Catfish good on anything

Bluegill No Report

Crappie No Report

Bass No Report

Fishing Report by:   .bullshoalslakeboatdock.com 

Bull Shoals Lake Fishing Report - Sunday June 22nd, 2008 

See our new STEALS AND DEALS page for discounts on houseboat rentals and rooms at the Lighthouse Point resort.    

Hello everybody. Lake level continues to drop very slowly. It has only dropped a foot from last week. We have been getting a lot of rain in the water shed area, not necessarily here but between here and Joplin Missouri. So the corps projections have changed. Looks like it will be the end of September before the water is back to normal provided there is average rainfall. The lake is down to the 691 level. It is projected to drop an inch or two a day. Projected drop level are posted above in the link.  The water temperature continues to rise and is up in the middle 70's on the surface. There is a thermo cline forming around the 20 to 25 foot level. It is a 10- 15   degree difference and becoming very prominent. You can see it on my water temp page. see Water temp/ oxygen level link.   Visibility continues to be poor from the surface to 25 feet due to all the brush in the water,  then it clears up to the average visibility at 15 to 20 feet depending on where you are in the lake. The bluffs should be the best.  Have some new fish pictures. SEE fish picture page.  

   Spear fishing season opened up this last week and there are some BIG catfish being speared. I have created a picture page just for spear fishing. Not many walleye being speared as you would normally see. I think there is way too much brush for the walleye to hide in for the divers to see. This may change as the lake goes down.  

  Again- not much change from last week on the regular fishing. The water temp continues to rise and thermo cline is more prominent.   Smallmouth bass continue to dominate the fish being caught, then walleye and catfish. I have been scuba diving a lot around the docks this last 10 days and I have been seeing a tremendous amount of baby fish spawned from this year. We are going to have one of the best "fish spawns"   this lake has ever seen in 2008.  

BASS- 

New pattern- The old jig-n-frog is picking up fish on the bluffs. This pattern is working due to no brush on the bluffs. This pattern is mostly early-late daylight, then at night.  

1. Top water-- Flukes, spooks, and any other top water baits are working. This pattern is mostly in the early morning and late afternoon before the sun gets up and after it gets low in the sky. This patterns should start to slow down as the water temp warms up. However, with all the brush and trees in the lake, the fish have a place to hide from the sun and this pattern should continue.   

2. shallow running rogues, rebels, x-raps and stick baits along the shoreline.  

3. Tube jigs or gitzits- this has been the most all day productive pattern this week. Standard colors with and 1/8 oz head worked at different levels of the lake. 1. fairly shallow under evergreen trees. These trees are holding fish due because they are blocking the sun and providing good cover for fish. 2. swimming it over the brush in 5 to 40 feet of water depending on the slope of the bank. 3. Carolina rigging it and fishing the old shore line in 35 to 55 feet of water. There are still some fish that haven't moved up yet.  

4. night crawlers - Live minnows with a small split shot worked over the top the brush and around the standing trees. Also, dragging them with a heavier weight in the 35 to 55 foot range in the old shoreline.  

5. Spinner baits shallow along the shoreline have produced some bass 

6. 1/4 oz white road runners in 10 to 20 feet of water worked over the top of the brush.  

7.  Drop shot a small plastic worm or night crawler in 8-15 feet of water around the standing trees out from the bank. Use a weedless hook, leave a 12-14 inch tail of line after you tie the hook. Put a drop shot weight, swivel sinker or split shot on the end of the tail. Fish this straight down on the bottom, jigging it up and down off the bottom around the trees.  

8.  Bubble gum plastic worm with no weight in the brush. With the lake rising, a lot of the night crawlers had to go up the bank. The water forced them out and up. When this happened, the fish moved in to eat in the brush. This pattern is good for shallow water . 

9. Flippin a jig around the brush. This is kind of like the pattern above but with a different bait.  

NIGHT FISHING- Night fishing under lights has  slowed down this week due to the full moon and the water temp warming up. This pattern should be done soon I would think. It was producing  white bass and walleye mostly. The trick is to be willing to be awake all night because it can take awhile to get the shad coming to your lights.  

