- 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: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Fair Largemouth Bass:?Fair Bluegill:?Good
Temperature: 71?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
crappie and largemouth bass fair; bluegill good; all other species slow.
Blind Pony Lake Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Largemouth Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Good
Temperature: 65?
Water Level: high
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: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: White Bass:?Slow Crappie:?Slow Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 62?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
black bass season opens May 25, slow on worms and minnows;?white bass?slow
on?light colored soft plastics; crappie?slow; catfish?fair on cut bait.
Lake of the Ozarks (Osage) Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good Crappie:?Fair Catfish:?Fair White
Bass:?Slow
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
black bass good on soft plastic worms and buzzbaits; crappie?fair?on small
plastic jigs; catfish fair using?worms and live bluegill; white bass slow,
try using light colored soft plastics.
Lamine River Reported on: 5/22/13
Water Type: muddy
?at flood stage, violent current carrying debris downstream; all species
slow.
Little Dixie Lake Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Channel Catfish:?Good Bluegill:?Good
Largemouth Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 62?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: muddy
crappie?good on?live minnows and?jigs; channel catfish good on chicken
liver;?bluegill good on earthworms; 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: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Fair
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
channel catfish?fair on stinkbaits;? all other?species slow.
===============
Kansas City
Atkinson Lake (Schell-Osage CA) Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Good Crappie:?Good Black Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 73?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: muddy
All other species fair.
James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area Reported on: 5/21/13
Temperature: 68?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
channel catfish fair on chicken liver and cut baits; largemouth bass good on
crankbaits; bluegill good on worms around brush piles and spawning beds;
redear sunfish good on small jigs on spawning beds; crappie slow with some
success on jigs 2'?under a bobber near deep water brush.
Missouri River (Kansas City area) Reported on: 5/21/13
Temperature: 70?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: muddy
channel and blue catfish slow with some success using worms; all other
species slow.
Montrose Lake Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Fair Crappie:?Slow Black Bass:?Slow White
Bass:?Slow
Temperature: 67?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
Fishing pressure light.?
Schell Lake (Schell-Osage CA) Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Good Crappie:?Good Black Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 73?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: muddy
All other species fair.?
Truman Lake Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good White Bass:?Good Catfish:?Good Black
Bass:?Good
Temperature: 70?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
Lake level 710; crappie good on banks on jigs and minnows; black bass good on
buzzbaits; catfish good on cut bait; white bass good in creeks on
crankbaits.?
Truman Lake Tailwaters Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Catfish:?Good White Bass:?Good
Temperature: 70?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
===============
Northeast
Henry Sever Lake Reported on: 5/21/13
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: muddy
all species slow.
Hunnewell Lake Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Largemouth Bass:?Good Channel Catfish:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Temperature: 73?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
channel catfish fair on earthworms; crappie fair on Beetle Spins; largemouth
bass good 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 Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Fair Channel Catfish:?Good Common
Carp:?Fair
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
channel catfish fair along riprap on Hwy AX using leeches and worms; channel
catfish good on setlines using bluegill; bow fishing for carp fair along
shoreline; all other species slow.
Mark Twain Lake Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Fair Flathead Catfish:?Fair Blue Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 55?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
crappie fair on minnows and jigs close to shoreline; blue catfish fair on
goldfish and bluegill; flathead catfish fair on goldfish and bluegill; all
other species slow.
Mississippi River (upper) Reported on: 5/22/13
Temperature: 66?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: muddy
all species slow.
Salt (below Mark Twain) Reported on: 5/21/13
Temperature: 54?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
all?species slow.
Thomas Hill Reservoir Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 67?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
channel catfish fair on nightcrawlers; all other species slow.
===============
Northwest
Bilby Ranch Lake Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Fair Largemouth Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
dingy; channel catfish fair on cut bait; black bass fair on jerkbaits;
crappie fair on jigs.
