- Joined
- Jul 23, 2010
- Location
- Lebanon, MO
Missouri Department of Conservation
Statewide Fishing Report
Attention Fishing Report Subscribers:
In most streams south of the Missouri River, black bass season will open May
25, 2013, until that date all black bass in those streams must be returned to
the water unharmed immediately after being caught. For details see Chapter 6
of the Wildlife Code.
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
Binder Lake Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Fair Largemouth Bass:?Fair Bluegill:?Good
Temperature: 64?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
crappie and largemouth bass fair; bluegill good; all other species slow.
Blind Pony Lake Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Largemouth Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Good
Temperature: 57?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
largemouth bass fair on soft plastics; crappie good?on jigs; 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) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Slow Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 58?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
black bass season closed; white bass fair on?light colored soft plastics
and?crappie jigs; crappie?slow, try minnows and crappie jigs; catfish?fair
on shad and worms.
Lake of the Ozarks (Glaize) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Fair White Bass:?Slow Crappie:?Fair
Catfish:?Slow
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
black bass?fair on?dark colored soft plastics and crankbaits; white bass
slow, try?light colored soft plastics and Rooster Tails; crappie?fair?on
crappie jigs and minnows; catfish?slow, try?cut baits, worms
and?stinkbaits.?
Lake of the Ozarks (Gravois) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Black Bass:?Fair White Bass:?Slow
Catfish:?Good
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
crappie good on minnows; black bass fair on crankbaits; white bass slow;
catfish good on cut bait.
Lake of the Ozarks (Niangua) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good Crappie:?Fair Catfish:?Good White
Bass:?Slow
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
black bass good on spinnerbaits; crappie?fair on minnows and small plastic
jigs; catfish fair using cut shad and live bluegill; white bass slow, try
light colored soft plastic jigs.
Lake of the Ozarks (Osage) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good Crappie:?Good Catfish:?Fair White
Bass:?Slow
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
black bass good on spinnerbaits; crappie good on minnows and small plastic
jigs; catfish fair using cut shad and live bluegill; white bass slow, try
using light colored soft plastics.
Lamine River Reported on: 5/15/13
Water Type: muddy
?2' high; all species slow.
Little Dixie Lake Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Channel Catfish:?Good Largemouth Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 58?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
crappie?good on?minnows and white jigs; channel catfish good on chicken
liver; largemouth bass fair on plastic worms; all other species slow;?all
use including fishing is prohibited from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Missouri River (Middle) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Good Blue Catfish:?Fair
Water Level: normal
Water Type: muddy
channel catfish good on nightcrawlers and stinkbaits; blue catfish fair on
cut baits; all other?species slow.
Osage (lower, at Tuscumbia) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Slow Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 58?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
black bass season closed; white bass fair on?light colored soft plastics
and?crappie jigs; crappie?slow, try minnows and crappie jigs; catfish?fair
on shad and worms.??
===============
Kansas City
Atkinson Lake (Schell-Osage CA) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Good Black Crappie:?Good
Temperature: 69?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
All other species fair.
James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Slow Redear Sunfish:?Fair
Temperature: 64?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
largemouth bass good on crankbaits; bluegill good on worms around brush
piles; crappie slow with some success on jigs 2' under a bobber near deep
water brush.?
Missouri River (Kansas City area) Reported on: 5/14/13
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: muddy
all species slow.
Montrose Lake Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Good Crappie:?Fair Smallmouth Bass:?Slow
Temperature: 74?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
Fishing pressure light.?
Schell Lake (Schell-Osage CA) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Good Crappie:?Good
Temperature: 70?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
All other species fair.?
Truman Lake Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Smallmouth Bass:?Fair Catfish:?Good
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
Lake level 713.20; crappie good on banks on jigs and minnows; black bass fair
in creeks on buzzbaits; catfish good on cut bait; white bass good in creeks
on crankbaits.?
Truman Lake Tailwaters Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Catfish:?Good White Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 64?
Water Level: rising
Water Type: dingy
===============
Northeast
Henry Sever Lake Reported on: 5/14/13
Temperature: 59?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
all species slow.
Hunnewell Lake Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Largemouth Bass:?Good Channel Catfish:?Good Crappie:?Good
Temperature: 66?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
largemouth bass good on flukes; channel catfish good using earthworms;
crappie good on marabou jigs; 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 Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
channel catfish fair on setlines using sunfish; channel catfish fair using
nightcrawlers and leeches on pole and line; all other species slow.
Mark Twain Lake Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Fair Channel Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 57?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
boat ramps are now open; crappie fair on minnows and jigs on banks but
running small; channel catfish fair on setlines using goldfish and sunfish;
all other species slow.?
Mississippi River (upper) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Flathead Catfish:?Fair Channel Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 56?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: muddy
flathead catfish and channel catfish fair on live baits; all other species
slow.
Salt (below Mark Twain) Reported on: 5/14/13
Temperature: 54?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
all?species slow.
Thomas Hill Reservoir Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish
Temperature: 68?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
channel catfish fair on nightcrawlers; all other species slow.
===============
Northwest
Bilby Ranch Lake Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Bluegill:?Good Walleye:?Slow
65 degrees, low, dingy; crappie good in back of coves; bluegill good; black
bass good; walleye slow.
