REPORTS MADE AUG. 5-8
Central Region
(573) 815-7900
(573) 346-2210
Lakes
Binder Lake: water temperature 80 degrees; water level normal; water clear; black bass and channel catfish fair; all other species slow.
Blind Pony Lake: water temperature 81 degrees; water level low; water clear; the lake is 1 foot low; bluegill good on worms; channel catfish good on stinkbaits; all other species slow; the lake is closed to private boats and bait held or transported in containers with water is prohibited.
Lake of the Ozarks (Bagnell Tailwater): water temperature 78 degrees; water level normal; water dingy; crappie slow, try minnows and crappie jigs; black bass slow, try worms and dark colored soft plastics; white bass slow, try light colored soft plastics and crappie jigs; catfish fair using cut baits, chicken livers, stinkbaits and worms.
Lake of the Ozarks (Glaize): water temperature 83 degrees; water level normal; water dingy; crappie fair on minnows and crappie jigs; black bass fair, try dark colored soft plastics and crankbaits; white bass slow, try light colored soft plastics, spoons and Rooster Tails; catfish fair on cut baits, worms, hot dogs and stinkbaits.
Lake of the Ozarks (Gravois): water temperature 80 degrees; water level normal; water dingy; black bass slow, try plastic worms; white bass slow; catfish fair on cut shad and stinkbaits; crappie slow, try minnows.
Lake of the Ozarks (Niangua): water temperature 80 degrees; water level normal; water dingy; black bass slow, try using plastic worms and spinnerbaits; crappie slow, try using minnows; catfish good, try using cut shad and stinkbaits; white bass fair, try using dark colored natural lures.
Lake of the Ozarks (Osage): water temperature 80 degrees; water level normal; water dingy; black bass slow, try using topwater lures; crappie slow, try using minnows; catfish good, try using cut shad and chicken livers; white bass fair, try using light colored soft plastics.
Little Dixie Lake: water temperature 80 degrees; water level normal; water clear; largemouth bass good on topwater lures; bluegill good on crickets; all other species slow; all use including fishing is prohibited from 10 p.m.-4 a.m.
Rivers
Lamine River: water level rising; water muddy; the river is 1 foot high and rising; channel catfish good at the mouth of the Black Water River on worms and chicken liver; flathead catfish good above Harriman Hill Access on setlines baited with goldfish; all other species slow.
Missouri River (Middle): water level low; water muddy; channel catfish good on liver and stinkbait; blue catfish fair on live bluegill; all other species slow.
Osage (lower, at Tuscumbia): water temperature 78 degrees; water level normal; water dingy; crappie slow, try minnows and crappie jigs; black bass slow, try worms and dark colored soft plastics; white bass slow, try light colored soft plastics and crappie jigs; catfish fair using cut baits, chicken livers, stinkbaits and worms.
Kansas City Region
(660) 885-6981
(816) 622-0900
Lakes
Atkinson Lake (Schell-Osage CA): water temperature 84 degrees; water level rising; water dingy; all species fair.
James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area: water temperature 80 degrees; water clear; water level 6 inches low; channel catfish good on chicken liver and cut baits; largemouth bass fair on topwater baits early and late in the day; bluegill fair on worms around brush piles; redear sunfish slow with some success on small jigs; crappie fair on jigs 2 feet under a bobber near deep water brush.
Montrose Lake: water temperature 84 degrees; water level normal; water dingy; black bass fair, catfish fair, all other species slow; fishing pressure light.
Schell Lake (Schell-Osage CA): water temperature 81 degrees; water level rising; water dingy; all species fair.
Truman Lake: water temperature 80 degrees; water level rising; water dingy; catfish good on minnows and jigs; all other species fair; fishing pressure light.
Truman Lake Tailwaters: water temperature 80 degrees; water level rising; water dingy; catfish good, all other species slow; fishing pressure light.
River
Missouri River (Kansas City area): water temperature 79 degrees; water level falling; water muddy; catfish slow with some success using bluegill and goldfish; bait fish (golden eye, shad, etc.) are being caught in good numbers in the tributaries during the mayfly hatch; all other species slow.
Northeast Region
(660) 785-2420
Lakes
Henry Sever Lake: water temperature 84 degrees; water level normal; water clear; channel catfish good on nightcrawlers and chicken livers; largemouth bass and crappie fair; all other species slow.
Hunnewell Lake: water temperature 78 degrees; water level normal; water dingy; crappie fair on plastic jigs; largemouth bass fair on crankbaits; all other species slow; the lake is closed to private boats and bait held or transported in containers with water is prohibited.