Grand River Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Blue Catfish:?Good Channel Catfish:?Good Flathead
Catfish:?Good
67 degrees, muddy; blue catfish and channel catfish good on nightcrawlers and
cut shad; flathead catfish good on live bait; all other species slow.
Lake Paho Reported on: 5/22/13
68 degrees, shallow; fishing is improving daily for all species; shallow
water is producing most of the catches; channel catfish best on natural
baits; largemouth bass best on soft plastics; crappie best on small spinners.
Missouri River (upper) Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Good Blue Catfish:?Fair Flathead
Catfish:?Fair Common Carp:?Good
68 degrees, high, murky;?channel catfish good on worms and dip bait;?blue
catfish fair on worms and cut bait;?flathead catfish fair on worms; carp
good on worms and corn; all other species slow.
Mozingo Lake Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Largemouth Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair Channel Catfish:?Fair
67 degrees, below normal level and rising, clear; largemouth bass fair on
jerkbaits and soft plastics; crappie fair in staging areas and mid-depth
brush piles; channel catfish fair on cut bait; all other species slow.
Pony Express Lake Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Bluegill:?Good Crappie:?Good
69 degrees, normal, clear; bluegill excellent on worms; crappie good on jigs;
all other species fair.
Smithville Lake Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Fair Catfish:?Fair Largemouth Bass:?Fair White
Bass:?Fair Walleye:?Fair
66 degrees, 9" low and steady, 8 cfs; crappie fair, spawn appears to be going
on with some limits of fish being taken from shallow water (right on banks),
best catches are on minnows or jigs that are chart or chart combination;
catfish fair on cut shad with a few being caught on liver, nightcrawlers and
crappie-sized minnows; largemouth bass fair on suspended baits, jigs and
spinnerbaits; white bass fair with reports of some being caught up the Little
Platte arm of the lake on shad colored lures/jigs; walleye fair; begin
fishing lake points with Rattle Traps and crankbaits to catch post spawn
fish.
===============
Ozark
Big Piney River (lower, Pulaski Co.) Reported on: 5/22/13
Temperature: 68?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
goggle-eye good on jigs and small crankbaits.
Big Piney River (upper, Texas Co.) Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Smallmouth Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 62?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
smallmouth bass fair on soft plastic baits; all other species slow.
Bryant Creek Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Smallmouth Bass:?Fair Northern Rock Bass
(Goggle-Eye):?Fair
Temperature: 64?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
smallmouth bass and google-eye fair on soft plastics.
Bull Shoals Lake (East) Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Temperature: 65?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
white bass and crappie fair on jigs and minnows.
Current River Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Smallmouth Bass:?Good
Temperature: 67?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
smallmouth bass good on plastic worms; all other species slow.
Eleven Point River Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Rainbow Trout:?Good
Temperature: 59?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
rainbow trout good on corn and minnows; all other species fair.
Gasconade River (middle) Reported on: 5/22/13
Temperature: 69?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
goggle-eye good on jigs and small crankbaits.
Gasconade River (upper) Reported on: 5/22/13
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: 5/22/13
Temperature: 65?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
all species good.
Norfork Lake Reported on: 5/22/13
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: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Smallmouth Bass:?Fair Northern Rock Bass
(Goggle-Eye):?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: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Slow Bluegill:?Fair White Bass:?Fair
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, spinnerbaits?and live
minnows; bluegill fair on nightcrawlers; white bass fair on Rooster Tails,
all other species slow.
Black River (below Clearwater Lake) Reported on: 5/21/13
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: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Slow Bluegill:?Slow
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
all species slow.
Clearwater Lake Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Fair Black Bass:?Slow White Bass:?Good
Largemouth Bass:?Slow
Temperature: 71?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: dingy
white bass good on Road Runners; crappie fair on jigs in brush piles and
creek mouths;?all other species slow.
Council Bluff Lake Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Slow Crappie:?Slow Largemouth Bass:?Good
Redear Sunfish:?Fair
Temperature: 68?