Grand River Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Blue Catfish:?Good Channel Catfish:?Good Flathead
Catfish:?Fair
64 degrees, muddy; blue catfish and channel catfish good on nightcrawlers and
cut shad; flathead catfish fair on live bait; all other species slow.
Lake Paho Reported on: 5/15/13
60 degrees; a recent electrofishing survey conducted by MDC personnel
produced numerous largemouth bass exceeding 18" minimum length limit as well
as several crappie in the 12" - 15" range; most fish were encountered right
up against the bank; water clarity is improving daily; fishing for all
species should improve greatly within the next week.
Missouri River (upper) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Good Blue Catfish:?Fair Common
Carp:?Fair
48 degreees, high, dingy; channel catfish good on worms and dip bait; blue
catfish fair on worms; carp fair on worms and corn; all other species slow.
Mozingo Lake Reported on: 5/15/13
62 degrees, below normal pool level; clear; all species good.
Pony Express Lake Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Largemouth Bass:?Good
64 degrees, low, clear; crappie good on all colors/jigs in shallow water;
largemouth bass good on plastic worms in shallow water; all other species
slow.
Smithville Lake Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Flathead Catfish:?Fair Largemouth
Bass:?Fair White Bass:?Fair Walleye:?Fair
61 degrees, 9" low and rising, 8 cfs; crappie are fair to good; the spawn
appears to have begun with some limits of fish being taken from shallow water
(right on the banks); best catches are on minnows or jigs that are chart or
chart combination; catfish fair on? cut shad with a few also being caught on
liver, nightcrawlers and crappie sized minnows; largemouth bass fair on
suspended baits, jigs and spinnerbaits; white bass fair on shad colored
lures/jigs with some fish being reported up the Little Platte Arm of the
lake; walleye fair; begin fishing large lake points with Rattle Traps and
crankbaits to catch post spawn fish.
===============
Ozark
Big Piney River (lower, Pulaski Co.) Reported on: 5/15/13
Temperature: 65?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
goggle-eye fair on crankbaits and jigs.
Big Piney River (upper, Texas Co.) Reported on: 5/15/13
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
all species fair.
Bryant Creek Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Smallmouth Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 64?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
smallmouth bass and google-eye fair on soft plastics.
Bull Shoals Lake (East) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Temperature: 65?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
white bass and crappie fair on jigs on minnows.
Current River Reported on: 5/15/13
Temperature: 69?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
google-eye good on soft plastics.
Eleven Point River Reported on: 5/15/13
Temperature: 59?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
all species fair.
Gasconade River (middle) Reported on: 5/15/13
Temperature: 65?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
goggle-eye fair on crankbaits and jigs.
Gasconade River (upper) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Sunfish:?Good
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
goggle-eye and sunfish good on live bait and small plastics.
Jacks Fork River Reported on: 5/15/13
Temperature: 66?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
all species good.
Norfork Lake Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Temperature: 64?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
white bass and crappie fair on jigs and minnows.
North Fork of the White River Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Smallmouth Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
smallmouth bass and goggle-eye fair on soft plastics.
===============
Southeast
Black River (above Clearwater Lake) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Slow Bluegill:?Fair Black Bass:?Slow
Smallmouth Bass:?Good Northern Rock Bass (Goggle-Eye):?Good
Temperature: 67?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
smallmouth bass and goggle-eye good on plastic baits and live minnows;
bluegill fair on live worms; all other species slow.
Black River (below Clearwater Lake) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Fair White Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 67?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
crappie fair on minnows and assorted jigs under a float below spillway in
deeper water; white bass fair on minnows and assorted jigs; all other species
slow.
Castor River (above Zalma) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Slow Bluegill:?Slow
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
all species slow.
Clearwater Lake Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Slow Black Bass:?Slow White Bass:?Good
Largemouth Bass:?Slow
Temperature: 70?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: clear
white bass good on white and/or chartreuse Road Runners in the Black River
arm; crappie slow on jigs in creek channel arms; largemouth bass slow on
topwater jerkbaits; all other species slow.
Council Bluff Lake Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Slow Crappie:?Slow Largemouth Bass:?Good
Redear Sunfish:?Fair
Temperature: 65?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
largemouth bass good on minnows, swimbaits and?dark colored soft
plastics;?redear sunfish fair on worms; all other species slow.
Cypress Lake Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Largemouth Bass:?Fair Bluegill:?Good Redear
Sunfish:?Good Channel Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 72?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
crappie good on minnows, goldfish and jigs in 1' - 3' of water; bluegill and
redear sunfish good in 1' - 3' of water on jigs, crickets and worms;
largemouth bass fair in 1' - 3' of water on minnows, jigs, plastic worms and
crankbaits; channel catfish fair in 2' - 8' of water on worms, crickets and
stinkbait; all other species slow.? NEW CRAPPIE REGULATION: no length limit
on crappie on Cypress Lake, the daily limit of 15?remains in effect.
Duck Creek C.A. Pool #1 Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Largemouth Bass:?Good Crappie:?Slow Channel Catfish:?Slow
Bluegill:?Slow Warmouth:?Slow
Temperature: 71?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
largemouth bass good on topwater lures and spinnerbaits; all other species
slow.
