Mid-MO

As of yesterday afternoon, the lake level was 854.36 and dropping (over half a foot yesterday). I think 839 is normal pool most of the year (they tend to keep it a couple feet higher in the spring).

Fished that area last weekend. We caught all of our fish on crankbaits up shallow on points. Several tournaments were won last weekend throwing spinnerbaits in the back 1/2 of coves.

I've heard its pretty tough. There was a college tournament on it a week or so ago and only 1 boat caught a fish. It is pretty high right now.

Fished Saturday from the 41 MM to the 35MM at Huricane Deck. Today I fished out of Shawnee Bend in Davey Hollow and Buck Creek. Water temps were 51 to 54. Muddiest the water has been yet for me in the past 4 weekends I've been. Cleanest water I fished was in Davey Hollow - about 6" of visibility in spots. Plenty of boats on the water both days. Yesterday fished from about 10:30-5:00. Threw crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and jigs. My wife had a pretty good day. She caught three keepers and one just short (14 1/2"). The four went about 9 pounds, the biggest was 4-2. She caught all of them on a wiggle wart. One came on a creek channel bank in the back of a cove, one on a laydown just off a point, the last two on a point close to the creek channel. I only caught one keeper yesterday (lost another) both on a wiggle wart. Both of mine came on the same point as her biggest fish (caught 5 off the point total). Only fished about 3 hours today (at Shawnee Bend). Caught my only keeper on a wiggle wart behind a dock just off a secondary point. All of the fish we caught were shallow - less than 4' of water. Lot of boats throwing a spinnerbait. I threw one for a while but kept coming back to crankbaits. It seems that you have to fish all day to find one point with one sweet spot on it where you can catch multiple solid fish. Three of my four trips this year have been like this. Other than those few spots, it is tough and make for some long stretches between fish. More rain comig this week it sounds like. I don't know how long it will take the lake to get back to normal - but it looks like it is going to be a while.

I had thought about trying the area around Hurricane Deck. The local guys doing well in the tournaments seem to be fishing in the 30 MM range. I'm guessing that the area right above where the Niangua dumps in (and the Glaize on down) has to be quite a bit cleaner than the rest of the Osage past those arms. What area were you in?

I used to fish there as much as I could. I think I was on that lake about 20 times 2 years ago but just twice last year. Ten years ago it was as good a lake as you could fish. I caught my personal best on the lake about this time 9 years ago. There were days when you could catch a bunch of quality fish (5 for 25 or so). Since then, there seems to be a lot more pressure on it and the fishing hasn't been nearly as good. Raytown Bass Club has even had some tournaments on it. A guy who fishes with me quite a bit caught one over 9 there and I've heard that some over 10 have been shocked in it. You'll have to buy a permit (though I've only been checked once in probably well over 50 trips) from the city - available at various places in Concordia and at the Ace in Knob Noster. Water is never clear on that lake and will probably be fairly high and muddy. Conservation department has some maps of brush piles they sank in there about 15 years ago. They were supposed to be putting more in the last year or so but never checked to see if they did. Lots of laydowns along the bank, some broken concrete on the side of the dam and chunk rock on the bridge and dam. Whole back of it is pretty shallow - 10' or less. The south bank closest to the dam drops very quickly - pretty much a ledge. Never caught much off there though.

Anyone know if any part of the lake is clearing up yet? I'm going somewhere this weekend - but just looking for some direction. I've been down around the dam/Gravois area the last two weeks - best clearity I've found is less than 2'. Looks like they are going to be dropping it quite a bit over the next few weeks - hope that helps.

It looks like the area has gotten just over 3" so far. As of yesterday, the lake hadn't come up much - Truman had but not LOZ. Thanks for the help.

I'm looking for a little advice. We've been getting a bunch of rain here in Missouri that is really messing with my spring fishing. I fish Lake of the Ozarks a lot - especially in early spring when the jerkbait bite is on. Went last Friday - lake was MUDDY! Managed to catch a couple of decent keepers just under 3 pounds. Found some clearer water (started off in chocolate milk basically) and that helped. I was wanting to go this weekend too. Problem is its rained a ton today (and is still raining). The forecast last night was calling for 4 inches at the lake today. So by the weekend I'm expecting the lake to be at full pool. Normally it's around 5' low at this time of year for the winter drawdown. Water is going to be very dirty - even down towards the dam. Water temps should be in the high 40's to low 50's I'm guessing. Tournament results for the last two weekends have been awful when compared to normal. Normally on LOZ at this time, you'd have pretty clear water and just hit the points and secondary points with jerkbaits, jigs, and wiggle warts. Noboby fishes the upperpart of the lake this early, most of the focus is around the dam and a few arms close to it. The fish are bunched up and feeding and if you hit enough points you can usually find some quality fish. I'm guessing the jerkbait bite will be tough. What approach would some of you take? Myself, I'm thinking about looking for the warmest, cleanest water I can find. I'm probably looking for some chunk rock and would work pretty shallow with a jig in the rocks and behind docks. Might also check the backs of coves and pockets for warmer water from the rain (though water clarity comes into play there). Even in the muddy water the fish are still in pre-spawn and have to be feeding pretty actively. Just curious as to what you might try.