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: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Largemouth Bass:?Good Bluegill:?Good Redear
Sunfish:?Good Channel Catfish:?Good
Temperature: 75?
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 good in 1' - 3' of water on minnows, jigs, plastic worms and
crankbaits; channel catfish good 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: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Largemouth Bass:?Good Crappie:?Slow Channel Catfish:?Slow
Bluegill:?Good Redear Sunfish:?Good
Temperature: 75?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
largemouth bass good on topwater lures; bluegill and redear sunfish good on
crickets and jigs; all other species slow.
Lake Girardeau Reported on: 5/21/13
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: 5/21/13
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: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Largemouth Bass:?Slow Channel Catfish:?Slow
Temperature: 33?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
all?species slow.
Perry County Lake Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Sunfish:?Good Largemouth Bass:?Fair Channel
Catfish:?Slow
Temperature: 70?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
crappie good on minnows; sunfish good on crickets; largemouth bass fair on
soft plastics; all other species slow.
Robert DeLaney Lake Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Fair Bluegill:?Fair Catfish:?Fair
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
channel catfish, bluegill and crappie 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: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Green Sunfish:?Slow Longear Sunfish:?Slow Black
Bass:?Slow Crappie:?Good Channel Catfish:?Good
Temperature: 65?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
crappie good on minnows and assorted jigs; channel catfish good on cut bait
and nightcrawlers; 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: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Good Flathead Catfish:?Good Black
Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Temperature: 72?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
channel catfish?good?on pole and line and trotlines with?stinkbaits,
chicken liver?and worms; flathead catfish good on trotlines with live
bait;?black bass fair on artificial baits; crappie fair on minnows and jigs;
all other species slow.
Wappapello Lake Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair Channel Catfish:?Good
Bluegill:?Fair
Temperature: 74?
Water Level: falling
channel catfish good using nightcrawlers and live bait on jug lines and
trotlines at night;?crappie fair using minnows and jigs in the brush; black
bass fair using crankbaits and plastic worms; 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: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Walleye:?Fair
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
black bass good on crankbaits and spinnerbaits on windy points, also try soft
plastics and jigs; crappie?fair 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: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Good White Bass:?Slow Black Bass:?Good
Crappie:?Slow
Temperature: 63?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
black bass good on tube baits along bottom, Shakey Head jigs and swimming
grubs; catfish good on minnows and nightcrawlers; white bass slow, best while
trolling with jigs and minnows; crappie slow, best on minnows and green or
pumpkin colored jigs in brush piles or along the bank.
Lake Taneycomo Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Rainbow Trout:?Good
Temperature: 50?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
trout good in the upper portion of the lake on black, olive/white 1/16th oz.
marabou jigs when drifting with the current, black/chrome and white/chrome
Rooster Tails and Rapalas also working well; trout good in the lower portion
of the lake on fluorescent orange, chartreuse, white and pink Power Bait
nuggets; all other species slow.
Niangua River Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Fair Northern Rock Bass (Goggle-Eye):?Fair
Rainbow Trout:?Fair
Temperature: 58?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
black bass?fair on 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: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good Crappie:?Good Walleye:?Good White
Bass:?Slow Catfish:?Good
Temperature: 65?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
crappie good on minnows and Crappie Nibbles in 10' of water; black bass good
on main lake points; walleye good trolling with crankbaits on flats; catfish
good using jug lines; all other species slow.
Stockton Lake Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Fair Walleye:?Good Crappie:?Fair
Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 62?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
walleye good trolling crankbaits and jigs tipped with nightcrawlers; crappie
fair trolling crankbaits and drifting with minnows; black bass fair on
floating worms and flipping jigs; catfish fair on nightcrawlers.
