Spotlight Bull Shoals Lake

So we were down at Bull Shoals this past  weekend (8/10/2009) and the lake was in great condition.  The water level was a little lower than normal pool, but the water was  relatively cool and a little choppy, which made for good times on the wave-runner.  The house is coming along nicely as well, we were able to hang all 5 interior doors and get everything ordered to put down the tile next weekend.  We also put in two window air conditioners which was key in order to be able to sleep (I enjoy sleeping in the cold! lol)  We finally got our mailbox set up and registered with the post office as well which was fun because the woman running the post office was so friendly (far cry from the post office in St. Louis that I normally go to…)

All in all the lake is looking great, and if you are planning on heading down in the near future the lake is a little lower than normal pool.

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Missouri Vacation Guide

If you are thinking about planning your next family vacation and are also looking for a way to save a little money at the same time you should take a look at the different vacation options available in Missouri.  Instead of taking that trip down to Florida, or to the Caribbean, taking a trip to one of the state of Missouri’s great lake destinations might be a great affordable option for you and your family.  Overall the State of Missouri has many lakes that can each offer you some great activities.  If you are looking to take a vacation to a luxurious resort than the Lake of the Ozarks and Table Rock Lake are two options that would be very well suited for you.  These two destinations have accommodations that are very comparable to destinations on the Ocean and Mexico.  There are countless resorts at both of these lakes that will offer you and your family great luxurious accommodations, for far less money that what you would pay for a place on the ocean or the coast.  You can expect to pay around $1500 for a nice cabin that will sleep 4-7 people FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK.  Compare that with the typical cost of taking an exotic vacation, plain flights, extra travel to and from the airport, sleeping arrangements once you get there and you can really see that the savings of staying close to home are very good.

If you are looking for a weekend getaway or for a fishing trip than there are a couple different lakes that you will want to check out.  Depending upon where you live weekend some lakes you should check out for a weekend getaway are Truman Lake, Mark Twain Lake and Stockton Lake.  If you live in Northern Missouri than Mark Twain Lake will be your best bet as it is located in North Eastern Missouri and will be a much shorter drive for you.  Mark Twain is a very nice lake, that offers visitors a great opportunity to get away from the daily grind and really enjoy a lake that is for the most part free of commercial development and the large crowds that come with it.  If you live in southern or central Missouri than the two lakes that you want to check out are Stockton Lake and Truman Lake.  Truman Lake has the added benefit of being close to Lake of the Ozarks so you are not very far away from “big cities” such as Osage Beach if that type of atmosphere is your thing.  Stockton lake is really famous locally and nationally for one thing, sailing!  Stockton is notorious for the its great sailing conditions, and anyone who is looking to take out their sailboat will really enjoy a visit to Stockton.

Now for the fishermen Lake Taneycomo, Bull Shoals Lake, or Lake Pomme De terre are all great options.  Bull Shoals Lake is similar to Mark Twain in that it really has stayed free from commercial development and offers visitors an unique ability to soak up the natural beauty of the Missouri Ozarks.  There are many great resorts on Bull Shoals Lake, and the lake is a very good lake for Bass and Crappie.  Another interesting Lake is Lake Taneycomo, what makes this lake such a great fishing destination is that the water is a breathtaking 48 degrees year round (that’s cold!).  This is due to the fact that Taneycomo gets is water from the upstream Tablerock Lake, and this water is drawn form the bottom of the lake up through the dam.  What this “cold water lake” offers visitors is a very unique opportunity to catch Trouth.  The lake is actually rated as one of the best lakes to catch Trout at in the entire Nation.  Another unique aspect of the lake is its close proximity to Tablerock and Branson Missouri.  This allows visitors to Taneycomo to be within a short drive of all the shows and entertainment that comes with a large city while at the same time still enjoying a lake that is not very built up and offers great fishing opportunities.

Some additional lakes that you might want to consider in Missouri are Lake Wappapello and Clearwater Lake.  Both of these lakes are smaller in size, as well as limited in their development.  If you are looking to “get off the beaten path” than checking out Wappapello or Clearwater would be right up your alley.  Since these lakes are somewhat limited in their resort listings try checking out our pages for each lake that list resorts on wappapello and resorts on Clearwater.

