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The Statewide Weekly Fishing Report gives general fishing conditions at selected lakes, rivers, and trout parks across Missouri.

Water Levels

The fishing report does not necessarily reflect current floating conditions. Get current Missouri reservoir or river levels from the US Geological Survey.


Statewide Weekly Fishing Report

9/4/2008 at 11:44:54

Attention Fishing Report Subscribers:
Welcome to this week's fishing report!

The fishing report does not necessarily reflect current floating conditions. For current Missouri reservoir or river levels see the websites listed below.

Rivers: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/current/?type=flow&group_key=huc_cd

Reservoirs: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/current/?type=lake&group_key=basin_cd

For more information about the fishing opportunities in these and other Missouri waters, consult the "2008 Fishing Prospects at Selected Missouri Lakes and Streams" available at: www.mdc.mo.gov/fish/prospects/

PLEASE CHECK REGULATIONS CAREFULLY: Special regulations may apply to designated portions of water bodies; some baits and lures may not be legal for all portions.


CENTRAL REGION: (573) 882-8388

LAKES

Binder:

80 degrees, normal, clear; channel catfish fair on livers and nightcrawlers; largemouth bass fair on crankbaits; bluegill good on river worms and crickets; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Lake of the Ozarks (Bagnell Tailwater):

79 degrees, high, dingy; white bass good on light-colored soft plastics or Rooster Tails; black bass slow with some success using worms; crappie fair on minnows and crappie jigs; catfish fair using whole shad, cut shad, worms and stinkbaits. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Lake of the Ozarks (Glaize):

81 degrees, high, dingy; white bass slow with some success on light-colored soft plastics or light-colored Rooster Tails; black bass slow but striking on worms and crankbaits; crappie slow with some success on minnows and crappie jigs; catfish fair using whole shad, cut shad or stinkbaits. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Lake of the Ozarks (Gravois):

81 degrees, high, dingy; crappie slow with some success on minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Lake of the Ozarks (Niangua):

81 degrees, high, dingy; black bass fair using topwater lures in early morning or at dusk using jig & pig; crappie fair; catfish good using live baits or stinkbaits on trotlines; white bass fair trolling with Shad Raps or shad imitations. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Lake of the Ozarks (Osage):

81 degrees, dingy; black bass fair using topwater lures in early morning or at dusk using jig & pig; crappie fair; catfish good using live baits or stinkbaits on trotlines; white bass fair trolling with Shad Raps or shad imitations. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Little Dixie:

80 degrees, normal, dingy; largemouth bass good on topwater lures; bluegill fair on worms; all other species slow; area is closed to all activity including fishing from 10:00pm to 4:00am. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

RIVERS

Lamine:

79 degrees, rising, muddy; channel catfish and blue catfish good on crayfish and cut shad; crappie fair on minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Missouri (Middle):

80 degrees, rising, muddy; channel catfish good on cheese dip bait; blue catfish good on cut baits; all other species fair. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Osage (lower, at Tuscumbia):

79 degrees, dingy; catfish good on cut baits; crappie fair using minnows and jigs; white bass fair on spinnerbaits when water is running; black bass slow with some success on dark purple and green plastic worms. (Report made on 9/3/2008)


KANSAS CITY REGION: (816) 655-6254

LAKES

James A. Reed Area:

72 degrees, clear; largemouth bass good; bluegill and redear sunfish fair; crappie fair fishing deep water brush piles; channel catfish good on chicken liver and cut baits. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Montrose:

76 degrees, normal, clear; black bass and catfish fair; all other species slow; fishing pressure light. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Schell-Osage (Atkinson Lake):

75 degrees, low, dingy; catfish and crappie good; all other species fair. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Schell-Osage (Schell Lake):

77 degrees, low, dingy; catfish and crappie good; all other species fair. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Smithville:

76 degrees, normal, dingy; catfish fair using nightcrawlers; largemouth bass slow with some success using Senkos and 8 inch plastic worms near vegetation; walleye fair using minnows, worms, leeches and running crankbaits along points and flats; white bass fair using Rattle Traps off the lake points and flats; crappie fair using minnows and jigs along the treeline and main lake brush; Smithville Lake Spillway: all species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Truman:

79 degrees, high, clear; black bass good on plastic worms; catfish fair on trotlines using cut shad; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Truman Tailwaters:

80 degrees, clear; releasing 500 cfs; all species slow. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

RIVERS

Missouri River:

high, muddy; catfish fair using creek chubs on trotlines and jug lines. (Report made on 9/3/2008)


NORTHEAST REGION: (660) 785-2424

LAKES

Hunnewell:

77 degrees, normal, clear; blue catfish fair on doughbaits; largemouth bass fair on Rattle Traps; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Long Branch:

76 degrees, normal, dingy; largemouth bass fair on lures; small channel catfish good on nightcrawlers and stinkbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Mark Twain:

78 degrees, normal, clear; crappie fair on minnows; channel catfish good on live baits; white bass fair; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Sever:

80 degrees, normal, dingy; crappie good on jigs; channel catfish good on dip baits; largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits; bluegill good on crickets; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Thomas Hill:

78 degrees, normal, dingy; largemouth bass good on crankbaits; crappie fair on minnows; channel catfish good on shad, gizzards and chicken liver; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

RIVERS

Mississippi (above St. Louis):

78 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish good on stinkbaits near sand flats next to channel; flathead catfish fair on live baits; blue catfish fair on skipjacks near dams; drum good on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Salt (below Mark Twain):

74 degrees, high, dingy; crappie good near Clarence Cannon Dam on jigs; catfish good on stinkbaits and cut baits; walleye fair on minnows and jigs; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)


NORTHWEST REGION: (816) 271-3111

LAKES

Bilby Ranch Lake:

75 degrees, low, clear; black bass, bluegill and crappie good, channel catfish good on cut baits; walleye fair. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Mozingo:

75 degrees, low, clear; channel catfish, bluegill and black bass good; crappie fair. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Paho:

72 degrees, falling, dingy; all species fair. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Pony Express:

77 degrees, normal, clear; crappie good on jigs; bluegill good on worms; all other species fair. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

RIVERS

Grand:

78 degrees, falling, muddy; channel catfish, blue and flathead catfish good; all other species good. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Missouri (below Iowa line):

74 degrees, normal, clear; flathead catfish good on worms and live bait; channel catfish good on worms and dip bait; blue catfish good on cut bait; carp good on worms and corn. (Report made on 9/3/2008)


OZARK REGION: (417) 255-9561

LAKES

Bull Shoals (East):

86 degrees, high, dingy; walleye fair on nightcrawlers and Rogues. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Norfork:

84 degrees, high, dingy; walleye fair on nightcrawlers and Rogues. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

RIVERS

Big Piney (lower, Pulaski Co.):

74 degrees, normal, dingy; black bass good on jerkbaits and plastic worms; goggle-eye fair on live bait and jigs; channel catfish fair on live bait. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Big Piney (Upper):

75 degrees, low, dingy; smallmouth bass and goggle-eye fair on live bait; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Bryant Creek:

73 degrees, normal, dingy; all species slow. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Current:

77 degrees, normal, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Eleven Point:

62 degrees, normal, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Gasconade (middle, Pulaski Co.):

76 degrees, normal, dingy; black bass fair on buzzbaits and soft plastic lures; goggle-eye fair on soft plastic grubs and jigs; channel catfish fair on chicken liver and live bait. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Gasconade (upper):

77 degrees, low, dingy; all species slow. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Jack's Fork:

79 degrees, normal, clear; smallmouth bass and goggle-eye good on soft plastic lures. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

North Fork:

70 degrees, normal, dingy; all species slow. (Report made on 9/3/2008)


SOUTHEAST REGION: (573) 290-5858

LAKES

Clearwater Lake:

82 degrees, normal, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Council Bluff:

normal, clear; channel catfish fair on liver; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Cypress Lake:

82 degrees, normal, dingy; bluegill fair; all other species slow; September 6 to 21 lake closed to fishing until 1:00pm during teal season. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Duck Creek:

82 degrees, clear; bluegill good on crickets; black bass good on worms and topwater lures. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Lake Girardeau:

81 degrees, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Perry County Lake:

85 degrees, normal, clear; channel catfish slow on natural baits; bluegill fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Robert DeLaney Lake:

normal, dingy; channel catfish and bluegill fair on natural baits; largemouth bass fair on jigs; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Wappapello:

black bass good on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits early and plastic worms and crankbaits later; crappie fair on minnows and jigs along the river channel; channel catfish fair on worms and live baits on trotlines and jug lines; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

RIVERS

Black River (near Annapolis):

73 degrees, normal, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Castor River (above Zalma):

high, muddy; all species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Mississippi (below Charleston):

low, channel catfish and blue catfish fair on natural bait on pole & line and jug lines; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

St. Francis (above Wappapello):

high, muddy; all species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

St. Francis (below Wappapello):

83 degrees, normal, channel catfish and flathead catfish good on trotlines and pole & line using stinkbaits or worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)


SOUTHWEST REGION: (417) 895-6881

LAKES

Bull Shoals (West):

