Wow August already. 45 days away from the opening of bow season plus all the good fall fishing, cooler weather and the beautiful fall colors. Now that's something to look foreword to.. Fall is probably my favorite time of the year with big bucks cruising and those big ole cat fish feeding up for the winter months. I've traveled through most of the states in my life time and I'll tell you what MO. has as much to offer as any of them. And Truman really tops the list when it comes to the outdoors offering some of the best fishing and hunting in the state.
It will be getting busy in the lakes area in the very near future with state fair starting. the schools going back in session and the holiday at the end of the month. And also the start of football, Go Chiefs. So if you are in the area a little extra caution on the road ways and the water ways would be advised. I've been seeing lots of deer crossing the road ways already and that traffic will continue to increase so an extra look out would be advised.
It looks like we have a little warm up coming this weekend but with no rain in the forecast this could be a perfect weekend to hit the lake. We are still about 9" low but the fish don't really seem to mind with the ample amount of bait fish working now. Clarity wise the lake is perfect and the water temp is starting to drop a little with the cooler nights. Hitting the lake at sunrise required a long sleeve shirt this week, how's that for the first of August. Maybe a early fall this year.
LAKE LEVEL: 705.28.
WATER TEMP: 81 deg.
WATER CLARITY: Clear to lightly stained.
CRAPPIE: The crappie fishing is still good but this week the size has dropped off a little. 10" -11" fish seem to the norm this week. I know the big guys are out there but they were a little tougher to come by. The brush piles seem to be the hot spots now in 12' to 15' of water. Minnows are the best bait what ever pattern is fished and you need to take plenty as the little fish are really feeding up. Isolated clumps of trees on the flats in 15' of water are also a good bet with fish holding at about 10'. Tree rows on the flats as shallow as 6' with baits fished right off the bottom are holding some fish. A good day on the water will get you a nice limit of fish for the freezer.
BASS: Structure fishing has been the most productive this week when looking for quality fish. Ditches along old road beds that have brush along them are working. Top water early in the am. and creature baits when the sun gets up. Beds as shallow as 6' and going down to 15' will work. Stump fields on long flat points are also working. Look for 8' to 10' of water. Now you might be 100 yards off the bank when fishing these but it looks like the fish have moved to their safety zone. Creature baits are working here also.
WHITES & HYBRIDS: With the lake being low the COE has not been running much water so the whites have been a little slow this week. There has been some surface activity in the evenings on the big pods of shad cruising the top over the humps and around the islands. The hybrids have been doing good on live bait. Most of these fish are suspended in 25' of water holding about 15'. The airport and around the humps have been popular spots..
CATFISH: Rod and reel drift fishing and floating jugs have been the best for cats this week on the flats. 15' of water fished with cut bait at about 8' has produced some nice blues. Have had a couple reports of flat heads caught off lines on live bait off the chunk rock bluff banks. Lines set in 20' of water have been the most productive. With the water temp starting to fall a little I look for this bite to pick up.
WALLEYE: Deep running crank baits on the humps is still working on the walleye. 9' to 12' seems the best. Crawler rigs on bottom bouncers are also working in the later am. These fish have been very active all summer and I look for the action to get even better in not to long of time.
That's the report for this week. Remember to get your boat stalls reserved for the holiday. You can contact us at Osage Bluff Marina 660-438-2939. Check us out on face book at Osage Bluff Marina for the latest happenings around the lake.
Till next week
Tommy
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