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Fishing Osage River: what the data says
Bagnell Dam tailwater to the Missouri River at Osage City. big blues, hybrids and spring crappie. The river tops out around 30 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Blue Catfish fishing at Osage River
In spring, blue catfish run shallow here, mostly 5 to 25 ft. They move out to 8 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 9 to 30 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Bagnell Dam tailrace: a creek channel around 25 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday |
Flathead Catfish fishing at Osage River
Spring flathead catfish on Osage River hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 8 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 9 to 30 ft. The spot to know is Tailout eddy (mile 0.6), a eddy pocket in about 17 ft of water that rates prime for flathead catfish in spring. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft | night & dusk | |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday |
Channel Catfish fishing at Osage River
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 8 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 9 to 30 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Bagnell Dam tailrace: a creek channel around 25 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday |
White Bass fishing at Osage River
Start shallow in spring: white bass sit in 2 to 12 ft that time of year. They move out to 8 to 25 ft in summer and finish the year down in 9 to 30 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Channel bar / point (mile 18.6): a point around 12 ft that scores prime in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Fall | 6 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | see map |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday | see map |
White Bass & Hybrids fishing at Osage River
Spring white bass & hybrids on Osage River hold shallow, usually 3 to 15 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 9 to 30 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Osage Dam tailrace: a dam tailrace around 26 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a jigging spoon or a topwater (when schooling) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Rooster tail / inline spinner, Curly-tail jig (white/chartreuse) |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Jigging spoon, Topwater (when schooling) |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Small blade bait, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday | Jigging spoon, Blade bait (vertical) |
Crappie fishing at Osage River
Spring crappie on Osage River hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 9 to 30 ft. The spot to know is Bagnell Dam tailrace, a creek channel in about 25 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Osage River also holds walleye (9 to 30 ft in summer), freshwater drum (8 to 30 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Osage Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 26 ft
- Ortmeyer Lake Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 26 ft
- Turpin Lake Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 26 ft
- Number 138 Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 26 ft
- Old Lock and Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 26 ft
- Butzer Lake Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 26 ft
- Schell-Kampeter Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 26 ft
- Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 26 ft
- Cla-Lor Lake Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 26 ft
- Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 26 ft
- Bagnell Dam tailrace: creek channel, around 25 ft
- Main-channel hole (mile 23.6): creek channel, around 24 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 7.4): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 11.2): creek channel, around 23 ft
Common questions
How deep is Osage River?
Osage River is about 30 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Osage River?
Anglers target walleye, white bass, crappie, channel catfish, white bass & hybrids, flathead catfish, blue catfish, freshwater drum on Osage River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Osage River?
Bagnell Dam tailrace is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 25 ft of water that rates prime for blue catfish in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Osage River?
For blue catfish, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Gasconade River · Lake of the Ozarks · Niangua River · Big Piney River · Pomme de Terre Lake · Mark Twain Lake
See how Osage River stacks up: best walleye lakes in Missouri · best white bass lakes in Missouri · best crappie lakes in Missouri · best channel catfish lakes in Missouri
Browse all Missouri fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.