The lake level is on a steady rise of about 1/2 a ft per day. Conditions are still good for fishing with the water almost 70 degrees. We also have good color and minimal debris as of today. Projected crest has now been set at 669 ft. on May 28th. That is based on no future rain fall which I’m sure will change with the weather forecasted for this weekend. Fish will have a lot more cover to hide in with the lake pushing into the shore line brush. Great for spinner bait fishing!
Water Level – 666.4 and Rising Fast
Water Temp – 67 to 70 degrees
Water Color – Stained to Clear
Black Bass – Good on weightless plastics and 1/2 oz jigs. Also good on spinner baits when wind is present. Try down the edge of the flooded brush lines. Bass are starting to stage off points and rock bluffs as well.
Walleye – Good on night crawlers off of the sand bars in shallow water. Also good on medium crank baits such as a Flicker Shad #7 in depths no more that 20 ft. Walleye are shallow right now. Also Good on a Rapala Shad Rap #7. Dark colors have been working better. (On Monday May 11th, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources released 229,000 Walleye, around 6″ in length, at the K Dock bend of the lake! Takes about 3 to 4 years to reach the legal length of 18″.)
Crappie – Fair on live minnows. Wish I could give a better report, but I think with the lake staying cool and the level dropping and rising so extreme, they have been forced to stay deeper. Should be catching them along the banks of the coves on swimming minnows right now.
