Catfish fair-hot dog

Bluegill good-wax worms

Crappie good-small jigs

Bass fair-crankbaits

 Report by: Wilderness Trail       "Braggin Board"

Fall weather finally arrived with wind, rain and a peak of sunshine. Temperatures have been running from the mid 30s at night to the lower 50s during the day. Lake level is about the same as last week 652.76 feet, 1 ½ feet below normal pool. The lake temperature has dropped down to 58.5 to 60 degrees throughout most of the lake. Here’s the kicker! The thermocline is gone. That’s right, gone!!! Did the lake flip or turn over? Well if it did flip it flipped over night which is absolutely impossible. I talked to Mark Oliver the area’s leading Biologist from the Arkansas Game & Fish. Mark stated that it’s possible that the thermocline dissolved, which can happen when there is very little temperature variation between the surface temperature down to the thermocline. So what we have is 59 degree surface temperature and 58 degrees 60 feet down, the bass, walleye and crappie can go anywhere they want.

Lake rating this week remains (fair). Game fish are roaming and hard to pattern.

Largemouth bass might be in the back of creeks and coves, then again they might not be. Start your day off by checking the backs with buzz baits, spinner baits and top water prop baits to see if the largemouth’s are in. If the shallow water bite is not on pull out to secondary points and channel swing ends and fish crank baits or Jig & pig from the bank out to 35 feet of water. Also, when there is a high sun fish docks with Spider Jigs or tubes. 

Smallmouth bass are now scattered from pea rock points to chunk rock banks and points. There not holding in any certain depth of water. Best bet is to start out in 40 foot of water and work in. Football jigs are triggering the deeper smallies in 40+ feet of water. Carolina rigs are working between 28 to 38 feet and Spider Jigs and tubes are the best baits from the bank out to 35 feet of water. On windy days use crankbaits (Wiggle Warts or Bandits) in crawdad colors.

Kentucky bass are still holding around groups of shad and at this time shad are both in shallow back ends, middle of pockets and cuts off deep points. Spooning is still triggering a few along with drop shot rigs but the best bite is on crankbaits or slow rolling spinner baits fished through the shad. Some Kentuckys are looking for crawdads and can be caught on the bottom with spider jigs and tubes.

Walleye are suspended over deep water down 28 to 35 feet. They are hard to catch and even harder to locate as they roam around. Long liners are able to trick a few with Hot-N-Tots and Suspending Rogues around the outside of main lake points, glass Shad Raps and Reef Runners are also a good bet. Most of the walleye seem to be feeding up on the banks inside of 20 feet of water. Crankbaits, spinner baits, crawler harnesses on Bottom Bouncers have been the key baits. Work chunk rock points and steep pea rock banks for best results.

The PWT will return to Bull Shoals on May 11 through 13, 2005 and entry blanks for amateurs are now available. The can be ordered by phone from PWT at 218-824-2542, or by downloading them from the PWT web site at www.professionalwalleyetrail.com. They are now available at Wilderness Trail. The PWT is a Pro-Am and this past June one-third of the field consisted of local anglers

Trout fishing on the White River has been good on Power Bait in yellow and orange and Belgian red worms. Buoyant Spoons, Colorado spoons and Little Cleos have been working when the generation is on. The fly fishermen have done well on olive Woolly Buggers, scuds, egg pattern in peach and San Juan worms. Browns are being caught on Suspending Rogues, Countdowns and nightcrawlers.

Crappie- No Report

Catfish -No Report

Bass No Report

Catfish fair-shrimp

Bluegill good-wax worms

Crappie good-small jigs

Bass fair-crankbaits

According to AmerenUE the current lake level is 659.32 and a water temperature taken at Bagnell Dam reported at 61degrees. Heavy generation is scheduled for today, no generation on Thursday and medium generation on Friday, which according to AmerenUE will give the lake a level of 659.3 by Friday, November 26th. With the release of water from Truman Lake the last few days, a majority of the lake is muddy in the upper portion and dingy to about the 6 mile marker with visibility ranging from 1 to 3 feet. The Gravois, Big and Little Niangua, and the Grand Glaize Rivers are clear to dingy with visibility averaging 3 to 5 feet. Bass boat temperature gauges indicate surface water temperatures ranging between 50 to 56 degrees with some areas in the lower end of the lake averaging 58 to 62 degrees. Fishing hasn't improved much since last weeks report, however, with deer season there hasn't been that many anglers on the lake.

