Missouri Fishing Report

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.

If an area is missing, please contact the appropriate regional MDC office or trout location for details: Central 573-815-7900, Kansas City 816-622-0900, Northeast 660-785-2420, Northwest 816-271-3100, Ozark 417-256-7161, Saint Louis 636-441-4554, Southeast 573-290-5730, Southwest 417-895-6880, Bennett Spring State Park 417-532-4418, Maramec Spring Park 573-265-7801, Montauk State Park 573-548-2585, Roaring River State Park 417-847-2430.

Central

Lakes

Binder Lake

Temperature: 79º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Bluegill

Prospect: 

Fair

Largemouth Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

bluegill fair; black bass fair; channel catfish fair; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Blind Pony Lake

Temperature: 80º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Largemouth Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Bluegill

Prospect: 

Good

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

largemouth bass good on soft plastics and topwater lures early and late in the day; bluegill and channel catfish good on worms; all other species slow; the lake is closed to private boats and bait held or transported in containers with water is prohibited. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Lake of the Ozarks (Bagnell Tailwater)

Temperature: 78º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Slow

White Bass

Prospect: 

Slow

Crappie

Prospect: 

Slow

Catfish

Prospect: 

Slow

Prospect: 

Fair

black bass slow, try worms and dark colored soft plastics; white bass slow, try light colored soft plastics, Rooster Tails and crappie jigs; crappie slow, try minnows and crappie jigs; catfish fair using worms and cut shad. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Lake of the Ozarks (Glaize)

Temperature: 80º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Slow

White Bass

Prospect: 

Slow

Crappie

Prospect: 

Slow

Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

black bass slow, try dark colored soft plastics and crankbaits; white bass slow, try light colored soft plastics; crappie slow, try minnows; catfish fair on stinkbaits, cut baits and shrimp. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Lake of the Ozarks (Gravois)

Fish Reported:

Crappie

Prospect: 

Fair

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

White Bass

Prospect: 

Slow

Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

crappie fair on minnows; black bass fair on soft plastic worms; white bass slow; catfish fair on stinkbait. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Lake of the Ozarks (Niangua)

Temperature: 80º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

Crappie

Prospect: 

Good

Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

White Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

black bass fair using plastic worms; crappie good using minnows or dark colored jigs; catfish fair, try using cut bait and jug lines; white bass fair using natural baits. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Lake of the Ozarks (Osage)

Temperature: 80º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

Crappie

Prospect: 

Good

Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

White Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

black bass fair using spinnerbaits; crappie good using dark colored jigs with Crappie Nibbles; catfish fair using cut shad and stinkbaits; white bass fair using natural baits. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Little Dixie Lake

Temperature: 77º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Bluegill

Prospect: 

Good

Redear Sunfish

Prospect: 

Good

Largemouth Bass

Prospect: 

Good

channel catfish good on chicken liver; bluegill good on earthworms; redear sunfish good on crickets; largemouth bass good on topwater lures; all other species slow; all use including fishing is prohibited from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Rivers

Lamine River

Water Type: muddy

Fish Reported:

Flathead Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Blue Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

the water level is normal to slightly below normal; flathead catfish and blue catfish are good from De Bourgmont Access upstream to I-70 on setlines baited with green sunfish and bluegill; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Missouri River (Middle)

Water Level: high

Water Type: muddy

Fish Reported:

Blue Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

blue catfish fair on cut shad; channel catfish fair on nightcrawlers and liver; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Osage (lower, at Tuscumbia)

Temperature: 78º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Slow

White Bass

Prospect: 

Slow

Crappie

Prospect: 

Slow

Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

black bass slow, try worms and dark colored soft plastics; white bass slow, try light colored soft plastics, Rooster Tails and crappie jigs; crappie slow, try minnows and crappie jigs; catfish fair using worms and cut shad. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Kansas City

Lakes

James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area

Temperature: 76º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

full pool; channel catfish fair on chicken liver and cut baits; largemouth bass good on crankbaits; bluegill fair on worms around brush piles and spawning beds; redear sunfish fair on small jigs on spawning beds; crappie slow with some success on jigs 2' feet under a bobber near deep water brush. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Montrose Lake