White bass -  Night fishing is producing some whites under the lights. Day fishing has changed to trolling shad raps or other types on minnow stick baits-hard baits. 18 to 26 feet seems to be the depth to keep your bait in.  

Walleye -  The walleye have moved down into the colder thermo cline water this week. They always go to this level when the surface temp warms up. They seem to be running in the 18 to 25 foot range.  1. split shoting a night crawler in 20 to 35 feet of water on the old shoreline and ends of the timber bluffs. 2. trolling shallow to medium running reef runners and walley divers along the shoreline above the brush in the 20 to 35 foot range.. 3. Bottom bouncers with night crawlers on the old shoreline in 30 to 40 feet of water. 4. lindy rigs with night crawlers in that 18 to 25 foot range. 5.   Night fishing under the lights is producing some fish.  

Crappie - Still haven't seen many crappie. One or two here or there. I would like with the lake level and all the brush in the lake that they would be hard to target. As the lake drops and there is less brush in the lake I would think we should start to catch some. The night fishing under lights has produced some fish.  

Catfish- The catfish have moved up shallower. We have seen several BIG blue cats caught on limb lines this week. Trot lines and jug lines are producing some fish, it seems the limb line thing is working well. Just about any type of stink bait, liver, shrimp, blue gills, ect is working. I have been told anywhere from a 5 foot drop to a 35 foot drop.  

SEE fish picture page. 

White River: The river fishing has been great!! Check out the picture page for photos of some big ones caught over the last couple of weeks. Nothing new on the patterns. --- Worms, night crawlers, power baits, salmon eggs, Count down Rapalas, spoons, rooster tails, jigs and just about any other type of trout bait or pattern you have heard of.

Open around the first of January each year and close around the end of November. 

Anyway check when you get your lake permit. Also our permits have been lowered. 

Crappie No report 

Bass No report 

Catfish No Report

Bluegill No Report

Crappie No Report

Bass No Report

Updated: 06/21/08

Report By: Anthony Ford: Catfish & Spoonbill Guide 

Catfishing on the Ozarks is vey poor mostly little fish (nibbbers)things will get really good when they start running water threw Truman dam 

Report by: Big Birds Bait and Tackle

76 degrees, normal and clear;

Largemouth Bass good in the mornings and evenings using plastic or topwater lures

Channel catfish good using dip bait and worms

Walley good using worms and crankbaits

Crappie good on small jigs

Bluegill good on small jigs

Nodaway River

Report  by Big Birds Bait and Tackle

Bass good on road runners

Bluegills good on worms

Crappie on jigs

102 River

Report by Big Birds Bait and Tackle

No Report

take a kid fishing
God bless big bird

Have A Muskie Day
Earle Hammond

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SEVER

Updated 07/03/08

Water Temp:  75 Normal and muddy

Lake Map

:Muskie  fair using large spinnerbaits and jerkbaits

Crappie good using minnows and jigs

Blue Catfish fair on cut baits

Walleye fair using minnows and leeches

Channel Catfish  good using night crawlers  liver and stink baits

Largemouth Bass   good using plastic worms or spinnerbaits

Bluegill good  on red wigglers

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SMITHVILLE

Updated 06/30/08 

Lake Elevation at Normal Poo3: 864.2  Temperature: 76

Inflow: 1440 cfs Outflow: 500 cfs Level: 1.49 feet high

Lake Map

Report by Burton's Bait and Tackle 

CRAPPIE: Fair:  The crappie are moving to the deeper summer structure.  We are catching some in the brush piles on the main lake.  Minnows seem to be working better than jigs.  At least my wife caught all of the keepers the other night on minnows while I was able to catch only short fish.   

BASS: Fair to Good:  The tournaments are starting to bring in more fish.  Most of the fish are coming shallow on a variety of baits.  Carolina Rigs, senkos, crankbaits, jigs or worms.  The secret seems to be finding a hungry fish and sticking something in its face. 

