Catfish good-fresh shad

Hybrids fair-rattle traps

Bass No Report

Carp No Report

 Report by: Wilderness Trail       "Braggin Board"

ANGLER'S EDGE TEAM BASS TOURNAMENT

OCTOBER 9 AND 10, 2004

CALL FOR INFORMATION

WALLEYE SEMINAR - October 23, 2004

Professional Walleye Trail Angler - Lance Valentine

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Lunch Included)

COST $15.00 PER PERSON

This is a special seminar hosted by Wilderness Trail

Lance Valentine will be coming down from Michigan to give this seminar. Lance fished in the PWT tournament here last June. We are excited about providing this opportunity to our local anglers to learn more about fishing for walleye. Reservations will be confirmed upon receipt of the $15.00 per person. We will absolutely limiting this to 50 people. Again, the $15.00 cost includes lunch. Call us at 870-445-2703 for your reservation (confirmed with payment).

September 27, 2004

Fall is here and summer is gone, at least that’s what the calendar says. Our weather pattern is stable with highs in the mid-80’s and lows in the mid-50’s at night. We finally had some rain on Saturday, it didn’t amount to much but it was enough to replenish the oxygen level in the lake. Lake temperature is cooling to 74 degrees overnight and warming up to 76+ degrees during the day. The thermocline remains steady at around 35 feet and the lake clarity is 12 feet, which is a little stained for this time of year. Crappie are still positioned inside the brush piles making it difficult to offer a jig or minnow down to them. Rig your crappie minnows with the hook hidden inside the minnow making it weed less and it will go down through the brush without hanging up.

Largemouth bass slowly but surely are moving into the back of the cuts, coves and creeks in anticipation of their fall fattening up period. Most of the largemouth are in search of crawdads, sunfish or perch. Best baits are buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, Zara Spooks, Pop R’s and Spider Jigs. The morning bite is the best up until the sunlight is shining on the water. 

Smallmouth bass started returning to points last week and they have continued their migration out of deep water this week. 14 to 16 inch smallies are now in 28 to 33 feet of water foraging on crawdads and shad. Carolina or Mojo rigs are starting to trigger feeding smallies tipped with a Zoom trick worm, Fish Doctor, or brush hog. Other baits to try are Zara Spook Jrs. on top water and Spider Jigs or tubes across the bottom. Kentucky bass continue to follow the shad into the creeks and pockets. Surface feeding has been "iffy" this last week, mainly because the shad are suspending 20 to 50 feet down. 

Vertically fishing spoons or a drop shot rig with a grub is triggering some nice Kentuckys. As the lake temperature drops a number of Kentuckys will start to forage along channel swings in the creeks. Grubs, Spider Jigs and tubes are your best baits to work down the ledges.

Walleye were playing hard to get this last week. We could mark them around the chunk rock points and over the flats but they just were hard to catch. Crawler harnesses with bottom bouncers triggered a few, split shot shiners or nightcrawlers also triggered a few, but you have to cover a lot of water and really work for a bite. The long liners had the same problems getting their crank baits on lead core line to within inches of the suspending walleyes but most of the fish were turning their noses up at the baits. The few that were caught bit on Rapala Glass Shad, Reef Runners and Hot’N Tots.

Trout fishing on the White River has been good on Power Bait in yellow and Belgian red worms. Buoyant Spoons, Little Cleos, Super Dupers and Rooster Tails have been working when the generation is on. The fly fishermen have done well on olive Woolly Buggers, sow bugs, egg pattern in peach or chartreuse and San Juan worms. Browns are being caught on Smithwick Rogues, Countdowns, Flat Fish and nightcrawlers.

Crappie- No Report

Catfish -No Report

Bass No Report

Bass fair topwater in morning .