Temperature: 84º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

All species slow; fishing pressure light. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Truman Lake

Temperature: 78º

Water Level: high

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

White Crappie

Prospect: 

Fair

White Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

crappie fair, are beginning the summer pattern; catfish good, are coming off their nests. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Truman Lake Tailwaters

Temperature: 76º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

All other species fair. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Rivers

Missouri River (Kansas City area)

Temperature: 78º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: muddy

catfish are biting on cut baits and goldfish; flathead catfish continue to bite on worms and minnows; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Northeast

Lakes

Henry Sever Lake

Temperature: 84º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

all species slow. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Hunnewell Lake

Temperature: 77º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

Largemouth Bass

Prospect: 

Good

channel catfish fair using stinkbaits and earthworms; largemouth bass good using spinnerbaits; all other species slow; the lake is closed to private boats, and bait held or transported in containers is prohibited.  (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Long Branch Lake

Temperature: 78º

Water Level: high

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Crappie

Prospect: 

Fair

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

Hybrid Striped Bass (Wiper; Whiterock Bass)

Prospect: 

Fair

channel catfish good on leeches, liver, cut bait and stinkbait; crappie fair on jigs and minnows around structures; black bass fair using Rooster Tails and plastic worms; hybrid striped bass fair on Sassy Shad; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Mark Twain Lake

Temperature: 79º

Water Level: high

Water Type: dingy

all species slow. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Thomas Hill Reservoir

Temperature: 79º

Water Level: high

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Crappie

Prospect: 

Good

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Slow

Hybrid Striped Bass (Wiper; Whiterock Bass)

Prospect: 

Slow

crappie good on minnows and jigs; channel catfish fair on setlines with nightcrawlers and chicken livers; black bass slow; hybrid striped bass slow; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Rivers

Mississippi River (upper)

Temperature: 78º

Water Level: rising

Water Type: muddy

Fish Reported:

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

Freshwater Drum

Prospect: 

Good

channel catfish fair on bait fish; freshwater drum good on worms; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Salt (below Mark Twain)

Temperature: 76º

Water Level: falling

Water Type: muddy

Fish Reported:

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

Flathead Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

channel catfish and flathead catfish fair on cut shad and live sunfish; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Northwest

Lakes

Lake Paho

Temperature: 74º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Largemouth Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Hybrid Striped Bass (Wiper; Whiterock Bass)

Prospect: 

Good

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

largemouth bass good on natural baits; hybrid striped bass good on all types of lures and natural baits; channel catfish fair on prepared baits and nightcrawlers. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Mozingo Lake

Temperature: 75º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Largemouth Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Crappie

Prospect: 

Fair

Pony Express Lake

Temperature: 74º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Common Carp

Prospect: 

Good

Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Carp good bow fishing in the shallows, catfish good using stinkbaits and chicken livers; all other species fair. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Smithville Lake

Temperature: 79º

Water Level: high

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Crappie

Prospect: 

Fair

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Largemouth Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

White Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

crappie fair in deeper water in brush piles using minnows and jigs; channel catfish good on cut shad and nightcrawlers; largemouth bass fair on a variety of plastic baits; white bass fair near lake points with shad imitations. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Rivers

Grand River

Temperature: 70º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: muddy

Fish Reported:

Blue Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Flathead Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Common Carp

Prospect: 

Fair

Flathead and blue catfish good on live bait; channel catfish good on dip baits and nightcrawlers; common carp fair on nightcrawlers. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Missouri River (upper)

Temperature: 75º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: muddy

Fish Reported:

Flathead Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Blue Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Common Carp

Prospect: 

Good

Flathead catfish good on live bait (goldfish) and on worms; channel catfish good on worms and fair on dip baits; blue catfish good on on cut bait and fair on worms; carp good on worms; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Ozark

Lakes

Bull Shoals Lake (East)

Temperature: 81º

Water Level: high

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

black bass fair on topwater lures. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Norfork Lake

Temperature: 80º

Water Level: high

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

black bass fair on soft plastics and topwater lures. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Rivers

Big Piney River (lower, Pulaski Co.)

