Osage River Magic

[David Goddard]

This isn't really only smallmouth fishing but I couldn't find a topic page for the Osage River so here it is. I went out on the Osage yesterday with my girlfriend and our kitten. I had been out on the river a handful of times this summer and had some successful trips but never one like I had yesterday. Earlier this summer I caught my PB Ozark smallmouth at 4.17 from the Osage, my PB spot at 3.63, and my PB meanmouth at 3.05. I never thought it would turn out another PB, but I was throwin' the ol' buzzer around yesterday evening and thought I had snagged a carp when I got bit. Turns out it was a 7.76 Largemouth which broke my old PB that was from a private pond by half a pound. I've included some pics of all of these fish and some other nice fish catches as well. I am very excited to see how this amazing place fishes in the winter. Lastly, I'm the president of the Mizzou Bass Fishing team so I appreciate all of the local support. Thanks guys, Tight Lines.

[Smalliebigs]

Very nice David......the Osage is just full of all kinds of crazy big fish......I really wish I lived closer to it

[David Goddard]

Well if you ever want to get out the jet is ready to roll

[Smalliebigs]

44 minutes ago, David Goddard said:

Well if you ever want to get out the jet is ready to roll

say when

I will provide you with cash and a bag full of Japanese baits.....just say when

[TroutRinger]

Awesome fish!

I live in Columbia and am at the lake all the time but for some reason never make it on the Osage. When you took the kayaks out, what accesses did you use?

[David Goddard]

Well I was actually showed a few stretches of the river by a friend of mine so I can't really tell you that accesses. Wouldn't want to publish buddy spots if you know what I mean.

[David Goddard]

9 hours ago, Smalliebigs said:

say when

I will provide you with cash and a bag full of Japanese baits.....just say when

I will definitely take you up on that. Is this forum a good place to contact you from?

[David Goddard]

3 hours ago, TroutRinger said:

Awesome fish!

I live in Columbia and am at the lake all the time but for some reason never make it on the Osage. When you took the kayaks out, what accesses did you use?

However, two access that I have had a fair amount of success at have been Pines Bluff and the access at Bagnell Dam just below it. Both have treated me to very good quality fish.

[Seth]

The Osage has really come alive this year. I've heard of several 4+ pound spots and a lot of 5+ largemouth being caught this year. The biggest surprise to me though is the number of nice smallies being caught! Every once in a while somebody would catch a decent one on the Osage, but there have been several 3+ and even 4+ smallies weighed in during tournaments this year. I boated my PB Osage bass last month in a tournament out of St Thomas that weighed 5.43. Caught it on the spinning rod and by sheer luck managed to land it even though it had me so tangled up in a brush pile that we had to snag the line and pull the fish in by hand! Had a couple other big largemouth show themselves that day, but didn't land them

The fishing gets better and better the closer you get to Bagnell. Start at Tuscumbia and work your way up. St. Elizabeth area can be decent too, but Tuscumbia on up is definitely my favorite part of the river.

Here is a video of our last tournament out of St Thomas. The big one is towards the end.

 

[Seth]

I need to make it a point to get back in to winter fishing for bass this year. I'm really bad about just going after crappie and trout once our tournaments are over with though. It's tough choosing between all the good fishing in the winter time or chasing deer!