Bluegill good on crickets and wax worms

Catfish good on shrimp and liver

According to AmerenUE the current lake level is 658.03 with a water temperature of 76 degrees. There will be no generation for the next three days, which should give the lake a level of 658.0 by Friday, October 1st. The Osage River is dingy and off color with visibility ranging from 2 to 3 feet. The Grand Glaize, Big and Little Niangua, and the Gravois Rivers are dingy to clear with visibility ranging from 3 to 6 feet. Since the night temperatures have been falling into the low to mid 50's there has been heavy fog early in the morning that doesn't lift until 7 A.M. or 8 A.M., especially in the creeks, tributaries and the Osage River above the green bridge. The shad seem to be multiplying daily and lately it hasn't been unusual to see ten or fifteen large schools of shad wherever you look, which no doubt is making fishing conditions tougher.

LARGEMOUTH BASS - GOOD The largemouth are spread out just as they have been the last month or so suspended under the schools of shad off main lake and secondary points in the mid and lower end of the lake. The most consistent bite has been the DD-22 (shad colors) and jigs (brown/green pumpkin and brown/purple) worked in depths of 8 to 20 feet. Since the bass are spread like they are, brush doesn't seem to be the main type of structure to target, although some bass are being caught out of brush piles on the jig and some on a Texas rigged 10 inch plastic worm (June bug, plumb and blue fleck). The heavier limits have been coming out of the Gravois River and the upper Osage River, above the 55 mile marker. Jigs and tubes (green pumpkin, black/blue and brown) flipped or pitched around boat docks on flats and shallower banks, also working shallow running crank baits (shad colors or chartreuse) and spinner baits (white or white/chartreuse) with gold blades next to the foam has been producing quality keeper bass. The shallow bite seems to be most productive early and slows down later in the morning, but not completely. Some top water has been reported early with Zara Spook and the Pop R (shad colors) off main lake bluff points and around the deeper docks, but this stops once the sun gets up. There are a lot of quality bass being caught, but it is taking a lot of concentration, moving to different locations and making many, many casts to get that keeper.

CRAPPIE - GOOD The crappie, just like the bass, are spread out and not as bunched up as they normally are. The crappie can be located suspended on bluffs, bluff pockets or anywhere there is a concentration of brush setting in 10 to 20 feet. Recently a lot of 9 to 10 1/2 inches crappie are being caught with very few larger fish. Minnows and Road Runners (shad colors) have been the best bite.

CATFISH - GOOD The cats have been the most consistent bite of late. Jugs baited with cut shad, perch, shiners and crawdads in the upper Osage River and in the creeks are producing some large flatheads, blues and a few channels. Tight lining from the bank with stink bait, cut shad, hot dog chunks and night crawlers is also producing in 10 to 15 feet of water.

BLUEGILL - GOOD The bluegill are can be found suspended under the foam of boat docks. behind the docks and on the seawalls in 3 to 8 feet of water. They go deeper late in the afternoon, but can still be caught fairly easy. Night crawlers, red wigglers, wax worms (grubs) and crickets are the best bite.

Lake Level : 608.29
Last Weeks Lake Level: 610.35
Normal Lake Level : 606

Water Condition: Muddy to Dingy to Clear.

The lake is clearing as fresh water comes into the lake, however it is still slightly muddy in the mid branches to dingy and clearing in the lower lake.

Catfishing continues to be very good. Flathead reports are good, with trotlines using goldfish. Trotliners are also catching channel and blue cats using cut shad. Rod and reel fishermen continue to catch channels using nightcrawlers or cut shad.

Flathead fair

Largemouth Bass good on black/blue jigs and brush hogs

Stripers slow

Crappie fair

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool:  Temperature:  75.8 

Catfish No Report 

Bass No Report 

Crappie No Report 

Bluegill No Report 

Take a kid fishing or hunting they need it

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 839.0 Temperature:80

Inflow: 10 cfs Outflow: 50 cfs Level: 0.11 feet low

Black Bass fair in 3 to 8 feet of water using brown or black plastic baits

White Bass fair along the windy banks using bright lures or road runners

Crappie fair using minnows in 8 to 15 feet of water

Catfish fair on trotlines and jug lines using shad, worms, dough baits or crawfish