77-80 degrees, high, clear; black bass fair on soft plastics, jigs and nightcrawlers; walleye fair on swimming minnows and jerkbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Lake Taneycomo:

55 degrees, falling, dingy; upper lake: trout good on olive/white marabou jigs and flies imitating scuds; lower lake: trout good on chartreuse/orange and bubblegum colored Power Baits. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Pomme de Terre:

80 degrees, normal, clear; catfish good on shad, liver and crayfish; black bass fair on plastic baits; crappie fair on minnows and jigs fished around cover in 10 to 15 foot depths; bluegill fair on crickets and worms; white bass fair trolling flats with jigs near the surface; walleye fair on crankbaits and trolling flats. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

Stockton:

85 degrees, falling, clear; bluegill good on worms and crickets; black bass fair on large plastic worms and crankbaits; crappie fair on minnows in deeper water and around structure; walleye fair on deep crankbaits and using worm harnesses with nightcrawlers; catfish fair on nightcrawlers and chicken livers. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Table Rock (James River arm):

79 degrees, falling, dingy; catfish good on stinkbaits, blood baits, chicken liver, nightcrawlers, cut shad and small live bluegill on limb lines; flathead catfish good on trotlines baited with small bait fish; black bass good on soft plastic crawdads in watermelon colors, fish shaded areas, boat docks or shaded rocky banks. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Table Rock (main lake):

82 degrees, high, clear; black bass fair on soft plastics and live bait; bluegill fair on live bait. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

RIVERS

Big Niangua:

78 degrees, rising, dingy; all species good. (Report made on 9/3/2008)

James River (lower):

79 degrees, low, clear; smallmouth bass and google-eye good on brown colored soft plastics; all other species fair. (Report made on 9/3/2008)


ST. LOUIS REGION: (636) 300-1953

LAKES

Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lake 33:

82 degrees, normal, dingy; black bass fair; bluegill fair; channel catfish good on stinkbaits; all other species slow; catfish limit: 4; please remove litter. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lakes 3, 4, 5, 7, and 24:

82 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish good on stinkbaits; all other species slow; catfish limit: 4; please remove litter. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

RIVERS

Big River:

81 degrees, low, dingy; channel catfish good on worms and stinkbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Bourbeuse (middle, lower, Franklin Co.):

84 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish fair on cut baits, blood baits and worms; bluegill good on crickets and worms; bass slow on spinnerbaits and Power Baits; all other species fair on worms. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Meramec (above Sullivan, Crawford Co.):

falling, clear; black bass good on soft plastics; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Meramec (below Eureka):

80 degrees, dingy; white bass and bluegill good on jigs; channel catfish good on natural baits; all other species fair. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Missouri (below New Haven):

81 degrees, low, dingy; channel catfish good on natural baits; all other species fair. (Report made on 9/4/2008)


TROUT PARKS:

Bennett Spring State Park:

54 degrees, normal, clear; successful lures and baits include: dry flies (#12 crackleback and #20 pale evening dun); jigs (black and yellow); mini-jigs (peacock with yellow eye and John Deere); glo balls (original tri-color and white); also successful are Rooster Tails, red brassies, yellow Power Baits and white and pink plastic worms. Weed cutting is planned for Wednesday September 17 to 3pm and possibly on September 18 if needed. September fishing hours are: 7:30am to 7:15pm. For current streamflow information check the streamflow gauge provided by USGS and DNR: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv/?site_no=06923500&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060 (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Maramec Spring Park:

58 degrees, rising, clear; white and yellow baits and lures, green plastic legged jigs and worms working well. (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Montauk State Park:

59 degrees, rising, dingy; the river is rising due to the recent rains we have received, fishing is still good; use light line no heavier than 4 pound test for best results; plastic eggs, worms and Power Baits in various colors have been working well in the bait area; try drifting baits beneath bobber with or without a sinker; in the fly zone: small dry flies, mini jigs and glo balls have been producing good numbers of fish; check at the lodge for the best colors and sizes. For current streamflow information check the streamflow gauge provided by USGS and DNR: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv/?site_no=07064440&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060 (Report made on 9/4/2008)

Roaring River State Park:

58 degrees, high, dingy; while recent rains have brought the river slightly out of its banks, this situation will be short lived and the stream will be more normal by the week-end; plastic eggs, worms and marabou jigs are working well in zone 1; check local fly shops for flies that are working well. For current or detailed information call 417-847-2430. For current real time streamflow information check the streamflow gauge provided by USGS and DNR: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv/?site_no=07050152&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060 (Report made on 9/4/2008)

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