Crappie- good - being caught on minnows

Catfish -good - using night crawlers and Minnows in the evenings

Bass No Report

According to AmerenUE the current lake level is 659.67 with medium generation scheduled the next three days which should give the lake a level of 659.2 by Friday, June 11th. The water temperature taken at Bagnell Dam is 78 degrees. The Osage River and coves from mid lake and up the Osage River is dingy with visibility ranging from 2 to 3 feet. The Grand Glaize, Gravois and Big and Little Niangua Rivers are clear with visibility ranging from 5 to 10 feet. There is still some debris, logs, branches and Styrofoam, floating in the main Osage River and its tributaries.

LARGEMOUTH BASS - EXCELLENT Bass fishing couldn't be better. The keeper bass being caught are chunky and averaging 2 1/2 to 5 pounds with very few non-keepers. It's safe to say the bass have moved into the brush piles since last weeks report and can be found in 12 to 18 feet of water. The 7 and 10 inch plastic worm (plum, red shad, and blue fleck) and Brush Hog (watermelon red and red shad) Texas rigged with 1/4 to 5/16 ounce slip sinker has been the best bite. The jig n trailer (black/blue, green pumpkin and brown/green pumpkin) will produce on the same type of structure and pitched behind the steeper docks. The night bite has also picked up and the best baits have been a dark colored spinnerbaits, jig n trailer, plastic worm and Brush Hog off chunk rock banks and in brush piles in the same colors mentioned previously. There has been some early morning topwater with the Zara Spook and Pop R off the main lake and secondary points and around boat docks from the bank out to 8 to 10 feet. The crankbait bite hasn't kicked in like it should however, there are a few keepers being caught on chartreuse and shad colored baits.

SPOTTED BASS (KENTUCKY) - FAIR The 14 to 15 inch spots are still far and few between. There have been reports that some keeper spots with a few blacks in the mix are being caught off the windy main lake wave breakers with Flukes (white and shad colored) and live crawdads. A few keeper spots are being caught on jig n trailer and topwater.

CRAPPIE - FAIR The crappie have moved to the deeper brush piles in main lake pockets and the creeks 18 to 25 feet. Minnows are the best bite and easiest bait to use at that depth, but Road Runners (white and chartreuse) are producing. Try Crappie Nibbles when the bite gets slow.

CATFISH - GOOD The cats are spawning and the bite has slowed down some, but there are still some nice flatheads, blues and channels being caught on jugs, limblines and trotlines baited with cut shad, perch and crawdads in the creeks and in the upper Osage River. Tightlining with hot dog chunks, stinkbait and nightcrawlers are producing channels 8 to 12 off the chunk rock banks in the creeks and coves.

WHITE BASS/HYBRIDS - SLOW The whites and some hybrids are breaking off windy main lake points early in the morning, but go deep after the sun gets high. Road Runners, Mepps Spinners and topwater chuggers are producing early and once they go deep, trolling off the points with medium diving crankbaits, spoons and Mepps Spinners will produce.

Date: 6/10/04
Lake Level : 611.53
Last Weeks Lake Level: 611.44
Normal Lake Level : 606
Water Condition: Dingy - Muddy
Surface Water Temp: 73 degrees

Crappie fishing is still in the transition stage where the crappie have finished their courtship and they’re now headed out to their summer patterns. For the most part crappie fishing has been slow. They’re scattered about with some being caught fairly shallow just inside coves, while others have been caught 6 – 10 feet deep near bridge piers, and yet some being caught about 18 – 20 feet deep near trees. Some fishermen have been nickel and dimeing their way along tree rows near the river channels. Minnows or jigs with minnows or crappie nibbles. Minnows continue to be the bait of choice, if you’re using jigs they’ve been best tipped with minnows or crappie nibbles. Where deep water fishing and patience are concerned, crappie nibbles have been best.

While still good the bass fishing has been a little slower than last week. Guide DuWayne Azotea reports the bass moving out of the coves, with the best fishing coming off of the primary and secondary points. Carolina rigged french fries or plastic worms, worked fairly deep have been good. The lower lake areas have been the best.

Catfishing has been good. Trotliners have enjoyed a fairly good week, although we haven’t had any reports of huge cats being caught. There have been several flatheads and blues in the 20 - 30 lb. range, and even more in the teens. Goldfish and perch have been the preferred bait. We haven’t heard much from rod and reel fishermen.