Temperature: 73º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Smallmouth Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Northern Rock Bass (Goggle-Eye)

Prospect: 

Good

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

smallmouth bass and goggle-eye good on soft plastic baits and jigs; channel catfish fair on live bait. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Big Piney River (upper, Texas Co.)

Temperature: 73º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

Northern Rock Bass (Goggle-Eye)

Prospect: 

Fair

black bass fair on soft plastics and live bait; goggle-eye fair on soft plastics, live bait and spinnerbaits; all other species fair. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Bryant Creek

Temperature: 74º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Smallmouth Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Northern Rock Bass (Goggle-Eye)

Prospect: 

Good

smallmouth bass and goggle-eye good on soft plastics. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Current River

Temperature: 75º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Smallmouth Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Prospect: 

Good

smallmouth bass good on soft plastics; all other species good on live bait. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Eleven Point River

Temperature: 58º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

all species good on all baits. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Gasconade River (middle)

Temperature: 74º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Smallmouth Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Northern Rock Bass (Goggle-Eye)

Prospect: 

Good

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

smallmouth bass and goggle-eye good on soft plastic baits and jigs; channel catfish fair on live baits. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Gasconade River (upper)

Temperature: 76º

Water Level: low

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Sunfish

Prospect: 

Good

black bass and sunfish good on live bait and small plastics. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Jacks Fork River

Temperature: 74º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

all species good on soft plastic baits. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

North Fork of the White River

Temperature: 68º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Smallmouth Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Northern Rock Bass (Goggle-Eye)

Prospect: 

Good

smallmouth bass and google-eye good on soft plastic baits. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Southeast

Lakes

Clearwater Lake

Temperature: 82º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Crappie

Prospect: 

Slow

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Slow

White Bass

Prospect: 

Slow

Largemouth Bass

Prospect: 

Slow

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Slow

channel catfish slow on liver and cut bait; crappie slow on assorted jigs around brush piles and off of points; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Council Bluff Lake

Temperature: 80º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Slow

Crappie

Prospect: 

Slow

Largemouth Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Bluegill

Prospect: 

Slow

largemouth bass good on dark colored soft plastics during low light periods; channel catfish good on liver; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Cypress Lake

Temperature: 82º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Crappie

Prospect: 

Slow

Largemouth Bass

Prospect: 

Slow

Bluegill

Prospect: 

Slow

Redear Sunfish

Prospect: 

Slow

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Slow

bluegill and redear sunfish slow in 1' - 3' of water on jigs, crickets and worms; largemouth bass slow in 1' - 3' of water on minnows, jigs, plastic worms and crankbaits; channel catfish slow in 2' - 8' of water on worms, crickets and stinkbait; crappie slow on minnows and jigs in 1' - 3' of water; all other species slow.  NEW CRAPPIE REGULATION: no length limit on crappie on Cypress Lake, the daily limit of 15 remains in effect. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Duck Creek C.A. Pool #1

Temperature: 77º

Water Level: high

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Largemouth Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Crappie

Prospect: 

Slow

Warmouth

Prospect: 

Slow

Bluegill

Prospect: 

Fair

Redear Sunfish

Prospect: 

Slow

largemouth bass good on topwater lures; bluegill fair on crickets; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Lake Girardeau

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Largemouth Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

Bluegill

Prospect: 

Fair

Crappie

Prospect: 

Slow

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Slow

Redear Sunfish

Prospect: 

Fair

bluegill and redear sunfish fair on worms and crickets; largemouth bass fair on plastic worms and spinnerbaits; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Perry County Lake

Temperature: 81º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Crappie

Prospect: 

Slow

Sunfish

Prospect: 

Slow

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

channel catfish fair on liver; black bass fair on buzzbaits; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Robert DeLaney Lake

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Crappie

Prospect: 

Slow

Bluegill

Prospect: 