Long Branch Lake: water temperature 77 degrees; water level normal; water dingy; largemouth bass fair on lures; all other species slow.
Mark Twain Lake: water temperature 74 degrees; water level low; water dingy; crappie fair on jigs near tree lines; blue catfish and channel catfish fair on bluegill and cut baits; all other species slow.
Thomas Hill Reservoir: water temperature 80 degrees; water level normal; water dingy; channel catfish good on worms, liver and stinkbait; all other species slow.
Rivers
Mississippi River (upper): water temperature 81 degrees; water level normal; water dingy; channel catfish good on nightcrawlers; flathead catfish good on live baits; blue catfish good on cut bait; carp good on doughbaits; all other species slow.
Salt (below Mark Twain): water temperature 73 degrees; water level falling; water dingy; channel catfish good on prepared baits; freshwater drum good on nightcrawlers; carp fair on prepared baits; all other species slow.
Northwest Region
(816) 271-3100
Lakes
Bilby Ranch Lake: low 80s, normal, clear; largemouth bass good at low light time of day on topwater lures near weedlines; channel catfish good on chicken liver; all other species slow.
Lake Paho: 78 degrees, full pool, 31-inch visibility; black bass are biting on jigs and worms around the deep water brush piles; catfish are biting on commercial stinkbaits and nightcrawlers late in the evening; all other species slow.
Mozingo Lake: low 80s, below normal pool level, clear; largemouth bass fair on topwater baits during low light hours; crappie fair over deep brush and standing timber in coves; bluegill fair; channel catfish good on cut bait; walleye slow.
Pony Express Lake: 79 degrees, below normal pool levels, clear; largemouth bass fair; channel catfish good; bluegill, black bass, crappie and walleye fair.
Smithville Lake: 79 degrees, 8 cfs; crappie fair in deeper water (8-12 feet) in the area of trees/brush piles on jigs with chart color generating the best bite; catfish good in 10 feet or less of water on dip baits and nightcrawlers; white bass fair on lake points with shad imitations; walleye slow with some fish being taken on larger points with nightcrawlers or Rattle Traps; largemouth bass good in shallow water on plastic worms in grassy areas.
Rivers
Grand River: 77 degrees, rising, murky; all species good.
Missouri River (upper): 78 degrees, normal, clear; flathead catfish good on cut bait and live bait; channel catfish fair on worms and dip baits; blue catfish fair on cut bait and worms; carp good on worms and corn.
Ozark Region
(417) 256-7161
Lakes
Bull Shoals Lake (East): water temperature 82 degrees; water level high; water muddy; all species slow.
Norfork Lake: water temperature 81 degrees; water level high; water muddy; all species slow.
Rivers
Big Piney River (lower, Pulaski County): water temperature 77 degrees; water level high; water muddy; all species slow.
Big Piney River (upper, Texas County): water temperature 65 degrees; water level high; water muddy; all species slow.
Bryant Creek: water temperature 78 degrees; water level high; water muddy; all species slow.
Current River: water temperature 72 degrees; water level high; water dingy; all species slow.
Eleven Point River: water temperature 63 degrees; water level high; water muddy; all species slow.
Gasconade River (middle): water temperature 77 degrees; water level high; water muddy; all species slow.
Gasconade River (upper): water temperature 76 degrees; water level high; water muddy; all species slow.
Jacks Fork River: water temperature 76 degrees; water level high; water dingy; all species slow.
North Fork of the White River: water temperature 69 degrees; water level high; water muddy; all species slow.
Southeast Region
(573) 290-5730
Lakes
Clearwater Lake: water temperature 87 degrees; water level normal; water dingy; white bass fair on crankbaits; crappie slow on white and red and green jigs; channel catfish slow on jug lines with cut bait; all other species slow.
Council Bluff Lake: water temperature 82 degrees; water level normal; water clear; channel catfish good on liver after dark; all other species slow.
Cypress Lake: water temperature 81 degrees; water level normal; water dingy; bluegill and redear sunfish fair in depths of 1-3 feet on jigs, crickets and worms; crappie slow in depths of 1-3 feet on minnows and jigs; largemouth bass slow in depths of 1-3 feet on minnows, jigs, plastic worms and crankbaits; channel catfish slow in depths of 2-8 feet on worms, crickets and stinkbaits; all other species slow.
Duck Creek C.A. Pool No. 1: water temperature 78 degrees; water level high; water clear; redear sunfish good on crickets and waxworms; largemouth bass good on topwater lures; bluegill good on crickets and jigs; channel catfish fair on doughbait; all other species slow.
