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Bagnell Dam tailwater to the Missouri River at Osage City. Big blues, hybrids and spring crappie. The river tops out around 30 ft. The depth picture is modeled, anchored to the true shoreline and the water's published max depth — a scouting aid, never a chart to run a boat by. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
When the water first warms, blue catfish slide up into 5 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 30 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 spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | Bagnell Dam tailrace (25 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Bagnell Dam tailrace (25 ft) | |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft | dusk | Bagnell Dam tailrace (25 ft) | |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday | Osage Dam tailrace (26 ft) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: flathead catfish in 5 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 30 ft before dropping to 9 to 30 ft for winter. The spot to know is Tailout eddy (mile 0.6), an 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 | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.6) (17 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.6) (17 ft) | |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft | night & dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.6) (17 ft) | |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 0.6) (17 ft) |
Spring puts channel catfish in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 25 ft; cold water stacks them in 9 to 30 ft. Bagnell Dam tailrace is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 25 ft, rated prime for summer channel catfish. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 0.6) (17 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Bagnell Dam tailrace (25 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Bagnell Dam tailrace (25 ft) | |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday | Bagnell Dam tailrace (25 ft) |
Come spring, look for white bass tight to the bank in 2 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 25 ft, then a winter hold in 9 to 30 ft. Start at Channel bar / point (mile 18.6). It's a point holding about 12 ft of water and rates prime come fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish) is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Gravel bars below Tuscumbia (10 ft) | Curly-tail jig (white), Small lipless crank |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 3.1) (17 ft) | Slab spoon, Small topwater (schooling fish) |
| Fall | 6 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel bar / point (mile 18.6) (12 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday | Osage Dam tailrace (26 ft) | Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait |
In spring, white bass & hybrids run shallow here, mostly 3 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 30 ft before dropping to 9 to 30 ft for winter. Summer white bass & hybrids concentrate at Osage Dam tailrace, a prime-rated dam tailrace around 26 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a jigging spoon or a topwater (when schooling) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Channel current seam (mile 72.0) (15 ft) | Rooster tail / inline spinner, Curly-tail jig (white/chartreuse) |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Osage Dam tailrace (26 ft) | Jigging spoon, Topwater (when schooling) |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Channel bar / point (mile 18.6) (12 ft) | Small blade bait, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday | Osage Dam tailrace (26 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait (vertical) |
In spring, crappie run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 25 ft before dropping to 9 to 30 ft for winter. Summer crappie concentrate at Bagnell Dam tailrace, a prime-rated creek channel around 25 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | open water | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Bagnell Dam tailrace (25 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 7.4) (23 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday | Bagnell Dam tailrace (25 ft) | 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.
Structure-wise the chart holds 52 features, led in depth by Osage Dam tailrace at roughly 26 ft.
Access data: Missouri Department of Conservation — Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Missouri waters are set by the Missouri Department of Conservation — and special regulations can apply to Osage River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Missouri fishing regulations →
Osage River is about 30 ft (9 m) deep 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.
Anglers target blue catfish, flathead catfish, channel catfish, white bass, white bass & hybrids, crappie, walleye, freshwater drum 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. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
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.
Fishing on Osage River is regulated by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Check the official Missouri regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Scrivner Road Conservation Area 9 mi · Hough Park Lake 14 mi · Binder Community Lake 15 mi · Bagnell Tailwater 20 mi · Manito Lake Conservation Area 30 mi · Ben Branch Lake Conservation Area 32 mi · Gasconade River 32 mi · A. Perry Philips Park Lake 36 mi · Lake of the Ozarks 39 mi · Little Dixie Lake 39 mi · Niangua River 46 mi · Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area 48 mi
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 see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.