Jenny @ The Station

Another week of decent weather has many anglers out trying their luck here at The Tailrace. Snagging season started up Thurs. and in just 2 days we've seen an 80 pounder, a 64 and a 60. The water has been running quite a bit this week, mostly in the morning and evening hours. White bass seem to be the best bite, with quite a few hybrids caught as well. Walleye continue to bite, but a few less reported this week than last. It is my understanding that the Hatchery will be shocking this coming week, so that may slow things down a bit on the walleye. Crappie have really picked up. With the surface temp. having increased a couple of degrees, some folks are finding them hitting as shallow as 1 1/2 -2 feet from the surface. Catfish have been a little slower, but it is hard to say if that is because they are biting less or because the shad continue to be so hard to find. Still some nice cats coming in here and there for those who manage to come up with bait. As is the norm this time of year, fishing is slowly but surely getting a little better each week, so if you haven't been out there yet, maybe it's time to wet a line.

Believe it or not hardly anyone fishing prior to the last couple of weeks due to our recent "good old fashioned" Missouri winter. Thus, those of us trying to eek out an existance in this extreemly seasonal business frequently have second and even third jobs... thus no reports through this last winter. However, we are back in the swing of things and looking foreward to a great fishing season. Good luck to all and we look foreward to seeing you at the lake. Also, we do not mind at all if you call us for a report, but please be patient with us as we sometimes have a line of customers we are working on pleasing and need to have you call back. (660)438-7664

Another week with lots of water running at The Tailrace. We continue to hear of many walleye coming in, just a couple fish story worthy size but lots of keepers. Crappie continue fair for most, a couple of fellas coming up with limits and a few 13 inch fish thrown in the story. Truman and a little further downstream on LOZ seem to be doing well on crappie too. This week the whites have really kicked in with lots of fish caught and a few hybrids in the mix this time. Everyone has their favorite color or jig to throw this time of year, but the most common we hear catching any of these fish is Slab Hunters and Curly tails. Catfish have also been real good with some nice sized fish coming in now. The problem continues to be the extreme difficulty netting the shad to catch 'em with though. We are all anxiously awaiting the return of the shad, (and apparently so are the catfish). Again I remind you to stop and pick up that 07 fishing license on your way to the water. You will be glad you did! Good luck!

Well, it is that time of year again, time to dust off the fishing gear and re-string the reels. The water is running fairly consistently here at The Tailrace and this has brought out the early season anglers to battle the elements. Most have come away with at least something for their effort, and a few with great success. Such is the early season. As most walleye fishermen know, the worse the weather, the better the walleye bite. We have seen a lot of walleye caught already this season and with a couple of degree warm-up on surface temp., (which I'd look to happen within the week), the bite should pick up even more. Crappie are starting to bite as well, I've even seen some real nice sized ones come in. But you've still got to work a little for them yet. Whites are being caught here and there as well, but I've yet to see any hybrids. Catfish are biting pretty good but shad are extremely difficult to find. Don't forget that new '07 fishing license because I guarantee you the Game Warden hasn't forgot that your old one just expired. Here at The Station are getting geared up for a great season this year and look foreword to seeing you all here at The Tailrace.

Finally some rain falling on and off in The Ozarks has helped stir the fish up some, as well as green things up again around here. Reports on crappie continue much the same believe it or not as the last report (though I know it has been some time). Continued success on catching many fish but lots of small ones. Occasionally we'll see someone with some nice big crappie from an undisclosed honey hole. Catfish have been fair to good. Several 20-30 lb. this week at The Tailrace, one 45 and quite a few 1-10 lb fish. I've not heard much of the fall hybrids coming up yet but expect the spoon fishermen to be gearing up soon for the big ones to start surfacing. We are looking for a very pleasant holiday weekend temperature wise, with highs predicted around upper 70's and low 80's, with nice cool downs into the 60's at night. Should make for a beautiful weekend at the lake. Have a safe, enjoyable holiday!

A blustery week in the Ozarks has deterred a few anglers from getting on the water, but those who have braved the waves report good catches this week. Crappie have been in summer pattern, most finding them up on the Lake in somewhat deeper water. Chartreuse and black jigs seem to be working, as well as minnows. Several anglers reporting limits or close to it. Whites and hybrids seem to have slowed some at The Tailrace, but occasionally I hear reports of a few caught. Several nice flatheads reported this week in the 20-30 lb range, but blues have been hit and miss below the Dam. The drift fishermen, however, have had a great week with the nice southerly wind. A lot of fish 5-12 lbs and a few around 20. 'The heat is likely to stick with us for a while, but the breeze makes the water quite tolerable. Hope to see you at the lake.