Lake Girardeau Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Largemouth Bass:?Good Bluegill:?Good Crappie:?Fair Redear
Sunfish:?Good Channel Catfish:?Fair
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
largemouth bass, bluegill and redear sunfish?good on?worms;?all other
species fair.
Mississippi River (Middle) Reported on: 5/13/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Good Blue Catfish:?Good Flathead
Catfish:?Good
Water Level: falling
Water Type: muddy
channel catfish, flathead catfish?and blue catfish good on worms, cut
baits?and stinkbaits; all other species fair.
Mississippi River (Ohio River to Arkansas) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Largemouth Bass:?Slow Channel Catfish:?Slow
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
all?species slow.
Perry County Lake Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Sunfish:?Fair Largemouth Bass:?Fair Channel
Catfish:?Slow
Temperature: 72?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
crappie good on minnows; sunfish fair on crickets; largemouth bass fair on
spinnerbaits; all other species slow.
Robert DeLaney Lake Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Fair Bluegill:?Fair Black Bass:?Slow Channel
Catfish:?Fair
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
channel catfish, bluegill and crappie are fair; all other?species slow.?
NEW CRAPPIE REGULATION: no length limit on crappie on DeLaney Lake, the daily
limit of 15 remains in effect.
St. Francis River (above Wappapello Lake) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Green Sunfish:?Good Longear Sunfish:?Good Black
Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 62?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
sunfish good on Beetle Spins and small minnows; black bass fair on imitation
crayfish baits; all other?species slow.? REMINDER: black bass season
remains closed on the Upper St. Francis River until May 25, 2013.
St. Francis River (below Wappapello Lake) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Good Flathead Catfish:?Good Black
Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Temperature: 67?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
channel catfish?good?on stinkbaits, chicken liver?and worms; flathead
catfish good on small?sunfish and goldfish;?black bass fair on artificial
baits; crappie fair on minnows and jigs; all other species slow.
Wappapello Lake Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair Channel Catfish:?Good
Bluegill:?Fair
Temperature: 62?
Water Level: high
channel catfish good using nightcrawlers and live bait near rocky areas at
night;?crappie fair using minnows and jigs in the brush; black bass fair
using crankbaits; bluegill fair using crickets and worms; all other species
slow. Anglers should note the 9" 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.
===============
Southwest
Bull Shoals Lake (West) Reported on: 5/13/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Good
Walleye:?Fair
Temperature: 59?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
black bass good on crankbaits and spinnerbaits on windy points, also try soft
plastics and jigs; crappie?good on minnows and 1/16th oz. jigs near brush
piles; white bass?fair on Alabama Rig (three hooks only) with white plastic
grubs, white swimming minnows, and?small Rapalas, also try trolling; walleye
fair on jerkbaits; all other species slow.?
James River Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Good White Bass:?Good Black Bass:?Good
Crappie:?Good
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
black bass good on worms and minnow style baits in the back of coves; crappie
good on jigs and minnows over brush piles and on the banks; white bass good
on spinnerbaits, Road Runners and small jigs; catfish good on nightcrawlers
and cut baits.
Lake Taneycomo Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Rainbow Trout:?Good
Temperature: 50?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
trout good on black, olive, and white 1/16 oz. marabou jigs while drifting
with the current in the upper portion of the lake, Rooster Tails and Rapala
type crankbaits also working well,?try orange, chartreuse, white/pink Power
Bait, corn or nightcrawlers?in the lower portion of the lake; all other
species slow.
Niangua River Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Fair Northern Rock Bass (Goggle-Eye):?Fair
Rainbow Trout:?Fair
Temperature: 58?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
black bass?fair on live minnows and soft plastics; goggle-eye fair on
minnows and soft plastics; trout fair on bright colored Power Baits.?
Pomme de Terre Reservoir Reported on: 5/13/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good Crappie:?Good Walleye:?Slow White
Bass:?Slow Catfish:?Slow
Temperature: 64?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
crappie good on jigs and minnows around structure in 6' - 10' of water; black
bass good on jigs and spinnerbaits in brush; all other species slow.
Stockton Lake Reported on: 5/13/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good Walleye:?Good Crappie:?Good White
Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 58?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
walleye good on jigs tipped with nightcrawlers and while trolling with
crankbaits; black bass good on crankbaits and floating worms; crappie good on
jigs and minnows; white bass fair while trolling with crankbaits and
spinnerbaits.
Table Rock Lake (James River arm) Reported on: 5/13/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Good
Temperature: 58?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
black bass good on deep diving crankbaits, green or brown jigs and soft
plastic green crayfish, Shakey Head soft plastic worms in watermelon colors
in 12' - 14' of water are also working well; crappie good on live minnows,
also try soft plastic minnows and jigs?in 2' - 4' of water; white bass?fair
below Galena on spinnerbaits, white Vibric Rooster Tails or small crankbaits,
purple, smoke and blue swimming minnows with 1/16 or 1/18 oz. jigs are also
working well, fish just before dark or after dark for best results; all other
species slow.?
