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The Statewide Weekly Fishing report is published from the first Thursday
in April through September.
It is not updated between October
and the first Thursday in April.
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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
12/8/2008 at 11:34:46
Attention Fishing Report Subscribers:
This will be the last report published until April 2, 2009; good fishing is found in Missouri all year long, so don't let cold weather keep you indoors!
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:
79 degrees, high, dingy; channel catfish good on liver and stinkbaits; bluegill fair on river worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Lake of the Ozarks (Bagnell Tailwater):
74 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 9/24/2008)
Lake of the Ozarks (Glaize):
75 degrees, high, dingy; white bass slow with some success on light-colored soft plastics or light-colored Rooster Tails; black bass slow with some success on worms and crankbaits; crappie fair on minnows and crappie jigs; catfish fair using whole shad, cut shad or stinkbaits. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Lake of the Ozarks (Gravois):
75 degrees, high, dingy; crappie slow with some success on minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Lake of the Ozarks (Niangua):
75 degrees, high, dingy; black bass fair using green or pumpkinseed Chompers; crappie fair, jigs or minnows are working around docks in less than 10 feet of water; catfish good using cut shad or bluegill in 15 to 20 feet of water. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Lake of the Ozarks (Osage):
75 degrees, dingy; black bass fair using green or pumpkinseed Chompers; crappie fair, jigs or minnows are working around docks in less than 10 feet of water; catfish good using cut shad or bluegill in 15 to 20 feet of water. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Little Dixie:
79 degrees, high, dingy; largemouth bass fair 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 9/25/2008)
RIVERS
Lamine:
78 degrees, falling, muddy; all species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Missouri (Middle):
79 degrees, falling, muddy; all species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Osage (lower, at Tuscumbia):
74 degrees, dingy; catfish good on cut baits; crappie fair using minnows and jigs; white bass fair on spinnerbaits when Lake of the Ozarks is releasing water; black bass slow with some success on dark purple and green plastic worms. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
KANSAS CITY REGION: (816) 655-6254
LAKES
James A. Reed Area:
72 degrees, clear; largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and redear sunfish fair; channel catfish good on nightcrawlers and cut baits. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Montrose:
75 degrees, dingy; black bass and catfish good; crappie fair; fishing pressure light. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Schell-Osage (Atkinson Lake):
72 degrees, dingy; catfish and crappie good; all other species fair. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Schell-Osage (Schell Lake):
70 degrees, high, dingy; catfish and crappie good; all other species fair. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Smithville:
68 degrees, high, dingy; catfish good on nightcrawlers in shallow depths; largemouth bass good using plastic creature baits in vegetation; walleye fair using minnows, worms, leeches and fishing crankbaits along points and flats; white bass fair using top water lures and Rattle Traps; crappie slow with some success using minnows and jigs around brush piles and bridge pillars; Smithville Lake Spillway: all species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Truman:
73 degrees, high, dingy; black bass good on plastic worms; catfish fair on trotlines using cut shad; crappie fair on jigs and minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Truman Tailwaters:
73 degrees, high, dingy; releasing 36,000 cfs; catfish and crappie fair; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
RIVERS
Missouri River:
high, muddy; catfish slow with some success using shad sides on trotlines and jug lines. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
NORTHEAST REGION: (660) 785-2424
LAKES
Hunnewell:
70 degrees, normal, clear; largemouth bass good on Rooster Tails; channel catfish good on chicken liver; bluegill fair on crickets; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Long Branch:
71 degrees, high, dingy; channel catfish fair on leeches, nightcrawlers and stinkbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Mark Twain:
70 degrees, high, dingy; largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits; crappie fair on minnows and jigs; channel catfish fair on live baits; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Sever:
70 degrees, normal, dingy; crappie good on minnows; channel catfish fair on nightcrawlers; largemouth bass fair on crankbaits and topwater lures; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Thomas Hill:
72 degrees, normal, dingy; crappie fair on minnows and jigs; channel catfish fair on nightcrawlers; largemouth bass good on topwater lures; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
RIVERS
Mississippi (above St. Louis):
70 degrees, normal, muddy; drum good on nightcrawlers; channel catfish fair on stinkbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Salt (below Mark Twain):
69 degrees, normal, muddy; crappie good on jigs and minnows below Clarence Cannon Dam; drum good on nightcrawlers; channel catfish fair on stinkbaits; blue catfish fair on cut baits; walleye fair on jigs; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
NORTHWEST REGION: (816) 271-3111
LAKES
Bilby Ranch Lake:
70 degrees, normal, dingy; all species slow. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Mozingo:
70 degrees, falling, dingy; all species fair. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Paho:
70 degrees, high, dingy; channel catfish fair; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Pony Express:
71 degrees, normal, clear; all species fair. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
RIVERS
Grand:
76 degrees, falling, muddy; all species good. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Missouri (below Iowa line):
72 degrees, normal, dingy; flathead catfish good on live baits and worms; channel catfish good on dip baits and worms; blue catfish fair on cut baits; carp good on corn. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
OZARK REGION: (417) 255-9561
LAKES
Bull Shoals (East):
76 degrees, high, dingy; black bass fair on spinnerbaits; crappie fair on minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Norfork:
75 degrees, high, dingy; crappie fair on minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
RIVERS
