toll Bridge. There is dirty water in the main channel of the Osage all the way to Bagnell Dam. The key is to look for the mixing conditions which change daily. Sometimes hourly. I am trying to fish this lake like a new lake every time the conditions change this spring. This is the advantage of being a pattern fishermen over an area fishermen. I know I just move around with the changing conditions and apply my patterns with in the area with the best conditions. If an area fishermen has their spot washed out by mud. There are a few ways to catch them on the lower end. Jigs, spinnerbaits and wiggle warts. The wiggle warts and the jigs are working good on the channel banks with rock transitions and behind docks. The spinnerbait works good when it is slow rolled around the available cover. Such as docks, brush and rocks. And there is still a few fish being caught on bright colored jerkbaits.

 
 Glaize: Cold muddy water. It is still screwed up in this area of the lake. Some portions were starting to clear but this last rain put a end to that. Fish can still be caught here. But the muddy water has really turned them off. If you must. Try a large profiled bait. Big spinnerbait or a big jig fished in the best quality water you can find. You need to bump them in the nose to get a strike. So they will be close to cover.  

Nianguas: The Niangaus were starting to get in good shape. Then this rain ruined it just like the Glaize. It is a shame because this section of the lake can clear up and get right in a hurry. And that is what was happening this week. Right now it is pretty muddy. The fish have been biting on wiggle warts and jigs fished on channel banks. Also some fish were staging on the secondary points in the warmer water.  

Osage River: Very Muddy strong current in upper sections. More fishable stained to muddy conditions in the lower Osage near Hurricane Deck Bridge. The amount of quality water is shrinking with every rain storm in this portion of the lake. The first big rain storm in March completely missed the Osage. But the second dumped 3.5" of rain in the upper Osage. With all the generation the mudline was pulled down the lake pretty fast. This week sections were starting to clear out. But this last rain has hurt that process. The best bite has been on wiggle warts, jigs and spinnerbaits. Patterns that are the same as the other sections of thelake. Just the quality of the water isn’t as good here as other sections of the lake. 

Thanks and Good Luck!

Note: If you are a tournament angler and your not catching fish under these conditions you might want to think about investing in a Bassfactory trip. You will see how I hunt clearing conditions and catch fish in this high muddy water. This experience will go along way next time you are in a tournament situation like this.  If you have any questions about fishing patterns/lures or would like to book a trip at Bassfactory Instructional Fishing Trips send me an email at Bassfactory@Charter.net

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