Muskie good using shad raps, Bombers in 5 to 12 feet of water

Walleye fair using crankbaits while trolling in 10 to 20 feet of water on the points or flats

Bluegill fair using worms in 3 to 8 feet of water

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Temperature: 72 Clarity:  Level: high and dingy

Largemouth Bass slow using spinner baits

Channel Cat  fair using cut bait and nightcrawlers at night

Blue cat slow

Bluegill slow using worms

Crappie slow

Water Temp: 68

Crappie slow using jigs and minnows in the brush piles

Blue Catfish slow using night crawlers

Channel Catfish  good using night crawlers, stinkbait and liver

Largemouth Bass  fair using jig and pig 

Bluegill slow using night crawlers

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 864.2  Temperature: 69

Inflow: 10 cfs Outflow: 250 cfs Level: 1.36 feet high

Water Temp: 69 degrees

CRAPPIE: Fair: The water is starting to cool and some of the crappie are starting to move. There are fish deep and shallow. Scattered fish makes fishing tougher. There are still fish in the deep tree lines and brush piles. Some fish are also starting to show up in the shallows farther back in the coves. Minnows are still the best but you can also catch fish on jigs.

BASS: Poor: There seems to be a topwater bite if you are in the right place at the right time. A variety of baits are working depending on where you are fishing. You can fish soft jerk baits on top of the grass or drop a worm in front of the grass. The grass is primarily on the main lake but is also extending up both arms of the lake quite a ways. Cool weather should have the fish moving shallow soon. Spinner baits are also a good bet to try.

CATFISH: Good Since they are letting water out of the lake the spillway is an excellent place to catch a few flatheads. The catfish are also starting to feed up for the fall. Fish in the coves along the flats where the shad are at. A variety of baits will work depending on the way you like to fish. Fish in 10' or less of water. Also fish along the flats near the creek channels.

WHITE BASS: Good: The whites are showing up on main lake points in the evenings and mornings. If you are in the right spot when the fish start busting shad you can have some fun. The fish are also on the old Trimble dam and some of the main lake humps. The face of the dam is also starting to produce some whites especially on windy days. Use pepper spoons in 15' to 20' of water during the sunny days and vertical jig for them. Move shallower in the mornings and evenings and on cloudy days. You can also troll small crank baits around the main lake points.

WALLEYE: Fair: You can fish points in the Trimble area or up Campbranch and catch some fish by trolling or casting a #5 or #7 shad rap around points and humps. Stay in 4' to 10' of water most of the time. Also try the main lake points. As the water cools the fish will move shallower.

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 867.7 Temperature: 

Inflow: 60 cfs Outflow: 40 cfs Level: 2.13 feet low

Black Bass fair on topwater in early morning over points and plastic baits in timber

White Bass good on trolling Rooster Tails on flats and topwater lures late and early

Walleye fair drifting nightcrawlers and trolling crankbaits over flats 8-20 feet deep

Crappie fair around standing timber on minnows and grubs

Catfish good drifting night and trotlines with shad and bluegill

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 915.0 Temperature: 

Release Rate: 218 cfs. Level: 1.42 feet low

No Report

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Temperature:  Level:

Annual Branson Chapter Trout Unlimited Dinner/Auction October 23, 2004 at Landry's Seafood. Sit down dinner, choices of entrees. E-mail us for more information or give us a call 1-877-699-3474 - local 332-0460.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Water Conditions: Lots of time to wade fish in the mornings and most of the afternoons....at least until 3:00 p.m. or so.

FLY FISHING TROPHY AREA (dam to Fall Creek)-SHALLOW WATER-WADING-
Came home from vacation Tuesday. Had a great time on the Little Red River in Heber Springs, Arkansas. Basically the same flies, olive zebra midges, sow bugs, etc. but we also had the good fortune to get into some great BWO hatches and terrestrials hitting the water in the afternoons. So, we got out the dries and did really well. While we were gone, had boats on the water most every day. All trips are catching lots of fish, especially on the zebra midges. Olive and rust were the colors yesterday. The tan flashback scud worked well below the KOA yesterday afternoon. Stan's couple from Alabama were seasoned fly fishers and caught 60-70 fish. Nothing big but still decent size fish, 13-17 inches.

