Saturday, May 12, 2012

Weekly Fishing Report, 5/10/2012

SUNSETS ON AN INLET OFF THE MAIN OSAGE ARM OF ...
(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.


Missouri Public Fishing Areas


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CENTRAL REGION (573) 882-8388

    LAKES

Binder Lake: 70 degrees, high, clear; largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and soft plastics; bluegill fair on crickets; crappie fair on jigs and minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Blind Pony Lake: 72 degrees, high, dingy; sunfish and channel catfish 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 5/10/2012)

Lake of the Ozarks (Glaize): 69 degrees, dingy; crappie fair on minnows and crappie jigs; white bass slow, try light colored soft plastics; black bass fair using dark colored soft plastics and buzzbaits; catfish fair on stinkbaits, cut baits and  worms.

 (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Lake of the Ozarks (Gravois): 69 degrees, dingy; black bass, crappie and catfish fair; white bass slow.   (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Lake of the Ozarks (Niangua): 69 degrees, dingy; crappie slow using minnows and jigs; black bass good using soft plastics and spinnerbaits; catfish good using liver and worms;
white bass fair using light colored soft plastic lures; sunfish fair  using worms.
 (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Lake of the Ozarks (Osage): 69 degrees, dingy; crappie slow using minnows and jigs; black bass fair using spinnerbaits and crankbaits; catfish fair using cut baits and beef livers; white bass fair using light colored soft plastic lures;
sunfish fair using worms.
 (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Little Dixie Lake: 70 degrees, normal, clear; crappie good on live minnows and  white jigs; largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and plastic worms;  channel catfish fair on nightcrawlers;  bluegill fair on earthworms; the area is closed to all activity including fishing from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

    RIVERS

Lamine River: falling, muddy; flathead catfish, blue catfish, and channel catfish fair on trotlines; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Missouri River (middle): high, muddy; channel catfish and blue catfish good on live baits and stinkbaits; flathead catfish good on jug lines and trotlines using live baits and cut baits;  all other species slow.  (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Osage (Bagnell Tailwater): 59 degrees, normal, dingy; crappie fair on minnows and crappie jigs; white bass slow, try light colored soft plastics; black bass season closed; catfish fair  on worms, chicken livers and cut shad.
 (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Osage (lower, at Tuscumbia): 59 degrees, normal, dingy; crappie fair on minnows and crappie jigs; white bass slow, try light colored soft plastics; black bass season closed; catfish fair  on worms, chicken livers and cut shad.
 (Report made on 5/9/2012)

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KANSAS CITY REGION (816) 655-6254

    LAKES

Atkinson Lake (Schell-Osage CA): 76 degrees, low, catfish good; crappie slow; all other species good; fishing pressure light. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area: 74 degrees, clear; full pool; channel catfish fair; crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish and largemouth bass good; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Montrose Lake: 74 degrees, normal, muddy; catfish fair; all other species slow;  fishing pressure light. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Schell Lake (Schell-Osage CA): 77 degrees, high, crappie slow; all other species good; fishing pressure light. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Truman Lake: 71 degrees, high, muddy; crappie good on minnows and spider riggings in 10 - 18' of water on flats; black bass fair on spinners and buzzbaits in creek backs and pockets; catfish good on cut bait in flats and mouth of creeks. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Truman Lake Tailwaters: 70 degrees, rising, clear; crappie good below the dam on jigs and minnows; catfish good on shad; white bass and hybrid bass good on topwater jigs and spoons.  (Report made on 5/10/2012)

    RIVERS

Missouri River (Kansas City area): 62 degrees, rising, muddy; there is debris in the channel; channel and flathead catfish good in the tributaries on nightcrawlers and bluegill; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

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NORTHEAST REGION (660) 785-2420

