Friday, May 25, 2012

Weekly Fishing Report, 5/24/2012

P. annularis
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In most streams south of the Missouri River, black bass season will open May 26, 2012, until that date all black bass in those streams must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught.  For details see Chapter 6 of the Wildlife Code.

PLEASE CHECK REGULATIONS CAREFULLY: Special regulations may apply to designated portions of water bodies; some baits and lures may not be legal for all portions.
 
CENTRAL REGION (573) 882-8388

    LAKES

Binder Lake: 72 degrees, normal, clear; bluegill good on crickets and worms;  largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and soft plastics;  crappie fair on jigs and minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/24/2012)

Blind Pony Lake: 72 degrees, normal, dingy; sunfish and channel catfish fair on nightcrawlers;  largemouth bass fair on soft plastics;  all other species slow; the lake is closed to private boats, and bait held or transported in containers with water is prohibited. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Lake of the Ozarks (Glaize): 77 degrees, dingy; black bass fair using dark colored soft plastics and buzzbaits; white bass slow, try light colored soft plastics; crappie fair on minnows and crappie jigs; catfish fair on stinkbaits, cut baits and worms.
 (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Lake of the Ozarks (Gravois): 71 degrees, dingy; black bass and catfish fair; crappie and white bass slow.
 (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Lake of the Ozarks (Niangua): 71 degrees, dingy; black bass good on soft plastics and spinnerbaits; crappie slow, try minnows or small lures with spinners; white bass fair using light colored soft plastics; catfish good using worms and cut baits; sunfish good using worms.
 (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Lake of the Ozarks (Osage): 71 degrees, dingy; black bass good using soft plastics and crankbaits; crappie slow, try minnows and jigs tipped with Crappie Nibbles; white bass fair using light colored soft plastics; catfish good using cut bait and worms; sunfish good on worms.
 (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Little Dixie Lake: 73 degrees, normal, clear; largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits and plastic worms; channel catfish good on chicken liver; bluegill good on earthworms; crappie fair on live minnows and white jigs; the area is closed to all activity including fishing from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

    RIVERS

Lamine River: 1' below normal level; channel catfish and flathead catfish good on setlines baited with bullhead and bluegill from I-70 upstream to Shackelford bridge; channel catfish and blue catfish good on setlines baited with bluegill downstream from De Bourgmont Access to the Missouri River; crappie good on minnows at Old Highway 50 Access near Otterville; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/24/2012)

Missouri River (middle): low, channel catfish and blue catfish good on worms and cut bait; flathead catfish good on live bullhead and bluegill; buffalo and drum fair on worms;  all other species slow.  (Report made on 5/24/2012)

Osage (Bagnell Tailwater): 70 degrees, normal, dingy; black bass season opens May 26th, fair on worms and dark colored soft plastics; white bass slow, try light colored soft plastics and crappie jigs; crappie slow, try crappie jigs and minnows; catfish slow, try worms, cut shad, chicken livers and stinkbaits.

 (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Osage (lower, at Tuscumbia): 70 degrees, normal, dingy; black bass season opens May 26th, fair on worms and dark colored soft plastics; white bass slow, try light colored soft plastics and crappie jigs; crappie slow, try crappie jigs and minnows; catfish slow, try worms, cut shad, chicken livers and stinkbaits.
 (Report made on 5/23/2012)

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KANSAS CITY REGION (816) 655-6254

    LAKES

Atkinson Lake (Schell-Osage CA): 74 degrees, low, dingy; catfish good; crappie fair; all other species good; fishing pressure light. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area: 78 degrees, clear; full pool; bluegill and redear sunfish good; channel catfish,   largemouth bass and crappie fair; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Montrose Lake: 75 degrees, normal, dingy; white bass fair; catfish fair; crappie slow; fishing pressure light. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Schell Lake (Schell-Osage CA): 75 degrees, normal, dingy; catfish good; crappie fair; all other species good; fishing pressure light. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Truman Lake: 74 degrees, normal, dingy; crappie good summer pattern, 14 - 40' deep on jigs and minnows; black bass fair on spinners and buzzbaits in creek backs and pockets; white bass good when water is running, on jigs and crankbaits; hybrid bass good when water is running; catfish good on rod and reel, jug lines and trotlines, fresh cut bait and shad. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Truman Lake Tailwaters: 74 degrees, normal, dingy; crappie good on jigs and minnows; catfish good on cut baits and shad; black bass fair; white bass and hybrid striped bass good when water is running.  (Report made on 5/24/2012)

