Catfish good in Jacomo overflow- live shad

Hybrids fair in Jacomo overflow- shad, liver, rattle traps

Crappie fair -jigs and small minnows

Surface temperature: Most places on the lake it is in the mid 70’s. There is a 1-2 degree drop until the 30 foot level where it drops 5 degrees or so. It looks like the thermocline is starting to form there. This will fluctuate and change with the lake dropping.

VISIBILTY- With the lake dropping the visibility tends to murk up a little. However, most divers are reporting good visibility from 10 to 15 feet at most places.

Sunday June 13^th- There is still 15 foot or so of brush in the lake since the lake is still high. Most of the fish are hanging just below this brush line on the old shore line. Not much change from last report on the actual fishing. It has been great this last few weeks. The walleye bite has really turned on.

BASS PATTERNS- a few changes but not much since last report. Top water, night crawlers, crank baits and jig-n-frog at night seem to dominate the patterns.

WALLEYE- The walleye bite is on. The night crawler with a split shot or crawler harness in 15 to 25 feet of water is one of the best patterns. They are using shallow running stick baits- mostly rogues- in various depths depending on what type of structure you are fishing. The best colors are chartreuse, yellow, bluegill, perch or purple. They are also catching lots of walleye trolling deep diving crank baits and deep diving stick baits during the day. The walleye are shallow during the early morning and afternoon. They are deeper in the day so deeper diving baits are necessary.

WHITE BASS- not much reported except under lights at night with minnows in 20 to 35 feet of water.

CRAPPIE- same thing as the white bass.

CATFISH- The catfish are doing well on jug lines, trot lines and limb lines. We have seen several good catches and stringers. Most of the fish are in shallow water and being caught on the same bait- perch, dead shad, liver, stink bait, ect.

Crappie- good - being caught on minnows

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

Bass No Report

Catfish excellent on shad, nightcrawlers

Crappie good- small minnows, shallow water

Bass fair on topwater lures

According to AmerenUE the water temperature is 80 degrees and the current lake level is 659.42 with heavy generation scheduled Wednesday, medium generation scheduled Thursday and light generation scheduled on Friday, June 18th. The lake is clear and has been fairly steady, but there is still some logs and Styrofoam floating in the Osage River and its tributaries. The average visibility is between 3 and 5 feet, but the Gravois Rivers and some sections of the Niangua Rivers have visibility down to 9 or 10 feet. Overall the lake has good color and the bass in the biting mood.

LARGEMOUTH BASS - EXCELLENT The day bite has slowed down some, but the night bite has really improved in the last week. The day bite has been mainly the 7 & 10 inch power worm and Brush Hogs (June bug, camo and plum) Texas rigged with a 1/4 to 5/16 ounce slip sinker worked in brush piles 15 to 20 feet in the creeks and on the inside of main lake points. There is some early morning topwater with Zara Spook and Pop R worked on points and around boat docks from the bank out to 10 feet. The night bite has really improved and there have been a lot of big fish, 4 to 6 pounds, caught during this period. The power worm, Brush Hog, the Melton jig n trailer (black/red fleck, black and plum) and the singlespin (black w/black blades) are the most consistant baits worked around and in brush piles from 8 to 20 feet on points and around docks. The most consistant area of the lake has been below the lodge and in the Gravois and dam area.

SPOTTED BASS - SLOW The spots are basically the same...slow. The spots being caught are small with a few keepers that are coming off the main lake wave breakers and the deep main lake docks on Gitzits (white and/or brown), Flukes (white and/or shad color) and small crawdads on a weightless hook. Some keepers are being caught off main lake points on the Melton jig n trailer, crawdad colored crankbaits and live crawdads.

WHITE BASS/HYBRIDS - FAIR Since there has been a fairly steady generation the last couple of weeks, the whites and a few hybrids have been busting shad off the main lake points early in the morning. The top water bite with a Pop R, Chug Bug and Zara Spook Jr. has been the best bite. A 1/4 ounce Road Runner, spoons, and Mepps Spinners are also producing when they are busting shad and when they go deep.

CATFISH - GOOD Some cats are still spawning, but there are some blues, channels and flatheads being caught on jugs, limb lines and trotlines baited with cut shad, gold fish, perch and crawdads. Tight lining with stinkbait, cut shad, nightcrawlers and hot dog chunks are taking channels and blues in the creeks 10 to 15 feet.

BLUEGILL -GOOD Most of the bluegill are spawning and can be found in the backend of the creeks and pockets 5 to 10 feet. The best bite is crickets and wax worms grubs) and pieces of red wigglers.

Date: 6/17/04
Lake Level : 612.42
Last Weeks Lake Level: 611.53
Normal Lake Level : 606
Water Condition: Dingy - Clearing
Surface Water Temp: 82 degrees

Guide DuWayne Azotea reports the bass fishing has gotten tough this week. With the water level on the drop and the flooded vegetation dying off, the bass have moved out of the coves. The few bass caught were about 6 – 8 feet deep and were taken with jigs and brush hogs.

Catfishing last weekend was good with several nice size cats in the 30 lb. range and some in the 40 lb. range have been caught on trotlines. Goldfish and perch were the bait of choice. We haven’t heard from many catfishermen since the weekend. We haven’t heard much from rod and reel fishermen.