This week's been a muggy one at the Lake. But quite a few anglers still getting out, more so in the early mornings and evenings. As has been the theme most of this year, lots of crappie being caught out there, but many of them just shy of 9 inches. However, I have talked to a few fishermen who have continued to find those nicer ones up top on Truman. This week having been quite good according to them. Whites and hybrids have continued to surface on and off this week at The Tailrace, but continue difficult to tempt. Several reports of XL shiners doing well which is not surprising considering they are chasing shad schools about that size. Occasionally someone finding one on top water as well. Cats are doing well, especially in the evenings as they have been running water afternoons into the early evening hours. A couple of blues reported in the 15-25 lb. range as well as quite a few 1-15's and some small flathead (also hitting on XL shiners).

The weather has been beautiful this week with slightly cooler days and cool breezy nights. Some good keeper crappie coming in this week on shiners and Slab Hunters. As usual lots of smaller ones to contend with as well. Docks in the Old Channel as well as down by the Swinging Bridge have hot. Walleye have been showing up a little down stream as well. Some folks also doing well trolling the humps up on Truman. Hybrid and whites are really surfacing this time of year. Quite a few being caught, but for the amount of surface activity you'd think you'd be limited in a few minutes. They are chasing the new hatch of shad that are out there in massive schools. So try to find something to resemble the hatch and you'll probably see more action. The Catfish have continued to bite well. A few less of the 30 lb plus reported this week, but lots of 1-15 pound.

With the Holiday approaching we have seen the fishing here at The Tailrace continue to be fair to good. We've seen some real nice big blue cats caught as they are coming off the nest hungry this week. Lots of fish in the 15-30 lb. range and a few 40-50's. The COE has been running one gate pretty consistently just to keep it oxygenated, and generating a moderate amount of water in the evenings. Crappie have been biting well, still a lot of small ones in the mix. This week seems to be bringing in a few more keepers than the last several weeks though. Whites and hybrids have been surfacing on and off at The Tailrace and quite a bit up on Truman. A few folks report having done real well on XL Slab Hunters and spoons. The weekend looks to be dry for a change and on the warm side. We here at The Station hope you have a fun, safe Holiday, and a full stringer at the end of each day... see you at the lake!

The warm weather has fewer fishermen out and of those willing to get out in the heat some are reporting good catches and others fair at best. Seems about 50 / 50 split between the two groups as far as crappie goes. Still lots of small ones but some folks finding the honey holes and coming up with some nice sized fish. Whites and hybrids are good up on Truman but hit and miss at the Tailrace. Catfish should be going on the nest about now so we look to continue seeing a few here and there but generally things slow for a couple of weeks then they come off hungry. I have weighed in a couple in the 30 to 40 lb range this week though. Looks to be showers on and off this weekend so maybe a little relief from the heat. Might as well take to the water instead of the couch.

March weather in May has really mixed things up again this week. Catfishing has top billing with a good number of trophy fish being caught at The Tailrace. Many reported in the 30-60 lb. range. We are starting to see some big Flatheads as well as Blues. Crappie have been hitting fair to at times real good and if we actually get the warm-up predicted this week they are likely to move into the spawn hard and fast. Whites and Hybrids continue to bite well, especially when the Corp generates which has been pretty much daily. Yes even including Saturday and Sunday last week. Truman continues a couple of feet above normal pool so with any luck we will see the water continue to run but regardless they are pulling in a lot of fish at The Tailrace.

The fishing this week has been quite good all the way around. The Corp of Engineers have been running water consistently, and lots of it. The bank fishermen have just been hauling in the crappie and whites as well as a few hybrids here and there. Catfishermen report excellent results as to be expected with the water running so much for the first time in quite a while. One friend of mine said the bite was just constant the other night, catching one fish after the other way into the early morning hours. The weather looks to be clear for the weekend. And with the rain we've had, Truman is up nearly 2 feet and LOZ up about 5 feet. I'd not be surprised if they continued running water through the weekend.

Despite the somewhat windy conditions this week many anglers have consistently taken home nice limits of crappie. The spawn is in the early stages so they are hitting well on the warmer areas of the lake and just starting to get in the swing of things here at The Tailrace. Thus we are still seeing lots of males, but now with quite a few nice sized sows in the mix. Morning and evening bite continue best of course. Fewer reports of whites and hybrids this week, but occasionally they just turn on unexpectedly for loads of fun for a while. Catfish have been good with lots of 1-15 lb. fish and several reported 20 lb. plus. With snagging season winding down, we're seeing some real nice fish snagged now here on the upper end of Lake of the Ozarks /Osage. The COE has kept the gate open just a bit, and some afternoons and into the evening run the generators keeping things interesting for us. I look for more running time, as LOZ is so low the good folks downstream will really be in a bad way if they don't get some water by Memorial Day. Another fine weekend to get out of the house. See you at The Tailrace.