Big Piney (lower, Pulaski Co.):
70 degrees, high, muddy; all species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Big Piney (Upper):
70 degrees, normal, clear; black bass and goggle-eye good on soft plastic baits; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Bryant Creek:
67 degrees, normal, dingy; all species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Current:
76 degrees, normal, clear; smallmouth bass good on soft plastic baits. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Eleven Point:
60 degrees, normal, dingy; rainbow trout good on corn; all other species fair. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Gasconade (middle, Pulaski Co.):
72 degrees, high, muddy; all species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Gasconade (upper):
64 degrees, high, muddy; all species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Jack's Fork:
72 degrees, normal, clear; smallmouth bass and goggle-eye good on soft plastic baits. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
North Fork:
64 degrees, normal, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
SOUTHEAST REGION: (573) 290-5858
LAKES
Clearwater Lake:
78 degrees, normal, clear; crappie fair on jigs; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Council Bluff:
73 degrees, normal, clear; channel catfish fair on chicken liver and nightcrawlers; black bass fair on topwater lures and dark colored soft plastics during low light hours; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Cypress Lake:
normal, dingy; crappie fair on jigs and minnows; black bass fair on spinnerbaits; bluegill fair on worms and crickets; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Duck Creek:
75 degrees, clear; bluegill good on crickets; black bass good on topwater lures. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Lake Girardeau:
79 degrees, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Perry County Lake:
72 degrees, rising, dingy; all species slow. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Robert DeLaney Lake:
normal, channel catfish fair on live baits and stinkbaits; bluegill fair on jigs and live baits; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Wappapello:
black bass fair on crankbaits and plastic worms; crappie fair on minnows and jigs; channel catfish good on trotlines and jug lines at night; bluegill fair on crickets and worms. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
RIVERS
Black River (near Annapolis):
70 degrees, normal, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Castor River (above Zalma):
normal, clear; all species fair. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Mississippi (below Charleston):
high, all species slow. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
St. Francis (above Wappapello):
low, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
St. Francis (below Wappapello):
80 degrees, high, dingy; channel and flathead catfish good on trotlines and pole & line using stinkbaits or worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
SOUTHWEST REGION: (417) 895-6881
LAKES
Bull Shoals (West):
75-78 degrees, high, clear; black bass fair on jigs and spinnerbaits; walleye fair on nightcrawlers, swimming minnows and jerkbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Lake Taneycomo:
60 degrees, high, dingy; upper lake: trout fair on blue/chrome and black/chrome Rogues/Rapalas; lower lake: trout fair on chartreuse/orange colored Power Baits. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Pomme de Terre:
78 degrees, high, dingy; black bass fair on plastic baits; crappie fair on jigs and minnows around structure 5 to 15 feet deep; white bass fair trolling white jigs close to surface; catfish fair on trotlines using cut baits and crayfish; walleye slow with some success trolling with crankbaits. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Stockton:
78 degrees, high, clear; black bass good on spinnerbaits or grubs; crappie good on tube jigs; catfish good on shad or nightcrawlers; white bass fair on crankbaits. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Table Rock (James River arm):
73 degrees, high, dingy; crappie good on small jigs in black/white/chartreuse or red/white/black, fish river channels around tree stumps, stick-ups or rock piles; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
Table Rock (main lake):
74 degrees, high, clear; black bass fair on topwater lures and soft plastic baits; bluegill fair on live baits. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
RIVERS
Big Niangua:
76 degrees, normal, clear; all species good. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
James River (lower):
75 degrees, high, clear; all species fair. (Report made on 9/24/2008)
ST. LOUIS REGION: (636) 300-1953
LAKES
Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lake 33:
74 degrees, falling, muddy; black bass good; bluegill fair; channel catfish good on stinkbaits; all other species slow; catfish limit: 4; please remove litter. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lakes 3, 4, 5, 7, and 24:
74 degrees, falling, dingy; channel catfish good on stinkbaits; all other species fair; catfish limit: 4; please remove litter. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
RIVERS
Big River:
68 degrees, falling, muddy; channel catfish fair on worms and liver; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Bourbeuse (middle, lower, Franklin Co.):
68 degrees, falling, dingy; channel catfish fair on cut baits, blood baits and worms; all other species slow with some success on worms. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Meramec (above Sullivan, Crawford Co.):
68 degrees, dingy; water still falling; all species slow; floatable at this time. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Meramec (below Eureka):
68 degrees, falling, muddy; channel catfish slow with some success on worms and cut baits; black bass slow but striking on jigs and spinners; bluegill slow but biting on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
Missouri (below New Haven):
70 degrees, falling, muddy; channel catfish and carp fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/25/2008)
TROUT PARKS:
Bennett Spring State Park:
54 degrees, stream has dropped to about 5 inches above normal and clearing gradually; still mossy green color; flow is strong: successful lures and baits include: jigs (black and yellow); mini-jigs (bedspread and John Deere); glo balls (original tri-color and white); also successful are Rooster Tails, red brassies, rainbow Power Baits and pink and white plastic worms. October fishing hours will be: 7:30 am to 6:30 pm 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 9/25/2008)
Maramec Spring Park:
No report available.
Montauk State Park:
No report available.
Roaring River State Park:
No report available.
“Quality Fishing…………..Our Mission, Our Passion”www.missouriconservation.org