White bass deserves a mention this week, with a couple of fishermen having a blast catching them near a wind blown main lake point.

Flathead slow

Largemouth Bass slow

Stripers slow

Crappie slow

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool:  Temperature:   

Praise God the lake level is up about 2-3 foot low they have opened the city ramp 

fishing fair over the weekend for crappie weather changes make it harder to fish seen some nice catfish but on 5/18 Dan billings caught 7 crappie right after rain shower weighed 11.5 lbs caught on jig tipped with a minnow and one crappie weighed 3 lbs 17 3/8 inches long 

God bless and take a kid fishing it sure beats TV

THANKS
BIG BIRD
RIDE HARD RIDE FREE

Remember the best of the Midwest 3-d Triple Crown the 3rd will be at graham on June13th these shoots are fun and you will improve you shooting skills remember kids ask your parents to take you fishing this week thanks big bird

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 839.0 Temperature: 

Inflow: 150 cfs Outflow: 100 cfs Level: 1.75 feet high

Pomme Arm Good

Black Bass No Report

Crappie No Report

Catfish No Report

Lindley arm Fair to Good

Black bass No Report

Catfish No Report

Crappie No Report

Lower lake Fair to Good

Crappie No Report

Black bass No Report

Bluegill No Report

Temperature: Clarity:  Level: low

Largemouth Bass No Report

Channel Cat  No Report

Blue cat No Report

Bluegill No Report

Crappie No Report

Water Temp: 74

Crappie fair using jigs and minnows in the brush piles

Blue Catfish good using night crawlers

Channel Catfish  fair using night crawlers

Largemouth Bass  fair on spinner baits

Bluegill fair using night crawlers

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 864.2  Temperature: 70 to 76

Inflow: 350 cfs Outflow: 500 cfs Level: 1.20 feet high

Water Temp:70 to 76 degrees

CRAPPIE: Excellent: The fish are starting to spawn and are doing different things in different parts of the lake. Above the free ramp they are probably done. Below the free ramp they are starting as weather permits. There are a lot of the smaller males near the bank now and with the warm weather this week the females should move in and start spawning in some areas. Minnows and jigs are still the ticket. Fishing around the rocks in the marinas and the bridges are good bets. Find brush along an old creek channel that is about 10 feet deep and you will find some better fish.

BASS: Poor: Some of the bass have spawned and we are finding schools of fry. I'm sure not all of the fish have spawned yet but it won't be much longer. Since the water has come up a few small fish are being taken out of the grass. Most are coming on tubes, jigs or brush hogs, while there is still a good spinner bait and crank bait bite when you are on a windy bank. The numbers of fish caught in the evening tournaments are going down and more small males are being caught.

CATFISH: Good Lots of catfish are being caught on minnows by the crappie fishermen. As the crappie spawn gets going the cats will move into the shallows to feed on eggs and fry. The Platte and Little Platte rivers are also producing some fish. Head to the crappie spawning areas to catch a nice stringer of channels. The face of the dam is an excellent spot.

White Bass: Good: The river run is over and the whites are back on the main lake. The fish are on the old Trimble dam and some of the main lake humps and points. The face of the dam is also starting to produce some whites especially on windy days.

WALLEYE: Fair: Lots of nice walleye are being taken on the main lake using crawlers and leeches on a jig head. Drift or troll the points. 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. This should be the pattern for the next month

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 867.7 Temperature: 73

Inflow: 400 cfs Outflow: 1107 cfs Level: 2.61 feet high

Catfish fair on trotlines using cut baits or drifting nightcrawlers and shiners

Crappie fair 15 to 25 feet deep on jigs and minnows and trolling small crankbaits

Walleye fair on crankbaits and drifting nightcrawlers

Black bass fair off the nest near pea gravel banks using Carolina Rigs and lizards

White bass fair early morning and late afternoon on small crankbaits and Rooster Tails