Table Rock Lake (James River arm) Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Good
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
black bass good on?crankbaits that dive 10' to 12', green or brown jigs and
soft plastic green crayfish or salamanders, Shakey Head soft plastic worms in
watermelon colors in 12' - 14' of water, and white spinnerbaits with a gold
blade thrown against rocky bluffs?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; all other species slow.?
Table Rock Lake (main lake) Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good Crappie:?Good Northern Rock Bass
(Goggle-Eye):?Good
Temperature: 68?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
black bass good on tube baits and Finesse worms in UV green with 3/16th oz.
jig in 10' - 20' of water on sloping gravel banks, topwater baits also
working well before dark; crappie good on live minnows and jigs; goggle-eye
good on smoke copper grubs; all other species slow.
===============
St. Louis
Big River Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Fair Catfish:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Bluegill:?Fair
Temperature: 70?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
all species fair on natural baits.
Bourbeuse River Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Slow Catfish:?Slow Bluegill:?Slow
Crappie:?Slow
Temperature: 68?
Water Level: rising
Water Type: muddy
All species slow due to the high water.
Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lake 33 Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Fair Bluegill:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Catfish:?Good
Temperature: 70?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
Catfish good on cut bait, doughbait and livers; black bass fair on plastic
worms; crappie fair on minnows and jigs; bluegill fair on worms.
Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lakes 3, 4, 5, 7, and 23 Reported on:
5/22/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Good Bluegill:?Good
Temperature: 70?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
Catfish good on cut bait, doughbait and livers; all other species fair on
natural bait.
Meramec River (Crawford Co.) Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good Northern Rock Bass (Goggle-Eye):?Good
Temperature: 66?
Water Level: rising
Water Type: muddy
black bass good on soft plastics; goggle-eye good on live bait.
Meramec River (St. Louis Co.) Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Fair Black Bass:?Fair Bluegill:?Fair
Crappie:?Fair
Temperature: 70?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
Catfish fair on cut bait and blood bait; black bass fair on crankbaits; all
other species slow.
Mississippi River (St. Louis Region) Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Blue Catfish:?Fair Black Bass:?Slow Crappie:?Slow
Temperature: 68?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
blue catfish fair on cut shad and skipjack; drum fair on worms.
Missouri River (Lower) Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Blue Catfish:?Fair Freshwater Drum:?Fair
Temperature: 68?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
blue catfish fair on cut shad and skipjack; freshwater drum fair on worms.
===============
Trout Parks
Bennett Spring State Park Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Rainbow Trout:?Good Brown Trout:?Fair
Temperature: 54?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: clear
Zone 1 and 2 lures that are working well are: white floss, gold-plated green
or black and yellow wooly, crawdad marabou - 1/8 oz., red and white mini
marabou, glo balls in white, salmon with dot, egg with dot, easter egg, Jimi
Hendrix; Rooster Tails in yellow and black, brown with orange tail, white
with silver blade; peacock grub, copper johns, black and yellow, gingersnap,
ginger, or white marabou, brassies in gold with gold bead, red WD40's,
pheasant tail nymph; Zone 3 baits that are popular are Gulp minnow grubs,
Berkley Power Bait orange, trout nuggets.? June fishing Hours are 6:30 a.m.
- 8:30 p.m.? Free fishing weekend will be June 8th and 9th.? Fishing
permits and tags are not needed to fish Bennett Spring during this weekend.?
Moss cutting is scheduled for June 25th and 26th.
Maramec Spring Park Reported on: 5/20/13
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;?remember to use light weight line and tackle; fish are holding in
areas of swift 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.
For more information call 573-265-7801.
Montauk State Park Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Rainbow Trout:?Good
Temperature: 56?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
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: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Rainbow Trout:?Good
Temperature: 58?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
The stream level is staying high 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: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Fair Largemouth Bass:?Fair Bluegill:?Good
Temperature: 71?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
crappie and largemouth bass fair; bluegill good; all other species slow.
Blind Pony Lake Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Largemouth Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Good
Temperature: 65?
