10/1/03    Well its the 1st. of October already and the weather sure feels like it. Wind, rain and cool temps have brought the water temps down and got the fish in more of a feeding mood. Had good reports of whites and hybrids last weekend and saw some really good bass brought in. Steve Blake and Jim went crappie fishing Monday and came in with two limits of nice fish. So with a little cooperation of the weather this should be a good weekend.  Last Sat. we had the Sterett Creek Buddy Bass Tourn. and even though it was cool and windy we saw some really nice fish. Here are the results, I promised the first place teem I would put their names on the web. so here you go guys.    1st.  Ron Peek - Greig Engle            14.60lbs.  BB-5.22lbs        2nd. Dave Braydon - John Kruger    12.88lbs.        3rd.  Harry Simmons - Tom Pollard   11.50lbs.  BB- 5.00lbs.        4th. Doug Wallace - Ozzie Wallace    9.51lbs.       LAKE LEVEL:           706.07     WATER TEMP:         70deg.     WATER CLAIRITY:  Clear to lightly stained

photo from Sterett Creek Marina

 BASS: The winning team said that they were fishing cedars on windy main lake flats. They didn't say what they were throwing but I know that there were fish caught on jigs using this pattern. Fish were holding in 6' to 10' of water at about 5'. Black and blue was the best color. There were a few fish caught and a few fish lost on top water. Rumor has it that the chug bug was working. Main lake points are also working. Fish 5' to 10' next to the hard woods with short worms and 5" tubes. Blues are the best color choices. My understanding is that on the Sat. tourn. one of the fisherman decided his graph wasn't working well enough so he jumped in to see what really was on the bottom, what was down there Mr. Pollard? All in all the bass fishing should continue to improve with the cooler weather. I did see some spinner bait fish caught off flat points in 3' of water. 
 CRAPPIE: Brush piles are still the best of the best. Jim and Steve had 2 limits of crappie on Monday off brush piles in 10' to 15' of water fishing about 6' deep. They said minnows worked the best. There are also some fish that moved towards the backends of the creeks. These fish are along the edge of the creek channels in 10' of water about 6' deep. I did hear of a few jig fish but minnows are still producing more action.
 

WHITES and HYBRIDS: These fish are starting to get on a fall pattern.  Windy points fished with Rooster Tails and small crank baits is a good bet. Talked to several people last weekend that did well around KK island. There are also fish on the humps in 15' of water on spoons.  CATFISH: No Report.

photo from Sterett Creek Marina

This weeks ratings from Sterett Creek are:   Whites & Hybrids:        # 1   Bass:                             # 2   Crappie:                        # 3    That's about it from Sterett Creek for this week. If coming to the lakes area this week please drive with care the deer are starting to move.   You can contact us at 660-438-2280 or critter@dam.net  Till next week we bid you good fishing                    Tommy

photo from Sterett Creek Marina

Black bass fishing should continue to be very good for legal bass (=> 15") and catch-and-release fishing for sublegal fish. Crappie fishing should continue to be good for legal fish (=>9"). Truman typically produces large year classes of crappie, 2001 was no exception. As a result, fishing for sublegal fish should be very good, as there are a lot of fish less than 9-inches. White bass and hybrid striped bass fishing should continue to be good. Walleye fishing for legal fish (=>15") should remain average. The paddlefish snagging season is March 15 through April 30. Snagging should be good for legal fish (=>34") in the upper Osage from Osceola to Taberville with many fish >45 lbs. Snaggers need to remember that once they have taken a daily limit of two paddlefish the new regulation prohibits them from continuing to snag, snare or grab that day. The large population of paddlefish is being maintained through annual stockings by the Conservation Department.
Catfishing for blue catfish and flatheads should be average on the Osage and Grand River arms, and good for channel catfish. There has been a change in the statewide jug fishing regulation starting March 2002. The new regulation states that anchored jug lines (rendered immobile from the location where set) may not be left unattended for more than twenty-four (24) hours or must be completely removed. Unanchored jug lines must be personally attended at all times. Remember to use proper handling techniques when releasing sublegal or legal fish back to the water to ensure their survival.
Truman Lake (West Central Region)
Report courtesy of MDC

Taken June 17th on Truman. Rumor has it bubblegum slugo's had something to do with it.  I suppose we will never know the whole truth.  Great bunch of fish, guys!

follow up:
Thanks for posting the photo. Unfortunately for everyone out there the fish were not caught on slugos. Personally if I was going to Truman to fish I would take some different baits. Large crankbaits or spoons for trolling, even sassy shads in the larger sizes work well. For topwater use a large floating/walking type bait and cast into or around surface activity. Color on the topwater doesn't seem to matter it is the motion. For trolling I hardly ever deviate from a firetiger or chartruese colored bait. Remember to concentrate your fishing on points, humps and flat edges. The more depth change, structure and proximity to deep water are what keep the fish concentrated. Look for the radical changes and shad on your graph, when you find the shad you will find the hybrids around. I don't know if it is me but I have not caught a hybrid on a day with the wind blowing from almost true North. Good Luck and hope you catch some fish.

swamlvr