Fair

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Slow

bluegill fair on crickets and waxworms; channel catfish fair on chicken livers and stinkbait; all other species slow. NEW CRAPPIE REGULATION: no length limit on crappie on DeLaney Lake, the daily limit of 15 remains in effect. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Wappapello Lake

Temperature: 81º

Water Level: falling

Fish Reported:

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

Crappie

Prospect: 

Slow

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

Bluegill

Prospect: 

Fair

channel catfish fair using nightcrawlers and live bait on jug lines and trotlines at night; bluegill fair using crickets and worms; black bass fair using spinnerbaits and buzzbaits early and late in the day; all other species slow. Anglers should note the 9" minimum length limit regulation for crappie on Wappapello Lake. Recorded lake level and other infomation can be received by calling the Wappapello Lake Information Hotline at 573-222-8139 or 1-877-lake-info. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Rivers

Black River (above Clearwater Lake)

Temperature: 77º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

Bluegill

Prospect: 

Good

White Bass

Prospect: 

Slow

Smallmouth Bass

Prospect: 

Slow

Northern Rock Bass (Goggle-Eye)

Prospect: 

Slow

bluegill good on live nightcrawlers with a float; channel catfish fair on nightcrawlers and chicken liver after dark; smallmouth bass slow on plastic baits; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Black River (below Clearwater Lake)

Temperature: 80º

Water Level: high

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Crappie

Prospect: 

Fair

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

channel catfish good on nightcrawlers and cut baits; crappie fair on minnows and assorted jigs; black bass fair on soft plastic lures; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Castor River (above Zalma)

Water Level: low

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Slow

Bluegill

Prospect: 

Slow

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Northern Rock Bass (Goggle-Eye)

Prospect: 

Good

black bass and google-eye good on minnows and soft plastics; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Mississippi River (Middle)

Water Level: rising

Water Type: muddy

Fish Reported:

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

Blue Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

Flathead Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

channel catfish, flathead catfish and blue catfish fair on worms, cut baits and stinkbaits; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Mississippi River (Ohio River to Arkansas)

Water Level: rising

Water Type: muddy

Fish Reported:

Largemouth Bass

Prospect: 

Slow

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

Flathead Catfish

Prospect: 

Slow

Blue Catfish

Prospect: 

Slow

channel catfish fair on cut baits and worms; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

St. Francis River (above Wappapello Lake)

Temperature: 80º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Green Sunfish

Prospect: 

Slow

Longear Sunfish

Prospect: 

Slow

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

Crappie

Prospect: 

Good

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

crappie good on minnows and jigs; channel catfish fair on cut bait and nightcrawlers; black bass fair on hard and soft plastic lures; all other species slow.  (Reported on: 7/2/13)

St. Francis River (below Wappapello Lake)

Temperature: 72º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Flathead Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

Crappie

Prospect: 

Slow

channel catfish good on pole and line and trotlines with stinkbaits, chicken liver and worms; flathead catfish good on trotlines with live bait (small goldfish or sunfish); black bass fair on pole and line with spinnerbaits and plastic worms; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Southwest

Lakes

Bull Shoals Lake (West)

Temperature: 84º

Water Level: high

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Striped Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

Crappie

Prospect: 

Fair

Walleye

Prospect: 

Fair

Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

black bass good on topwater lures, spinnerbaits, soft plastics, jigs and nightcrawlers; crappie fair on minnows near brush piles; walleye fair on jerkbaits, crankbaits and nightcrawlers; striped bass fair on large jerkbaits and swimbaits; catfish fair on nightcrawlers; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Lake Taneycomo

Temperature: 51º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Rainbow Trout

Prospect: 

Good

trout good in the upper portion of the lake on black/chrome and white/chrome Rooster Tails and Rapalas; trout good in the lower portion of the lake on fluorescent orange, green, white and chartreuse Power Bait nuggets; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Pomme de Terre Reservoir

Temperature: 80º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: muddy

Fish Reported:

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

Crappie

Prospect: 