CATFISH: Fair to Good:  The cats are starting to bite as the spawn starts.  Shallow water and a variety of baits. 

White Bass: Excellent :  The white bass have arrived at the main lake and are being caught on pepper spoons.   Watch for the fish hitting the surface on the main lake points in the morning and evenings. 

WALLEYE:  Good: The walleye have started moving onto the main lake points.  Crank baits or jigs tipped with a crawler or leech can catch you some nice fish.   Fish the long shallow points on the main lake.

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STOCKTON

Updated 06/27/08

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 867.7 Temperature:  81 high and dingy

Inflow: 2400 cfs Outflow: 6147 cfs Level: 14.94 feet high

Lake Map

Report By: Square Deal Bait Shop  

Walleye fair on worm harnesses

Crappie fair on small spinners and minnows

Black bass fair on topwater and plastic worms

Catfish good on night crawlers

Bluegill good on crickets..

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Fishing Report by Thompson Fishing Guide Service : www.fishstockton.com 

July 2, 2008 Stockton Lake Fishing Report 

Current lake level: 882.28
Normal pool: 867
Water clarity: stained
Water temperature: 80 degrees main body 

Walleye all of my efforts in the last week have been focused on walleye, therefore that is the only fish I am going to report on.  Walleye are being caught off main lake points throughout the lake on jigs and night crawlers, crawler harnesses and Road runners.  Fish are approximately 20-25 feet deep, the best way to use these type baits is to slow drift across the points.  Another good tactic is to slow troll crank baits such as bandits and deep diving bombers.  Shad imitation colors seem to work well, also lures with bright colors such as orange and yellows because they stand out better in the stained water.  Cedar Ridge is a place to start, as well as Masters and Crab Tree Cove.  Fish are also being caught around the Ruark Bluff area.  Night fishing has also been successful with the same tactics in the same locations.  Your best night trips should be planned around the full moon phase.  The fish are biting lightly to a degree.  They are not extremely aggressive probably because of the vast amount of bait in the water, so a slower presentation seems to work the best.  If you troll, the maximum speed should be about a mile and a half an hour. 

Marty Thompson
Thompson Fishing Guide Service

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TABLE ROCK

Updated  07/02/08

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 915.0 Temperature: 80 -82

Release Rate: 10931 cfs. Level: 12.47 feet high

Report By: Table Rock Guide Service    

White River Area Fishing has been exceptional the past few days.  Jewel Football jigs in peanut butter and jelly and brown and purple in 15-25 feet deep is working best for bass around main lake and secondary points in the creeks on the outside edge of the flooded timber.  Some fish are also starting to hit plastic baits, Carolina rigged centipedes and brush hogs on outside edge of flooded timber on gravel points in 15-18 feet of water.  Early in the morning and on cloudy days, Zara Spooks and Cordell Redfins are working good at catching fish that are schooling on the surface.  Drop shot rigs with chompers drop shot worms in plum, brown and purple and watermelon candy are catching fish around 24 to 26 feet over 30 to 40 feet deep.

Mid Lake-Kimberling City Area Fishing has been exceptional the past few days.  Smoke grubs and salt and pepper grubs with a 1/4 oz, jig head on main lake and secondary points are producing allot of numbers of bass.  Jewel Football jigs in peanut butter and jelly and brown and purple in 15-25 feet deep is working best for bass around main lake and secondary points in the creeks on the outside edge of the flooded timber.  Some fish are also starting to hit plastic baits, Carolina rigged centipedes and brush hogs on outside edge of flooded timber on gravel points in 15-18 feet of water.  Early in the morning and on cloudy days, Zara Spooks and Cordell Redfins are working good at catching fish that are schooling on the surface.  Drop shot rigs with chompers drop shot worms in plum, brown and purple and watermelon candy are catching fish around 24 to 26 feet over 30 to 40 feet deep.