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New Fishing Reports up 8/7/2009

Bull Shoals Lake:
(East): 85 degrees, high, dingy; all species slow. (West): 78-83 degrees, high, clear; black bass good on jigs, soft plastic lures and crankbaits; bluegill good on crickets and worms; walleye fair on jerkbaits; all other species slow.

Report provided by Bull Shoals Boat Dock:

Hello Everybody ! Fishing on the lake has been very good. It’s summer patterns now since the water temp has risen in the mid to high 80’s. Visibility continues to be good with most divers reporting 15 to 20 feet depending on where you go. The lake has started to drop and is down to 675 or so. There is a major thermocline forming around the 25 foot level. Most of the fish are being caught around this level except at sunrise and sunset. Most of the bass patterns have changed. See them listed below. Till next time!

WHITE BASS- have been on fire, try white spoons and work back to the boat. Look for these fish on long main lake points

BASS- Fishing has been good, with the primary fish being Kentucky’s (spotted bass) and smallmouth. Look for these fish in the 35ft range near some deepwater structure. Some baits to try, live baits such as crawdads or night craws. Top water in early morning and evenings, spoons fished vertical or casting, jig n pig, drop shot.

WALLEYE-Has been excellent this year. Fish have been in the 28 to 35 ft range with better fish holding in the deeper water. The best patterns have been bottom bouncers with blue or copper spinners and night crawlers. Spoons worked vertically in the 28 to 35 ft range, Make sure to tap the bottom with your spoon. Trolling deep diving crank baits is also starting to produce fish. Look for fish over brush piles, gravel points adjacent to deeper water.

CRAPPIE – have been far and few, I would look for these fish in deeper brush piles and around boat docks that have brush under them. Pink and white jigs, small spoons, jig and minnow.

CATFISH- The catfish are up with limb liners catching them at night in 15 to 25 feet of water.

Report provided by Davy Wotton:
It’s July, and as expected high humid temperatures most days and high water generations due the peaks of power demand, typically we will see this till the end of August time, but there may well be a break for limited wade fishing opportunity at Bull Shoals dam and lower through the system as the water levels fall out to tailwater, and for this reason. The COE have funded for the Dam habitat project, which was a granted issue of some years ago. There is a independent contractor undertaking the work in progress under the direction of the AGFC. So far as l am aware of there will be a shut down of generations from 6am to 12pm each day while work is in progress.
Read the full report

Clearwater Lake:
Water is 81 degrees, normal, clear; all species slow.

Lake of the Ozarks:
(Bagnell Tailwater): 82 degrees, dingy; black bass fair; crappie fair; catfish good; white bass good. (Glaize): 83 degrees, clear; black bass fair; crappie fair; catfish good; white bass slow. (Gravois): 83 degrees, dingy; catfish good on chicken livers; black bass fair; white bass slow; crappie slow. (Niangua): 83 degrees, dingy; black bass fair on Texas rigged worms, 6″ long in pumpkin seed and watermelon colors fished at night; crappie fair on minnows 18′ to 20′ deep around brush but sizes are small; catfish good on flats in 20′ to 25′ deep water using cut shad or stinkbaits; hybrid striped bass and white bass fair at Ha Ha Tonka, best using live shad after a good rain when plenty of water is flowing. (Osage): 83 degrees, dingy; black bass fair on Texas rigged worms, 6″ long in pumpkin seed and watermelon colors fished at night; crappie fair on minnows 18′ to 20′ deep around brush but sizes are small; catfish good on flats in 20′ to 25′ deep water using cut shad or stinkbaits.

Mark Twain Lake:
82 degrees, high, clear; crappie good on minnows, jigs and crappie niblets around brush; channel catfish fair on trotlines; largemouth bass fair on plastic lures; all other species slow.