Table Rock Lake (main lake) Reported on: 5/13/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
black bass fair on smoke colored worms and grubs around secondary points with
scattered timber; crappie fair using 3/8 oz. ball jig with a smoke grub and
chartreuse spinnerbait.
===============
St. Louis
Big River Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Fair Black Bass:?Slow Crappie:?Slow
Bluegill:?Fair
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: dingy
Catfish fair on cut bait and blood bait; bluegill fair on worms and crickets;
all other species slow.
Bourbeuse River Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Slow Catfish:?Slow Crappie:?Slow Bluegill
:?Slow
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: muddy
All species slow.
Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lake 33 Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Fair Black Bass:?Fair Catfish:?Slow
Bluegill:?Fair
Temperature: 62?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
Crappie fair on minnows; black bass?fair on plastic worms; catfish?slow on
natural bait.
Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lakes 3, 4, 5, 7, and 23 Reported on:
5/15/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Slow Bluegill:?Fair
catfish slow on natural baits; bluegill fair on worms.
Meramec River (Crawford Co.) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Fair Black Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Slow
Bluegill:?Slow
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: muddy
Catfish fair on cut bait and blood bait; bluegill fair on worms and crickets;
all other species slow.
Meramec River (St. Louis Co.) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Fair Black Bass:?Fair Bluegill:?Slow
Crappie:?Slow
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: muddy
Catfish fair on cut bait and blood bait;?black bass?fair on crankbaits; all
other species slow.
Mississippi River (St. Louis Region) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
Blue catfish fair on cut shad and skipjack near channel ledges.
Missouri River (Lower) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
Blue catfish fair on cut shad and skipjack near channel ledges.
===============
Trout Parks
Bennett Spring State Park Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Rainbow Trout:?Good Brown Trout:?Fair
Temperature: 54?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: dingy
Zone 1 and 2 best lures: gingersnap colored, pink and white colored and black
and yellow colored marabou jigs;?blue colored and gold colored Cracklebacks;
John Deere colored and bedspread colored?mini-jigs;?brown glitter colored
and solid black colored Rooster Tails; tan colored scuds;?easter
egg?colored glo balls; Zone 3 best lures: white colored Power Bait; white
floating salmon eggs; Berkley chunky cheese Power Bait; black and yellow
colored and orange and black colored Beetle Spins. May fishing hours are from
6:30 a.m. until 8:15 p.m.
Maramec Spring Park Reported on: 5/16/13
Fish Reported: Rainbow Trout:?Good Brown Trout:?Slow
Temperature: 56?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: clear
fishing is good; the spring branch is?slowly?falling and?has good flow;
recent rains have made the water dingy; remember to use light weight line and
tackle; fish are holding in areas of deeper water and near submerged habitat,
target these areas for best success;?feather jigs in black and red, white,
and brown/yellow?colors are producing good numbers of fish; trout worms in
orange/white, green/white and yellow are good choices; tightlining doughbait
is producing fish in the late afternoon; fishing hours for the month of
May?are?6:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m.? Kid's Free Fishing Day is Saturday, May
18th.? For more information call 573-265-7801.
Montauk State Park Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Rainbow Trout:?Good
Temperature: 56?
the river level is normal, the water is clear; 2 lb. 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.? May fishing hours are 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m.? For up-to-date
stream conditions check http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?07064440
Roaring River State Park Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Rainbow Trout:?Good
Temperature: 58?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
Kid's Fishing Day is May 18th; the upper holes will be reserved all day just
for kids 15 and under. Children age 15 and under will be able to pick up free
trout tags at the hatchery office any time on the Friday before the event or
all day on Saturday.?Volunteers will be on hand to help out. Children are
encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment. Parents are welcome to help
kids, but only one pole may be used between the helper and the child. The
stream level is falling and most of the holes are very deep this spring; more
weight is needed in a lot of these holes and you will need at least one 3/0
and maybe 2 of them to get to the bottom; best colors on the soft plastics
have been, pink, orange peel, orange, white and chartreuse; when the water is
high, black, brown and skunk colored Rooster Tails will always catch a few
trout;?fluorescent orange and fluorescent pink are doing well; orange,
white, cheese, fluorescent yellow power eggs and power worms are working
well; hatch brown works very well in the hatchery area; jig fishing with tan,
black/yellow, white, olive green and dark brown is working well; flies
working well are black wooly buggers, dark brown, and olive wooly buggers are
also working well; nymphs to use would be copper johns, pheasant tails, sow
bugs, prince nymphs, and burlaps; in Zone 3 use nightcrawlers, corn, Power
Bait paste and nuggets with heavy weight.
Fish Management Notice
Trout Stocking
The Conservation Department stocks trout in each of the trout parks every
evening from the day before the March 1 opener through Oct. 30. Tag sale
estimates determine a daily stocking rate average of 2.25 fish per expected
angler. Except on opening day, three fish are stocked for every expected
angler. From March 1 to Oct. 31, the parks will collectively sell more than
400,000 tags and stock more than 900,000 fish. These fish will average about
12 inches long over the season, but some variation occurs. Dozens of lunkers
weighing upwards of 3 pounds are stocked each year. A few tip the scales at
more than 10 pounds.
