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.
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.
 |
| Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
MISSOURI PUBLIC FISHING AREAS
CENTRAL REGION(573) 882-8388 LAKES
Binder Lake: 71 degrees, normal, 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 5/16/2012)
Blind Pony Lake: 73 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 5/16/2012)
Lake of the Ozarks (Glaize): 74 degrees, dingy; black bass fair on dark colored soft plastics and buzzbaits; white bass slow, try light colored soft plastics; crappie fair using minnows and crappie jigs; catfish slow, try chicken livers, stinkbaits, worms and cut baits.
(Report made on 5/16/2012)
Lake of the Ozarks (Gravois): 71 degrees, dingy; black bass and catfish fair; crappie and white bass slow. (Report made on 5/16/2012)
Lake of the Ozarks (Niangua): 71 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 5/16/2012)
Lake of the Ozarks (Osage): 71 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 5/16/2012)
Little Dixie Lake: 72 degrees, normal, clear; crappie fair on live minnows and white jigs; 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 5/16/2012)
RIVERS
Lamine River: normal, dingy; channel catfish good on setlines baited with bullhead and green sunfish above Roberts Bluff Access; flathead catfish fair near the Missouri River; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
Missouri River (middle): falling, muddy; channel catfish and blue catfish fair on live baits and stinkbaits; flathead catfish fair on jug lines and trotlines using live baits and cut baits; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/16/2012)
Osage (Bagnell Tailwater): 68 degrees, normal, dingy; black bass season closed; white bass slow, try light colored soft plastics and crappie jigs; crappie slow, try minnows and crappie jigs;
catfish slow, try chicken livers, shad, cut shad and worms.
(Report made on 5/16/2012)
Osage (lower, at Tuscumbia): 68 degrees, normal, dingy; black bass season closed; white bass slow, try light colored soft plastics and crappie jigs; crappie slow, try minnows and crappie jigs; catfish slow, try chicken livers, shad, cut shad and worms.
(Report made on 5/16/2012)
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KANSAS CITY REGION (816) 655-6254
LAKES
Atkinson Lake (Schell-Osage CA): 76 degrees, low, dingy; catfish good; crappie fair; all other species good; fishing pressure light. (Report made on 5/16/2012)
James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area: 74 degrees, clear; full pool; bluegill, redear sunfish and largemouth bass good; channel catfish and crappie fair; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/16/2012)
Montrose Lake: 74 degrees, normal, dingy; black bass good; catfish fair; crappie slow; fishing pressure light. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
Schell Lake (Schell-Osage CA): 77 degrees, high, dingy; catfish good; crappie fair; all other species good; fishing pressure light. (Report made on 5/16/2012)
Truman Lake: 74 degrees, high, dingy; crappie good post-spawn pattern moving toward summer pattern; black bass fair on spinners and buzzbaits in creek backs and pockets; white bass good; hybrid bass good; catfish good on trotlines, jug lines and fresh cut bait. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
Truman Lake Tailwaters: 74 degrees, high, dingy; crappie good below the dam on jigs and minnows; catfish good on cut baits; white bass and hybrid bass good on topwater jigs and spoons. (Report made on 5/16/2012)
RIVERS
Missouri River (Kansas City area): 76 degrees, the water level is elevated; catfish good on cut baits and nightcrawlers; set bank and jug lines out of the current behind wing dikes; trotlines set from the dikes are working well; shovelnose sturgeon good using nightcrawlers on trotlines set along bottom; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
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NORTHEAST REGION (660) 785-2420
LAKES
Hunnewell Lake: 73 degrees, normal, clear; crappie fair using Beetle Spins; largemouth bass fair using flukes; channel catfish fair using chicken liver; 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 5/17/2012)
Long Branch Lake: 69 degrees, high, dingy; channel catfish good on nightcrawlers, leeches, stinkbaits, shrimp and live baits; flathead catfish fair on live baits; crappie fair on jigs; hybrid striped bass good on nightcrawlers; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
Mark Twain: 70 degrees, normal, dingy; all species slow. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
Sever: 75 degrees, normal, clear; crappie good on jigs 8 - 10' deep; black bass good on spinnerbaits near structure; channel catfish fair on prepared baits; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
Thomas Hill Reservoir: 66 degrees, high, 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 5/17/2012)
RIVERS
Mississippi River (upper): 67 degrees, high, dingy; channel catfish good on nightcrawlers and minnows, fair on stinkbaits; flathead catfish and blue catfish good on live baits; drum and carp fair on nightcrawlers; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
Salt (below Mark Twain): 72 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish good on prepared baits; drum good on nightcrawlers; largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
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NORTHWEST REGION (816) 271-3100
LAKES
Bilby Ranch Lake: 68 degrees, high, clear; channel catfish good on liver; bluegill good, but small near shore; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/16/2012)