    RIVERS

Missouri River (Kansas City area): 70 degrees, rising, muddy; flathead catfish good on nightcrawlers and bluegill on the river and in the tributaries; a few sauger are being caught around the wing dams on nightcrawlers; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/24/2012)

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NORTHEAST REGION (660) 785-2420

    LAKES

Hunnewell Lake: 74 degrees, normal, clear; largemouth bass fair using spinnerbaits; channel catfish fair on doughbait and chicken liver; bluegill fair on nightcrawlers; all other species slow; the lake is closed to private boats and bait held or transported in containers with water is prohibited. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Long Branch Lake: 70 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish good on nightcrawlers, leeches, stinkbaits and shrimp; crappie good; hybrid striped bass good on Sassy Shad lures, nightcrawlers and leeches; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Mark Twain: 71 degrees, normal, clear; all species slow.  (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Sever: 77 degrees, normal, clear; crappie fair on multi-colored tube jigs and minnows; channel catfish good on liver and nightcrawlers; all other species slow.  (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Thomas Hill Reservoir: 70 degrees, normal, dingy; largemouth bass fair on white Sassy Shad lures; hybrid striped bass fair using copper and brass rattle lures; crappie fair off Hwy. T rocks; all other species slow.   (Report made on 5/23/2012)

    RIVERS

Mississippi River (upper): 72 degrees, falling, dingy; flathead catfish good on live baits and fair on nightcrawlers; blue catfish good on cut baits; channel catfish good on stinkbaits; all other species slow.  (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Salt (below Mark Twain): 72 degrees, high, muddy; channel catfish good on live baits; drum good on nightcrawlers; all other species slow.  (Report made on 5/23/2012)

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NORTHWEST REGION (816) 271-3100

    LAKES

Bilby Ranch Lake: 74 degrees, high, muddy; black bass good on topwater lures in morning and evening; channel catfish good on liver; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Lake Paho: 70 degrees, normal, clear; hybrid striped bass good on artificial and natural baits; largemouth bass fair on soft plastics and large spinnerbaits; channel catfish fair on commercial type baits; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Mozingo Lake: 70 degrees, normal, clear; channel catfish and bluegill good; all other species fair.  (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Pony Express Lake: 70 degrees, normal, clear; crappie good using jigs; black bass good using spinnerbaits; channel catfish good using chicken liver; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Smithville Lake: 73 degrees, clear; crappie good using jigs; black bass good on topwater lures in early morning and late evening, also try buzzbaits and plastic worms; channel catfish good on live bait; white bass fair near the dam in the evenings. (Report made on 5/24/2012)

    RIVERS

Grand River: 70 degrees, falling, dingy; channel catfish and blue catfish good; flathead catfish slow; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/24/2012)

Missouri River (upper): 69 degrees, high, muddy; channel catfish and flathead catfish fair on worms and live baits; carp fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

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OZARK REGION (417) 255-9561

    LAKES

Bull Shoals Lake (East): 75 degrees, normal, dingy; all species slow. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Norfork Lake: 74 degrees, normal, dingy; all species slow. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

    RIVERS

Big Piney River (lower, Pulaski Co.): 68 degrees, low, clear; goggle-eye and black bass (catch and release only) good on soft plastic baits. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Big Piney River (upper, Texas Co.): 70 degrees, low, clear; black bass (catch and release only) fair on soft plastics; goggle-eye fair on nightcrawlers; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Bryant Creek: 71 degrees, normal, clear; smallmouth bass (catch and release only) and goggle-eye fair on soft plastics. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Current River: 70 degrees, low, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Eleven Point River: 60 degrees, low, clear; all species fair. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Gasconade River (middle): 69 degrees, low, clear; goggle-eye and black bass (catch and release only) good on soft plastic baits. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Gasconade River (upper): 72 degrees, low, dingy; goggle-eye and sunfish fair on live bait and small plastics. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Jacks Fork: 70 degrees, low, clear; all species good on soft plastics. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

North Fork of the White River: 65 degrees, normal, clear; smallmouth bass (catch and release only) and goggle-eye good on soft plastics. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

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SOUTHEAST REGION (573) 290-5858

    LAKES

Clearwater Lake: 81 degrees, normal, clear; bluegill fair on live worms and crickets; channel catfish fair on nightcrawlers and stinkbaits; largemouth bass fair on topwater baits, plastic baits and spinnerbaits; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Council Bluff Lake: 75 degrees, normal, clear; redear sunfish good on worms and crickets; crappie fair on jigs; channel catfish fair on liver; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Cypress Lake: 78 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish good on stinkbaits, worms and crickets in 2 - 6' depths; bluegill and redear sunfish good on jigs, crickets and worms in 1 - 3' depths; redear have been in shallow waters over the last week; largemouth bass fair on minnows and jigs, plastic worms and crankbaits in 1 - 3' depths; crappie fair on minnows and jigs in 1 - 3' depths. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Duck Creek CA Pool 1: 77 degrees, falling, clear; bluegill and redear sunfish fair on crickets; largemouth bass fair on plastic worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/24/2012)