STAN'S TIP: If you are just getting starting setting up your fly boxes or if your flies are disorganized, think categorize. Dry flies in one box, midges in another, nymphs in another, etc. Otherwise, if you have lots of flies (and you will at some point in time) you will go through lots of boxes trying to locate the fly you want.

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Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 722.00 Clarity:  Level:

Temperature: 74 High and Muddy

Crappie slow using minnows in the deep brush piles

Bass slow using lures

Channel cat good using worms and minnows

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 706.0 Temperature:  75

Inflow: 500 cfs Outflow: 250 cfs Level: 0.08 feet high

Fishing Report from Sterett Creek Marina 9/29/04

The summer is slowly winding down and so is the water temp. With the drop in the water temp we should see the fishing start to pick up with the fish starting to move towards the back ends of the coves. With what I am seeing I don't think it will be but another week and we should see some fish starting to move. Looking at some of the bluff banks on the lake we are starting to see a little color come out. The cool nights have also got the critters moving so if you are traveling in the lakes area pay extra attention right about dark.

LAKE LEVEL: 706.10

WATER TEMP: 75 deg.

WATER CLARITY: The entire lake with the exception of the upper Grand is a light stain to clear. Above Bucksaw is still dirty. Finey Creek down is real pretty water to fish. Big and Little Tebo Big and Little Pommie are clear. The Osage is a light stain.

BASS: Saturday the 25th. we had the Sterett Creek Buddy Bass Tourn. and for those that couldn't attend you missed a good time. You might say the fishing could have been better but the food was sure good. We here at Sterett Creek would like to thank everyone who fished and the ladies that put the lunch together afterwards. The winning stringer was brought in by Mike Friend and Carl Shipman ( the great Truman lake chipman walleye fishing expert) weighing 11.24 lbs. Second place went to Tom Novinska and Jim Lehares with 4.34 lbs. Third to Clint Rayburn and Jeff Swackert with 4.24 lbs. Big fish went to Mike and Carl with a fish that weighed 3.56 lb. Right now there are a couple patterns working. Tree rows on the flats with 1' to 6' of water are holding fish. Big worms in red shad will work in these areas. There are also fish on the bluff ends on main lake in 8' to 12' of water. Big worms are also working here. We did have some small fish on jigs in these same areas.

CRAPPIE: Same as last week. The brush piles in 15' of water is the best of the best. Guide Steve Blake has been doing real well on this pattern. Minnows are the best baits. Did here of some fish being caught out of cedars on the points. Here again minnows are still the top producer.

WHITES & HYBRIDS: They did run a little water last week and when they did the white and hybrid fishing got good. Mark Weber brought in some real good hybrids caught on sassy shad. He said they were in 34' of water. There has been hybrids surfacing in the State Park area. The whites are still on the humps as they were last week. Remember they maybe on the sides of the humps instead of laying right on top like when they are running water.

CATFISH: There are a few cats being caught on jugs. The flats in 15' of water seem to be the best producer. Hot dogs are still working.

This weeks rankings from Sterett Creek are:

BASS: # 1

CRAPPIE: # 2

WHITES: # 3

That's it for this week from Sterett Creek Marina

So with that we bid you good fishing,

Tommy

Lake temp: 72 and dirty

Fishing for all species on the South Grand remains very slow. Water is dirty, temp at 71 and lake is at pool.

When there is a release at the dam, whites and hybrids can be caught. 

Crappie are hitting on or at the bluffs and by Observation Center.

Bass are hitting early on spinner baits and buzz baits in the back of pockets and creeks. Keepers are hard to come by.

Dave Gann

Crappie fair using minnows and jigs

Bluegill fair using crickets and worms

Catfish fair on trotlines and jug lines using live bait