LARGEMOUTH / SPOTTED BASS - FAIR Today the weather turned for the worse with temperatures dropping in the low 30's with sleet and snow, and lows forecasted in 20's at night, but is supposed to warm up by the weekend. The upper Osage River, above the 70 mile marker, according to some anglers has been the most consistent area. The lower end, below the 10 or 12 mile marker is producing, but the mid lake is still slow. The 3/8 or 1/2 ounce Melton and Eakins jigs, twin tail Chomper and the tube bait Texas rigged (green pumpkin, black/red flake and black/chartreuse) in the muddier water worked around docks and lay downs and (brown, green pumpkin/brown or brown/purple) in the clearer water continues to be the best bite. Since the heavy generation the last week or so, main lake bluff ends and the inside of main lake points has been producing some nice keepers in 8 to 12 feet of water. Pitching jigs and tubes around boat docks in the creeks and in main lake pockets is also producing some keepers in 8 to 12 feet of water. is on the same type of structure. Reports that the Wiggle Wart (crawdads colors and firetiger) worked on windy chunk rock banks and points in the creek arms has produced a few keepers. The buzzbait bite has slowed down, but will produce early on the steeper chunk rock banks in the creeks and on main lake and secondary points.

CRAPPIE - GOOD The crappie are still active in the morning and late evening. The larger keepers are in 15 to 20 feet of water suspended over or around brush piles. The smaller keepers are shallower, 8 10 12 feet. Minnows and Road Runner have been the best producers. When the bite slows down try tipping the baits with Crappie Nibbles.

CATFISH - GOOD The catfish have slowed down some, but are probably the best bite right now. Jugs, limb lines and tightlining from boat docks or the bank is producing in 12 to 18 feet. Cut shad, crawdads, shiners, gold fish and night crawlers will produce.

WHITE BASS / HYBRIDS - FAIR The whites and hybrids seem be on the windy main lake seawalls and flats. There have been reports some whites have been caught on windy flats in the back of the larger creeks where the shad are working. The best baits have been topwater chuggers, Mepps Spinner, Road Runner and Rooster Tails. Shad activity is the key. Trolling off the main lake flats and the mouth of the deeper creeks and coves has also been producing a few whites and hybrids.

Date: 11/25/04
Lake Level : 609.10
Last Weeks Lake Level: 610.75
Normal Lake Level : 606
Water Condition: Muddy to Dingy

Surface Water Temp: 52 degrees

There are no more fishing tournaments scheduled for this year. The above link, to view scheduled tournaments, has been updated for 2005, the list will no doubt be updated a lot more before next year rolls around.

Crappie fishing is still pretty much as it has been, which is a challenge for most people. A limit can be had with perseverance. The reports are varied with crappie being caught at a lot of depths, however some of the best reports are from fishermen catching them near the bottom in 20 - 25 feet of water. Expect to go through a lot of small crappie, keeping bigger ones as you can and hopefully finding a good hole where several keeper size ones may be hiding. The bite is very light, with minnows being the best bait. Look for the clearer water.

Bass fishing continues to be poor. Haven’t heard of any catfish reports this week, defaulting to last weeks report. The rivers and creeks are flowing from recent rains.

Reports of White Bass have been good.

Black Jack Marina will be open year round, with varying hours, but basically from 9 - 3.

Indian Creek marina is closed for the season.

Campers – The water has been turned off at the State Park.

Boaters – In preparation for the coming freezing weather, the Corp has pulled both walkways at the South Fork Ramp, and probably the rest of them as well. The State Park walkways are still in place, as of today.

Duck season is open, fishermen please be respectful if you see decoys and blinds set up, by giving them a wide berth. The waterfowl refuge (Middle Fork and Elk Fork area) is closed to boaters and waterfowl hunters from October 30 until December 31. Buoys are setup to indicate the closed off area. Land based activities are still permitted, such as bank fishing, hiking and other in-season hunting.