Fair

Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

catfish good on live bait; black bass fair in 20' of water; crappie fair in 20' of water; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Stockton Lake

Temperature: 71º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

Walleye

Prospect: 

Fair

Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

Crappie

Prospect: 

Fair

black bass fair on jigs and plastic worms on points; crappie fair on crankbaits while trolling; walleye fair on crankbaits while trolling and jigs tipped with nightcrawlers; catfish fair on nightcrawlers and shad. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Table Rock Lake (James River arm)

Temperature: 80º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Fair

Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

catfish good on trotlines and using pole and line method, try nightcrawlers, stinkbaits, chicken liver, small sunfish or goldfish; black bass fair on Carolina or Texas rigged large purple colored plastic worms and fish along rocky banks in 18' - 20' of water, also try large nightcrawlers or large minnows; all other species slow. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Table Rock Lake (main lake)

Temperature: 86º

Water Level: high

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Bluegill

Prospect: 

Good

Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Crappie

Prospect: 

Fair

black bass good on topwater lures in the early morning, try smoke colored grubs and purple finesse worms on drop shot later in the day around brush; bluegill good on live worms; catfish good on stinkbaits and liver; crappie fair on jigs and swimming minnows around brush piles and while trolling crankbaits along channels. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Rivers

James River

Temperature: 79º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

White Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Crappie

Prospect: 

Fair

Bluegill

Prospect: 

Good

black bass good on topwater lures with spooks and buzzbaits, try using a Carolina rig with soft plastics and nightcrawlers in 25' - 30' of water in the afternoon; white bass good on Rattle Traps in coves, use jigs on flats in the morning and evening hours; catfish good on minnows and nightcrawlers, try drifting or use trotlines and limb lines; bluegill good on worms and crickets in 8' - 10' of water along the banks; crappie fair on jigs and minnows, best in drop offs and deep channels. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Niangua River

Temperature: 71º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Northern Rock Bass (Goggle-Eye)

Prospect: 

Good

Rainbow Trout

Prospect: 

Good

black bass good on minnows and soft plastics; goggle-eye good on minnows, also try soft plastics; trout good on bright colored Power Baits.  (Reported on: 7/2/13)

St. Louis

Lakes

Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lake 33

Temperature: 78º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Bluegill

Prospect: 

Good

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Crappie

Prospect: 

Fair

black bass good on spinners and plastic worms; catfish good on cut bait and livers; bluegill good on worms; crappie fair on minnows. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lakes 3, 4, 5, 7, and 23

Temperature: 78º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Bluegill

Prospect: 

Good

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Good

catfish good on cut bait, blood bait and livers. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Rivers

Big River

Temperature: 78º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Bluegill

Prospect: 

Good

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Good

catfish good on cut bait, blood bait and livers; black bass good on soft plastics; all other species fair on natural baits. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Bourbeuse River

Temperature: 80º

Water Level: high

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Bluegill

Prospect: 

Good

catfish good on cut bait, blood bait and livers; black bass good on soft plastics; all other species fair on natural baits. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Meramec River (Crawford Co.)

Temperature: 78º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Bluegill

Prospect: 

Good

catfish good on cut bait, blood bait and livers; black bass good on soft plastics; all other species fair on natural baits. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Meramec River (St. Louis Co.)

Temperature: 80º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: dingy

Fish Reported:

Black Bass

Prospect: 

Good

Catfish

Prospect: 

Good

Bluegill

Prospect: 

Good

catfish good on cut bait, blood bait and livers; black bass good on soft plastics; all other species fair on natural baits. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Mississippi River (St. Louis Region)

Temperature: 80º

Water Level: high

Water Type: muddy

Fish Reported:

Blue Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

Flathead Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

blue catfish fair on cut bait; channel catfish fair on dip baits; flathead catfish fair on live bait. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Missouri River (Lower)

Temperature: 80º

Water Level: high

Water Type: muddy

Fish Reported:

Blue Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

Channel Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

Flathead Catfish

Prospect: 

Fair

Prospect: 

Fair

blue catfish fair on cut bait; channel catfish fair on dip baits; flathead catfish fair on live bait. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Trout Parks