Lake Girardeau: water level normal; water dingy; largemouth bass good on worms; channel catfish good on worms; all other species slow.
Perry County Lake: water temperature 83 degrees; water level normal; water clear; channel catfish fair on liver; black bass fair on crankbaits; all other species slow.
Robert DeLaney Lake: water level normal; water dingy; channel catfish fair on chicken liver and stinkbaits; crappie fair on jigs; all other species slow. NEW CRAPPIE REGULATION: no length limit on crappie on DeLaney Lake, the daily limit of 15 remains in effect.
Wappapello Lake: water temperature 80 degrees; water level normal; black bass fair on buzzbaits and spinnerbaits early and late in the day; channel catfish fair on live bait and cut bait on jug lines and trotlines; bluegill fair using crickets and worms along the bank; all other species slow. Anglers should note the 9-inch minimum length limit regulation for crappie on Wappapello Lake. Recorded lake level and other infomation can be received by calling the Wappapello Lake Information Hotline at (573) 222-8139 or 1-877-lake-info.
Rivers
Black River (above Clearwater Lake): water temperature 75 degrees; water level normal; water clear; all species slow.
Black River (below Clearwater Lake): water temperature 81 degrees; water level normal; water clear; black bass good on plastic lures and crankbaits; channel catfish fair on nightcrawlers and cut baits; all other species slow.
Castor River (above Zalma): water level normal; water clear; black bass good on minnows; all other species slow.
Mississippi River (Middle): water level rising; water muddy; channel catfish, flathead catfish and blue catfish fair on cut bait and live bait; all other species slow.
Mississippi River (Ohio River to Arkansas): water level falling; water muddy; channel catfish fair on cut baits, live sunfish and worms; all other species slow.
St. Francis River (above Wappapello Lake): water temperature 76 degrees; water level rising; water clear; sunfish good on small worms and mealworms; channel catfish fair on large minnows and nightcrawlers drifted in the deeper holes; black bass fair on topwater lures and large minnows; all other species slow.
St. Francis River (below Wappapello Lake): water temperature 75 degrees; water level high; water dingy: channel catfish good on on pole and line and trotlines with stinkbaits and chicken liver; flathead catfish good on trotlines with live bait (small goldfish or sunfish); all other species slow.
Southwest Region
(417) 895-6880
Lakes
Bull Shoals Lake (West): water temperature 82 degrees; water level high; water dingy; black bass fair on topwater baits, soft plastics, jigs and nightcrawlers; crappie fair on minnows near brush piles; walleye fair on nightcrawlers; striped bass fair on large jerkbaits and swimbaits; catfish fair on nightcrawlers; all other species slow.
Lake Taneycomo: water temperature 53 degrees; water level high; water muddy; trout fair in upper portion of lake on white, black and olive marabou jigs, Rogues and Rooster Tails; trout slow in lower portion of the lake due to flooding and muddy water.
Pomme de Terre Reservoir: water temperature 80 degrees; water level high; water muddy; catfish good on live baits; all other species slow.
Stockton Lake: water temperature 80 degrees; water level high; water dingy; catfish fair on shad and shiners; bluegill fair on nightcrawlers and crickets; black bass fair on main lake points with plastic worms and topwater lures early in the morning and late evening.
Table Rock Lake (James River arm): water temperature 81 degrees; water level normal; water dingy; black bass good on soft plastic crayfish using a 3/16 ounce bullet sinker and 2/0 or 3/0 hook, fish in shallow water in the morning and deeper as the sun starts to rise, also try 10-inch soft plastic purple worms; crappie fair on live minnows or small 1/4 ounce jigs, blue and silver jigs are also working well; bluegill fair on small jigs and live worms; catfish fair on cut shad and live small sunfish, nightcrawlers and chicken liver also working well; all other species slow.
Table Rock Lake (main lake): water temperature 83 degrees; water level high; water clear; black bass good on topwater lures and jigs on sloping gravel banks early, then use drop shots with UV worms in 15-25 feet of water around rock piles and drop-offs later in the day; walleye good on spoons and nightcrawlers around brush piles in 15-25 feet of water; all other species slow.
Rivers
James River: water temperature 85 degrees; water level rising; water muddy; catfish good on minnows and nightcrawlers on limb lines and trotlines; black bass fair on topwater lures with spooks and buzzbaits in the morning, use drop shots and spoons in 35-50 feet of water later in the afternoon; bluegill fair on worms and crickets in 8-10 feet of water along the banks; crappie slow, try jigs and minnows in brushy areas; white bass slow, try trolling with divers, Wiggle Warts and jigs.