Statewide Fishing Report
Attention Fishing Report Subscribers:
In most streams south of the Missouri River, black bass season will open May
25, 2013, until that date all black bass in those streams must be returned to
the water unharmed immediately after being caught. For details see Chapter 6
of the Wildlife Code.
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
Binder Lake Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Fair Largemouth Bass:?Fair Bluegill:?Good
Temperature: 64?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
crappie and largemouth bass fair; bluegill good; all other species slow.
Blind Pony Lake Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Largemouth Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Good
Temperature: 57?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
largemouth bass fair on soft plastics; crappie good?on jigs; 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) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Slow Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 58?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
black bass season closed; white bass fair on?light colored soft plastics
and?crappie jigs; crappie?slow, try minnows and crappie jigs; catfish?fair
on shad and worms.
Lake of the Ozarks (Glaize) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Fair White Bass:?Slow Crappie:?Fair
Catfish:?Slow
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
black bass?fair on?dark colored soft plastics and crankbaits; white bass
slow, try?light colored soft plastics and Rooster Tails; crappie?fair?on
crappie jigs and minnows; catfish?slow, try?cut baits, worms
and?stinkbaits.?
Lake of the Ozarks (Gravois) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Black Bass:?Fair White Bass:?Slow
Catfish:?Good
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
crappie good on minnows; black bass fair on crankbaits; white bass slow;
catfish good on cut bait.
Lake of the Ozarks (Niangua) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good Crappie:?Fair Catfish:?Good White
Bass:?Slow
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
black bass good on spinnerbaits; crappie?fair on minnows and small plastic
jigs; catfish fair using cut shad and live bluegill; white bass slow, try
light colored soft plastic jigs.
Lake of the Ozarks (Osage) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good Crappie:?Good Catfish:?Fair White
Bass:?Slow
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
black bass good on spinnerbaits; crappie good on minnows and small plastic
jigs; catfish fair using cut shad and live bluegill; white bass slow, try
using light colored soft plastics.
Lamine River Reported on: 5/15/13
Water Type: muddy
?2' high; all species slow.
Little Dixie Lake Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Channel Catfish:?Good Largemouth Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 58?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
crappie?good on?minnows and white jigs; channel catfish good on chicken
liver; largemouth bass fair on plastic worms; all other species slow;?all
use including fishing is prohibited from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Missouri River (Middle) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Good Blue Catfish:?Fair
Water Level: normal
Water Type: muddy
channel catfish good on nightcrawlers and stinkbaits; blue catfish fair on
cut baits; all other?species slow.
Osage (lower, at Tuscumbia) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Slow Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 58?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
black bass season closed; white bass fair on?light colored soft plastics
and?crappie jigs; crappie?slow, try minnows and crappie jigs; catfish?fair
on shad and worms.??
===============
Kansas City
Atkinson Lake (Schell-Osage CA) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Good Black Crappie:?Good
Temperature: 69?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
All other species fair.
James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Slow Redear Sunfish:?Fair
Temperature: 64?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
largemouth bass good on crankbaits; bluegill good on worms around brush
piles; crappie slow with some success on jigs 2' under a bobber near deep
water brush.?
Missouri River (Kansas City area) Reported on: 5/14/13
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: muddy
all species slow.
Montrose Lake Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Good Crappie:?Fair Smallmouth Bass:?Slow
Temperature: 74?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
Fishing pressure light.?
Schell Lake (Schell-Osage CA) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Good Crappie:?Good
Temperature: 70?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
All other species fair.?
Truman Lake Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Smallmouth Bass:?Fair Catfish:?Good
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
Lake level 713.20; crappie good on banks on jigs and minnows; black bass fair
in creeks on buzzbaits; catfish good on cut bait; white bass good in creeks
on crankbaits.?
Truman Lake Tailwaters Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Catfish:?Good White Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 64?
Water Level: rising
Water Type: dingy
===============
Northeast
Henry Sever Lake Reported on: 5/14/13
Temperature: 59?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
all species slow.
Hunnewell Lake Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Largemouth Bass:?Good Channel Catfish:?Good Crappie:?Good
Temperature: 66?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
largemouth bass good on flukes; channel catfish good using earthworms;
crappie good on marabou jigs; 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 Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
channel catfish fair on setlines using sunfish; channel catfish fair using
nightcrawlers and leeches on pole and line; all other species slow.
Mark Twain Lake Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Fair Channel Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 57?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
boat ramps are now open; crappie fair on minnows and jigs on banks but
running small; channel catfish fair on setlines using goldfish and sunfish;
all other species slow.?
Mississippi River (upper) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Flathead Catfish:?Fair Channel Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 56?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: muddy
flathead catfish and channel catfish fair on live baits; all other species
slow.
Salt (below Mark Twain) Reported on: 5/14/13
Temperature: 54?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
all?species slow.
Thomas Hill Reservoir Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish
Temperature: 68?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
channel catfish fair on nightcrawlers; all other species slow.
===============
Northwest
Bilby Ranch Lake Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Bluegill:?Good Walleye:?Slow
65 degrees, low, dingy; crappie good in back of coves; bluegill good; black
bass good; walleye slow.
