*We have fishing reports for 10 different lakes listed in Alphabetical order, scroll down the page to see them all*
report made 07/21/2010
Bull Shoals Lake:
(East): 87 degrees, high, dingy; catfish fair on trotlines. (West): Normal, dingy; dam area: temperature 77-80; walleye fair on jerkbaits and nightcrawlers; black bass fair on jigs, soft plastics and nightcrawlers; striped bass fair on large jerkbaits and crankbaits; Beaver Creek: temperature 86-89; black bass fair on soft plastics, jigs and nightcrawlers; bluegill fair on crickets and worms; catfish fair on nightcrawlers.
Report provided by Bull Shoals Boat Dock:
Hey!! Fishing continues to be good. The main difference is the times that people are fishing. When the weather gets hot then the fishing times turn into first couple hours of daylight and last couple hours of day light. We are getting reports of bass being caught on surface baits at first hour of sun light and last hour of sun light. After that, its mostly plastic baits that simulate a crawfish or minnow. Also, night crawlers, minnows and crawfish will work. The bass seem to be in the 18 to 25 foot range most of the time during the day. Jig-n-frog and spoons will also work. White Bass continue to be hot during the day on the surface. This could happen anytime during the day. You will be sitting or traveling all they will school on the surface chasing shad. So keep a rod with a spoon tied on in case you see them schooling. The Walleye bite has been great still. They seem to be in the 27 to 35 foot range. Bottom bouncing with night crawlers, split shoting night crawlers, or spoons are working. There has been several over 8 lbs brought in this last 10 days
BASS - The old tube jig - gitzits has turned on now with the water temp busting 60 degrees. Smallmouth bass are biting this pattern.
carolina rigged lizard- try this pattern working it real slow, stopping it, crawling it, jerking it ect. Vary your retrieve until you figure out how the fish want it. It can change from day to day and spot to spot.
any type of crankbaits that simulates a bluegill type fish or crawfish. Work these baits in 5 to 20 feet of water .
Black jig-n-frog - this is an old time favorite in cold water. The trick is to swim it very slow in 5 to 20 feet of water or deeper.
Jig n frog , n salt craw, n 4 inch worm - what ever your preference. This is catching Smallmouth bass in 15 to 25 feet of water on the gravel and chunk rock banks where crawfish hang out.
Plastics such as grubs, hula grubs, tube jigs - work these slow along the bottom simulating a crawling crawfish. I would also try different depths until you find where the fish are. Anywhere from 15 to 55 feet.
Top water baits are producing good stringers of fish. Spooks, flukes, swim baits are just a few.
spinner baits worked fast just under the water is producing good stringers of fish.
Walleye if you are going to try it I would do the following patterns below.
spilt shot a night crawler - Try doing this in 25 to 35feet of water during daylight hours. Cast the bait towards the bank and retrieve slow. You can also troll very slow while zig-zaging back and forth.
Bottom bouncing in 25 to 35 feet of water with a night crawler and harness
Flat trolling with minnow looking baits such as rattle traps, shad raps, deep diving rogues-rebels-xraps. Try to get your bait in 25 to 35 feet of water.
retrieving a spoon very slow while your boat is in 25 to 35 feet of water.
White bass They are back in the creeks moving in and out depending on the water temp. Small spoons, small jigs, jigs with spinners or anything simulating a shad will work.
Report provided by Davy Wotton:
Another great month of fishing the White and Norfork rivers.
As predicted the sulphur hatch this yeas was a good one and given we also had at the time both zero and lower generation flows we experienced some fantastic dry fly fishing. Many Brown in the 20 ins class were caught. Pretty much the sulphur hatches are done with for this year, hopefully the millions of adults have mated, the females ovipositied and we will see in the future the benefits of the next seasons emergences. l would add further here that much of this has to do with high water flows, no question of doubt that we see way more productive emergences of both caddis and mayfly when we do see long periods of high water, all be it l realize it restricts very much wade fishing options, l guess you cannot have it both ways.
Most recently we have seen some very high generations for the White, more or less at maximum levels, 24,000 cfs plus, also we have seen shut down and zero generations. Given we have recently had some heavy rain fall and the lake levels have risen it would be difficult to predict what we will likely see this coming month. Odds are we will see both high generation and at times zero. Either way there should be options both for wade and drift fishing depending on the location you choose to fish on the rivers. If you do choose to wade fish then make sure you know if there will be a rise of water coming your way as often at this time of the year they may well release big water in a hurry, so do not get caught out.