Report Provided by South Fork Resort:
WOW!!! We made it past the flood dates of last year. The lake level at just over 606.6′. The catfishing seems to be kind of slow right now. I have heard of a few taken, but nothing outstanding. A lot of the smaller flatheads still have eggs in them. They should be about ready to start up again here pretty soon. -We have heard of a lot better crappie fishing this week. There seem to be a lot that are catching limits. Odie had a limit in an hour on Wednesday and if you know Odie you know they weren’t shorts. The Shack tournament is this weekend. They are expecting about 100 boats for it so we’ll hear some good fishing reports from that I’m sure. The crappie are still pretty scattered but a good place to start is on the bluffs wherever the river channel comes close. They are also catching some on the flats, anywhere from 7 to 20 feet of water and about 6 feet deep. Yellow, red, and chartreuse seem to be the go to colors right now.- They are catching bass right along with the crappie it seems as we are hearing more and more crappie fishermen tell us of the nice bass they caught.-?Thank you to all of you who take the time to read these reports and especially to those of you who take the time to put in comments of your own.

Lake Pomme de terre:
Lake level is normal, clear; crappie good on minnows in 15′ to 20′ of water over brush piles; black bass good on soft plastic lures around structures; catfish good on shad and nightcrawlers; all other species slow.

Report Provided by Pomme Muskie Guide Service:

The lake is finally at normal pool, water temperature is generally from 82 degrees in the morning to about 87 in the evening. Fishing has generally been pretty good.

White bass are surfacing in the mornings and evenings.

Bass in general have been hitting good fishing deep and on top water in the mornings.

Crappie are doing good on minnows and jigs in about 25′ of water around the brush piles.

Catfish are hitting just about anything right now.

Walleye have been slow.

Water temperature has been too high to fish for muskies, we quit fishing for them when the water reaches 80 degrees.

Stockton Lake:
Water is 75 degrees, normal, clear; black bass good on crankbaits and tube baits; white bass fair on crankbaits while trolling; walleye fair on bottom bouncers and deep divers fishing off of points; crappie fair on minnows or jigs in 20′ of water around structures; catfish fair on goldfish using trotlines.

Report Provided by Thompson Fishing Guide Service:

Walleye- fishing has still been hit or miss probably because of the weather we are having. We have been able to catch a few keeper fish, but it seems lately we have caught a lot of smaller fish, which is somewhat unusual. For thermo cline information, read the last couple weeks’ reports. Main lake flats north of Googer and points on the dam are your more consistent places. A good friend of mine has been catching some walleye in the Cedar Ridge area. Jigs and night crawlers or Lindy rigged crawler harnesses are the best. You can try trolling some deep diving shad imitator crank baits.

I have a question: Are any of you afraid of lightning? I was on my way in yesterday about 15 minutes in front of a real bad electrical storm and I saw several boats put in and drive right off into the middle of it. Lightning can travel a lot further than a person thinks, especially if you are on the water. Just something I think about.

Bass- fishing has been so-so. You would think with the water temperatures in the low to mid 80s and clouds overhead, they’d really go crazy. On the two days that I got to go bass fishing, I noticed that the bites seems to be more sluggish than normal; I am talking about plastic worms or jigs. The crank bait bite wasn’t very good at all. The good fish that we caught were between 15-18 inches. It is odd that we caught several bass that were right under 15 inches and weighed a little over 2 pounds. That goes back to the thing we talked about last week reference bait availability and fish catch ability. The more productive spots were secondary points in your larger coves in about 15-20 feet of water.

Crappie- fishing has been pretty good for the most part. Several friends of mine have caught close to limits during the last week fishing deep timber. They caught a lot of the little buggers, though (which is good), because that is the investment for the next few years of fishing, so don’t complain. Crappie minnows on crappie jigs or on Aberdeen hooks are the most consistent. When you find crappie in deep timber or over deep brush piles, it is not too hard to find out what they want to bite. When I say deep timber, or deep brush, I mean around 20 feet, around the thermo cline.