    LAKES

Hunnewell Lake: 70 degrees, normal, clear; crappie good using Little Cleos; largemouth bass good using spinnerbaits and Rapalas; channel catfish good using Shad Raps; bluegill and redear sunfish fair using nightcrawlers; all other species slow.  (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Long Branch Lake: 60 degrees, high, muddy; channel catfish fair on nightcrawlers, cut shad and leeches; all other species slow.  (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Mark Twain: 74 degrees, normal, dingy; crappie fair on minnows and jigs; channel catfish good on live baits and cut baits; all other species slow.  (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Sever: 76 degrees, normal, clear; crappie good on jigs and minnows; black bass good on jerkbaits; bluegill fair on nightcrawlers; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Thomas Hill Reservoir: 65 degrees, high, muddy; all species slow.  (Report made on 5/10/2012)

    RIVERS

Mississippi River (upper): 66 degrees, rising, muddy; all species slow.  (Report made on 5/8/2012)

Salt (below Mark Twain): 68 degrees, normal, dingy; smallmouth bass fair on chartreuse spinnerbaits and plastic worms; channel catfish fair on nightcrawlers and liver; drum good on nightcrawlers near riffles; all other species slow.  (Report made on 5/8/2012)

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NORTHWEST REGION (816) 271-3100

    LAKES

Bilby Ranch Lake: 66 degrees, normal, clear; channel catfish good using on liver; black bass fair on crankbaits or soft plastics; bluegill and crappie good on live bait.   (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Lake Paho: 72 degrees, normal, clear; hybrid striped bass good; largemouth bass fair on soft plastics; crappie fair off the rocks; channel catfish fair on nightcrawlers. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Mozingo Lake: 64 degrees, high, dingy; channel catfish, black bass, crappie and bluegill good; walleye fair on natural baits. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Pony Express Lake: 67 degrees, high, clear; crappie good on jigs close to the shore; black bass good on spinners; bluegill good on worms. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Smithville Lake: 68 degrees, normal, clear; crappie good on the banks or near structures at about 8' deep on black and chartreuse jigs; black bass good on banks around rocks on soft plastics; channel catfish good on live bait at about 10' depths; walleye fair. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

    RIVERS

Grand River: 67 degrees, falling, muddy; channel catfish, blue catfish and flathead catfish good, all other species fair. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Missouri River (upper): 68 degrees, rising, muddy; channel catfish fair on worms and dip bait; flathead catfish fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

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OZARK REGION (417) 255-9561

    LAKES

Bull Shoals Lake (East): 71 degrees, normal, dingy; black bass fair on artificial baits; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Norfork Lake: 72 degrees, normal, dingy; black bass fair on artificial baits; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

    RIVERS

Big Piney River (lower, Pulaski Co.): 63 degrees, normal, clear; goggle-eye good on soft plastic baits and jigs; channel catfish fair on live bait. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Big Piney River (upper, Texas Co.): 69 degrees, low, clear; smallmouth bass (catch and release only) and goggle-eye good on soft plastics. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Bryant Creek: 68 degrees, normal, clear; smallmouth bass (catch and release only) and goggle-eye fair on soft plastics; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Current River: 70 degrees, low, clear; all species fair. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Eleven Point River: 60 degrees, normal, clear; rainbow trout good on corn, artificial baits and live baits; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Gasconade River (middle): 64 degrees, normal, dingy; goggle-eye good on soft plastic baits and jigs; channel catfish fair on live bait. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Gasconade River (upper): 66 degrees, high, muddy; goggle-eye and sunfish fair on live bait and small plastics; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Jacks Fork: 67 degrees, normal, clear; smallmouth bass (catch and release only) and goggle-eye good on artificial baits and live baits.
 (Report made on 5/10/2012)

North Fork of the White River: 63 degrees, normal, clear; smallmouth bass (catch and release only) and goggle-eye fair on soft plastics; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

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SOUTHEAST REGION (573) 290-5858