Water Level: high
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: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: White Bass:?Slow Crappie:?Slow Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 62?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
black bass season opens May 25, slow on worms and minnows;?white bass?slow
on?light colored soft plastics; crappie?slow; catfish?fair on cut bait.
Lake of the Ozarks (Osage) Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good Crappie:?Fair Catfish:?Fair White
Bass:?Slow
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
black bass good on soft plastic worms and buzzbaits; crappie?fair?on small
plastic jigs; catfish fair using?worms and live bluegill; white bass slow,
try using light colored soft plastics.
Lamine River Reported on: 5/22/13
Water Type: muddy
?at flood stage, violent current carrying debris downstream; all species
slow.
Little Dixie Lake Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Channel Catfish:?Good Bluegill:?Good
Largemouth Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 62?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: muddy
crappie?good on?live minnows and?jigs; channel catfish good on chicken
liver;?bluegill good on earthworms; 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: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Fair
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
channel catfish?fair on stinkbaits;? all other?species slow.
===============
Kansas City
Atkinson Lake (Schell-Osage CA) Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Good Crappie:?Good Black Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 73?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: muddy
All other species fair.
James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area Reported on: 5/21/13
Temperature: 68?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
channel catfish fair on chicken liver and cut baits; largemouth bass good on
crankbaits; bluegill good on worms around brush piles and spawning beds;
redear sunfish good on small jigs on spawning beds; crappie slow with some
success on jigs 2'?under a bobber near deep water brush.
Missouri River (Kansas City area) Reported on: 5/21/13
Temperature: 70?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: muddy
channel and blue catfish slow with some success using worms; all other
species slow.
Montrose Lake Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Fair Crappie:?Slow Black Bass:?Slow White
Bass:?Slow
Temperature: 67?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
Fishing pressure light.?
Schell Lake (Schell-Osage CA) Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Good Crappie:?Good Black Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 73?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: muddy
All other species fair.?
Truman Lake Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good White Bass:?Good Catfish:?Good Black
Bass:?Good
Temperature: 70?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
Lake level 710; crappie good on banks on jigs and minnows; black bass good on
buzzbaits; catfish good on cut bait; white bass good in creeks on
crankbaits.?
Truman Lake Tailwaters Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Catfish:?Good White Bass:?Good
Temperature: 70?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
===============
Northeast
Henry Sever Lake Reported on: 5/21/13
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: muddy
all species slow.
Hunnewell Lake Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Largemouth Bass:?Good Channel Catfish:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Temperature: 73?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
channel catfish fair on earthworms; crappie fair on Beetle Spins; largemouth
bass good 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 Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Fair Channel Catfish:?Good Common
Carp:?Fair
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
channel catfish fair along riprap on Hwy AX using leeches and worms; channel
catfish good on setlines using bluegill; bow fishing for carp fair along
shoreline; all other species slow.
Mark Twain Lake Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Fair Flathead Catfish:?Fair Blue Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 55?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
crappie fair on minnows and jigs close to shoreline; blue catfish fair on
goldfish and bluegill; flathead catfish fair on goldfish and bluegill; all
other species slow.
Mississippi River (upper) Reported on: 5/22/13
Temperature: 66?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: muddy
all species slow.
Salt (below Mark Twain) Reported on: 5/21/13
Temperature: 54?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
all?species slow.
Thomas Hill Reservoir Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 67?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
channel catfish fair on nightcrawlers; all other species slow.
===============
Northwest
Bilby Ranch Lake Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Fair Largemouth Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
dingy; channel catfish fair on cut bait; black bass fair on jerkbaits;
crappie fair on jigs.
Grand River Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Blue Catfish:?Good Channel Catfish:?Good Flathead
Catfish:?Good
67 degrees, muddy; blue catfish and channel catfish good on nightcrawlers and
cut shad; flathead catfish good on live bait; all other species slow.