Table Rock Lake:
(James River arm): 82 degrees, normal, dingy; black bass good on soft plastic worms in purple, brown and watermelon colors, Shakey head jigs in 21′ or deeper water with bait fished slowly back to the bank or boat, and Carolina rigging a soft plastic worm and fished off gravel points by dragging bait across the point; white bass good on topwater lures or medium sized crankbait in blue/silver or black colors; catfish fair on nightcrawlers or live crayfish using pole and line. (main lake): 82 degrees, normal, dingy; black bass good on soft plastic worms in purple, brown and watermelon colors, Shakey head jigs in 21′ or deeper water with bait fished slowly back to the bank or boat, and Carolina rigging a soft plastic worm and fished off gravel points by dragging bait across the point; white bass good on topwater lures or medium sized crankbait in blue/silver or black colors; catfish fair on nightcrawlers or live crayfish using pole and line.

Report Provided by Table Rock Guide Service:
White River Area Fishing on Table Rock is very good right now. Some fish are shallow early in the morning and can be caught on top water and Carolina rigged Zoom centipedes and 1/4 oz Shakey heads with Chompers finesse worms in green pumpkin and brown & purple seem to working the best.

White bass have been showing up on main lake flats and points chasing the bait fish on the surface. Top water lures and grubs will get the strikes for the whites.

Kentucky bass are on main lake points 24 to 28 feet deep where they can be caught on drop shot rigs. Jewell football head jigs in 5/8 and 3/4 oz. in brown and purple flash and peanut butter and jelly with 5 inch twin tail chompers trailer in green pumpkin is producing fish from 15 to 30 feet on main lake points.

Mid lake-Kimberling City Area: Top Water action on the bass has been good early in the mornings. Cordell Red fins and Zara Spooks are working best on pole timbered points. Also, try throwing a 5/8 or 3/4 oz Jewel football head jig in green pumpkin and brown & purple in 20 to 35 feet of water on the main lake and secondary points. If the jig isn’t working for you, throw a Carolina rigged Zoom centipede in green pumpkin or watermelon candy in 18 to 25 feet. One of those should produce strikes. Fish are out in deeper water where they can be caught on drop shot and jigging spoons in 24 to 28 feet of water. Mostly Kentucky bass on the drop shot and jigging spoon.

Lower end-Dam Area: The smallmouth bass fishing has been good on the main lake points early in the mornings. Carolina rigged Zoom centipedes in either green pumpkin or watermelon candy fished in 10 to 18 feet of water on very flat gravel points has been producing alot of strikes in this area. Kentucky bass are being caught on secondary and main lake chunk rock banks with a Shakey head worm and Carolina rigged Zoom centipede worm around 18 to 25 feet deep. Some fish are also being caught on top water baits on the main lake timbered points and bluff ends over timber. Zara spooks and Cordell red fins in shad colors are working the best. Some Kentucky bass are moving to 24-28 feet where the drop shot rigs seem to working the best.

Upper end-James River: There has been alot of good top water action early in the mornings on Zara spooks, Pop-R’s and chugbugs. Carolina rigged Zoom lizards and brush hogs in green pumpkin and watermelon red in 10 to 18 feet on the main lake gravel points has been producing alot of strikes. Also try a Jewel football head jig in peanut butter & jelly or brown & purple in 10 to 18 feet on the main lake points. Crappie are in 10-25 feet deep in around standing timber on bluffs. Crappie jigs in white or chartreuse and white and minnows are working best.

Lake Taneycomo:
Water is 56 degrees, normal, clear; upper lake: trout good on scuds, San Juan worms, and olive/white marabou jigs; lower lake: trout good on orange, chartreuse, white and bubble gum colored Power Bait and Gulp.

Report Provided by Table Rock Guide Service:
Trout I’m catching some nice rainbows and a few browns on a small rapala in the morning and also swimming a white 1/16 ounce jig. The trout in the trophy area will also take pink or green micro jigs under a float and a zebra midge has also been very good. Below the trophy are from fall creek down, the trout are biting very good on night crawlers or power baits. In the early morning you can catch them swimming a 1/16 ounce jig or little cleo spoon, in line spinners are also good in the mornings.

