MISSOURI FISHING REPORTS
Posted: 04/29/2004
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Updated 04/29/04
Report by: The Bait Stop
CLOSED DUE TO RENOVATIONS
Updated 04/22/04
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 802.0 Temperature:
Inflow: 30 cfs Outflow: 40 cfs. Level: 0.69 feet high
Report by Forty Woods Bait & Tackle Missouri Wildlife Check In Station Braggin' Board
Catfish biting good around jacomo where the creeks are running in
Hybrids No Report
Trout pond No Report
Crappie good
Striper No Report
Largemouth Bass No Report
Updated 04/22/04
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 656.0 Temperature: 50's to 60's
Outflow: 1852 cfs Level: 10.05 feet low
Report by BULL SHOALS LAKE BOAT DOCK Braggin Board
GENERAL CONDITIONS
Lake Level: hanging around 652, Surface temperature: ranging from the mid 50’s to lower 60’s
We have had a colder than normal April. There were 5 mornings below 30 degrees, which keeps setting back the water temperature. There are several bass making beds on the banks in the cove around the marina. Mostly Largemouth Bass in 2 to 7 feet of water. There are a few Kentucky-Spotted bass beds around. Most of these seem to be in deeper water. The Smallmouth should be making beds too but they are usually in a little deeper water and on flatter gravel points. Bass fishing for all three species has been good. For other species see below.
VISIBILITY- It is very clear here at the Marina. The backs of the creeks have some color in them, as does most of the upper lake from point 18 to the other end of the lake. With the water temp warming up the lake should clear up unless we get a lot of rain.
LARGEMOUTH BASS- There has been several good Largemouth being brought in and reported. We have seen several between the 3 to 5 LB class. It has been several years since we have seen these size of Largemouth. Most of the fisherman have reported lots of 13 – 14 inch largemouth bass which is just under the legal limit. These should be the spawn form the high water of 2002.
SPOTTED KENTUCKY BASS- These are in their usual deeper pattern then the largemouth bass, mostly on the channel swings and brush piles back in the creeks.
SMALLMOUTH BASS- I have seen three 4 LB caught and released here at the marina this week. These are on the gravel flats and pre spawn banks.
BASS PATTERNS-
These are the 3 top patterns right now.These patterns could also work or turn on in the next few weeks.
WALLEYE- I know you won’t believe me but the Walleye are still spawning. Yes, that’s right. I believe they are on the back end of the spawn but they are still doing it. There are not very many being caught yet. The ones that have been cleaned here at the marina are full of eggs and spawn. I have been out in the lake three times in the last two weeks at night. It is easy with the clear water to take a spot light and shine the gravel banks and points and actually see dozens upon dozens of walleye along the bank in 5 to 10 feet of water. These walleye are in little groups of 2’s to 5’s. They are spawning which is late for them. They should turn on any day in this end of the lake.
WHITE BASS- The water temperature has been yo-yoing so the white bass have been doing the same. We have had a few caught back in the creeks and a few schools have surfaced but nothing like the usual "white bass run" that we get. We will have to see if the warmer weather turns them on or if we will miss them like last year.
CRAPPIE- Same deal on the crappie. There are very few being reported or being caught. I guess the water temperature is still to cold for them to turn on. The few that I have seen are being caught on the brush piles or timber bluffs on small minnows, white jigs or small tube jigs. If anybody is catching a bunch then they are keeping it a secret
White River- Fishing has been good. All of our guides are reporting good catches and activity. Same baits as always- worms, salmon eggs, power bait, night crawlers, corn, for live bait. Rapalas, spoons, spinners for artificial.