    LAKES

Clearwater Lake: 76 degrees, falling, clear; black bass good on crankbaits and plastic baits; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Council Bluff Lake: 71 degrees, normal, clear; channel catfish good on worms and liver; largemouth bass good on dark colored soft plastics and topwater lures during low light periods; redear sunfish fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Cypress Lake: 73 degrees, normal, dingy; bluegill and redear sunfish good on crickets and worms in 1 - 3' depths; largemouth bass good on minnows and jigs, plastic worms and crankbaits in 1 - 3' depths; crappie fair on minnows and jigs in 1 - 3' depths; channel catfish fair on worms, crickets and stinkbaits in 2 - 3' depths. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Duck Creek CA Pool 1: 76 degrees, high, clear; bluegill and warmouth sunfish good on crickets and jigs; largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Lake Girardeau: normal, clear; largemouth bass good on worms; redear sunfish good on crickets; bluegill fair on worms;  channel catfish fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Perry County Lake: 75 degrees, clear; black bass good on spinnerbaits; redear sunfish good on crickets; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Robert DeLaney Lake: 72 degrees, normal, bluegill good on crickets and wax worms; crappie good on jigs; all other species slow.  (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Wappapello Lake: 71 degrees, low, bluegill good on crickets and worms; channel catfish good on trotlines and jug lines using live bait at night; crappie fair on minnows and jigs; black bass fair on spinnerbaits and plastic worms; 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 5/9/2012)

    RIVERS

Black River (above Clearwater Lake): 71 degrees, normal, clear; smallmouth bass (catch and release only) and goggle-eye good on tube baits and live minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Black River (below Clearwater Lake): 70 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish good on live bait; black bass good on jigs and minnows (season closed, catch and release only until May 26th); crappie fair on jigs and minnows; redear sunfish fair on crickets; all other species slow.
 (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Castor River (above Zalma): normal, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Mississippi River (middle): muddy; channel catfish good on worms; crappie fair on minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Mississippi River (Ohio River to Arkansas): rising, muddy; channel catfish fair on liver and worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

St. Francis River (above Wappapello): dingy; channel catfish good on live bait; black bass (season closed until May 26th) good on minnows and jigs; crappie good on minnows and jigs; redear sunfish good on crickets and worms; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

St. Francis River (below Wappapello): 69 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish good on worms and liver; crappie fair on jigs and minnows; black bass fair on plastic worms and spinnerbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

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SOUTHWEST REGION (417) 895-6881

    LAKES

Bull Shoals Lake (West): 52-55 degrees, normal, dingy; Dam Area - black bass good on spinnerbaits, soft plastics and jigs; crappie good on white swimming minnows and crappie jigs; white bass fair on white swimming minnows; walleye fair on jerkbaits and nightcrawlers; all other species slow; 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 5/9/2012)

Lake Taneycomo: 50 degrees, normal, clear; trout good in the upper portion of the lake on flies (scuds, San Juan worms, and midges), orange and green glo balls drifted with the current and olive/black marabou jigs floated under bobbers; trout good in the lower portion of the lake on Gulp soft plastic eggs in orange, white, and chartreuse colors, corn and nightcrawlers. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Pomme de Terre Reservoir: 65 degrees, high, dingy; crappie good on minnows and tube jigs over structure; muskie fair over mudflats; black bass fair on buzzbaits and spinnerbaits in the back of coves; walleye fair on bottom bouncers and jig & minnow or jig & 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 5/9/2012)

Stockton Lake: 62 degrees, high, dingy; catfish good on liver or earthworms from the bank off coves and points; crappie good on minnows and various colored artificial lures in 2 - 15' of water; black bass slow, best on flats and off points in 6 - 15' of water; use jerkbaits of various colors, most common is chartreuse, blue, and white; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Table Rock Lake (James River arm): 65 degrees, normal, clear; black bass good on soft plastic crayfish, Wiggle Warts and grubs, black, pearl or shad colored baits working well, some fish are still on beds in coves and some largemouth are very close to the bank; white bass fair on white or bright yellow Vibric spinners, small diving crankbaits and pearl swimming minnows, trolling is working well; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