Lower End-Dam Area Fishing has been exceptional the past few days.  Jewel Football jigs in peanut butter and jelly and brown and purple in 15-25 feet deep is working best for bass around main lake and secondary points in the creeks on the outside edge of the flooded timber.  Some fish are also starting to hit plastic baits, Carolina rigged centipedes and brush hogs on outside edge of flooded timber on gravel points in 15-18 feet of water.  Early in the morning and on cloudy days, Zara Spooks and Cordell Redfins are working good at catching fish that are schooling on the surface.  Drop shot rigs with chompers drop shot worms in plum, brown and purple and watermelon candy are catching fish around 24 to 26 feet over 30 to 40 feet deep.

Upper End-James River Fishing has been exceptional the past few days.  Jewel Football jigs in peanut butter and jelly and brown and purple in 15-25 feet deep is working best for bass around main lake and secondary points in the creeks on the outside edge of the flooded timber.  Some fish are also starting to hit plastic baits, Carolina rigged centipedes and brush hogs on outside edge of flooded timber on gravel points in 15-18 feet of water.  Early in the morning and on cloudy days, Zara Spooks and Cordell Redfins are working good at catching fish that are schooling on the surface.

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.

Lake Taneycomo 

Trout I'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.

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TANEYCOMO

Updated 07/01/08

Temperature:    level:

Report by River Run Outfitters 

We all woke up Saturday morning to the sound of thunder, flashing of lightening and a heavy downpour of rain.  This went on all morning into mid afternoon.  Overall, we had almost 6 inches of rain in our area and the Table Rock Lake went up over a foot Saturday and has now leveled out at about two and a half feet higher than it was early Saturday morning.  That’s the bad news.  We have added some more time to getting Taneycomo back to a wadable level. 

Now for good news.  Sunday was a bluebird day.  Clear, blue sky.  Not much wind early in the day, but it did pick up after noon.  Fishing was very good and had continued through yesterday.  Have three boats on the water today so we’ll see if the trend continues.  They did crank up the generation from the three they have been running since Saturday to four today.  

Sunday we had five boats on the water.  Jim had Steve and Judy, Darrell had Robin and Kristi, and Stan had Rick and Greg .  All these folks are from the St. Louis area.  One of the guys didn’t want to fish in the same boat with his wife since she made him look bad on their trip earlier this year!  Everyone had a great time and caught a good number of fish in their half day outting.  Jim worked on some casting skills with his guests, as well as hooking a good number of fish.  All the boats caught fish stripping the bug eyed bugger under a sink tip.  The Hot Orange San Juan dropper work well when drifting under an indicator.   I had Mike and Trish from Houston out on a full day.  We did really good stripping the bug eyed bugger and a holographic green crackle back under a sink tip.   Trish was dubbed "Crackleback Momma".  She also caught several with the Hot Pink San Juan dropped from either a red midge or the tan flashback scud.  We are all fishing seams wherever we can find them, and edges of the banks.   Water has cleared up considerably from what it was 2-3 weeks ago.  

Yesterday, Gina and Jim had a party from the Independence, MO area; Irene, Patty and Jim.  Jim and Patty are fairly new to fly fishing, but yesterday’s fishing got them "hooked".  Patty and Irene fished with Gina.  Patty caught fish on the red midge and an olive wooly bugger.  They hooked a lot of fish in a half day trip!  Jim worked with Jim and got him false casting, working streamers as well as indicator fishing.  Stan went out with a couple of friends of ours from the Kansas City area.  They are down for four days of fishing vacation.  They had been on the water all afternoon Sunday and part of Monday morning without a fish.  After a bit of coaching on what to look for from Stan, they have a plan on where and how to fish now.

Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 722.00 Clarity:  high and dingy

Temperature:  75

  Lake Map

Crappie slow

Largemouth Bass slow

 Channel Cat slow

Flathead Cat slow

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Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 706.0 Temperature:  78

Water Clarity: Light stain

Inflow: 31300 cfs Outflow: 37976 cfs Level: 21.26 feet high 

Lake Map     Braggin' Board

Report By: Sterettcreek.com  

Fishing Report from Sterett Creek Marina   7/2/08  

 With the state the lake is in right now it is hard to give a fishing report due to the lack of anglers. Normally we get to talk to many anglers each week so that we can keep you updated as to what is going on. This week we can report there are many angry fisherman because they can't go fishing due to the high water. Being the fact that they have to drive so many extra miles to a high water ramp or the fact of having to push drift out of the way to get out of a ramp. The good thing is that if you go through all the bull and do get in the water you can catch fish. The COE is running some water which our fish here on Truman enjoy.  