Updated 04/29/04
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 500.0 Temperature:
Release Rate: 3480 Level: 7.87 feet low
Largemouth Bass fair using soft baits
White Bass fair
Crappie good
Smallmouth Bass fair
Spotted Bass No Report
Catfish fair at night using worms
Bluegill No Report
Updated 04/29/04
Lake Level:
Report by: The Bait Stop
Channel Catfish No Report
Crappie No Report
Largemouth Bass No Report
Updated 04/29/04
Temperature: Level: normal
Sunfish No Report
Largemouth Bass fair using minnows and crankbaits
Crappie fair using small jigs
Catfish No Report
(Below Urich)
Flatheads No Report
Channel Cats No Report
Blue Cats No Report
Crappie No Report
Updated 04/22/04
Temperature: Clarity: Level: 0.00 feet low
The park registration office is now open seven days a week 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Lake Jacomo Park Headquarters.
Report by Forty Woods Bait & Tackle Missouri Wildlife Check In Station Braggin' Board
Catfish No Report
Bluegill slow
Crappie fair
Bass slow
Updated 04/29/04
Temp: 64 clear and high
Channel Catfish fair at Coot and Honker Pond
Largemouth Bass fair at Coot and Honker Pond
Bluegill fair at Coot and Honker Pond
Crappie excellent at Coot and Honker Pond
Updated 04/29/04
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 660.0 Temperature: 62
Inflow: 31800 cfs Outflow: 32300 cfs. Level: 1.92 feet low
Report by Missouri Angler Missouri Angler Buddy Bass Derby
According to AmerenUE the current lake level is 658.84 with heavy generation scheduled for the next three days, which should give the lake a level of 658.3 by Friday, April 30th. The water temperature taken at Bagnell Dam is 62 degrees. Although the lake area had heavy rains this past week, the water color is clearing up and looking good with visibility ranging from 3 to 6 feet.
LARGEMOUTH BASS - EXCELLENT
Since the lake came up a couple of feet this week, the bass have been in 8 to 10 feet of water on the chunk rock/pea gravel mix banks of secondary points and the points of small cuts and pockets in the creeks. The Eakins or Melton jig n trailer (brown/chartreuse, brown/purple and brown/black), Carolina rigged lizards (watermelon red, grn. pumpkin and pumpkin) have been the most productive bite. Topwater has kicked in (Zara Spook and Pop R), buzzbaits, trick worms and Flukes are starting to produce on the same type of structure and around boat docks. The Wiggle Wart and Bandit crankbait is still producing worked parallel on chuck rock banks and off points in the creeks and main lake.SPOTTED BASS (KENTUCKY) - GOOD
Some nice size spots are being caught of the same type of structure as the largemouth with Wiggle Warts and Bandit crankbaits, buzzbaits and the jig n trailer.CRAPPIE - GOOD
The larger crappie have moved off the banks since the lake came up and seem to be a little deeper and can be found 6 to 10 feet on chunk rock banks in the creeks and behind boat docks. Smaller crappie are being caught shallower. Marabou Jigs, tube baits and Road Runners (white, white/chartreuse and white/purple) and minnows tipped with Crappie Nibbles have been the best bite.CATFISH - GOOD
The cats have been active, especially the blues. Jugs baited with cut shad, gold fish, crawdads and shrimp is producing good sized blues, flatheads and channels. Tight lining for channels has also been good with nightcrawlers,shrimp, hot dog chunks and stinkbait fished off chunk rock banks 8 to 12 feet.BLUEGILL - GOOD
The blue have also moved on the banks and can located around the backside of the boat docks and sea walls in 6 to 8 feet of water. Nightcrawlers, red wigglers and wax worms (grubs).WHITES/HYBRIDS - POOR
There hasn't been any reports of whites or hybrids other than a few small whites 10 to 12 inches being caught in the windy creek arm coves and off the points on Mepps Spinners, Road Runners and 1/4 ounce spinnerbaits (white and chartreuse/white).Updated 04/29/04
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 791.0 Temperature: 55
Inflow: 5 cfs Outflow: 52 cfs Level: 0.06 feet high
Channel Catfish fair on trotlines
Flathead slow
Walleye slow
Crappie slow
Largemouth Bass fair
Bluegill slow
White Bass slow
Updated 04/29/04
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 891.0 Temperature:
Inflow: 5 cfs Outflow: 0 cfs Level: 1.19 feet low
Mouse Creek at Longview Lake has a new gate and the area will be closed at 9:00 p.m. and will not reopen until 8:00 a.m. All fisherman need to have their vehicles out of the area by 9:00 p.m. or their vehicles could be locked in for the night and/or ticketed.