Truman Lake:
The Lake is clear; crappie good along the bluffs in 30′ to 35′ of water at 20′ depths using minnows and jigs; black bass good in the timber on the breaks and main lake tree rows using jig & frog; catfish fair on jug lines and trotlines using cut baits and leeches; white bass and hybrid striped bass slow.

Report Provided by Sterett Creek Marina:
I know the calendar says it’s the end of July but the weather sure isn’t showing it. With the temps in the 80’s and a few rain showers it feels more like spring. We have seen lots of crappie and bass come in this week. The weatherman says it is supposed to remain like this for the rest of the week so it might be a good time to hit the lake for some great fishing.

LAKE LEVEL: 707.12
WATER TEMP: 82 deg.
WATER CLARITY: Clear to light stain.

BASS: The bass are still doing well this week. Last nights Hawg Fights started out in the rain and then tuned into a beautiful night. Blake Felix and Tabby Gillis were the top team with 8.57 lbs. ( 3 fish limit ). Second was Doug and ( no hat ) Ozzie Wallace with 8.55 lbs and they also had big fish at 4.14 lbs. Third was Desmin and Kevin Carl with 8.09 lbs. The fish are pretty much point fish ranging from 4′ to 12′ deep. Jig and frog and big worms are the top baits. The top water bite is still working early and late on the timbered flats.

CRAPPIE: The crappie fishing here on Truman is really good. Minnows are the best bait. There are fish on the bluff banks in 30′ to 35′ of water down about 20′. There are also fish holding in the tree rows on the edge of the flats in 17′ to 20′ of water down 8′ to 10′. They are in the cedars and hard woods both. The Osage has started producing some good fish. You will still catch lots of little guys but the better fish are in with them.

WHITES: he COE has slowed the water flow down which in turn has slowed the white bass fishing down. There has been a few fish caught trolling on the shallow humps, some as shallow as 4.

CATFISH: Jugs fished on the flats in 20′ of water set at about 8′ have been producing some cats. Cut bait has been the best of the best this week. The fish seem to be holding close to the channels.

Lake Wappapello:

Black bass fair using spinner baits, buzz baits and plastic worms

Bluegill slow using crickets and worms

Channel catfish fair using live bait and night crawlers and on jug lines and trotlines at night

White bass slow using on small spinner bait

Crappie slow

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New Resort added

The Cabins at Stockton lake have just been added to the site, this is a great addition to our site as it is really one of the nicest resorts on Stockton Lake.

The owner of, Joe Hughes is a very friendly guy and has really created a true luxury resort on Stockton Lake.  For anyone planning a trip to Stockon I would definitely encourage you to take a look at the Cabins on Stockton, they will not disappoint.

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Stimulus money for lakes in Missouri

Write or wrong the stimulus package that was passed several months ago by congress has several interesting provisions for lakes in the State of Missouri.  Overall there is $200 million that is being pumped into various lakes in Missouri.  And of the lakes I bet you cant guess which one is receiving the most money….. drum roll please

Stockton Lake

Stockton will receive such a large amount of money mostly to fix a broken turbine blade in the dam which has caused the dam to loose $37,000 PER DAY since Febuaray 4th of this year!  (wow that is a lot of money)  since they cannot generate power.

Other than the money going to Stockton, there is money that will be given to various other lakes, but the main complaint…. the money is taking to long to actually get to the lakes.  In most cases the largest sums of money will take a year and a half to two years to actually make its way through the bureaucracy  and have in impact. (wow that is a long time)

But once the money does reach these lakes it will be interesting to see what projects and improvements they each undertake.

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New Resort

Sunset Point Resort has been added to the site.  You can view Sunset Point’s Listing on our clearwater lake page or you can visit the resorts dedicated page by clicking on the Sunset Point Resort link.

Sunset Point Resort is a great addition to the site, the resort is a very nice and offeres a tun of fun activities such as a 9 hole mini golf course (very cool) a swimming pool, game room that has a ton of games including pool, and a playground for the little kids.  If you are thinking about heading to Clearwater Lake definitly give Sunset Point Resort a look, we think you will really like your stay with them.

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