Sat. Report.

[ozarkgunner]

I went to Bagnell all day on Sat. April 25. The water was running, however the tempature was still cool, 49 degrees. Overall, the fishing was slow. I landed 5 whites, 2 crappie, 3 drum, and about 12 black bass. I will say I caught the largest river smallmouth of my life (5.5+ lbs.) on a minnow using 4lb. crappie line. WHAT A FIGHT. I have never caught a smallmouth below the dam, and I didn't even know they were in the Osage. Nobody else was catching much of anything. A few whites up by the dam, but thats about it.

Tight lines.

[ozarkgunner]

I went to Bagnell all day on Sat. April 25. The water was running, however the tempature was still cool, 49 degrees. Overall, the fishing was slow. I landed 5 whites, 2 crappie, 3 drum, and about 12 black bass. I will say I caught the largest river smallmouth of my life (5.5+ lbs.) on a minnow using 4lb. crappie line. WHAT A FIGHT. I have never caught a smallmouth below the dam, and I didn't even know they were in the Osage. Nobody else was catching much of anything. A few whites up by the dam, but thats about it.

Tight lines.

[/quote

One last thing.......... I am not starting a catching and release debate here, but throw the black bass back in the water. The season is CLOSED in the river. To the Chinese gentleman who didn't listen to me about throwing them back, I hope you are enjoying your ticket........

Tight Lines.

[creek wader]

Cool, I hope you turned him in.

Did you measure the smallie (length)?

Glad someone finally got a report in.

Were you fishing on the east/north side in the cove?

[ozarkgunner]

Cool, I hope you turned him in.

Did you measure the smallie (length)?

Glad someone finally got a report in.

Were you fishing on the east/north side in the cove?

[/quote

I wish I had measured her as I wanted to get a replica made but my buddy left his phone (and camera) in the car, so I released her without a picture. (I know sounds like a fish story, but its true). I felt bad about wearing the fish out with such a light rig. It took a good 30 mins to land it on my light crappie rod. I fished what I think is the best spot at Bagnell. It is right where the current meets the "cove" on the point. It is always a great spot. The white bass were out in the current. Things are starting to pick up, but it is still slow for this time of year.

[Seth]

Congrats on that smallie. Man I can only imagine how that thing fought. They are scrappers!

My buddy caught a 4 pound smally on the osage this past winter around St. Thomas on the Osage. We went crazy when it came up and boiled. He was using 17lbs test and a bait caster and still had trouble getting her to give up so we could land it. Sucks he put her in his freezer though because that is a rare fish.

Did you see anybody fishing for catfish? I'm ready to start drifting shad and hammering the big blues.

[ozarkgunner]

Congrats on that smallie. Man I can only imagine how that thing fought. They are scrappers!

My buddy caught a 4 pound smally on the osage this past winter around St. Thomas on the Osage. We went crazy when it came up and boiled. He was using 17lbs test and a bait caster and still had trouble getting her to give up so we could land it. Sucks he put her in his freezer though because that is a rare fish.

Did you see anybody fishing for catfish? I'm ready to start drifting shad and hammering the big blues.

I fished for cats also, but got a big ZERO. I had a few bites on my cat lines but landed nothing. Only saw one guy catch a small blue.

[ozarkgunner]

I went to Bagnell all day on Sat. April 25. The water was running, however the tempature was still cool, 49 degrees. Overall, the fishing was slow. I landed 5 whites, 2 crappie, 3 drum, and about 12 black bass. I will say I caught the largest river smallmouth of my life (5.5+ lbs.) on a minnow using 4lb. crappie line. WHAT A FIGHT. I have never caught a smallmouth below the dam, and I didn't even know they were in the Osage. Nobody else was catching much of anything. A few whites up by the dam, but thats about it.

Tight lines.

Bump.

Anything new?

[Fisherfriend]

Headed out early Saturday, May 2nd. The water was lower than I have ever seen it although keep in mind I've only been there a half-dozen times or so. I was surprised because I thought with all the rain SURELY they would be running a lot of water. Didn't they know I would be fishing? Apparently not. Both the big "submergered" island and a smaller one between it and the dam were exposed. The pilings on the souwest bank were almost completely out of the water. Does anyone know if there is a water level gauge visible from a boat there. It would be easier to describe if I could say just where the water was on a gauge.

Fishing was so-so. I caught probably 20-25 small crappie and a 2 1/2 lb hybrid off the point in the cove. All of them were on a small white twister-tail sort of jig. At the same place I also caught a nice smallmouth (+/- 3 lbs) on a chartreuse crappie thunder jig with my 12' crappie rod on 4 lb test line (I thought of you, ozarkgunner). A little later I moved to the 75 yard line and started tossing a white 7/8 oz Bomber slab spoon. I'm not sure what I hooked but it felt huge. I had a pretty good bite, tried to set it but didn't. I kept reeling, felt another lighter tap, kept reeling, then Wham! Whatever it was hit like a freight train and took off. Somewhere near the boat it shook loose. I never did see it. It's the sort of thing that will probably have me there next week. Makes me curious as to what it was.

The only other fish I caught was spoonbill that I accidently tailhooked with the slab spoon. I wasn't sure when the season closed so I thought I'd better turn him loose. I've never been snagging and so don't have a lot to compare it to but it seemed pretty good size to me. I didn't try to haul him into the boat for an accurate measure but I'm guessing 36-40 inches from tail to the base of his snout or spoonbill or whatever you call it.

Anyone have any news about the old lock and dam just upstream from the Mari-Osa access? It's about 45 minutes closer to me than Bagnell but I haven't had as much luck there as I have at the dam.

[ozarkgunner]

Headed out early Saturday, May 2nd. The water was lower than I have ever seen it although keep in mind I've only been there a half-dozen times or so. I was surprised because I thought with all the rain SURELY they would be running a lot of water. Didn't they know I would be fishing? Apparently not. Both the big "submergered" island and a smaller one between it and the dam were exposed. The pilings on the souwest bank were almost completely out of the water. Does anyone know if there is a water level gauge visible from a boat there. It would be easier to describe if I could say just where the water was on a gauge.

Fishing was so-so. I caught probably 20-25 small crappie and a 2 1/2 lb hybrid off the point in the cove. All of them were on a small white twister-tail sort of jig. At the same place I also caught a nice smallmouth (+/- 3 lbs) on a chartreuse crappie thunder jig with my 12' crappie rod on 4 lb test line (I thought of you, ozarkgunner). A little later I moved to the 75 yard line and started tossing a white 7/8 oz Bomber slab spoon. I'm not sure what I hooked but it felt huge. I had a pretty good bite, tried to set it but didn't. I kept reeling, felt another lighter tap, kept reeling, then Wham! Whatever it was hit like a freight train and took off. Somewhere near the boat it shook loose. I never did see it. It's the sort of thing that will probably have me there next week. Makes me curious as to what it was.

The only other fish I caught was spoonbill that I accidently tailhooked with the slab spoon. I wasn't sure when the season closed so I thought I'd better turn him loose. I've never been snagging and so don't have a lot to compare it to but it seemed pretty good size to me. I didn't try to haul him into the boat for an accurate measure but I'm guessing 36-40 inches from tail to the base of his snout or spoonbill or whatever you call it.

Anyone have any news about the old lock and dam just upstream from the Mari-Osa access? It's about 45 minutes closer to me than Bagnell but I haven't had as much luck there as I have at the dam.

Thanks for the report! Those smallies sure are fun on light line, you will think you've stuck a rocket ship.

It's good to hear you at least got a few fish, as the fishing can be really hard without any water running.

The dam number is 573 365 9205. They will give you a generation report.

Tight lines.