Trout Parks

Bennett Spring State Park

Temperature: 54º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Rainbow Trout

Prospect: 

Good

Brown Trout

Prospect: 

Fair

Zone 1 and 2 lures that are working well are: gold plated black and yellow colored and orange colored marabou jigs; white colored, and easter egg colored glo balls; brown with orange tail colored, brown with brown tail colored, and Jimi Hendrix colored Rooster Tails; chartreuse brassie; white floss; blue, red and gold colored Cracklebacks; brown midge; Zone 3 baits that are popular are Gulp minnow grubs, Berkley Power Bait white extra scent, trout nuggets.  July fishing hours are 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Due to mechanical problems weed cutting has been postponed.  We will try to finish cutting the week of July 8 if repairs can be made.  Thank you for your patience. (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Maramec Spring Park

Temperature: 57º

Water Level: normal

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Rainbow Trout

Prospect: 

Good

Brown Trout

Prospect: 

Slow

fishing is good, the spring branch has good flow, the water is ultra clear, remember to use light weight line and tackle; fish are holding in deep areas of swift water and near submerged habitat, target these areas for best success; rubber legged jigs in black/white, green/yellow and brown are working well in the afternoon hours; feather jigs in black and white, brown and yellow colors are producing good numbers of fish; trout worms in orange/white, green/white and yellow are good choices;  fishing hours for the month of July are 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.  For more information call 573-265-7801. (Reported on: 6/30/13)

Montauk State Park

Temperature: 59º

Fish Reported:

Rainbow Trout

Prospect: 

Good

The river level is normal, standing at 2.08' at the lower park boundary, the water is clear to slightly dingy, 2 lb. test fishing line or lighter is recommended; fishing is good on most baits; white, brown and yellow scented dough and putty baits are working well in the bait zones; most flies, Rooster Tails and jigs in black and yellow, olive colors and other dark colors are working well, some colors work better at different times of the day; the best fishing is in the mornings and evenings, especially on warmer days.  July fishing hours are 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.  For up-to-date stream conditions check http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?07064440 (Reported on: 7/2/13)

Roaring River State Park

Temperature: 58º

Water Type: clear

Fish Reported:

Rainbow Trout

Prospect: 

Good

The stream level is normal; best colors on the soft plastics have been, pink, orange peel, orange, white and chartreuse; black, brown and skunk colored Rooster Tails will always catch a few trout; pheasant tails, burlaps, sow bugs, brassies, copper johns and hare's ears are all working well; good hatches right now: caddis, blue wing olives and tricos, and a few sulphurs in the evenings; flies like Cracklebacks and wooly worms are working well also, add some weight to make your flies get down a bit; beetles are starting to do well again, warm weather makes the beetle bite better; 9' leaders are still the norm; 6X on nymphs, 5X on buggers and other streamers and 7X on dry flies; fluorescent orange and fluorescent pink are doing well; orange, white, cheese, fluorescent yellow power eggs and power worms are working well; hatch brown works very well in the hatchery area; jig fishing with tan, black/yellow, white, olive green and dark brown is working well; flies working well are black wooly buggers, dark brown, and olive wooly buggers are also working well; nymphs to use would be copper johns, pheasant tails, sow bugs, prince nymphs, and burlaps; in Zone 3 use nightcrawlers, corn, Power Bait paste and nuggets with heavy weight. (Reported on: 7/1/13)

Fish Management Notice

Trout Stocking

The Conservation Department stocks trout in each of the trout parks every evening from the day before the March 1 opener through Oct. 30. Tag sale estimates determine a daily stocking rate average of 2.25 fish per expected angler. Except on opening day, three fish are stocked for every expected angler. From March 1 to Oct. 31, the parks will collectively sell more than 400,000 tags and stock more than 900,000 fish. These fish will average about 12 inches long over the season, but some variation occurs. Dozens of lunkers weighing upwards of 3 pounds are stocked each year. A few tip the scales at more than 10 pounds.