Flathead fair

Largemouth Bass good on black/blue jigs and brush hogs

Stripers slow

Crappie fair

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool:  Temperature:  

Fishing slow a few people come out to fish but most don't come back to say how they did seen some nice cats 2 weeks ago but other than that no reports

Take a kid fishing or hunting they need it

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 839.0 Temperature:

Inflow: 60 cfs Outflow: 15 cfs Level: 2.11 feet high

Black Bass No Report 

White Bass No Report 

Crappie No Report 

Catfish No Report 

Muskie No Report 

Walleye No Report 

Bluegill No Report 

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Temperature: Clarity:  Level: high and dingy

Largemouth Bass No Report 

Channel Cat  No Report 

Blue cat No Report 

Bluegill No Report 

Crappie No Report 

Water Temp: 

Crappie No Report 

Blue Catfish No Report 

Channel Catfish  No Report 

Largemouth Bass  No Report 

Bluegill No Report 

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 864.2  Temperature: 54

Inflow: 25 cfs Outflow: 100 cfs Level: 1.16 feet high

CRAPPIE: Good: Lots of crappie are being caught in 20 feet of water along creek edges and in brush piles. Most of the fish being caught are nice keepers with some nice 13" and 14" monsters showing up occasionally. Minnows are still good and the jig bite is getting better.

BASS: No Report: Not many people are fishing for the bass right now.

CATFISH: Fair: The crappie fishermen are catching some nice cats on minnows in the deeper water while crappie fishing. The spillway is a good bet as long as they are running water. Large jig heads and a 3" or 5" grub drifted with the current will catch some flatheads.

White Bass: Good: If you can locate them. The face of the dam is also starting to produce some whites especially on windy days. Use pepper spoons in 15' to 20' of water during the sunny days and vertical jig for them. Move shallower in the mornings and evenings and on cloudy days. You can also troll small crank baits around the main lake points.

WALLEYE: Fair: You can fish points in Campbranch and catch some fish by trolling or casting a #5 or #7 shad rap around points and humps on the main lake.

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 867.7 Temperature: 

Inflow: 1350 cfs Outflow: 40 cfs Level: 1.27 feet high

Black Bass No Report

White Bass No Report

Walleye No Report

Crappie No Report

Catfish No Report

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 915.0 Temperature: 

Release Rate: 5670 cfs. Level: 0.18 feet high

No Report

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Temperature:  Level:

WE ARE MOVING! - EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 1, 2004, OUR NEW LOCATION WILL BE: 2626 STATE HIGHWAY 165 (just north of the Dam). That is the only thing changing. Our phone numbers, e-mail, etc. will all remain the same. Hope to see you at our new location!

GENERAL COMMENTS

WE WISH YOU AND YOURS A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING DAY!! In reflecting back over the years we have had our shop, we have much to be thankful for with the great friends and customers we have come to know.

Water Conditions: Sorry to say, they are still running lots of water. Starting up the day early with two on and generally four by 8:00 a.m. Off late in the afternoon or early evening.

FLY FISHING TROPHY AREA (dam to Fall Creek)-SHALLOW WATER-WADING-
Boats out Monday and Tuesday. Red tunghead midge was the ticket with the high water Monday and worked pretty good Tuesday. The best fly Tuesday was a San Juan worm. Either hot pink or red. Did catch nicer fish. Most in the 14-18 inch range. Monday was a 25 fish day and yesterday one boat caught at least that many but came off the water around 2:00 p.m. as that was when the sky opened up with lots of water. The second boat braved the weather and caught a few more fish. About the only place to wade or fish from the bank is up around the "chutes" in the hatchery area. Tan scuds, San Juan worms, and woolly buggers are some of the flies being used in this area.

STAN'S TIP: With all the fishers out trying to catch that big one, the fish have been getting a lot of pressure. We have seen lots of dead fish in the water. Remember to try and not play your fish until they are exhausted. If you do, take time to revive them. Use care when handling the fish. Even though it is not required, consider barbless hooks. This certainly makes it easier and faster to release the fish and get them back into the water.

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Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 722.00 Clarity:  Level:

Temperature:

  Lake Map

Crappie slow using minnows in the deep brush piles

Bass slow using lures

Channel cat good using worms and minnows

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 706.0 Temperature:  64

Inflow: 4000 cfs Outflow: 21996 cfs Level: 3.13 feet high

We will be closing the marina for the season on Nov.7th. We will keep the campground open till after deer season. Next week will be my last fishing report for the season. we can help you with anything you can contact us at Sterett Creek Marina

Tommy

Lake temp: and dirty

Crappie No Report

Bluegill No Report

Catfish No Report