Lake Paho: 68 degrees, normal, clear; hybrid striped bass good on artificial bait, nightcrawlers and chicken liver; largemouth bass fair on soft plastics; crappie fair off the rocks; channel catfish fair. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
Mozingo Lake: 68 degrees, high, clear; the north part of lake is murky; black bass and bluegill good; crappie and channel catfish fair. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
Pony Express Lake: 68 degrees, normal, clear; crappie good on jigs; largemouth bass good on spinners; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/14/2012)
Smithville Lake: 71 degrees, clear; crappie good using black and chartreuse jigs; black bass good on topwater lures, buzzbaits and plastic worms; channel catfish good on live bait in 10' of water; white bass fair near the dam in the evenings; walleye good on Road Runners tipped with nightcrawlers. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
RIVERS
Grand River: 68 degrees, falling, muddy; channel catfish and blue catfish good; flathead catfish slow; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
Missouri River (upper): 69 degrees, falling, muddy; channel catfish and flathead catfish fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
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OZARK REGION (417) 255-9561
LAKES
Bull Shoals Lake (East): 75 degrees, normal, dingy; all species slow. (Report made on 5/16/2012)
Norfork Lake: 74 degrees, normal, dingy; all species slow. (Report made on 5/16/2012)
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 and jigs; channel catfish fair on live bait. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
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 5/16/2012)
Bryant Creek: 71 degrees, normal, clear; smallmouth bass (catch and release only) and goggle-eye fair on soft plastics. (Report made on 5/16/2012)
Current River: 69 degrees, low, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 5/16/2012)
Eleven Point River: 61 degrees, normal, clear; rainbow trout good on corn and prepared baits; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/16/2012)
Gasconade River (middle): 68 degrees, low, clear; goggle-eye and black bass (catch and release only) good on soft plastic baits and jigs; channel catfish fair on live bait. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
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 5/16/2012)
Jacks Fork: 69 degrees, normal, clear; smallmouth bass (catch and release only) and goggle-eye good on artificial baits and live baits.
(Report made on 5/16/2012)
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 5/16/2012)
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SOUTHEAST REGION (573) 290-5858
LAKES
Clearwater Lake: 79 degrees, normal, clear; bluegill good on live worms and crickets; channel catfish fair on trotlines and jug lines; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
Council Bluff Lake: normal, clear; channel catfish good on worms and liver; largemouth bass fair on dark colored soft plastics and topwater lures during low light periods; redear sunfish fair on worms and crickets; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
Cypress Lake: 74 degrees, normal, dingy; bluegill and redear sunfish good on jigs, crickets and worms in 1 - 3' depths; largemouth bass good on minnows and jigs in 1 - 3' depths, plastic worms and crankbaits in 1 - 3' depths; crappie fair on minnows and jigs in 1 - 3' depths; channel catfish fair on worms and crickets in 2 - 3' depths. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
Duck Creek CA Pool 1: 74 degrees, falling, clear; bluegill fair on crickets and jigs; largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
Lake Girardeau: normal, clear; bluegill and redear sunfish good on crickets and worms; largemouth bass and channel catfish fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/16/2012)
Perry County Lake: 76 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 5/17/2012)
Robert DeLaney Lake: 77 degrees, normal, bluegill fair on crickets, worms and wax worms; channel catfish fair on stinkbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/16/2012)
Wappapello Lake: 82 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 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 5/17/2012)
RIVERS
Black River (above Clearwater Lake): 73 degrees, low, clear; smallmouth bass (catch and release only) and goggle-eye slow on plastic baits; channel catfish slow on live baits or stinkbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/16/2012)
Black River (below Clearwater Lake): 73 degrees, dingy; level is at summer pool; black bass good on minnows and jigs (season closed until 5/26); channel catfish good on live bait; crappie fair on jigs and minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/16/2012)
Castor River (above Zalma): low, clear; goggle-eye good on jigs; smallmouth bass good on plastic lures (season closed until 5/26); all other species fair. (Report made on 5/16/2012)
Mississippi River (middle): falling, muddy; channel catfish and blue catfish good on worms; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/16/2012)
Mississippi River (Ohio River to Arkansas): normal, muddy; channel catfish fair on worms and cut baits; sturgeon being caught on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/16/2012)
St. Francis River (above Wappapello): dingy; channel catfish good on live bait and chicken liver; black bass (season closed until May 26th) good on minnows and jigs; redear sunfish fair on crickets and worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
St. Francis River (below Wappapello): No report available.
