Fishing Report, updated for 10/05/12

Fishing Report, updated for 10/05/12

The lake level was 657.5; with minimum generation scheduled, the lake should drop
slightly to 657.4 by the weekend. Surface temperature at Bagnell Dam is 73 degrees;
upstream temperatures are 70 to 76 degrees depending on location and time of day.
Truman Lake is one foot under pool.
BLACK BASS – In general, bass fishing is very difficult now, some fish are deep; a
few are shallow. No tournaments reported.
Bagnell Tailwater: No reported fish. Lower Osage: Poor to fair, try jigs around docks
tipped with Berkley’s Chigger Craw, 10 or 12-inch blue flake Berkley’s Power Worm, or
Yum’s F2 Craw Papi. Glaize Arm: Poor, try jigs and Power Worms, also try deep diving
crankbaits like Rapala’s DT10 or Norman’s DD22. Mid-Lake: Poor, try jigs deep along
chunk rock banks. Niangua Arm: Poor, try topwaters early then crankbaits and jigs in
front of docks later. Also, try blue fleck Power Worms in deep brush. Little Niangua
River: No reported fish. Gravois Arm: Poor to fair around brush, try soft plastics like
critters and large Power Worms. Upper Osage: Fair, try shaky head jigs around dock
corners. Osage 60 MM: Very good for Kentucky bass on buzzbaits around dock corners.
For largemouth try main and secondary points with DD22’s or watermelon or pumpkin
colored jigs.
CATFISH: Bagnell Tailwater: Very good to excellent for blue catfish on cut shad.
Lower Osage: Very good on juglines or rod and reel baited with cut bait. Glaize Arm:
Very good, try coves with nightcrawlers or chicken livers. Mid-Lake: Very good on
small perch, try drifting with a rod and reel. Niangua Arm: Excellent in coves with
nightcrawlers, cut bait and chicken livers. Little Niangua River: Good from the bank on
all traditional catfish baits. Gravois Arm: Excellent on jugs baited with cut shad. Upper
Osage: Excellent on traditional catfish baits. Osage 60 MM: Excellent on fresh bait
fished off docks, also try hotdogs for ‘blues’. Truman Tailwater: Very good on cut shad
and perch.
CRAPPIE – Bagnell Tailwater: Good in the morning. Lower Osage: Fair, try jigs,
or medium minnows fished 15 feet deep around big boat docks. Glaize Arm: Fair, try
jigs fished around major boat docks. Mid-Lake: Fair, try minnows for suspended fish
8 to 12 feet deep over brush. Niangua Arm: Excellent on minnows around dock brush.
Little Niangua River: No reported fish. Gravois Arm: Fair to good for shallow fish.
Upper Osage: Fair, try small chartreuse jigs or minnows. Osage 60 MM: Very good on
Southern Pro jigs, in Kentucky Lake Killer color fished 5-feet deep. Truman Tailwater:
Fair on AWD’s Crappie Delight or minnows.
WALLEYE – Bagnell Tailwater: No reported fish. Upper Osage: Fair, try crankbaits
and in-line spinners on points. Niangua Arm: No reported fish. Osage 60 MM: No
reported fish.

WHITE AND HYBRID BASS – Bagnell Tailwater: Good for whites and hybrids,
try dark colored baits. Lower Osage: No reported fish. Glaize Arm: Fair for quantity
and size on white jigs in coves and on points with Dixie Jet Spoons. Mid-Lake: Poor to
fair on spoons in open water. Niangua Arm: Poor, try windblown points and flats using
chrome colored Dixie Jet Spoons or Bass Pro Shops XPS Tungsten Jigging Spoon. Little
Niangua River: Fair to good on minnows fished under a bobber in the holes. Gravois
Arm: Fair, try open water with vertically jigged spoons. Osage 60 MM: Very good
casting Worden’s Rooster Tails or trolling Mann’s Little George. Truman Tailwater:
Fair on Li’l Fishies and Sassy Shad.
BLUEGILL – Bagnell Tailwater: Excellent on red wigglers. Lakewide: Excellent, try
worm pieces or Berkley Berkley’s Gulp Crickets, or Nightcrawler pieces.
NOTE: The Lower Osage is from the dam to the 22-mile mark; Mid-Lake is between
the 22 and 38-mile marks; the Upper Osage is between the 38 and 55-mile marks; the
Osage 60 MM is between the 55-mile mark and the 89-mile mark; and the 89 MM is
between the 89 MM and the Rt. 65 Bridge.
UPDATES – Bagnell Dam – Dam Bait Shop (573-216-2084); Lower Osage and
Glaize Arm – Guide Skip Surbaugh (573-365-0006); Midlake and Gravois – Mike
Foree @ Osage Beach Bait & Tackle (573-348-9333); Niangua Arm – Darrell Taylor;
Upper Osage – Guide John Blankenbeker (573-280-1455); Little Niangua River –
Greenmill Campground, (573-363-5577); Osage 60 MM – Bryants Osage Outdoors,
www.osagetackle.com (573-374-2278); Truman Dam – The Station Bait & Tackle
(660-438-7664); Tourney Results – www724outdoors.com; Lake Level (573-365-9205).
Compiled by Darrell Taylor.