The lake level was 659.8 (660 is normal pool level); with medium, then light generation scheduled the lake should rise slightly to 659.3 by the weekend. Truman Lake is at normal pool. Surface temperature at Bagnell Dam is 79 degrees with upstream temperatures of 80 to 84 degrees depending on location and time of day. A thermocline is setting up 16 to 19 feet deep throughout much of the lake. The lake has some floating debris, boaters should exercise caution.
BLACK BASS – It took 18.49 pounds to win the a recent Wednesday night tourney, Big Bass was 5.64 pounds. Lower Osage: Excellent on Bullseye jigs and 10-inch Berkley Power Worms fished around dock brush. Glaize Arm: Very good on jigs and Norman’s DD22 crankbaits around brush. Try Zara Spooks or buzzbaits early and late. Mid-Lake: Good on jigs and spinnerbaits fished halfway back in coves, also try crankbaits like Storm’s Wiggle Wart and Norman’s Deep Little N. Niangua Arm: Very good with red shad or blue-flake Texas-rigged 10-inch Berkley Power Worms or HAVOC Craw Fatty fished around brush. Also try vertical jigging with nickel or white Dixie Spoons on points and around marina docks. Gravois Arm: Very good on Bullseye jigs, also try ‘stroking’ Dixie Jet spoons. Upper Osage: Very good around submerged brush, try jigs and red shad colored Power Worms. Osage 60 MM: Very good around and behind docks with red shad or blue flake 10-inch Power Worms, also try deep crankbaits like Norman’s DD22.
CATFISH – May be the hottest bite on the lake again this year. Bagnell Tailwater: Very good, try cut bait or Sonny’s prepared bait. Lower Osage: Very good on juglines and trotlines baited with traditional catfish baits. Glaize Arm: Very good on nightcrawlers, bluegill or hot dogs (off docks), Also try juglines. Mid-Lake: Good, try drifting with live shad. Niangua Arm: Excellent off docks in coves with nightcrawlers, cut bait and chicken livers. Also try juglines in 15 to 25 feet of water. Little Niangua River: Very good on all traditional catfish baits. Gravois Arm: Good drifting with chicken livers. Upper Osage: Good on cut shad or shrimp. Osage 60 MM: Very good on juglines and trotlines baited with cut shad or shrimp. Truman Tailwater: Fair on cut shad.
CRAPPIE – Bagnell Tailwater: Poor. Lower Osage: Good, try minnows or jigs 12 to 15-feet deep. Glaize Arm: Fish are suspended; try jigs with blue and white or chartreuse. Mid-Lake: Good, fish are 12 to 14 feet deep in front of docks. Niangua Arm: Fair to good on small crankbaits or Blakemore Road Runners fished in front of docks or suspended just off of flats and points. Gravois Arm: Very good on minnows or Road Runners fished 10 to 12 feet deep. Upper Osage: Good with minnows tipped with Berkley Crappie Nibbles. Osage 60 MM: Good on tube jigs with some red color fished 10 to 11 feet deep around brush. Truman Tailwater: Fair on minnows or Slab Hunter jigs.
WALLEYE – Glaize Arm: Fair to good, try glow-in-the-dark jigs tipped with minnows. Mid-Lake: Fair, try trolling points and flats with crankbaits like Cordell’s Wally Diver or Storm’s pearl white Thunder Crank. Niangua Arm: Fair, try trolling flats and points with Norman’s Deep Little N or Cordell’s Wally Diver. Also try vertical jigging points near the old river channel.
WHITE AND HYBRID BASS – Bagnell Tailwater: Good for whites on Worden’s white Rooster Tails. Lower Osage: Fair to good for hybrids on points. Glaize Arm: Good on white jigs fished 12 to 14 inches behind a topwater popper. Mid-Lake: Fair, try trolling points and flats with small crankbaits or 1/4-ounce Road Runners. Gravois Arm: Fair in creeks, try Road Runners and Rooster Tails. Osage 60 MM: Fair to good on windy points, try trolling with white Rooster Tails. Truman Tailwater: Fair on white bass using Worden’s Rooster Tails, Slab Hunters and Rebel Wee-R’s.
BLUEGILL – Excellent, try around docks with worm pieces or 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.
Compiled by Darrell Taylor
