How about that we have gone a whole week without rain and none in the forecast for the rest of the week. According to the weatherman this weekend is going to be great with perfect conditions to be on the lake.. With the dry weather this week and the lack of precipitation the lake level has dropped a little below normal so it pays to be a little more careful when running . It's only down about 4" which isn't bad but when it gets like this the COEslows the flow through the dam and it affects the fishing.
If you are in the area take extra care when driving early and late we have a bumper crop of deer this year and they seem to like the roadways. The little guys seem to not be afraid of anything. Archery season is less than a month away so don't forget to get tags. I have seen several good bucks already so I'm thinking this could be a good year. This summer I saw vary few little turkeys but now they seem to be all over and are about 3/4 grown. Maybe the spring rains we had didn't affect the hatch as much as we thought.
LAKE LEVEL: 705.75
WATER TEMP: 79 deg.
WATER CLARITY: Clear to light stained.
CRAPPIE: The crappie have slowed down just a little this week. Brush piles in 14' to 18' of water seem to be the best. Minnows drift fished across the tops of the brush will still produce some fish. The isolated trees on the flats in 15' to 20' of water has been producing numbers of fish but you have to sort through the small fish for a good limit. The bridge pillars are also working. 20' to 25' of water fished with minnows has been good.
BASS: The bass fishing is the same as last with points being the best pattern. Either main lake or secondary points are working. Big worms or jig and frog are the best baits when fished in 6' to 10' of water. The bluff ends are still producing when fished with square bills. It seems there must be a little current on the bluff ends that is holding these fish. The top water action is still good on these cool mornings. Timbered flats in 3' to 6' of water seem the best when fished with buzz baits. Tree rows along the edge of creek channels are holding some suspended fish. A weightless Sinko or a square bill will work here.
WHITES & HYBRIDS: It's getting that time of the year that the whites seem to be surfacing everywhere. The evening bite has been real good around KK Island. 1/4 oz. spoons and Rooster Tails have been working the best. There has been some whites taken off the weir in front of the dam on spoons. We are starting to see a few more hybrids come in. 4" sassy shad on a 1/2 oz head seem to work the best. The airport hump and the Fairfield humps have been good.
CATFISH: The cat fishing remains good as always with several big blues being caught. Jugs and rod and reel fishing seem the best. 8' to 12' of water on the flats has been the best depth when fished with cut bait. There are a few pods of bigger shad starting to come up so bait is getting easier to catch. Trot lines placed along the first secondary point in a creek next to the channel with cut bait is also good.
WALLEYE: There are still a few walleye being caught. Flicker Shad on the humps has been doing well most of the summer. 12' to 15' seems to be the best depth with the wish holding on the bottom. The saddles next to the humps will work with crawler rigs on bottom bouncers. Purple or chartreuse seem to be the best colors.
That's the report for this week. You can contact us at Osage Bluff Marina 660-438-2939 or the Osage Bluff Motel at 660-438-2891.
Till next week
Tommy