I keep them in the original bags in a plastic shoebox you can get at walmart. They fit perfectly, the lid snaps shut, and you can stick them if needed.

I'm going to buy a new reel this weekend - wasn't planning on it but won a gift certificate to Bass Pro - making there sales too good to pass up. So I haven't put much thought into it yet. I've got 6 reels, 5 of them are the 6.3 to 1 ratio and I've got a 5.2 to 1 ratio reel. I'm trying to decide whether to buy another 6 or get a ratio in the low 7's. I know a lot of guys have started using them in certain spots - when they need to take up line quickly flippin for example. When else are people using them? Anything I'm not thinking of?

What type of paint? Do you put epoxy over it?

I bought some Tungsten weights at BPS's Spring Classic. I bought the XPS brand - they were 33% off making them quite a bit cheaper than Tru-Tungsten. Only problem is they aren't painted. I've powder painted some lead weights in the past and that didn't work too well. I've also read where some guys use fingernail polish. Anybody got any suggestions?

Wiggle Warts, Normans, Strike Kings (KVD uses them all the time - good enough for me).

What about SWEPCO lake in NW Arkansas. I doubt it would be an ideal summertime lake but good fall through winter? Anybody fished there?

Anybody?

Just curious to see who uses what types of weights when Carolina rigging. I normally use the pre-rigged Strike Kings but I'm thinking about trying something else (probably get better feel on strikes with a weight that allows the line to move through it). Bass Pro has the XPS finnesse weights which are a cylinder shape and looks like the line slides through. They appear to be lead though. Lindy's has the No-Snagg Slip Sinkers. I always see these around but have never tried them. The other option I see would be to use and egg or bullet weight and tie my own directly (which I've done a little of). Anybody got any suggestions on any of the above or can suggest something else?

It was a 5.5 inch version. What weight would you recommend for that? Thanks

I got the hook centered and straight. I'm guessing the weight is just 1/16 ounce though. I guess my line could have a lot of twist in it too. Not sure what the problem is yet.

I bought some bass magic swimbaits this winter. Took some new stuff out to test it this past weekend. The swimbait wouldn't run strait (just rolled over and over all the way back). I have a weighted 5/0 hook I used for frogs in it. I'm guessing the weight just wasn't heavy enough. Does anybody use a swivel on these?

In early March you are going to need to stay closer to the dam most likely. Not many people fish up the Osage (past the 35mm or so) when it is cold and sometimes murky. As it warms up (and certainly by April) the whole lake is very popular - from Warsaw to Osage Beach. The Gravois, North Shore, and Niangua arms are pretty popular in the early spring. Timing depends on what you want to fish. Early pre-spawn you are pretty going to throw small jigs, jerkbaits and wiggle warts. The lake won't be very crowded and the fish are easier to locate. Late post-spawn (end of March, early April) opens the tackle box to about anything you can think of - Wiggle Warts, jigs, spinnerbaits, carolina rigs are all popular. Fish are starting to scatter a bit and can be caught behind docks - a fun way to fish. Spawn will take place in April - probably starting with the first full moon. If you get in the clearer water (Gravois, Niangua, lower Osage) you can see plenty of fish on the beds. Rates will more than likely be lower the earlier you go too.

On a baitcaster, I fill mine to the edge of the bevel. Is that considered full? Or are some of you going up over the bevel to the very top edge?

Pointer 100 in Ghost Minnow

anybody else?

I agree completely. I try to buy two basic colors of crankbaits - one for clear water (some white on it) and one for dirtier water (some chartreuse on it). I also want to have each of those basic colors for the same bait (Deep Little N, DD 22, Strike King Series 3, etc). When I buy a crankbait with that in mind - I'll get several clear water choices laid out and pick the one that "catches" me (always want to throw something you have confidence in). Then I'll do the same with the dirtier water cranks. You can also find some that will crossover - enough color variation to work in a lot of different water clarities. But back to the Strike King question - I do have that color and haven't fished it yet. It does seem to be a different paint scheme than other Strike Kings. Norman has a new similar color out - Nutter I think.