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The lake level was 658.2 (660 is normal pool level); with heavy generation scheduled through the week the lake should hold at that level through the weekend. According to Ameren the lake will NOT be held low for an extended period, it should be full by Memorial Day. Surface temperature at Bagnell Dam is 69 degrees with upstream temperatures of 61 to 67 degrees depending on location and time of day. Truman Lake was five feet over normal pool.
BLACK BASS – No tournaments reported. Lower Osage: Very good, fish are scattered, some shallow and some deep. Try jigs and shaky heads on gravel banks or wacky worms behind docks. Glaize Arm: Good with jigs or shaky heads on rocky secondary points. Mid-Lake: Good on secondary points and behind docks, try topwaters early and jigs later. Niangua Arm: Very good, try jigs tipped with Berkley’s 4 or 5 inch Chigger Craw on secondary points or wacky worms around docks. Little Niangua River: Green Mill launch ramp is open for johnboats, etc., and anglers have caught good smallmouth on crappie jigs and minnows at the campground. Gravois Arm: Very good, try lizards, shaky heads, or tubes on sloping shorelines. Upper Osage: Very good, try lizards, shaky heads, or tubes on sloping shorelines. Osage 60 MM: Good, try green pumpkin colored jigs on sloping shorelines.
CATFISH: Bagnell Tailwater: Very good for blues on cut bait, from shore or boat. Lower Osage: Good on juglines and trotlines baited with cut bait. Glaize Arm: Good, try coves with nightcrawlers or chicken livers. Mid-Lake: Good on all traditional catfish baits. Niangua Arm: Excellent in coves with nightcrawlers, cut bait and chicken livers. Little Niangua River: Fair, try cut shad or chicken livers. Gravois Arm: Good on jugs baited with cut shad. Upper Osage: Good on cut shad or shrimp. Osage 60 MM: Excellent for rod and reel or trotline, try any traditional catfish bait, including BJ’s prepared bait. Truman Tailwater: Good on whole or cut shad.
CRAPPIE – Bagnell Tailwater: Very good early and late on minnows. Lower Osage: Good, some males are still shallow. Try jigs or very small Sebile jerkbaits fished 5 feet deep or less. Glaize Arm: Good, try jerkbaits or jigs fished around major boat docks. Mid-Lake: Fair to good, try jigs or minnows 12 to 16 feet deep. Niangua Arm: Fair, most fish are small try small jigs or minnows tipped with Berkley Crappie Nibbles around bridge pillars. Little Niangua River: No reported fish. Gravois Arm: Fair on Blakemore Road Runners fished in front of gravel banks. Upper Osage: Fair, try small chartreuse jigs or minnows. Osage 60 MM: Try 8 to 10 feet deep with black and chartreuse jigs. Truman Tailwater: Excellent on Crappie Delight or Slab Hunter jigs.
WALLEYE – Bagnell Tailwater: Fair for anglers in boats, try Berkley’s white Gulp Shad. Niangua Arm: Fair, try trolling Cordell’s Fire Tiger colored Wally Diver or Norman’s Sour Grape colored Deep Little ‘N on flats, also try jigs tipped with Berkley’s black Gulp Leech or Jumbo Leech. Osage 60 MM: Fair on curly tail grubs on main lake points. Truman Tailwater: No reported fish.
WHITE AND HYBRID BASS – Bagnell Tailwater: Fair when the generators are running. Lower Osage: No reported fish. Glaize Arm: Fair for quantity and size on white jigs in coves and on points with spoons. Mid-Lake: Fair to good on spoons in open water. Niangua Arm: Fair, try points for whites and hybrids with large Rooster Tails or Dixie Jet Spoons. Little Niangua River: Fair, mostly small male fish. Gravois Arm: Fair, try open water with vertically jigged spoons. Osage 60 MM: Try small crankbaits on main lake points. Truman Tailwater: Very good on Li’l Fishies and Sassy Shad.
BLUEGILL – Fair to good, try worm pieces, Berkley’s Gulp Crickets, or Nightcrawler pieces around docks.
NOTE: The Lower Osage is from the dam to the 22-mile mark; Mid-Lake is between the 22 and 38-mile marks; the Upper Osage is between the 38 and 55-mile marks; the Osage 60 MM is between the 55-mile mark and the 89-mile mark; and the 89 MM is between the 89 MM and the Rt. 65 Bridge.
UPDATES – Bagnell Dam – Dam Bait Shop (573-216-2084); Lower Osage and Glaize Arm – Guide Skip Surbaugh (573-365-0006); Midlake and Gravois – Mike Foree @ Osage Beach Bait & Tackle (573-348-9333); Niangua Arm – Darrell Taylor; Upper Osage – Guide John Blankenbeker (573-280-1455); Little Niangua River – Greenmill Campground, (573-363-5577); Osage 60 MM – Bryants Osage Outdoors, HYPERLINK "http://www.osagetackle.com" www.osagetackle.com (573-374-2278); Truman Dam – The Station Bait & Tackle (660-438-7664); Tourney Results – www724outdoors.com; Lake Level (573-365-9205).
Compiled for 5-11-12 by Darrell Taylor