Lake Paho Reported on: 5/22/13
68 degrees, shallow; fishing is improving daily for all species; shallow
water is producing most of the catches; channel catfish best on natural
baits; largemouth bass best on soft plastics; crappie best on small spinners.
Missouri River (upper) Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Good Blue Catfish:?Fair Flathead
Catfish:?Fair Common Carp:?Good
68 degrees, high, murky;?channel catfish good on worms and dip bait;?blue
catfish fair on worms and cut bait;?flathead catfish fair on worms; carp
good on worms and corn; all other species slow.
Mozingo Lake Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Largemouth Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair Channel Catfish:?Fair
67 degrees, below normal level and rising, clear; largemouth bass fair on
jerkbaits and soft plastics; crappie fair in staging areas and mid-depth
brush piles; channel catfish fair on cut bait; all other species slow.
Pony Express Lake Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Bluegill:?Good Crappie:?Good
69 degrees, normal, clear; bluegill excellent on worms; crappie good on jigs;
all other species fair.
Smithville Lake Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Fair Catfish:?Fair Largemouth Bass:?Fair White
Bass:?Fair Walleye:?Fair
66 degrees, 9" low and steady, 8 cfs; crappie fair, spawn appears to be going
on with some limits of fish being taken from shallow water (right on banks),
best catches are on minnows or jigs that are chart or chart combination;
catfish fair on cut shad with a few being caught on liver, nightcrawlers and
crappie-sized minnows; largemouth bass fair on suspended baits, jigs and
spinnerbaits; white bass fair with reports of some being caught up the Little
Platte arm of the lake on shad colored lures/jigs; walleye fair; begin
fishing lake points with Rattle Traps and crankbaits to catch post spawn
fish.
===============
Ozark
Big Piney River (lower, Pulaski Co.) Reported on: 5/22/13
Temperature: 68?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
goggle-eye good on jigs and small crankbaits.
Big Piney River (upper, Texas Co.) Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Smallmouth Bass:?Fair
Temperature: 62?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
smallmouth bass fair on soft plastic baits; all other species slow.
Bryant Creek Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Smallmouth Bass:?Fair Northern Rock Bass
(Goggle-Eye):?Fair
Temperature: 64?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
smallmouth bass and google-eye fair on soft plastics.
Bull Shoals Lake (East) Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Temperature: 65?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
white bass and crappie fair on jigs and minnows.
Current River Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Smallmouth Bass:?Good
Temperature: 67?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
smallmouth bass good on plastic worms; all other species slow.
Eleven Point River Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Rainbow Trout:?Good
Temperature: 59?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
rainbow trout good on corn and minnows; all other species fair.
Gasconade River (middle) Reported on: 5/22/13
Temperature: 69?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
goggle-eye good on jigs and small crankbaits.
Gasconade River (upper) Reported on: 5/22/13
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: 5/22/13
Temperature: 65?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
all species good.
Norfork Lake Reported on: 5/22/13
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: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Smallmouth Bass:?Fair Northern Rock Bass
(Goggle-Eye):?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: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Slow Bluegill:?Fair White Bass:?Fair
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, spinnerbaits?and live
minnows; bluegill fair on nightcrawlers; white bass fair on Rooster Tails,
all other species slow.
Black River (below Clearwater Lake) Reported on: 5/21/13
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: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Slow Bluegill:?Slow
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
all species slow.
Clearwater Lake Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Fair Black Bass:?Slow White Bass:?Good
Largemouth Bass:?Slow
Temperature: 71?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: dingy
white bass good on Road Runners; crappie fair on jigs in brush piles and
creek mouths;?all other species slow.
Council Bluff Lake Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Slow Crappie:?Slow Largemouth Bass:?Good
Redear Sunfish:?Fair
Temperature: 68?
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: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Largemouth Bass:?Good Bluegill:?Good Redear
Sunfish:?Good Channel Catfish:?Good
Temperature: 75?