Catfish No Report
Bass No Report
Crappie No Report
Updated 04/30/04
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 606.0 Temperature: 58 Water Condition: Dingy - Muddy
Release Rate: 230 Level:0.28 feet high
Report by: South Fork Resort
Lake Level : 606.29
Last Weeks Lake Level: 605.99
Normal Lake Level : 606
Water Condition: Dingy - Muddy
Surface Water Temp: 58 degrees
Crappie fishing has been excellent. It’s been a week of strong winds and occasional rains. Nature has been calling the crappie to the banks, the males have been busy building nests and it now appears the females have moved in. Several limits have been caught this week. Since the rains last Saturday the upper reaches have muddied up and the coves off the mid lake areas have been best, this includes the main lake arms and creeks. Logjams and areas with lots of cover are the place to find them. It’s time to walk or troll along the banks, dangling a jig shallow or using a minnow just below a bobber. Drop the bait slowly through the cover, working your way along the bank and don’t settle into one place if you’re not being productive. If you catch some along a stretch, work it again allowing time for the crappie to move back in. The usual jig colors, black/chartreuse or red/chartreuse. Some areas that we’ve gotten good reports are the mid sections of the South, North and Middle Forks, Indian Creek and lower Lick Creek.
Bruce Carpenters take. The spawn is on!!!! Three of us caught 45 keepers (10-13 inchers) in three hours this morning. Right on the banks in the coves. Now is the time to be catching crappie under a bobber with a minnow! In the backs of coves about 18 inches down under the bobber. Minnows were preferred but you can catch them on jigs also by casting toward the banks. Move quietly and catch those crappie. Should be the best, for the next 5 days. Be careful with the high winds and thunderstorms. Lots of great reports are coming in with mostly 10 inch fish. All areas of the lake are starting to produce!!!! Good luck and take a friend fishing!! Bruce is a guide on Mark Twain Lake.
Prior to last week, the bass fishing was excellent, since then it has slowed down. As related to me, the crappie moved onto the banks and the bass backed off; you just can’t compete with mother nature. Bass can still be caught, but they are deeper at about 6 – 8 feet and just off the nearest dropoff. Spinner baits (chartreuse or white), or jigs have been the most productive. The best reports have come out of the North Fork and Spaulding areas.
Catfishing continues to be excellent. Flatheads, Blues and Channels are being caught. Trotliners are catching some nice size fish in the 30 – 40 lb. range, mostly on perch. The trotline bait of choice is still perch, followed by goldfish and cut shad. Rod and reel fishermen have been catching cats using nightcrawlers. Good reports are still coming out of Elk Fork, Middle Fork and South Fork.
As far as mushrooms are concerned, the early report is that this may not be a very good year for white morels. Be aware that spring turkey season is still open, so please exercise caution when in the woods.
Updated 04/29/04
Temperature:
No Report
ST. JOSEPH AREA
Updated 04/29/04
Report By Don Guess
Channel Cat No ReportUpdated 04/29/04
Temperature: 60 Level: 2.5 feet low Clarity: dingy
Channel Catfish fair
Flathead slow
Largemouth Bass good
Stripers slow
Crappie good using minnow and jigs
Updated 04/29/04
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: Temperature: 60
Level:
Report By: Big Birds Bait Braggin' Board
Check out river bottom lures we stock 8 colors in 4 and 6
inch
Check out the new lx bow by Matthew's
Bluegill using worms
Bass fair on jigs and spinner baits
Crappie fair on minnows and jigs
Catfish using worms and large minnows
Remember to pray for our troops and POWs REMEMBER JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS
FOR US TO SAVE OUR SOULS AND GIVE US EVER LASTING LIFE GOD BLESS
BIG BIRD
God bless the USA
thanks big bird
ride hard ride free
Updated 05/01/04
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 839.0 Temperature: 60 and Dingy
Inflow: 600 cfs Outflow: 2500 cfs Level: 5.35 feet high
Report by: J&N Sporting Goods
Black Bass good fish dark jigs, worms or lizards in shallow water
White Bass fair up the rivers on Roadrunners chartreuse jigs and spinners
Muskie good fish off points or around brush use stickbaits early morning and late evening.
