Warm Water In The Backs Of Major Creeks

Upper Niangua, presentation was slow on the bottom around wood, laydowns and brush piles.

Today was a fun day fishing. While I did not snag any big hawgs, at the least I had a consistent bite on the Crock-o-Gator Swamp Bug. I am rigging the Crock-o-Gator Swamp Bug on a 1/2 oz Crock-o-Gator black shaky head and a chompers 1/2 oz stand up head. The bite is pretty consistent on shallow flats, shallow bluff cuts around some type of wood in 3-7 feet of water. I also had a wiggle wart bite today on small rock and pea gravel banks. Water temps seem to be the key. Most of the upper areas of major creeks, Glaize, Niangua, Linn and Gravois have warmer water temps than other areas, 44-55 degrees depending on the creek. The shallow flats with small rock produced best for me today on creature baits and jigs. Also, it has been reported that in the colder water, the jerkbait and A-Rig are producing on deep structure and brush piles throughout the lake, in particular from the toll bridge to the dam on secondary points, however, brush seems to be an important factor.