Lake Girardeau: normal, clear; bluegill and redear sunfish good on crickets; largemouth bass and channel catfish good on worms; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Perry County Lake: 74 degrees, clear; redear sunfish good on crickets; black bass fair on plastic worms; channel catfish fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/21/2012)

Robert DeLaney Lake: 79 degrees, normal, bluegill fair on crickets and wax worms; channel catfish fair on stinkbaits; all other species slow.  (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Wappapello Lake: 77 degrees, low, channel catfish good on trotlines and jug lines using live bait at night; bluegill fair on crickets and worms near the shore; crappie fair on minnows and jigs; black bass fair on spinnerbaits and plastic worms early and late; all other species slow.
Anglers should note the 9" minimum length limit regulation for crappie on Wappapello Lake.  Call the Wappapello Lake Recreation Hotline for updates at 573-222-8139. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

    RIVERS

Black River (above Clearwater Lake): 74 degrees, low, clear; smallmouth bass (season opens May 26) and goggle-eye fair on plastic baits; channel catfish fair on chicken liver or stinkbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Black River (below Clearwater Lake): 71 degrees, dingy; level is at summer pool; black bass good on minnows and jigs (season opens 5/26, 12" minimum length); channel catfish fair on live bait and worms; crappie fair on jigs and minnows; all other species fair.  (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Castor River (above Zalma): low, clear; all species fair. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Mississippi River (middle): 71 degrees, falling, muddy; channel catfish and blue catfish good on worms; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Mississippi River (Ohio River to Arkansas): normal, muddy; channel catfish fair on stinkbaits and cut baits; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

St. Francis River (above Wappapello): low, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

St. Francis River (below Wappapello): 74 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish good on chicken liver, stinkbait and worms; flathead catfish fair on goldfish and green sunfish; black bass fair on plastic worms and spinnerbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

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SOUTHWEST REGION (417) 895-6881

    LAKES

Bull Shoals Lake (West): 52-57 degrees, normal, dingy; Dam Area - white bass fair on swimming minnows; black bass fair on crankbaits, soft plastics and jigs; crappie fair on white swimming minnows; walleye fair on jerkbaits and nightcrawlers; Beaver Creek Arm - black bass good on crankbaits, soft plastics and jigs; crappie good on white swimming minnows and crappie jigs; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Lake Taneycomo: 50 degrees, normal, clear; trout good in upper portion of lake on flies (scuds, midges, and San Juan worms), Rooster Tails and crankbaits; trout good in lower portion of lake on orange, chartreuse, pink, and white colored Gulp Power Nuggets and nightcrawlers. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Pomme de Terre Reservoir: 75 degrees, high, dingy; crappie good on minnows and tube jigs over structure; muskie fair over mudflats; black bass fair on jigs and spinnerbaits in the back of coves; walleye good up river on weighted jigs, fair on bottom bouncers and jig and minnow or jig and worm combinations off of points; white bass fair on Twister Tails in the rivers; catfish fair on cut baits with trotlines and jug lines; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Stockton Lake: 73 degrees, high, clear; catfish good on liver or earthworms from the bank in coves and off points; crappie slow, best on minnows and various colored artificial lures in 20 - 25' of water; black bass slow, best on various colored jerkbaits, mainly chartreuse, blue, and white off points in 12 - 18' of water; walleye slow, best on artificial worms in 25' of water; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Table Rock Lake (James River arm): 70 degrees, normal, dingy; black bass good on soft plastic crayfish, live nightcrawlers and live large creek chubs, black or shad colored crankbaits, pearl or shad colored swimbaits, grubs or tube baits also working well; catfish good on crayfish tails, nightcrawlers, cut shad, small live sunfish and chicken liver; bluegill good on live earthworms, crickets and small soft plastic tube jigs, natural cricket color or black, red and white colors on 1/8 oz. jig head work best; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Table Rock Lake (main lake): 75 degrees, normal, clear; black bass good in early morning on topwater lures, then use crankbaits that look like shad, soft plastics or jigs later in the day; crappie good on live minnows and jigs in standing timber in 15' of water; flathead catfish good on small live bluegill; channel catfish good on nightcrawlers or chicken liver; bluegill good on earthworms or small live baits like crickets or grasshoppers. (Report made on 5/24/2012)

