We would like to extend a big thank you to all the folks that showed up for the 4th of July festivities here at Osage Bluff Marina last weekend. To all the folks that helped put the fireworks display together and the vendors a great big thank you. Jason put on one of the best shows I have seen on the lake, job well done. Looking forward to next years show already.
Looking at the weather summer has definitely arrived. We have a good heat wave going and it looks like it is going to hang around foe a bit. There is a chance of a few rain showers this week so maybe that will help a little. The lake temp is heating up so its time to start throwing some ice bottles in the bait wells to keep your bait healthier. This time of the year I like to put fish in a cooler with ice instead of the live well.while fishing keeps them fresher and easier to clean.
LAKE LEVEL: 706.9
WATER TEMP: 88 deg.
WATER CLARITY: Clear to lightly stained.
CRAPPIE: Brush piles seem to be the best spot for catching crappie now. Look for piles in 15' to 18' of water close to points. The crappie will be holding at about 7' to 8' with minnows being the best bait. The tree rows on the flats in 17' of water are also holding fish down about 7'. Minnows or jigs are working here. I did have some good reports of fish being caught off the bluffs in 25' of water. Cedar trees were the best with fish down 12' to 15'. Depending on the day these fish were tight on the trees in the bright sun and on the edges if it was cloudy.
BASS: With summer in full force it's time to start point hopping. Secondary points in the creeks fished with creature baits can net you a nice limit. Look in 5' to 8' of water and keep moving. Main lake points fished slowly with a deep running crank bait has also been productive. Brush along the edge of road beds in 12' to 15' with big worms was another good bite. The top water action is good early and late on the flats close to ditches or road beds. Buzz baits were the best.
WHITES & HYBRIDS: We are starting to see some surface activity with the white bass. Early and late seems to have the most action. There are starting to be some shad fry pods on top and these whites are feeding on them. 1/4 oz spoons and crappie jigs are working on the surfacing whites.The COE has slowed the water release through the dam so the bite on the humps has slowed down a little. The hybrid fishing has been a little slow this week. There were a few caught on live bait off the Pommie flats this week. Hopefully this will pick up soon.I did have a report of a few hybrids coming off the airport hump.
CATFISH: There are still lots of catfish coming in now. It seems that the channels are an a definite feeding frenzy. Jugs and rod and reel are the best on the flats close to the channel edges. 12' to 15' seems the best when fished with cut bait. You can catch fish on trot lines now but with the water temps the way they are you need to run them about every 3 hours. The same goes for stationary jugs.
WALLEYE: We saw a good number of walleye come in last weekend. Most of the fish came off either spinners or walleye crawler rigs. KK Island was one of the hot spots for walleye along with the humps around Smiths bend. 12' to 15' was the best depth.
That's the report for this week. We are taking reservations for boat stalls for the Labor Day holiday now so if we can help you out give us a call at Osage Bluff Marina 660-438-2939 or for rooms at Osage Bluff Motel at 660-438-2891. And again a big Thank You for a great 4th of July weekend.
Till next week
Tommy