Read the full report
Hello Fly Fishers!
You should have a general selection that would include, hoppers with yellow and green bodies, ants, red and black. We can also include dry caddis, hares ear, Black gnat. I am not going to suggest here that the fish will be ultra fussy as generally they are not. If they see your dry and it looks good odds are they will rise and take it. Likely zones to fish are shoal and riffle water, slower zones and back eddy water, what l would call comfort or resting lies. Often as not some very large Browns can be found in these locations. Its simply a bunch of fun to catch fish on dries.
If drift fishing then work into shorelines in and around overhanging tree limbs and grass beds, these are again the locations to find that trophy fish. Other options are to fish dry dropper rigs, which may include a dry nymph or a dry soft hackle, which will work equally as well as a nymph at times.
Streamer fishing may also be a good option during days when we see lower levels of overhead light. Given the current heavy fog that descends early evening and into the dark hours not much in the way for night time activity, in fact it's not a good idea to be out on the river at such times be you wade or drift fishing, You may not notice rising water and in the case of wade fishing and have no idea where you are if out in a boat.
I know well enough that one, a GPS may work ok out on the lake, a river when you have no visual points is a very different matter.
This months feature picture is Torstein who with his wife made a visit to us from Norway. Torstein fly fishes in Norway a country with unreal water resources for trout, grayling, char, and Salmon. They experienced with me one of those golden days at Bull Shoals dam fishing very high water. Torstein's prize trophy Brown being to date the largest trout he has caught. His comments to me where simply he could not imagine how good trout fishing could be compared to his average days fishing his homeland waters, and that is very true, few rivers can match what we have here in Arkansas.
Stay safe and tight lines.
Davy.
Clearwater Lake:
Water is 90 degrees, normal, clear; all species slow.
Lake of the Ozarks:
(Bagnell Tailwater): 83 degrees, high, dingy; crappie slow on minnows and crappie jigs; black bass slow using worms and dark colored soft plastic worms; white bass slow on light colored soft plastics; catfish fair using stinkbaits, worms and cut shad. (Glaize) 88 degrees, dingy; crappie fair on minnows and crappie jigs; black bass fair using dark colored soft plastics off points; white bass slow on light colored soft plastics and light colored Rooster Tails; catfish fair using stinkbaits, worms and chicken livers. (Gravois): 88 degrees, dingy; crappie fair on minnows and crappie jigs; black bass fair using dark colored soft plastics off points; white bass slow on light colored soft plastics and light colored Rooster Tails; catfish fair using stinkbaits, worms and chicken livers. (Niangua) 88 degrees, dingy; black bass fair on jigs, go a little deeper than you think and get to the brush; crappie fair on minnows; catfish fair with cut bait on jug lines at 15 feet deep. (Osage): 88 degrees, dingy; crappie fair on minnows and crappie jigs; black bass fair using dark colored soft plastics off points; white bass slow on light colored soft plastics and light colored Rooster Tails; catfish fair using stinkbaits, worms and chicken livers.
Mark Twain Lake:
Water is 85 degrees, high, dingy; crappie good on minnows and jigs; channel catfish fair using trotlines and limb lines on cut bait and nightcrawlers; all other species slow.
Report Provided by South Fork Resort:
Lake level is at 621.2 and dropping at this time. The water is more clear than I have ever seen it. You can see several feet down. Water temps are in the upper 80's. As far as I know all beaches are still closed due to high water. The crappie are definitely on the feed. Catching a limit of 9" plus keepers is pretty much the rule here lately. However you will likely have to weed through 100 plus smaller ones to accomplish that. Talk about going through some minnows. Went out the other day and 2 of us easily went through 10 dozen. And ran out! The fish are scattered up and down the water column. We caught them from 2 feet down to 12 feet in water depths from 15 feet to 30 feet. If you aren't catching something rather quickly keep changing it up until you do, as the fish are feeding big time. Catfish are also on the prowl. If you look at the pictures you can see the numbers of those coming in right now. Some good flatheads are being caught, along with a lot of blues and fair numbers of channels. Quite a few people are catching channels while crappie fishing. Even the walleye are getting into the act. We keep hearing of crappie fishermen (and women) pulling the occasional walleye in, but look at the picture of the one taken last weekend. WOW! That was not accomplished while crappie fishing though. They work hard at walleye fishing. Not much word on white bass or largemouth, though we do keep hearing the largemouth are pretty tough right now. If you want numbers of fish, now is a great time to come and give it a try. There are enough big ones to keep everyone happy with plenty of action to keep the youngsters interested. Lots of crappie are still coming in from 13-16". Makes for a great day on the water.