    RIVERS

James River: 71 degrees, normal, clear; black bass good on white flukes weighted hook in the wind and small crankbaits in bluegill colors (catch and release only); catfish good on bait fish and worms using pole and line and trotlines; crappie fair on jigs and minnows in 5 - 15' of water around brush; white bass fair on Road Runners and Power Bait plastic minnows on 1/8 oz. jig head. (Report made on 5/24/2012)

Niangua River: 62 degrees, high, clear; trout fair, best on natural baits and Power Baits below Bennett Spring; goggle-eye fair, best on natural baits and jigs; black bass slow, best on soft plastics and natural baits (catch and release only); all other species slow. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

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ST. LOUIS REGION (636) 300-1953

    LAKES

Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lake 33: 70 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish fair on livers; black bass fair on spinners, plastic worms and crankbaits; crappie slow on minnows and jigs; bluegill fair on worms and crickets; all other species slow, please remove litter.
 (Report made on 5/24/2012)

Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lakes 3, 4, 5, 7, and 23: 70 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish fair on cut bait, worms, doughbait, blood bait and livers; limit 4; black bass fair on spinners, plastic worms and crankbaits; please remove litter.


 (Report made on 5/24/2012)

    RIVERS

Big River: 65 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish good on either 3" bluegill or goldfish, liver and blood bait; black bass fair on minnows (catch and release only); crappie slow on minnows and jigs; bluegill fair on crickets; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/24/2012)

Bourbeuse River: 72 degrees, low, dingy; black bass fair on plastic worms and crankbaits (catch and release only); channel catfish fair on blood bait and cut bait; crappie slow on minnows; bluegill good on worms and crickets; all other species slow on worms.
 (Report made on 5/24/2012)

Meramec River (Crawford Co.): 65 degrees, normal, clear; channel catfish slow on liver; black bass fair on spinners and soft plastics (catch and release only); bluegill good on worms and crickets; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/24/2012)

Meramec River (St. Louis Co.): 65 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish fair on cut bait and worms; black bass slow on topwater lures (catch and release only) and crankbaits; crappie slow on minnows; bluegill slow on worms; all other species slow on corn and doughbait. (Report made on 5/24/2012)

Missouri River (lower): 65 degrees, falling, muddy; channel catfish fair on cut bait and live sunfish; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/24/2012)

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TROUT PARKS

Bennett Spring State Park: 57 degrees, the spring level is slightly above normal and clear; Zone 1 and 2 best lures: white colored roaches; bedspread colored, and white sparkly blue-green colored mini-jigs; gray or white colored scuds; green grizzly colored and red holographic colored Cracklebacks; ginger snap colored and  white colored marabou jigs; white colored Rooster Tails; easter egg colored and Jimi Hendrix colored glo balls; olive or brown colored wooly buggers with gold spinner; Zone 3 best lures: red or white colored plastic worms; white colored and yellow colored Power Baits; Gulp pink maggots. Fishing hours for May are 6:30 a.m. until 8:15 p.m. (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Maramec Spring Park: 57 degrees, low, clear; low, clear; fishing is good; the water is very clear; use very light weight line and tackle; fish are holding in shady areas and deep holes, below the waterfalls and around boulders, target these areas for best success; throughout the spring branch feather jigs in light colors are producing good numbers of fish; dough and putty baits are producing when fished on or near the bottom; use white, green or brown; Fishing hours for the month of May are 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m.  (Report made on 5/24/2012)

Montauk State Park: 58 degrees, the river level is slightly below normal and slowly dropping; the water is clear; fishing is good on most baits; white, brown and yellow scented dough and putty baits are working well in the bait zones; flies, Rooster Tails and jigs in black and yellow, white, and olive colors are working well.  Best fishing is in the mornings and evenings. May fishing hours are 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m.
For up-to-date stream conditions check  http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?07064440 (Report made on 5/23/2012)

Roaring River State Park: 58 degrees, clear; the river is getting low; use 2 pound test or lighter; beetles, ants and hoppers, Cracklebacks, pheasant tails and copper johns are good; olive, black, and brown wooly buggers or worms are good; orange, white, chartreuse, fluorescent yellow plastic eggs are working well; cheese yellow, white, mint green, yellow/orange, pink, and the orange, and orange/white plastic worms are good; spinners are good early, black, brown, olive and black/yellow are good early; marabou jigs in white, tan and pinks early and later in the day; use black, black/yellow, brown, brown/yellow, and black/olive marabou jigs in 1/16th - 1/100 in size; in Zone 3 use nightcrawlers, corn, Power Bait paste and nuggets.  (Report made on 5/24/2012)

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