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SOUTHWEST REGION (417) 895-6881
LAKES
Bull Shoals Lake (West): 52-57 degrees, normal, dingy; Dam Area - white bass good on swimming minnows; black bass good on crankbaits, soft plastics and jigs; crappie good on white swimming minnows and crappie jigs; 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 5/17/2012)
Lake Taneycomo: 50 degrees, normal, clear; trout good in upper portion of lake on orange and chartreuse glo balls drifted with the current, flies (scuds and San Juan worms), black/olive colored marabou jigs, Rooster Tails and crankbaits; trout good in lower portion of lake on orange, chartreuse, pink, and bubblegum colored Power Baits, nightcrawlers and corn. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
Pomme de Terre Reservoir: 68 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 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 5/17/2012)
Stockton Lake: 72 degrees, high, dingy; crappie good on minnows and various colored artificial lures in 8 - 15' of water; black bass good on jerkbaits of various colors, most commonly chartreuse, blue, and white on flats and off points in 8 - 15' of water; catfish good on liver and earthworms from the bank in coves and off points; walleye fair on artificial worms in 15' of water; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
Table Rock Lake (James River arm): 69 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 perch 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 5/17/2012)
Table Rock Lake (main lake): 70 degrees, normal, dingy; black bass good on crankbaits, jigs and soft plastic worms in 4 - 15' of water, they are moving to deeper water; bluegill good on earthworms in shallow water; crappie good on minnows or small tube baits around standing timber or in cover 12 - 15' deep; channel catfish good on nightcrawlers; flathead catfish fair on small bluegill, plastic worms and crankbaits. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
RIVERS
James River: 65 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 5/17/2012)
Niangua River: 62 degrees, high, clear; trout fair, best on natural baits and Power Baits below Bennett Spring; black bass slow, best on soft plastics and natural baits (catch and release only); goggle-eye slow, best on natural baits and jigs; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
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ST. LOUIS REGION (636) 300-1953
LAKES
Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lake 33: 69 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish slow on livers; black bass fair on spinners, plastic worms and crankbaits; crappie slow on minnows and jigs; bluegill fair on worms and crickets; please remove litter.
(Report made on 5/17/2012)
Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lakes 3, 4, 5, 7, and 23: 69 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish slow on doughbait, blood bait and livers; limit 4; black bass fair on spinners, plastic worms and crankbaits; please remove litter.
(Report made on 5/17/2012)
RIVERS
Big River: 65 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish fair 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 5/17/2012)
Bourbeuse River: 66 degrees, normal, dingy; black bass fair on plastic worms (catch and release only); channel catfish fair on blood bait and cut bait; all other species fair on natural baits.
(Report made on 5/17/2012)
Meramec River (Crawford Co.): 65 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish fair on cut bait and minnows; black bass good on soft plastics (catch and release only); goggle-eye good on live bait; all other species slow. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
Meramec River (St. Louis Co.): 65 degrees, normal, clear; channel catfish fair on cut bait and worms; black bass fair on topwater lures (catch and release only); crappie fair on minnows; bluegill fair on natural bait; all other species fair on corn and doughbait. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
Missouri River (lower): 64 degrees, high, muddy; channel catfish fair on cut bait and live sunfish; all other species fair. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
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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. We are planning to cut weeds on May 22 and 23. We will begin around 8 a.m. and end by 3:30 p.m. We appreciate your patience. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
Maramec Spring Park: 57 degrees, 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 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 this 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 5/17/2012)
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. May fishing hours are 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m.
For up-to-date stream conditions check http://waterdata.usgs.gov/
Roaring River State Park: 58 degrees, Kid's Free Fishing Day is May 19. 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. (Report made on 5/17/2012)
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