Crappie fair good use minnows or jigs 4-8 feet of water
Catfish good using perch or cut shad.
Updated 04/29/04
Temperature: 55 Clarity: Level: low
Largemouth Bass slow using Rattle traps in 6 feet of water
Channel Cat fair using cut shad in deep water
Bluecat No Report
Bluegill No Report
Crappie slow using minnows and jigs
Updated 04/29/04
Water Temp: 58 and Dingy Level: high
Crappie good using jigs and minnows
Blue Catfish fair
Channel Catfish fair
Largemouth Bass fair
Bluegill fair
Updated 04/22/04
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 864.2 Temperature: 60 to 64
Inflow: 5 cfs Outflow: 8 cfs Level: 0.57 feet low
Report by Burton's Bait and Tackle
Water Temp:60 to 64 degrees
CRAPPIE: Good The crappie started moving into areas that make them easier to catch for the bank fisherman. They are not on the bank spawning yet but have moved up into 8' to 10' of water. Minnows and jigs are still the ticket. Fishing around the rocks in the marinas and the bridges are good bets. You can move back into the coves and fish the edges of the old ditches in 6' to 10' of water.
BASS: Good: Bass fishing is getting better if we can keep the water warm. Some of the fisherman have come in during the week and claimed to have caught nice bags of fish. Its not great every day but the numbers and quality of fish are definitely up from last year. Most are coming on tubes and jigs while there is still a good spinner bait bite. Don't give up in the main lake rogue bite either, some good fish are still being caught this way.
CATFISH: Good Worms, shad sides, or shad guts are all catching fish. The Platte and Little Platte rivers are also producing some fish. The normal areas would be to fish the mouths of the coves in the Little Platte River arm of the lake. Start at the mouth and work your way back till you find the fish. Look for the shad on your graph and the catfish won't be far away.
WHITE BASS: Good The river run is about over but as the whites move back toward the main lake the crappie are starting to bite more consistently in the river. The white bass should be on the main lake humps within the next couple of weeks.
WALLEYE: Fair: The walleye spawn is over for this year. They are starting to move onto the main lake points and feed up after spawning. I had some reports this weekend that people had caught a few fish on some of the main lake points using night crawlers on a jig head. You can also troll or cast a #5 shad rap around main lake points. Stay in 4' to 10' of water most of the time.
Updated 04/22/04
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 867.7 Temperature: 54
Inflow: 1500 cfs Outflow: 1799 cfs Level: 4.64 feet high
Report By: Square Deal Bait Shop
Little Sac fair
Crappie off the staging trees with white jigs
walleye on the points with night crawlers
black bass found on the larger arms with spinner baits
Big Sac is fair to good
crappie 8 to 12 feet deep around structures off the spawning banks with jigs and minnows
walleye use stick baits and Rogues or minnows
black bass off the secondary points with crank baits or soft grubs
Lower Lake fair
crappie around 8 to 15 feet deep around the structures with small minnows early or late
walleye off the dam with crank baits or stick baits or off the points in about 15 feet of water with night crawlers.
Updated 04/15/04
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 915.0 Temperature: 58 - 62
Release Rate: 20531 cfs. Level: 6.97 feet low
Report by: Pete's Professional Guide Service
WATER LEVEL - 920.50 Normal Pool 915'
JAMES RIVER Upper 58-63
MAIN LAKE 58-62
Lake has risen 7' over the past three days and still rising. Fish are trying to spawn all over the lake and with the rising water they will move up to spawn. Hopefully they will either pull it down fast or maintain a constant level, as it would be best for the to spawn.