Table Rock Lake (main lake): 64 degrees, normal, dingy; black bass good on crankbaits and jigs from the bank out to 12' of water, try topwater baits near the bank; bluegill good on earthworms in shallow water or around cover; crappie good on minnows around cover in 12' of water; flathead catfish good on small live bait; channel catfish good on cut baits or nightcrawlers. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

    RIVERS

James River: 66 degrees, normal, dingy; black bass good on shaky jigs, smaller worms, french fry with split shot, flukes weighted hook in the wind and small crankbaits with bluegill colors (catch and release only); white bass fair on white Road Runners and Power Baits with plastic minnows and 1/8 oz. jig; crappie fair on jigs and minnows over brush piles; catfish fair on bait fish and frogs. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Niangua River: 60 degrees, high, dingy; black bass slow, best on soft plastics and natural baits (catch and release only); goggle-eye slow, best on natural baits and jigs; trout slow, best on natural baits and Power Baits below Bennett Spring; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/9/2012)

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ST. LOUIS REGION (636) 300-1953

    LAKES

Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lake 33: 64 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish good on livers; black bass fair on spinners, plastic worms and crankbaits; crappie fair on minnows and jigs; bluegill fair on worms and crickets; please remove litter.
 (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lakes 3, 4, 5, 7, and 23: 63 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish good on doughbait, cut bait and blood bait; limit 4; black bass fair on spinners, plastic worms and crankbaits; please remove litter.


 (Report made on 5/10/2012)

    RIVERS

Big River: 65 degrees, high, dingy; channel catfish good on cut bait, worms and livers; black bass fair on minnows (catch and release only); crappie slow on minnows; bluegill fair on worms and crickets; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Bourbeuse River: 66 degrees, high, muddy; black bass slow on plastic worms (catch and release only); channel catfish fair on blood bait and cut bait; all other species slow on natural baits.
 (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Meramec River (Crawford Co.): 65 degrees, high, dingy; channel catfish fair on cut bait and minnows; black bass good on plastic worms (catch and release only); crappie slow on minnows; bluegill fair on natural baits; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Meramec River (St. Louis Co.): 63 degrees, high, dingy; channel catfish fair on cut bait and blood bait; black bass fair on topwater lures (catch and release only); crappie fair on minnows; bluegill fair on worms; all other species fair on corn and doughbait. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Missouri River (lower): 62 degrees, high, muddy; channel catfish good on cut bait and livers; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

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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; black or sulfur colored Cracklebacks; ginger snap, red and white colored marabou jigs; bumblebee colored and black sparkled colored Rooster Tails; orange colored and peach colored glo balls; olive or brown colored wooly buggers with gold spinner; Zone 3 best lures: red or white colored plastic worms; white with sparkle, salmon peach, and yellow colored Power Baits; brown colored Trout Nip. Fishing hours for May are 6:30 a.m. until 8:15 p.m. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Maramec Spring Park: 57 degrees, normal, fishing is good; the water is clear; use very light weight line and tackle; fish are holding in deep holes, below the waterfalls and around boulders, target these areas for best success; throughout the spring branch feather jigs in dark colors are producing good numbers of fish; dough and putty baits are producing when fished on or near the bottom; use white or brown;  Kid's Free Fishing Day is Saturday May 19th rain or shine; fishing hours for the month of May are 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

Montauk State Park: 58 degrees, the river level is slightly below normal; the water is clear; fishing is good on most baits; brown, white, 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. 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 5/10/2012)

Roaring River State Park: 58 degrees, the water is normal; recent rains have not affected the stream too much; dry flies have been good with lots of caddis and midge hatches; 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. Kid's Free Fishing Day is May 19. (Report made on 5/10/2012)

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