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 good in 1' - 3' of water on minnows, jigs, plastic worms and
crankbaits; channel catfish good 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: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Largemouth Bass:?Good Crappie:?Slow Channel Catfish:?Slow
Bluegill:?Good Redear Sunfish:?Good
Temperature: 75?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
largemouth bass good on topwater lures; bluegill and redear sunfish good on
crickets and jigs; all other species slow.
Lake Girardeau Reported on: 5/21/13
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: 5/21/13
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: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Largemouth Bass:?Slow Channel Catfish:?Slow
Temperature: 33?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
all?species slow.
Perry County Lake Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Good Sunfish:?Good Largemouth Bass:?Fair Channel
Catfish:?Slow
Temperature: 70?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
crappie good on minnows; sunfish good on crickets; largemouth bass fair on
soft plastics; all other species slow.
Robert DeLaney Lake Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Crappie:?Fair Bluegill:?Fair Catfish:?Fair
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
channel catfish, bluegill and crappie 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: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Green Sunfish:?Slow Longear Sunfish:?Slow Black
Bass:?Slow Crappie:?Good Channel Catfish:?Good
Temperature: 65?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
crappie good on minnows and assorted jigs; channel catfish good on cut bait
and nightcrawlers; 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: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Channel Catfish:?Good Flathead Catfish:?Good Black
Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Temperature: 72?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
channel catfish?good?on pole and line and trotlines with?stinkbaits,
chicken liver?and worms; flathead catfish good on trotlines with live
bait;?black bass fair on artificial baits; crappie fair on minnows and jigs;
all other species slow.
Wappapello Lake Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair Channel Catfish:?Good
Bluegill:?Fair
Temperature: 74?
Water Level: falling
channel catfish good using nightcrawlers and live bait on jug lines and
trotlines at night;?crappie fair using minnows and jigs in the brush; black
bass fair using crankbaits and plastic worms; 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: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Walleye:?Fair
Temperature: 61?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
black bass good on crankbaits and spinnerbaits on windy points, also try soft
plastics and jigs; crappie?fair 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: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Good White Bass:?Slow Black Bass:?Good
Crappie:?Slow
Temperature: 63?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
black bass good on tube baits along bottom, Shakey Head jigs and swimming
grubs; catfish good on minnows and nightcrawlers; white bass slow, best while
trolling with jigs and minnows; crappie slow, best on minnows and green or
pumpkin colored jigs in brush piles or along the bank.
Lake Taneycomo Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Rainbow Trout:?Good
Temperature: 50?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
trout good in the upper portion of the lake on black, olive/white 1/16th oz.
marabou jigs when drifting with the current, black/chrome and white/chrome
Rooster Tails and Rapalas also working well; trout good in the lower portion
of the lake on fluorescent orange, chartreuse, white and pink Power Bait
nuggets; all other species slow.
Niangua River Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Fair Northern Rock Bass (Goggle-Eye):?Fair
Rainbow Trout:?Fair
Temperature: 58?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
black bass?fair on 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: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good Crappie:?Good Walleye:?Good White
Bass:?Slow Catfish:?Good
Temperature: 65?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
crappie good on minnows and Crappie Nibbles in 10' of water; black bass good
on main lake points; walleye good trolling with crankbaits on flats; catfish
good using jug lines; all other species slow.
Stockton Lake Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Fair Walleye:?Good Crappie:?Fair
Catfish:?Fair
Temperature: 62?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
walleye good trolling crankbaits and jigs tipped with nightcrawlers; crappie
fair trolling crankbaits and drifting with minnows; black bass fair on
floating worms and flipping jigs; catfish fair on nightcrawlers.
Table Rock Lake (James River arm) Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Good
Temperature: 60?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
black bass good on?crankbaits that dive 10' to 12', green or brown jigs and
soft plastic green crayfish or salamanders, Shakey Head soft plastic worms in
watermelon colors in 12' - 14' of water, and white spinnerbaits with a gold
blade thrown against rocky bluffs?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; all other species slow.?