Fish should be able to be caught flipping the buck brush, willow trees and submerged bushes. Try tube baits, Texas rigged brush hogs, or Team Supreme or Eakins jigs, colors will depend on water clarity. If the area you are fishing is muddy or stained try black or blue colors, for the clearer water try green pumpkin, or watermelon.
This past week has been great for me for Smallmouth fishing from the Hwy 86 bridge, Long Creek, Dam, Kimberling City, Baxter and Campbell Point. Anywhere where the water is fairly clear. Fish have been from 5'-15' deep on main lake gravel points. Even after the lake level rising and all the rain they are still biting good for us. Sunday we used Carolina rigs, split shot rigs, or Texas rigged tubes, also try 4" finesse worms fished on 1/8 or 1/4 oz sliders heads, browns and greens working best for me.
Fish are biting on such a variety of baits, hard to list all of them. Try jointed Rapalas, Red-fins, or spooks early, or when cloudy. Fish over main lake and secondary points over submerged timber. I have also been catching some topwater fish in spawning coves shallow-3'to 8' deep over the top of bedding fish. A few fish being caught on buzzbaits early and spinnerbaits on windy, cloudy, & rainy days-which we have had a lot of these past weeks.
The main lake areas in the clearer water have been producing best for me, but watch out for the James, Long Creek, & Kings River are due to turn on anytime, it just depends on how muddy they get from the run off. These areas will warm up alot more than the rest of the lake. Also try floating worms, Senco's, & flukes around all the newly submerged bushes. Good Luck
Updated 04/29/04
Temperature: Level:
Report by River Run Outfitters
Branson Chapter Trout Unlimited next meeting May 25, 2004, 7:00 p.m. at Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery.
GENERAL COMMENTS
Water Conditions: In a few words ---- LOTS OF WATER! We had rain most of
last week and every lake in the entire White River Chain is over pool level.
FLY FISHING TROPHY AREA (dam to Fall Creek)-SHALLOW WATER-WADING-
Had two guests out Sunday and we finally found some fish in the afternoon. Then they
probably caught 40 fish or so. Nothing big. That day they had 8 gates open and turned on
the 4th generator while we were out. Many of the normal lay ups were non-existent. We
fished again Monday for a little over an hour and the two of us caught over 20 fish.
Monday they only had 4 gates and 4 generators going.
STAN'S TIP: With a new fishing season upon us, get your fly line ready.
Clean it in a non-grease cutting detergent (Ivory) rinse well, and dress, if recommended
by the manufacturer. If you fish a lot, this should be done at least a couple time a year.
If the tip of your line is sinking, check for cuts and nicks as these will make your line
sink.
Updated 04/29/04
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 722.00 Clarity: Level:
Temperature: 59 and Dingy
Report by Kaseyville Bait and Tackle
Crappie fair using jigs and minnows
Bass No Report
Channel cat No Report
Updated 04/29/04
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 706.0
Temperature: 63 and stained
Inflow: 22000 cfs Outflow: 29588 cfs Level: 3.76 feet high
MAIN LAKE Report by Sterett Creek Marina
Fishing Report from Sterett Creek Marina 4/28/04
This weeks fishing report is going to be pretty confusing but if you add in all the factors the fishing here on Truman is good. The fishing is good but the weather is hard to contend with. Today the wind is supposed to blow 30 mph. so you can bet the fishing is going to be tough. But lets go back to the weekend to explain why we are doing what we are doing. We had 2"+ of rain last Sat. with up to 6" to 8" around us so this brought the lake up about 4' in just a few days. The crappie were starting to bed fairly well. I don't think they moved they just ended up with 4 extra feet of water on them. So needless to say that slowed them up a little. Yesterday the COE caught up with the water and this morning it is starting to drop. We did have lots of people cleaning crappie yesterday. So for the rest of the week I think the fishing will do nothing but get better. I was going to save this for last but its kind of neat so here it is. The whites are in.