Lake Pomme de terre:
Lake is 84 degrees, normal, clear; crappie good on minnows in 25' of water around structure; black bass good on plastics in 20' of water around structure; catfish good on cut bait and live bait; all other species slow.
Stockton Lake:
Water is 79 degrees, normal, clear; crappie good on minnows; black bass good on soft plastics; walleye fair on jigs tipped with nightcrawlers; catfish fair on nightcrawlers while drifting.
Report Provided by Thompson Fishing Guide Service:
Crappie and walleye: the reason I put crappie and walleye together is because the same location and the same presentation for the winter pattern applies to both, for the most part. Walleye and crappie are DEEP, in the 50 foot level...this is exactly where they are at this time very year. If you have read my past reports, reference winter patterns for crappie and walleye, you will remember that a number of things must be accomplished in order to be successful: 1) locate fish, obviously. Gizzard shad seek warmer water in the winter and they find it at these depths because of large springs that warm the water in the general area. Where the bait goes, game fish go, be it Wahoo. Bonita, Marlin, Jaws, or crappie and walleye. 2) Presentation: because of the depth, plus the water temperature, plus the fish being very lethargic, sensitivity is the key. When you are fishing 50 feet down, you must remain directly over the fish. If there is a bow in your line, as a result of the fish biting so lightly, bites will go undetected. If you have a windy day, you need to locate the fish in areas that are out of the wind. 3) Plan of attack: I use jigs with significant weight to keep my line tight depending on wind conditions. Half ounce is not too big. You'll have to experiment. Before I go any further, I might add some of the best white bass fishing you'll ever experience will be right now using the same technique as you do crappie and walleye. For more details see previous reports. If you look back over previous reports, you should have enough information that you should be able to compile a notebook that deals with all patterns for all species on Stockton Lake. I guide exclusively on Stockton Lake, not on Lake of the Ozarks, not Bull Shoals, not Truman, or the Gulf of Mexico. You can't spread yourself too thin, you know, because there is too much water to cover to be efficient on more than one lake.
Another technique I use this time of the year for walleye, crappie and white bass is to tie a 1 or 2 ounce barrel sinker on the end of my line. Above the line you can attach Aberdeen hooks with a minnow, crappie jig, or even small flies and hair jigs about 24 inches from the weight and 24 inches apart and still get to where the fish are and the sensitivity is far greater due to the fact that the weight is at the bottom of the line and when a fish touches your hook, there is nothing between you and him. This is IMPERATIVE due to the fact that when the water is cold, fish metabolism slows down and they just don't move that fast. I guarantee you that if you master what I have said in this report and previous reports over the last 8 years reference the winter pattern, you will have some of the best crappie, walleye and white bass fishing of the year.
The Missouri Department of Conservation is involved in planting new brush piles throughout Stockton Lake, which will enhance the fishing even more. I know where a lot of those new brush piles are located. Do you? Crappie and walleye: the reason I put crappie and walleye together is because the same location and the same presentation for the winter pattern applies to both, for the most part. Walleye and crappie are DEEP, in the 50 foot level...this is exactly where they are at this time very year. If you have read my past reports, reference winter patterns for crappie and walleye, you will remember that a number of things must be accomplished in order to be successful: 1) locate fish, obviously. Gizzard shad seek warmer water in the winter and they find it at these depths because of large springs that warm the water in the general area. Where the bait goes, game fish go, be it Wahoo. Bonita, Marlin, Jaws, or crappie and walleye. 2) Presentation: because of the depth, plus the water temperature, plus the fish being very lethargic, sensitivity is the key. When you are fishing 50 feet down, you must remain directly over the fish. If there is a bow in your line, as a result of the fish biting so lightly, bites will go undetected. If you have a windy day, you need to locate the fish in areas that are out of the wind. 3) Plan of attack: I use jigs with significant weight to keep my line tight depending on wind conditions. Half ounce is not too big. You'll have to experiment. Before I go any further, I might add some of the best white bass fishing you'll ever experience will be right now using the same technique as you do crappie and walleye. For more details see previous reports. If you look back over previous reports, you should have enough information that you should be able to compile a notebook that deals with all patterns for all species on Stockton Lake. I guide exclusively on Stockton Lake, not on Lake of the Ozarks, not Bull Shoals, not Truman, or the Gulf of Mexico. You can't spread yourself too thin, you know, because there is too much water to cover to be efficient on more than one lake.