Grand River Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Blue Catfish:?Good Channel Catfish:?Good Flathead
Catfish:?Fair
64 degrees, muddy; blue catfish and channel catfish good on nightcrawlers and
cut shad; flathead catfish fair on live bait; all other species slow.
Lake Paho Reported on: 5/15/13
60 degrees; a recent electrofishing survey conducted by MDC personnel
produced numerous largemouth bass exceeding 18" minimum length limit as well
as several crappie in the 12" - 15" range; most fish were encountered right
up against the bank; water clarity is improving daily; fishing for all
species should improve greatly within the next week.
Missouri River (upper) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Good Blue Catfish:?Fair Common
Carp:?Fair
48 degreees, high, dingy; channel catfish good on worms and dip bait; blue
catfish fair on worms; carp fair on worms and corn; all other species slow.
Mozingo Lake Reported on: 5/15/13
62 degrees, below normal pool level; clear; all species good.
Pony Express Lake Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Largemouth Bass:?Good
64 degrees, low, clear; crappie good on all colors/jigs in shallow water;
largemouth bass good on plastic worms in shallow water; all other species
slow.
Smithville Lake Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Flathead Catfish:?Fair Largemouth
Bass:?Fair White Bass:?Fair Walleye:?Fair
61 degrees, 9" low and rising, 8 cfs; crappie are fair to good; the spawn
appears to have begun with some limits of fish being taken from shallow water
(right on the banks); best catches are on minnows or jigs that are chart or
chart combination; catfish fair on? cut shad with a few also being caught on
liver, nightcrawlers and crappie sized minnows; largemouth bass fair on
suspended baits, jigs and spinnerbaits; white bass fair on shad colored
lures/jigs with some fish being reported up the Little Platte Arm of the
lake; walleye fair; begin fishing large lake points with Rattle Traps and
crankbaits to catch post spawn fish.
===============
Ozark
Big Piney River (lower, Pulaski Co.) Reported on: 5/15/13
Temperature: 65?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
goggle-eye fair on crankbaits and jigs.
Big Piney River (upper, Texas Co.) Reported on: 5/15/13
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
all species fair.
Bryant Creek Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Smallmouth Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 64?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
smallmouth bass and google-eye fair on soft plastics.
Bull Shoals Lake (East) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Temperature: 65?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
white bass and crappie fair on jigs on minnows.
Current River Reported on: 5/15/13
Temperature: 69?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
google-eye good on soft plastics.
Eleven Point River Reported on: 5/15/13
Temperature: 59?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
all species fair.
Gasconade River (middle) Reported on: 5/15/13
Temperature: 65?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
goggle-eye fair on crankbaits and jigs.
Gasconade River (upper) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Sunfish:?Good
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
goggle-eye and sunfish good on live bait and small plastics.
Jacks Fork River Reported on: 5/15/13
Temperature: 66?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
all species good.
Norfork Lake Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Temperature: 64?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
white bass and crappie fair on jigs and minnows.
North Fork of the White River Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Smallmouth Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
smallmouth bass and goggle-eye fair on soft plastics.
===============
Southeast
Black River (above Clearwater Lake) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Slow Bluegill:?Fair Black Bass:?Slow
Smallmouth Bass:?Good Northern Rock Bass (Goggle-Eye):?Good
Temperature: 67?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
smallmouth bass and goggle-eye good on plastic baits and live minnows;
bluegill fair on live worms; all other species slow.
Black River (below Clearwater Lake) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Fair White Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 67?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
crappie fair on minnows and assorted jigs under a float below spillway in
deeper water; white bass fair on minnows and assorted jigs; all other species
slow.
Castor River (above Zalma) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Slow Bluegill:?Slow
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
all species slow.
Clearwater Lake Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Slow Black Bass:?Slow White Bass:?Good
Largemouth Bass:?Slow
Temperature: 70?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: clear
white bass good on white and/or chartreuse Road Runners in the Black River
arm; crappie slow on jigs in creek channel arms; largemouth bass slow on
topwater jerkbaits; all other species slow.
Council Bluff Lake Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Slow Crappie:?Slow Largemouth Bass:?Good
Redear Sunfish:?Fair
Temperature: 65?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
largemouth bass good on minnows, swimbaits and?dark colored soft
plastics;?redear sunfish fair on worms; all other species slow.
Cypress Lake Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Largemouth Bass:?Fair Bluegill:?Good Redear
Sunfish:?Good Channel Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 72?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
crappie good on minnows, goldfish and jigs in 1' - 3' of water; bluegill and
redear sunfish good in 1' - 3' of water on jigs, crickets and worms;
largemouth bass fair in 1' - 3' of water on minnows, jigs, plastic worms and
crankbaits; channel catfish fair in 2' - 8' of water on worms, crickets and
stinkbait; all other species slow.? NEW CRAPPIE REGULATION: no length limit
on crappie on Cypress Lake, the daily limit of 15?remains in effect.
Duck Creek C.A. Pool #1 Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Largemouth Bass:?Good Crappie:?Slow Channel Catfish:?Slow
Bluegill:?Slow Warmouth:?Slow
Temperature: 71?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
largemouth bass good on topwater lures and spinnerbaits; all other species
slow.