Table Rock Lake (main lake) Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good Crappie:?Good Northern Rock Bass
(Goggle-Eye):?Good
Temperature: 68?
Water Level: high
Water Type: clear
black bass good on tube baits and Finesse worms in UV green with 3/16th oz.
jig in 10' - 20' of water on sloping gravel banks, topwater baits also
working well before dark; crappie good on live minnows and jigs; goggle-eye
good on smoke copper grubs; all other species slow.
===============
St. Louis
Big River Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Fair Catfish:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Bluegill:?Fair
Temperature: 70?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
all species fair on natural baits.
Bourbeuse River Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Slow Catfish:?Slow Bluegill:?Slow
Crappie:?Slow
Temperature: 68?
Water Level: rising
Water Type: muddy
All species slow due to the high water.
Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lake 33 Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Fair Bluegill:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Catfish:?Good
Temperature: 70?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
Catfish good on cut bait, doughbait and livers; black bass fair on plastic
worms; crappie fair on minnows and jigs; bluegill fair on worms.
Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lakes 3, 4, 5, 7, and 23 Reported on:
5/22/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Good Bluegill:?Good
Temperature: 70?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
Catfish good on cut bait, doughbait and livers; all other species fair on
natural bait.
Meramec River (Crawford Co.) Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Black Bass:?Good Northern Rock Bass (Goggle-Eye):?Good
Temperature: 66?
Water Level: rising
Water Type: muddy
black bass good on soft plastics; goggle-eye good on live bait.
Meramec River (St. Louis Co.) Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Catfish:?Fair Black Bass:?Fair Bluegill:?Fair
Crappie:?Fair
Temperature: 70?
Water Level: high
Water Type: dingy
Catfish fair on cut bait and blood bait; black bass fair on crankbaits; all
other species slow.
Mississippi River (St. Louis Region) Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Blue Catfish:?Fair Black Bass:?Slow Crappie:?Slow
Temperature: 68?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
blue catfish fair on cut shad and skipjack; drum fair on worms.
Missouri River (Lower) Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Blue Catfish:?Fair Freshwater Drum:?Fair
Temperature: 68?
Water Level: high
Water Type: muddy
blue catfish fair on cut shad and skipjack; freshwater drum fair on worms.
===============
Trout Parks
Bennett Spring State Park Reported on: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Rainbow Trout:?Good Brown Trout:?Fair
Temperature: 54?
Water Level: falling
Water Type: clear
Zone 1 and 2 lures that are working well are: white floss, gold-plated green
or black and yellow wooly, crawdad marabou - 1/8 oz., red and white mini
marabou, glo balls in white, salmon with dot, egg with dot, easter egg, Jimi
Hendrix; Rooster Tails in yellow and black, brown with orange tail, white
with silver blade; peacock grub, copper johns, black and yellow, gingersnap,
ginger, or white marabou, brassies in gold with gold bead, red WD40's,
pheasant tail nymph; Zone 3 baits that are popular are Gulp minnow grubs,
Berkley Power Bait orange, trout nuggets.? June fishing Hours are 6:30 a.m.
- 8:30 p.m.? Free fishing weekend will be June 8th and 9th.? Fishing
permits and tags are not needed to fish Bennett Spring during this weekend.?
Moss cutting is scheduled for June 25th and 26th.
Maramec Spring Park Reported on: 5/20/13
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;?remember to use light weight line and tackle; fish are holding in
areas of swift 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.
For more information call 573-265-7801.
Montauk State Park Reported on: 5/21/13
Fish Reported: Rainbow Trout:?Good
Temperature: 56?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: clear
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: 5/22/13
Fish Reported: Rainbow Trout:?Good
Temperature: 58?
Water Level: normal
Water Type: dingy
The stream level is staying high 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.