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 915.0 Temperature: 81 - 83

Release Rate: 1559 cfs. Level: 1.13 feet high

June 8, 2004

WATER LEVEL - 915.90 Normal Pool 915'
JAMES RIVER Upper 81-85
MAIN LAKE 81-83

James River

Looks like the fishing on the James River is heating up! Tournaments held this past weekend reported winning stringers coming out of the Upper James River. Fish Carolina rigs, football jigs, and deep diving crankbaits 12'- 20' off main river flats and points, and around brush piles 15'-20' rigging baits-Brush Hogs, Baby brush hogs, Lake Fork ring frys, try 1/2 & 3/4 oz football jigs tipped with watermelon or green pumpkin twin tail grubs. Crankbaits--D-t 16's & DD-22's & Fat Free Shads, in Citrus Shad & shad patterns, also parrot colors. Look for gravel flats that extend way out off the bank with a drop, ledge, or creek channel adjoining the flats. Most of the deep summer patterns are starting to produce fish on the main lake and mid river areas. Fish are 28'-40' deep on main lake gravel flats and points, on bottom or just a few feet off bottom. I'm also catching some fish suspended at 25'-35' over 50'-80' over submerged timber. Bottom fish can be caught on 3/4 oz. football jigs tipped with twin tailed grubs, on Carolina rigged Chompers, Team Supreme Tournament French fries, Brush hogs, or lizards in green pumpkin, watermelon, or pumpkin colors. Try 3/4 oz chrome or white jigging spoons. Drop shot rigged 4" worms in browns or greens, or shad colored have worked best for me, will catch fish on bottom or suspended. There have been some fish schooling early and late in the day. Jointed Rapalas, Red Fins, or Spooks-chrome/black, or Smoky Joe colors.

Main Lake

Most of the deep summer patterns are starting to produce fish on the main lake and mid river areas. Fish are 28'-40' deep on main lake gravel flats and points, on bottom or just a few feet off bottom. I'm also catching some fish suspended at 25'-35' over 50'-80' over submerged timber. Bottom fish can be caught on 3/4 oz. football jigs tipped with twin tailed grubs, on Carolina rigged Chompers, Team Supreme Tournament French fries, Brush hogs, or lizards in green pumpkin, watermelon, or pumpkin colors. Try 3/4 oz chrome or white jigging spoons. Drop shot rigged 4" worms in browns or greens, or shad colored have worked best for me, will catch fish on bottom or suspended. There have been some fish schooling early and late in the day. Jointed Rapalas, Red Fins, or Spooks-chrome/black, or Smoky Joe colors.

Mid River

Mid river patterns are the same as above in the Main lake areas, except the further up river you go the fish will be shallower. Drop shot & football jig fish have been 20'-30'. Try Carolina rigging and deep crankbaits on main river flats and humps in 12'-20'/ I'm using DT 16's, Fat Free shads & DD-22's. I'm also catching some fish on Texas rigged worms, tubes & 5/16b jigs fishing channel swings in the upper river and Flat Creek at 3'-10' deep. Same patterns should also work in the Long Creek Arm and Kings River.

Temperature:  Level:

Branson Trout Unlimited will be assisting with the Kids Fishing Fair at the Pavilion just below the dam and near the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery Saturday. Fly Tying, Fly Casting and other great information will be available from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday. Come on over and visit with us! This coming weekend of free fishing in Missouri Saturday and Sunday!

GENERAL COMMENTS

Water Conditions: Table Rock Lake is just about normal pool. We are seeing lots more off time, especially from 11:00 p.m. to at least noon the next day. Monday they did not turn it on until 11:00 p.m. so we almost had 24 hours of off water from Sunday night to Monday night. Monday night they turned on one generator from 11:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. Tuesday they turned on one generator around 8:00 a.m. for 2 hours then three and 4 at about 4:00 p.m. First time they have done this for almost two weeks.! Looks like they are trying to get Beaver Lake down to there normal pool and the Bull Shoals has receded so they are running Table Rock to get rid of the water dumped by Beaver Lake. With a little luck, we will see the water off at least in the a.m. most days. Hard to tell what will happen over the weekend, but bet it will be one generator or less. BR>
FLY FISHING TROPHY AREA (dam to Fall Creek)-SHALLOW WATER-WADING-
Had boats on the water every day. Each boat, has boated at least 35 fish per person on the trips. Had a great father/son (11 years old) team out Saturday. What a great bonding day for both of them. First time fly fishing for the son and second time for Dad. Son hooked into an 17 inches first thing in the a.m. on an olive, size 18 zebra midge. His second fish was at least 20 inches. But, as with first timers, he locked down on the line as the fish took off and broke off. They caught nice fish all day and many times had on doubles. Best flies were the olive, size 18 zebra midge and the size 14, orange flashback tan scud. What a team! Think Dad has a new fly fishing partner. I fished for a little while Monday while Stan had a trip. Trip out today caught 50 or better. Their best flies were the sulphur, size 14 crackleback fished with the ADP (accelerated downstream presentation) with a size 6 slit slot. and the dark olive soft hackles, size 16 and 18, and while drifting, the size 16 red tunghead red midge. Sunday I caught fish on almost any thing I threw....larger fish were on the olive size 18 midge...18-1/2 inches and a 20 inches. Caught several on the size 20 BWO biot midge and the insect green, size 16 hackle. But, for the most part, probably anything would have worked! Better get out now....this can't last much longer. Conditions are at optimum right now. Early in the a.m., olive woolly buggers have been working real good.