Table Rock Lake:
(James River arm): 81 degrees, normal, dingy; black bass good on deep diving crankbaits or soft plastic crayfish. (main lake): 82 degrees, high, dingy; black bass good on deep diving crankbaits or soft plastic crayfish around bridge piers or docks in at least 25' of water.
Report Provided by Table Rock Guide Service:
Top water bite is very good early morning and late afternoon or all day on cloudy days. Cordel redfins and zara spooks and Sammy top water baits in shad colors are producing the best action. Single tail grubs, 3/16 and 1/4 ounces heads with 4 and 5 inch baits in smoke and salt and pepper on main lake points are also producing very well. Jewel 5/16 finesse jigs back in the creeks in brown and purple and peanut butter and jelly seem to be working the best with green pumpkin craw fish trailers in spawing pockets 5 to 12 feet deep. Jewel football jigs in peanut butter and jelly and brown and purple in 10 to 18 feet deep is working best for bass around main lake and secondary points in the creeks. Some fish are also being caught on plastic baits, carolina rigged centipedes and lizards on outside edge of flooded timber on gravel points in 15-18 feet of water.
Mid lakeKimberling City Area Top water bite is very good early morning and late afternoon or all day on cloudy days. Cordel redfins and zara spooks and Sammy top water baits in shad colors are producing the best action. Jewel 5/16 finesse jigs back in the creeks in brown and purple and peanut butter and jelly seem to be working the best with green pumpkin craw fish trailers in spawing pockets 5 to 12 feet deep. Jewel football jigs in peanut butter and jelly and brown and purple in 10 to 18 feet deep is working best for bass around main lake and secondary points in the creeks. Some fish are also being caught on plastic baits, carolina rigged centipedes and lizards on outside edge of flooded timber on gravel points in 15-18 feet of water. Smoke grubs and salt and pepper grubs with a 1/4 oz, jig head on main lake and secondary points are producing alot of numbers of bass.
Lower endDam Area Top water bite is very good early morning and late afternoon or all day on cloudy days. Cordel redfins and zara spooks and Sammy top water baits in shad colors are producing the best action. Jewel 5/16 finesse jigs back in the creeks in brown and purple and peanut butter and jelly seem to be working the best with green pumpkin craw fish trailers in spawing pockets 5 to 12 feet deep. Jewel football jigs in peanut butter and jelly and brown and purple in 10 to 18 feet deep is working best for bass around main lake and secondary points in the creeks. Some fish are also being caught on plastic baits, carolina rigged centipedes and lizards on outside edge of flooded timber on gravel points in 15-18 feet of water. Smoke grubs and salt and pepper grubs with a 1/4 oz, jig head on main lake and secondary points are producing alot of numbers of bass.
Upper endJames River Jewel finesse jigs in peanut butter and jelly and brown and purple in 5 to 10 feet deep is working best for bass around main lake and secondary points in the creeks. Some fish are also starting to hit plastic baits, sinko's on gravel in front of the bushes, carolina rigged centipedes and brush hogs on gravel points and spawing pockets 4 to 12 feet deep.
Crappie Crappie are in 5-15 feet deep in spawning pockets around standing timber. Crappie jigs in white or chartreuse and white and minnows are working best.