LAKE LEVEL:          727.36
WATER TEMP:        78 deg.
WATER CLARITY:  Light stain. 

BASS: There were some tournaments out last weekend posting so good weights. I heard of a couple of 20 + lb. stringers. The main lake and secondary flats are holding some good fish. These fish are in the grass and top water baits are working on them. Pop'Rs, Spooks and buzz baits are top of the list. Fish the flooded grass in 3' to 5' of water.

With the running water I would look for the main lake and secondary flat points in 5' to 8' of water. A big worm or a Carolina rigged baby brush hog should really get going. 

CRAPPIE: The crappie fishermen are having a tough time of finding their trees right now. Steve Blake was catching fish on the current breaks fishing a minnow right off the bottom in about 20' of water. This might be the time to start wind drifting the main channels with minnows. 

WHITES & HYBRIDS: This week there has been a little surface activity in the evenings with the white bass. They have been up in the dam area just before dark. Here again with the water flow these fish should start stacking up in their normal places. I think it will be the later part of the week do to the fact that there is to much water on the humps right now. 

CATFISH: No Report. 

That's it for this week from Sterett Creek Marina

Have a happy and safe 4th of July.

          Thank a veteran. 

Till next week

    Tommy

Berry Bend (Osage Arm)

Updated 07/03/08

Lake Temp:

Report by: Trailside General Store

No Report

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Tebo Arm

Updated  07/03/08

Water Clarity 

Lake Temp: 

Report by:  TEBO Creek Bait Shop  

No Report

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Grand River Arm

Updated 06/26/08

Lake level 707.06  Water clarity: Good

Lake temp:  80

Grand River Arm by Bucksaw  

* New Missouri regulations require that jug lines be attended at all times unless anchored.

The resort is open, and our restaurant is serving daily specials. Come down for a breakfast pick up some bait and go catch some fish.

Date   June 25, 2008 Water Temp    80

Lake Level   727.04 Water Clarity   Good   

    Well Folks, contrary to all reports everything is not closed at Truman Lake.  Although the lake is high, we're open, with a lot of people coming up to fish.  You can launch your boat, grab a bite  and get a place to sleep right here at Bucksaw so come out and see us.  Now for the fishing report: 

Crappie fishing right now is good.  They are being found on the main lake flats in 20-30 foot of water.  Best bait has been minnows, or a combination of chart/black tubes and minnows fished about 15-20 foot deep.  Not only are the number of crappie good, but they are good size too.  We should be getting some recent pictures up on our website in the next couple days. 

Bass fishing is also good.  Several recent tournaments were held with winning weights near 20 pounds.  Fish main and secondary points early with topwaters and switch to jigs and worms when the sun comes out.  You might want to try flipping the bushes on the points, along with some Carolina rigs. 

Catfish are also good with some nice blues and channel cats being caught. Fish the main lake flats with trot lines and jugs in 10 ft of water with the sets at about 5 foot.   Best baits are perch, goldfish and cut shad. 

White bass should be ready to start to really turn on.  Right now, fish the humps roadbeds and points with jigging spoons and crankbaits in about 10-15 feet of water.

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Lake Elevation at Normal Pool: 359.0 Temperature: 80

Release Rate: 330 Level: 0.87 fee high

Black bass fair on spinner baits and plastic worms

Bluegill good using crickets

Channel catfish fair using live bait and night crawlers and on jug lines and trotlines at night

White bass fair using on small spinnerbaits

Crappie fair using minnows and jigs 

Anglers should note the new 9" minimum length limit regulation for crappie.

Note: On the waters of Wappapello Lake & its tributaries, all Walleye & Sauger 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.

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