Bass Fishing Report

[Bill Babler]

If someone up there has a minute, could you kind of give us a lake wide prespective on surface temps, clarity and a Bass Fishing Report. We all know its low, but have heard conflicting reports on clarity.

Osage Arm Warsaw to Rainey Creek

Osage Arm above the Hurricane deck Bridge to Rainey Creek

Niangua Arm

Glaze

Gravois

Tan-Tara to Dam

If you only have part, maybe someone else can fill in. I'm comming up tomorrow or Tuesday for a couple of days, and will post a report. I just need a starting location. Love the Bolinger Creek to Golden Goose, Brown Bend area.

Thanks Bill

[rangerz21]

bill go to the major creeks proctor,rainy lick big and lil buffalo any channel swing spinnerbait or jig. the water is right for there not table rock water thow 1/2 ounce spinnerbait with a 4 nickel and 5 gold double willow and a blk/blu 3/8 ounce jig with a number 1 blk/blu pork chunk visibility is about 10 inches in this area alot of the fish are moving behind the docks

[Champ188]

I heard they're chompin' a float-n-fly close to Drake Harbor at Warsaw.

[CapnKenny]

I heard they're chompin' a float-n-fly close to Drake Harbor at Warsaw.

[FishinJack]

I don't know about the float-n-fly but.

I have fished everyday for the last few weeks. Fishing has been great most days, poor other days. The water is rising again after the bottom fell out last week. I think we're around 653.9. It's supposed to rise one foot per every 10 days until it's full. A lot of my spots are literally dry. It's a great time to get out and learn new brushpiles. It's also a great time to tear up your trailer trying to put your boat in the water. So be careful on the small ramps. Pb2 is fine, Pa Ha tsi (spelling?) is pretty shallow, 2mm ramp is almost impossible, Shawnee bend is fine, linn creek ramp, I wouldn't try, Tan Tar A's has a big drop off as do most small to average sized boat ramps.

A variety of baits are working now. Wiggle warts and Kopper's crawfish crankbaits are working fine. The water is stained to heavily stained for much of the lake. It's getting clearer in some areas. I'm using a jerkbait in the clearer parts. Crankbait in the more stained parts. Spinnerbait on the high wind days. The Gravois has been the best area for tournaments. The Dam area is fine; Lodge of four season’s fine/good. I had a guide trip at the dam yesterday where a guy caught 5 big drum. They weren't bass like we were trying to catch but he was having a blast! He'd catch a bass every now and then but mostly 5-7lb drum. The Glaize river is fine, I had a guide trip up there today and we didn't catch a lot of fish but we did catch a 6 pounder and a few 3's and some shorts in a half day guide trip. I'm sure a Carolina rig is about to start catching fish along with other soft plastics.

Crappie have been great (with exception of this past fri and sat). Lots of solid, good fish. Shallow on brush or docks. Some bobber and jig, or bobber and minnow action. Some straight jig or grub days. The upper sections have been the best. Past Hurricane deck, Niangua, Gravois has been the most consistent. Some days the mid lake crappie will go nuts, other days just fine. This is going to be a great spring for crappie. It might be earlier than normal. I don't think they are far from getting behind the docks. But all these cold fronts keep the fish changing all the time. If you're not getting bit, keep moving until you find a cove with them in it and then slow down and dissect the cove.

I hear the paddlefish guys are doing pretty well. I haven't had time to go, been to busy fishing for everything else. Mid Osage River is what I'm told. Below Bagnel is producing some, but the average size is much smaller below Bagnel. Some white bass are being caught. I've only caught them by accident, but I am catching them. Someone might be doing real well for them, it wouldn't surprise me.

Several bass tournaments have been around 24lbs to win the last few weeks. 8,9lb bass are being caught. Stable weather and slowly rising water will have the whole lake fishing great shortly. Get out there; it's a beautiful time of the year

Anyone interested in booking a guide trip see my website www.FishingLakeoftheOzarks.com

April is full, but I can fit in half day trips in some spots. May has lots of openings. Good luck fishing everyone. See ya out there.

Jack

[CapnKenny]

I meant to post the water temp this past Sunday was around 51 degrees in the mid-lake area, not sure what happened the last post - fat finger? Here is a pic of the fish me and my little guy caught on Saturday. I'll be looking to pick up a poncho for this weekend!!

[CapnKenny]

Hhmmm, need to perfect my posting skills it looks like.

[Mike Mueller]

James, I like your thinking! Keep 'em running all day allowing the rest of us to catch some fish! Eric and I need some good fish this weekend as we're sitting only a point or two behind them guys for the Team points lead! Good Luck this weekend...how many 20# bags will there be THIS weekend???

[Champ188]

FYI guys, that float-n-fly comment was an inside joke. Babler and Beck have been bashing them on Table Rock with it, including a 27-pound sack a couple of weekends ago. Figured I'd try to talk him into trying it at LOZ.

Mike, gonna be a shootout this weekend, I believe. Looking forward to catching 'em up in the dirt for a change, the way I like it.