TroutI'm catching some nice rainbows and a few browns on a small rapala in the morning and also swimming a white 1/16 ounce jig. The trout in the trophy area will also take pink or green micro jigs under a float and a zebra midge has also been very good. Below the trophy are from fall creek down, the trout are biting very good on night crawlers or power baits. In the early morning you can catch them swimming a 1/16 ounce jig or little cleo spoon, in line spinners are also good in the mornings.
Lake Taneycomo:
Water is 48 degrees, high, clear; upper lake: rainbow trout good on crankbaits and black, olive, and white marabou jigs; lower lake: rainbow trout good on orange and chartreuse Power Baits.
Report Provided by River Run Outfitters:
Fishing is Good!
Yes, as I write this, the generators at Table Rock are OFF! They followed their projection today which was no generation from midnight to 6:00 a.m. Then two generators from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. From 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. no generation. At 6:00 p.m. they are scheduled to turn on two. Yesterday was a low two generators all day as was the day before. Nice, warm, sunny days so far this week, but we do have a chance for showers tomorrow and again on Friday, Saturday and possibly Sunday. We missed them last week, let's hope that is the case again this week. Stan and Carolyn had a rowdy group of guys on the water Monday. Dan and Russ were with Stan, and Jim and Rich were brave enough to go out with Carolyn in her "Cackelcraft". Little slow start in the morning on midges, but once we switched over to the sinking line with an olive bug-eyed bugger, the action certainly picked up. Great day on the water. The overcast sky gave way to a nice balmy, sunny day. Continued catching fish throughout the run on either the bugger or the red tungsten beadhead midge.
Truman Lake:
The Lake is 87 degrees, high, dingy; releasing 23,250 cfs; catfish good using live and cut bait; crappie good using minnows and jigs; largemouth bass good using plastic worms; white bass and hybrid bass good with crankbaits and Sassy Shad or drifting with live bait.
Report Provided by Sterett Creek Marina:
Hot pretty well sums it up. You can sure tell it's the middle of July. The storms last weekend missed us but did dump a lot of rain, didn't affect the lake in our area. The COE is pulling a lot of water and this is pulling the mud line down the Osage. It is starting to get dirty around the Berry Bend area. Last weekend there was some good fish come from the Ed's Camp area but with the muddy water that bite will slow down. Our area of the lake looks good and should remain that way for a good while.
LAKE LEVEL: 712
WATER TEMP: 82 deg.
WATER CLARITY: Clear
BASS: The bass fishing has slowed down with the hot weather. It's kind of like the dog days of summer have arrived. Last night in the Hawg Fights the team of Barkledge and Barkledge weighed in a 6.02 lb lunker for big bass and took first place with a total weight of 8.82 lbs. Second went to Desman Carl and Paul Cury with 2.93 lbs. Third went to Ernie Cox and Jack Hocket with 2.31 lbs. The bite right now seems to be on the points in 10' to 15' of water. Big worms and Brush Hogs are the best baits. I did hear of a few fish coming off deep running crank baits last weekend, these fish were on the points also.
CRAPPIE: With the lake falling the tree rows are starting to pop back out to where they are easier to find. There has been a little bite in the rows in 20' of water on minnows down about 7' to 10'. There is also a bite on the bluff banks in 30' of water down 15' to 20'. Minnows tipped with a crappie nibble are working here.
WHITES & HYBRIDS: We have seen some real nice hybrids come in this week. Guide Steve Blake brought in a real good limit the other day. Sassy Shad on a 3/4 oz. head has been working the best. The hybrids seem to be hanging on top of the humps in 20' of water. The whites are doing their normal thing for this time of year and are surfacing here, there and yonder. I had a couple people tell me they were coming up rite at dark. They haven't started the real big schools but the fish are surfacing are saying up for a good while.
CATFISH: The catfish have slowed way down. There were lots of lines run this week with not much going on. My guess is they are laying in the holes and with the hot weather aren't feeding that much or not moving that much to feed.
Lake Wappapello:
Water is rising, black bass fair on spinnerbaits and plastic worms early and late in the day; bluegill fair on crickets and worms; channel catfish fair on live bait and worms at night; all other species slow. Anglers should note the 9" minimum length limit regulation for crappie.
Note: On the waters of Wappapello Lake & its tributaries, all Walleye & Sager must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught. Anglers are encouraged to harvest bass under 11" (daily limit 6) to reduce the numbers of small bass in Wappapello lake.