LAKE LEVEL: 709.97
WATER TEMP: 63 deg.
WATER CLARITY: Stained.
BASS: What a difference a few hours can make. Sat. we had the Concord Village Lions Fish for Sight Tourn. out. They had 281 boats and it took just over 16lbs. to win. Two fish weighed over 8lbs. One 8.25 and the other 8.19. Sunday Media Bass went out and brought in over 20lbs. Now you have to remember that both these days the lake was on a rise. Last night in the Hawg Fights it took one fish weighing 4.24lbs. to win and also take big bass. Terry Close and Chris Fanning took 1st. Second went to me and Jim Lahares with 3.84. 3rd. went to Eddie Stephens and Nick Fortner with 3.47. The lake started falling about the time we started fishing and it got really tough. Most of the fish are coming on black and blue jigs about 1/2 way back in the coves out of the nitches. 5' of water seems to be the best depth. The lizard and baby brush hog in peanut butter and jelly in the same areas is also working. There is also a buzz bait bite starting on the flats next to deep water. Black is the best color. Allot of the bucks are starting to come up and look for nesting areas. The better females are laying out in a little deeper water. The bass fishing will do nothing but get better the rest of the week.
CRAPPIE:
We still have allot of crappie in our area that have not spawned yet. This weekend with the full moon and warm temps. should get these fish really going. Jigs fished with a bobber set about 18" or roadrunners fished in the main lake nitches will produce spawn fish.Most of the fish are coming from about 5' of water. In the upper arms of the lake I have had reports of fish being on the summer pattern already. Fish the outside tree rows on the edge of the flats with minnows about 7' deep.WHITES and HYBRIDS: Jigging spoons in 16' of water. Cemetery is hot. Mike Stacy from St. Louis had hybrids blowing up on him Sat night. I'm sure that if the fish are on the cemetery they will be on the weir and KK Island. These have been really good sized whites. This would be a good time to get the kids into some fast action.
CATFISH:
Jugs are still working . !0' on the flats. Cut shad and leeches are doing the job. Yes the leeches are in.This weeks ratings from Sterett Creek are:
Crappie: # 1
Whites: # 2
Bass: # 3
That will do it for this week from Sterett Creek Marina
So until next week we bid you good fishing.
Tommy
Grand River Arm
Updated
04/15/04 Lake temp: 54 - 56Report for Grand River Arm by Bucksaw Marina
The weather has finally turned around from the gorgeous and warm
days to rainy, cold and clammy. We have finally seen some good indications that the
crappie are trying to move up. The weather this weekend will put a halt on that for a day
or two but it won't last long. They are wanting to do their thing.
CRAPPIE: Get ready, because the crappie are getting ready to bust loose.
In the last two days we've seen some fish come in that were caught on the banks. These
fish are just coming up to check the water conditions though. Reports of spurts of bank
activity for 20-30 minutes then no bites on the banks for up to one hour. Saw some real
nice bags come in from up river around Hay Creek area. Nothing big yet just nice keepers.
The old stand-by SLIDER is the main bait. Should get really good by next weekend or so.
BASS: Still a spinnerbait bite between here and the Long Shoal bridge.
North pockets with shad activity is the best. Look at secondary point on the down stream
side in 1-4 feet of water. After this colder weather, might have to slow down with a jig
or tube to get bit.
I know it's short, but that's about all we know for know.
* New Missouri regulations require that jug lines be attended at all times.
Updated 04/29/04
Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 359.0 Temperature:
Release Rate: 2010 Level: 2.40 feet low
Largemouth Bass fair using crankbaits and spinnerbaits
White Bass good using spinnerbaits
Crappie fair using minnows and jigs
Bluegill fair using crickets
Catfish good on trotlines and juglines using live bait and worms
Note: On the waters of Wappapello Lake & its tributaries, all Walleye & Sauger must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught. Anglers are encouraged to harvest bass under 11" (daily limit 6) to reduce the numbers of small bass in Wappapello lake.