White bass fishing has been very good. When the shad are schooling near the surface, look for a lot of activity and start throwing a silver rattle trap or spoon into the middle of it and get ready to have a lot of fun. Main lake humps or points.

Flathead slow

Largemouth Bass slow

Stripers slow

Crappie slow

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool:  Temperature:   

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 839.0 Temperature: 

Inflow: 100 cfs Outflow: 300 cfs Level: 1.68 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: 72  Clarity:  Level: high and dingy

Largemouth Bass fair using crankbaits

Channel Cat  good where the water runs in using nightcrawlers, cut shad and minnows

Blue cat No Report

Bluegill slow 

Crappie fair in about 8 feet of water 

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: 575 cfs Outflow: 8 cfs Level: 2.76 feet high

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 867.7 Temperature: 73

Inflow: 450 cfs Outflow: 40 cfs Level: 2.78 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: 305 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:

GENERAL COMMENTS

Water Conditions: Table Rock Lake is just about normal pool. Running very little water. The past three days, they have turned on one generator for about 2 hours at 4:00 p.m. Monday they also ran one generator at 8:00 a.m. and ran it for maybe an hour.

FLY FISHING TROPHY AREA (dam to Fall Creek)-SHALLOW WATER-WADING-
Wade or boat trips almost every day this past week. Fishing continues to be excellent. Having a few slow periods during the day, especially after the water has been on for an hour or so. Once it is off and is almost back to normal level, fishing picks back up. Stan and I were both on the water Monday. Stan had two brand new fly fishers Monday and they caught about 35 nice fish during the day. I had a couple of fishing ladies and we just plain lost count. Our best flies were the red tunghead midge, size 16 and the olive zebra, size 18. Dark olive, size 18 or 16 soft hackle has been working good when the fish are taking emerger patterns. Yesterday the caddis green soft hackle worked best. Unfortunately, with the heat and infrequent water flow, we are seeing lots of algae blooms. Makes it real hard to keep your fies clean. Fish are fat and fisty. Basic flies, scuds, sowbugs and olive soft hackles are almost always working.

STAN'S TIP: With the fishing sooooo 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 or tying on barbless hooks. This makes is less tramatic on the fish, easlier and faster to release them and get them back into the water and doesn't tear up their mouths as much. Give the fish a break....smash down those barbs!

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 Light stained to dirty

Inflow: 12000 cfs Outflow: 11288 cfs Level: 2.12 feet high

Fishing Report from Sterett Creek Marina 6/16/04

The weather still isn't doing us any favors. Seems we get rain every day. The lake is still up 2' which is good for the white bass and hybrid fishing but seems to be keeping the crappie in the state of confusion. Lake conditions are still backwards with the Osage being clear and Big Tebo and the Grand being dirty. Both the Pommies are in good shape. The Osage is dirty above the County Line Bridge but good from Berry Bend to the dam. Little Tebo is also in good shape.

LAKE LEVEL: 708.22
WATER TEMP: 76 deg.
WATER CLARITY: Light stain to dirty.

BASS: The bass fishing is still fairly good. There has been several fish coming out of the dirty water on crank baits and big worms. Chartreuse small crank baits fished in 2' to 5' of water has been working well, along with 10" dark worms. These fish are holding off the timbered points, it doesn't seem to matter if it is a main lake or a secondary point. Top water is also working in the same areas using Pop R's and buzz baits. In the clearer water some of the fish are starting to move to their summer pattern. Jigs and big worms are picking up some fish suspended over deeper water about 6' down. Try the outside tree rows for these fish. Last nights hawg fights ended up with a 12.57lb. string caught by Chuck Strohman and Jeff Rahmer. @nd. went to Kenny Mason and Randy Jones with 9.95lbs. 3rd. went to Will Gutierrez and Bill Haas with 9.08. 4th. and big bass went to Marty Watson and Doug Long with 8.80 and a big fish of 5.58lbs. Congrats to all.

CRAPPIE: Lots of little fish are starting to show up. The summer pattern is starting but the little guys defiantly out number the big guys. The best bite is still using minnows on the outside tree rows in 20' of water fishing them 8' to 10' down. There have been a few fish taken out of cedars on the flats in 10' of water on minnows. The bluff bite hasn't started yet in our area. Guide Steve Blake has been catching limits of good crappie out of brush piles in 15' to 20' of water on minnows. The secret is graph the brush pile for depth and put the bait rite on top of the pile. Hopefully in another week or so the big fish will get going.

WHITES and HYBRIDS: The hybrid fishing remains good. We are seeing a lot of good fish coming in in the evenings. The 4" sassy shad with a 3/4 oz. head is the top producing bait. The dam area to KK Island is hottest area on the lake. The white bass are starting to surface with the Pop R and Rooster Tail working the best on them. Little Tebo seems to have a lot of surface activity. The evening bite seems to be the best .

CATFISH: Floating trot lines set in 5' to 6' of water with stages set about a foot has been taking some fish. Leeches are the top bait. With the temp. starting to rise it won't hurt to check your lines more often.

This weeks rankings from Sterett Creek Marina are:

Hybrids & Whites: # 1

Bass: # 2

Crappie: # 3

Catfish: # 4

That's it for this week from Sterett Creek Marina So till next week we bid your good fishin.

Lake temp: 75

White Bass  good using spinnerbaits

Crappie good using minnows and jigs

Bluegill fair using crickets and worms

Catfish good on trotlines and juglines using live bait and worms