It wasn’t all that many years ago when walleye fishing wasn’t all that great on Truman Lake. In these parts, you had to fish Stockton Lake to catch them consistently. There in that clear water, you had to fish early and late in the season or after dark to have any real success. Things are different now thanks mostly to the aggressive stocking program by the Missouri Department of Conservation. All the area lakes have benefited and the walleye populations are on the rise in Truman, Stockton, Bull Shoals, and other Ozark lakes.

Walleye, or “Jack Salmon” as the old timers used to call them, are native to the Osage, Pomme, and Sac Rivers. There was a time when they were world class river fisheries. However, since the lake was impounded, off-shore humps and main lake points were where you’d have the best luck in the summer months. They’re still caught on those structures however, on certain days they’ll move up shallower and are more accessible to casting baits instead of vertical jigging with spoons and the like. Those “certain days” are when there is plenty of cloud cover and better yet, some wind. Recently I was on the water on one of those days is it paid off with a real nice fish! Look for some broken rock banks closer to deep water and start casting shad type crankbaits towards those wind blown banks. The low light will keep the fish up shallower as the wind pushes the shad up for the walleye to chase. White bass and largemouth will often join in this opportunity offered up by the wind and clouds so get ready to catch a few of them too while you’re casting for walleye.

Check out the two-part video (I had my cuz put down the phone and grab the net) to make sure we didn’t lose this beautiful walleye. Check out my Ozarks Outdoors podcast! Good luck and we’ll see you on the water!