Hello From Pella, Ia

[getthenet]

My father and I have been enjoying catching and releasing many fish from both Lake of the Ozarks and Truman over the last 20 years or so. We make an annual trip to Truman every April for some recreational bass fishing and to LOZ twice a year for the same thing. With the water levels and clarity this year I am looking for some advice on my spring trip and this site seems very informative. We currently have reservations at Truman but wouldn't hesitate to change our plans and to to LOZ if the water levels/fishing would be better. We are going to be targeting bass and will be there from the 10th through the 13th.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

[Trav]

Welcome!

My advice is to forget missiouri altogether. At least until May. But if I had to pick between Missouri waters, I would say forget the bass and go fish for trout someplace.

GO HAWKEYES!

[Eric Jaeger]

Welcome to the forum getthenet. Truman is 11ft. above normal pool today. After the very high water on Truman last year there will be alot timber and other stuff floating on and below the water. I think LOZ would be your best bet. Good luck fishing in Missouri.

[getthenet]

I have read quite a few reports from LOZ over the last couple of days as well. Sounds like the Glaize area is chocolate milk or worse. I'll keep watching the water temps and the tournament reports from this coming weekend. Trying to throw a jerkbait in 6 inches of visibility doesn't interest me much.

Thanks for your help. Just trying to make a good decision as 250 miles + $3.30 gas + 10 miles per gallon is OK if you're getting bit!

[Trav]

I think right now that Red Rock or even Rathbun(close to you) would be better options right now.

Sorry.

[HookemHard]

Well you have picked an interesting time to go to either one of those lakes. I can't comment on Truman but I can tell you about LOZ. Right now it is very high and EXTREMELY MUDDY. There have been some fish being caught but it is very tough. The report I got from a tournament last week was the the warmest water that could be found was 47/48. I was suppose to fish a tournament there on the 12th and the 19th. I am not going on the 12th in hopes that the water will settle down a little (mainly clear up some and warm up some) by the 19th.

You should look at 7/24 web site. They usually have some pretty good lake reports as well as tournament results that might give you some more insite, especially for Truman.

We just can't seem to stay away from the rain for more than one day.

Hope that helps. Bennett Springs isn't that far from LOZ. I was there last week and even though the water was very high and very merky, the fishing was good.

Good luck what ever you decide,

HookemHard

[Trav]

Trust me on the fact that Iowa will have better fishing in April than Missouri. I have fished Red Rock And Rathbun several times, and my brother(An Iowan State Trooper) is saying that when the cottonwoods bloom it will be phenom conditions. I am probably going to go catch those fish first of May myself. Save your gas money and work the lakes close to home.

Maybe I will see ya.

I used to fish alot of lakes in Iowa. Big creek and Saylorville, as well as up north in spirit and Okiboji. Pine is fine and when it comes to rivers the des moines is the best.

Closer to you might be a series of lakes in the chariton area. I forget thier names, but I think the chariton river is the source.

Look at my blog and you will see all the fish we catch in Iowa.

[getthenet]

Thanks for your help. The weather report shows a warm up down there so we will probably end up at LOZ. Trav - I agree that there can be fish caught at Red Rock as I live about 1000 ft from the boat ramp. Only problem is that the water is just at 40 degrees up here and is dirty from the runoff. I have never had much luck catching bass at Rathbun and the lakes up north are still ice covered. I already have the time off work and am itching to get out. Been a long winter.

Thanks again.