Lake Girardeau Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Largemouth Bass:?Good Bluegill:?Good Crappie:?Fair Redear
Sunfish:?Good Channel Catfish:?Fair
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
largemouth bass, bluegill and redear sunfish?good on?worms;?all other
species fair.
Mississippi River (Middle) Reported on: 5/13/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Good Blue Catfish:?Good Flathead
Catfish:?Good
Water Level: falling
Water Type: muddy
channel catfish, flathead catfish?and blue catfish good on worms, cut
baits?and stinkbaits; all other species fair.
Mississippi River (Ohio River to Arkansas) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Largemouth Bass:?Slow Channel Catfish:?Slow
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
all?species slow.
Perry County Lake Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Sunfish:?Fair Largemouth Bass:?Fair Channel
Catfish:?Slow
Temperature: 72?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
crappie good on minnows; sunfish fair on crickets; largemouth bass fair on
spinnerbaits; all other species slow.
Robert DeLaney Lake Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Fair Bluegill:?Fair Black Bass:?Slow Channel
Catfish:?Fair
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
channel catfish, bluegill and crappie are fair; all other?species slow.?
NEW CRAPPIE REGULATION: no length limit on crappie on DeLaney Lake, the daily
limit of 15 remains in effect.
St. Francis River (above Wappapello Lake) Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Green Sunfish:?Good Longear Sunfish:?Good Black
Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 62?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
sunfish good on Beetle Spins and small minnows; black bass fair on imitation
crayfish baits; all other?species slow.? REMINDER: black bass season
remains closed on the Upper St. Francis River until May 25, 2013.
St. Francis River (below Wappapello Lake) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Good Flathead Catfish:?Good Black
Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Temperature: 67?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
channel catfish?good?on stinkbaits, chicken liver?and worms; flathead
catfish good on small?sunfish and goldfish;?black bass fair on artificial
baits; crappie fair on minnows and jigs; all other species slow.
Wappapello Lake Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair Channel Catfish:?Good
Bluegill:?Fair
Temperature: 62?
Water Level: high
channel catfish good using nightcrawlers and live bait near rocky areas at
night;?crappie fair using minnows and jigs in the brush; black bass fair
using crankbaits; bluegill fair using crickets and worms; all other species
slow. Anglers should note the 9" 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.
===============
Southwest
Bull Shoals Lake (West) Reported on: 5/13/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Good
Walleye:?Fair
Temperature: 59?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
black bass good on crankbaits and spinnerbaits on windy points, also try soft
plastics and jigs; crappie?good on minnows and 1/16th oz. jigs near brush
piles; white bass?fair on Alabama Rig (three hooks only) with white plastic
grubs, white swimming minnows, and?small Rapalas, also try trolling; walleye
fair on jerkbaits; all other species slow.?
James River Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Good White Bass:?Good Black Bass:?Good
Crappie:?Good
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
black bass good on worms and minnow style baits in the back of coves; crappie
good on jigs and minnows over brush piles and on the banks; white bass good
on spinnerbaits, Road Runners and small jigs; catfish good on nightcrawlers
and cut baits.
Lake Taneycomo Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Rainbow Trout:?Good
Temperature: 50?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
trout good on black, olive, and white 1/16 oz. marabou jigs while drifting
with the current in the upper portion of the lake, Rooster Tails and Rapala
type crankbaits also working well,?try orange, chartreuse, white/pink Power
Bait, corn or nightcrawlers?in the lower portion of the lake; all other
species slow.
Niangua River Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Fair Northern Rock Bass (Goggle-Eye):?Fair
Rainbow Trout:?Fair
Temperature: 58?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
black bass?fair on live minnows and soft plastics; goggle-eye fair on
minnows and soft plastics; trout fair on bright colored Power Baits.?
Pomme de Terre Reservoir Reported on: 5/13/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good Crappie:?Good Walleye:?Slow White
Bass:?Slow Catfish:?Slow
Temperature: 64?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
crappie good on jigs and minnows around structure in 6' - 10' of water; black
bass good on jigs and spinnerbaits in brush; all other species slow.
Stockton Lake Reported on: 5/13/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good Walleye:?Good Crappie:?Good White
Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 58?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
walleye good on jigs tipped with nightcrawlers and while trolling with
crankbaits; black bass good on crankbaits and floating worms; crappie good on
jigs and minnows; white bass fair while trolling with crankbaits and
spinnerbaits.
Table Rock Lake (James River arm) Reported on: 5/13/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Good
Temperature: 58?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
black bass good on deep diving crankbaits, green or brown jigs and soft
plastic green crayfish, Shakey Head soft plastic worms in watermelon colors
in 12' - 14' of water are also working well; crappie good on live minnows,
also try soft plastic minnows and jigs?in 2' - 4' of water; white bass?fair
below Galena on spinnerbaits, white Vibric Rooster Tails or small crankbaits,
purple, smoke and blue swimming minnows with 1/16 or 1/18 oz. jigs are also
working well, fish just before dark or after dark for best results; all other
species slow.?