STAN'S TIP: With the fishing soooooo good and many fishers out there taking advantage of this great fishing, the fish are getting a lot of pressure and they are showing it. We can help them a lot by bending down the barbs on our hooks. This makes it less traumatic on the fish, easier and faster to get them off and back into the water, and doesn't tear up their mouths as much. Give the fish a break......smash down those bards!

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 722.00 Clarity:  Level:

Temperature: 76 and Dingy

Crappie slow

Bass No Report

Channel cat good on setlines

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 706.0 Temperature:  76 and stained to dirty

Inflow: 2900 cfs Outflow: 5717 cfs Level: 0.51 feet high

Fishing Report from Sterett Creek Marina 6/9/04

It seems this year everything is backwards. We are getting our spring rains in June instead of April and the fish that should be moving deeper are moving shallow. Water that is normally clear is dirty and the water that is normally dirty is clear, and all of this combined is putting an anglers ability to the test. The weather forecast for the rest of the week is a chance of showers everyday so we should be overcast making the fishing good.

BASS: The bass fishing here on Truman is up and down to say the least. The stringers that were weighed in last weekend were a little lighter than normal. Team Supreme fished out of here on Sunday and it took about 14.5 lbs. of fish to win, with Jerry and Sally Crosswaite taking the honors. Last night in the Hawg Fights, Clint Rayburn and Marty Watson weighed in a winning stringer of 12.35 lbs. and big bass weighing 4.31 lbs. 2nd. went to the Wallace boys with 7.82 lbs. 3rd went to Danny Johnson and Paul Scott with a string weighing 7.31 lbs. The best thing I have heard going is crankbaits fished shallow in the stained water. Firetiger is the best color and throw a small bait. Fish are in 2' to 3' of water, and about 1/2 way back in the coves. Deeper water needs to be close by. Points are still holding some fish, here again deep water has to be close by. Worms and jigs in black and blue are working the best. With the cloud cover the top water bite should start again.

CRAPPIE: Saturday we saw some really nice Osage River crappie. These fish were all 12" + fish. Summer pattern, 17' of water fishing minnows down about 7'. Trees along the edge of a flat that falls into deeper water is the place to start. There have been some crappie caught up on the flats out of the cedars in 10' of water on minnows. The good summer crappie fishing should break loose any day now. I talked to Marry Zych this weekend and he said he had some nice crappie up the Osage.

WHITES & HYBRIDS: The white bass fishing has slowed a little and I think this is because they are not running water every day. We have been seeing a lot of surface activity in the evenings in the Little Tebo area. Popping corks with small jigs or twister tails have been working on these fish. Pop R's are also working on the surfacing fish. The 4" sassy shad in pearltruce with a 3/4 oz. head has been picking up some good hybrids in the dam area. Trolling is still working using big crank baits.

CATFISH: The trot line fishing is starting to produce some good fish now. We are starting to see some flat heads come in now on bluegill. Leeches on floating lines in about 6' of water with 1' stages are producing some nice channels. The ditches are doing well.

This weekend we have the Midwest Labors Open Crappie Tourn. going out of Sterett Creek. For info you can call 816-985-1890.

This weeks ratings from Sterett Creek Marina are:

Whites & Hybrids: # 1

Bass: # 2

Crappie: # 3

That's it for this week from Sterett Creek Marina

With that we bid you good fishing.

Lake temp: 63