Niangua River: water temperature 71 degrees; water level high; water dingy; black bass fair on soft plastics; goggle-eye fair on soft plastics; trout fair on orange colored Power Baits.
St. Louis Region
(636) 441-4554
Lakes
Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lake 33: water temperature 73 degrees; water level normal; water dingy; black bass fair on crankbaits; catfish fair on cut bait, doughbaits, blood baits and livers; bluegill fair on worms; crappie slow on minnows.
Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lakes 3, 4, 5, 7 and 23: water temperature 80 degrees; water level normal; water dingy; catfish good on cut bait, doughbait, blood bait and livers.
Rivers
Big River: water temperature 76 degrees; water level falling; water dingy; catfish fair on cut bait, blood bait and livers; black bass slow on minnows; crappie slow on minnows; bluegill fair on crickets.
Bourbeuse River: water temperature 78 degrees; water level falling; water dingy; catfish fair on cut bait; bluegill good on worms and crickets; all other species slow.
Meramec River (Crawford County): water temperature 77 degrees; water level rising; water dingy; catfish fair on chicken livers; black bass good on plastic worms; bluegill good on worms and crickets.
Meramec River (St. Louis County): water temperature 76 degrees; water level rising; water dingy; catfish fair on cut bait and worms; black bass good on topwater lures; bluegill good on natural baits.
Mississippi River (St. Louis Region): water temperature 80 degrees; water level low; water dingy; blue catfish slow on cut bait, channel catfish good on dip baits; drum fair on worms.
Missouri River (Lower): water temperature 80 degrees; water level low; water muddy; blue catfish slow on cut bait; channel catfish fair on dip baits; drum fair on worms.
Trout Parks
Bennett Spring State Park (417-532-4418): water temperature 54 degrees; water level rising; water dingy; Zone 1 and 2 lures that are working well are: black and yellow colored, gingersnap colored, and pink and white colored marabou jigs; white colored, and hatchery brown colored glo balls; all tri-colored Rooster Tails; chartreuse brassie, white floss, blue holographic colored Cracklebacks, brown midge; Zone 3 baits that are popular are white colored salmon eggs, orange colored Power Bait, orange trout nuggets regular scent. August fishing hours are 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Weed cutting has been postponed until Aug. 13-14. We will begin by 8 a.m. and finish by 3:30 p.m. each day.
Maramec Spring Park (573-265-7801): water temperature 57 degrees; Fishing is fair, the spring branch has good flow and the water is ultra clear, remember to use light weight line and tackle; fish are holding in deep areas below swift water and near submerged habitat, target these areas for best success; rubber legged jigs in black/white, green/yellow and brown are working well in the afternoon hours; feather jigs in black and white, brown and yellow colors are producing good numbers of fish; trout worms in orange, white, green and yellow are good choices; fishing hours for August are 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; Women's Free Fishing Day is Sept. 14. For more information call (573) 265-7801.
Montauk State Park (573-548-2585): water temperature 59 degrees; the river level is high, the water is muddy, 2 pound test fishing line or lighter is recommended; fishing is good on most baits; white, brown and yellow scented dough and putty baits are working well in the bait zones; most flies, Rooster Tails and jigs in black and yellow, olive colors and other dark colors are working well, some colors work better at different times of the day; the best fishing is in the mornings and evenings, especially on warmer days. August fishing hours are 7 a.m.-8 p.m. For up-to-date stream conditions check http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?07064440.
Roaring River State Park (417-847-2430): water temperature 58 degrees; water level high; water dingy; Kids Fishing Day is Aug. 17 from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. The water is rising and running about two feet high, still getting the trout on hoppers, beetles, ants and Cracklebacks; small crickets and wooly worms are still pretty good; Adams, Lt. Cahills, renegades, caddis, blue wing olives and tricos are all still working well; good nymphs right now would be the pheasant tail nymph, the zebra midge, burlaps, copper johns and small brassies; olive, black, dark brown and ginger wooly buggers are all working well right now; with the low water it is important to use 9-foot leaders that are 2 pound (7X) these work well right now; if you are spin fishing, 4 pound Maxima or P-line works well right now with the dingy water; if you are fishing jigs, the black/yellow, dark olive, dark brown, green/yellow, red/orange and the white have all been working; plastics are always a good choice, white, brown, orange, fluorescent yellow and pink eggs have been good; worms in black/yellow, John Deere green, electric chicken, cheese, orange/white and the cream colors have all been good the past few weeks; in Zone 3 nightcrawlers, yellow Power Bait paste and corn has all been working.