A cool week has slowed down the fishermen and thus the fishing here at the Tailrace. However, those who have braved the cold and wind, report some pretty good results. Walleye continue fair to good with both jigs and minnows hitting occasionally. We should be at about the peak of the spawn, as evidenced by the early morning presence on the Dept. of Conservation a couple of days this week harvesting eggs. Crappie have been fair to good with those folks lucky enough to be in the right place, right time, right bait limiting in less than an hour with large females now in our neck of the woods. However, more consistently I've heard reports of lots of small crappie, or just plain hit and miss. The more successful fishermen being understandably vague with the details. Whites also hitting fair with a hybrid thrown in occasionally. Catfishing also fair to good. Again just not as many fishermen out there but the Corp has generated on and off this week, with little predictability though, besides leaving the one gate open just a bit to aid the walleye spawn. Snaggers have been doing well. We have weighed in several 40-60 lb fish and look to see lots of folks out there this weekend really putting their backs into it. (By the way fellas, I know a fantastic local Chiropractor by the last name of Porter). Anyway, might as well get out there and see what happens. There is good potential this time of year and if you're like me, you've got to be getting pretty tired of being indoors.

While the weather looks to be a little cooler this week, the fishing is warming up. Snagging season starts today with lots of folks getting out there to catch the big ones. No reports on the spoonbill yet. Walleye have continued good. Most on jigs, but a few reported on minnows. I'd guess that this is about the peak of the walleye. We are likely to see the Dept. of Conservation out there in their boat next week. The COE is starting to run some water to help out the spawn, so this has kicked everything up a notch. Quite a few whites being caught, and a few nice hybrids. These have really just started up. The crappie continue to be hit and miss. Lots of small ones and some folks finding the honey holes coming up with some nice sized fish. Mostly Slab Hunters doing well from what we've heard. With the water running some, I've heard a real run on cats, with quite a few 15-30 lb. blues coming in. If they continue to generate, we should see a lot of fish. Prepare for some wind and perhaps a sprinkle or two, but get out there if you can, it's a good time to fish!

Fishing season has officially begun in The Ozarks. While it is by no way in full swing yet, the old familiar faces are starting to show up at The Tailrace and we are glad to see you one and all. Truman continues just shy of normal pool at 705.58 which is far better than many of our neighboring lakes. Hopefully the spring rains will come this year taking this dust down and give the COE some more water to run. They have actually been running generators a couple of hours most weekday mornings and occasionally in the evening. This has been helpful in bring the walleye up into our neck of the woods. I have started to hear of quite a few caught, more in the evening than mornings. Crappie are hit and miss as usual, with some days being real good. A few whites starting to show, but not a lot to speak of yet. Catfish have started to pick up. This time of year traditionally being the beginning of "Big Cat" time. A couple of days ago I heard Steve Brown of www.CatfishSafari.com caught one 78 lb as well as several more in the 30-40 lb. range. Locating the shad can be a bit tricky this time of year though. With the warm-up promised this week, the water temp. will be creeping up and a degree or two should really kick things in gear as far as fishing goes. So dust off the old rod and reel, clean out that tackle box and enjoy the fishing fever as you do so, for another season is upon us. See you at the Tail Race!

Thanks for the kind words Lilley, I'll try to keep you all posted on what's happening at The Tailrace. Like any true fisherman, I have been known on occasion to exaggerate more than a bit where fishing is concerned. However, when it comes to the reports I send out from The Station, I realize many of our so greatly valued customers come quite some distance to fish here and thus I stick carefully to the truth. With a warm-up headed our way this week, once again there is promise for some good fishing for those choosing to get out there. The crappie fishing has been great up on Truman, with most of the guys reporting daily limits in 25- 30 feet of water off the bluffs. Below, off the docks on Lake of the Ozarks fantastic fishing. Many big crappie coming in. Most everyone using Slab Hunters in various colors, grays and chartreuse being maybe a little more common choice. Thus far I've heard of a few nice crappie comming in at the actual Tailrace, but not nearly as many as a little further down off of private docks. Catfish also have been biting with lots of 1-10 lb. fish and several 20's to 30's as well as one 55lb. reported. Happy Holidays from us here at The Station Bait, and we look forward to a great year of fishing with you all here in the Ozarks in 2006!