Table Rock Lake (main lake) Reported on: 5/13/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
black bass fair on smoke colored worms and grubs around secondary points with
scattered timber; crappie fair using 3/8 oz. ball jig with a smoke grub and
chartreuse spinnerbait.
===============
St. Louis
Big River Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Fair Black Bass:?Slow Crappie:?Slow
Bluegill:?Fair
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: dingy
Catfish fair on cut bait and blood bait; bluegill fair on worms and crickets;
all other species slow.
Bourbeuse River Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Slow Catfish:?Slow Crappie:?Slow Bluegill
:?Slow
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: muddy
All species slow.
Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lake 33 Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Fair Black Bass:?Fair Catfish:?Slow
Bluegill:?Fair
Temperature: 62?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
Crappie fair on minnows; black bass?fair on plastic worms; catfish?slow on
natural bait.
Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lakes 3, 4, 5, 7, and 23 Reported on:
5/15/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Slow Bluegill:?Fair
catfish slow on natural baits; bluegill fair on worms.
Meramec River (Crawford Co.) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Fair Black Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Slow
Bluegill:?Slow
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: muddy
Catfish fair on cut bait and blood bait; bluegill fair on worms and crickets;
all other species slow.
Meramec River (St. Louis Co.) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Fair Black Bass:?Fair Bluegill:?Slow
Crappie:?Slow
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: muddy
Catfish fair on cut bait and blood bait;?black bass?fair on crankbaits; all
other species slow.
Mississippi River (St. Louis Region) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
Blue catfish fair on cut shad and skipjack near channel ledges.
Missouri River (Lower) Reported on: 5/15/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
Blue catfish fair on cut shad and skipjack near channel ledges.
===============
Trout Parks
Bennett Spring State Park Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Rainbow Trout:?Good Brown Trout:?Fair
Temperature: 54?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: dingy
Zone 1 and 2 best lures: gingersnap colored, pink and white colored and black
and yellow colored marabou jigs;?blue colored and gold colored Cracklebacks;
John Deere colored and bedspread colored?mini-jigs;?brown glitter colored
and solid black colored Rooster Tails; tan colored scuds;?easter
egg?colored glo balls; Zone 3 best lures: white colored Power Bait; white
floating salmon eggs; Berkley chunky cheese Power Bait; black and yellow
colored and orange and black colored Beetle Spins. May fishing hours are from
6:30 a.m. until 8:15 p.m.
Maramec Spring Park Reported on: 5/16/13
Fish Reported: Rainbow Trout:?Good Brown Trout:?Slow
Temperature: 56?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: clear
fishing is good; the spring branch is?slowly?falling and?has good flow;
recent rains have made the water dingy; remember to use light weight line and
tackle; fish are holding in areas of deeper water and near submerged habitat,
target these areas for best success;?feather jigs in black and red, white,
and brown/yellow?colors are producing good numbers of fish; trout worms in
orange/white, green/white and yellow are good choices; tightlining doughbait
is producing fish in the late afternoon; fishing hours for the month of
May?are?6:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m.? Kid's Free Fishing Day is Saturday, May
18th.? For more information call 573-265-7801.
Montauk State Park Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Rainbow Trout:?Good
Temperature: 56?
the river level is normal, the water is clear; 2 lb. 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.? May fishing hours are 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m.? For up-to-date
stream conditions check http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?07064440
Roaring River State Park Reported on: 5/14/13
Fish Reported: Rainbow Trout:?Good
Temperature: 58?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
Kid's Fishing Day is May 18th; the upper holes will be reserved all day just
for kids 15 and under. Children age 15 and under will be able to pick up free
trout tags at the hatchery office any time on the Friday before the event or
all day on Saturday.?Volunteers will be on hand to help out. Children are
encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment. Parents are welcome to help
kids, but only one pole may be used between the helper and the child. The
stream level is falling and most of the holes are very deep this spring; more
weight is needed in a lot of these holes and you will need at least one 3/0
and maybe 2 of them to get to the bottom; best colors on the soft plastics
have been, pink, orange peel, orange, white and chartreuse; when the water is
high, black, brown and skunk colored Rooster Tails will always catch a few
trout;?fluorescent orange and fluorescent pink are doing well; orange,
white, cheese, fluorescent yellow power eggs and power worms are working
well; hatch brown works very well in the hatchery area; jig fishing with tan,
black/yellow, white, olive green and dark brown is working well; flies
working well are black wooly buggers, dark brown, and olive wooly buggers are
also working well; nymphs to use would be copper johns, pheasant tails, sow
bugs, prince nymphs, and burlaps; in Zone 3 use nightcrawlers, corn, Power
Bait paste and nuggets with heavy weight.
Fish Management Notice
Trout Stocking
The Conservation Department stocks trout in each of the trout parks every
evening from the day before the March 1 opener through Oct. 30. Tag sale
estimates determine a daily stocking rate average of 2.25 fish per expected
angler. Except on opening day, three fish are stocked for every expected
angler. From March 1 to Oct. 31, the parks will collectively sell more than
400,000 tags and stock more than 900,000 fish. These fish will average about
12 inches long over the season, but some variation occurs. Dozens of lunkers
weighing upwards of 3 pounds are stocked each year. A few tip the scales at
more than 10 pounds.