Lake level
Grand about 745.2 ft; John Redmond nearly back to normal, Council Grove and Marion drawing down too. Without a big watershed dump, Jeff expects normal pool by weekend / early next week and intermittent hydro generation. Spring and Elk don’t look like much inflow. Stable water should help fishing heading into August dog days.
Bass
Friends fishing Fish Lucke Sneaky Snake and Ringworm kits (hooks and sinkers included, under $10) have been catching plenty of fun 3–4 lb Bass and sending pictures.
Crappie
Haydn says the Crappie are “running him nuts” — having to cover a lot of water for client limits. Mid/late July into August–September can be tough unless you hit big schools; docks hide fish boats can’t reach, and this year’s up-and-down water hasn’t let his usual brush piles load like they often do by now.
Paddlefish
Several guides (Haydn included) are getting good with summer Spoonbill trips; two of Haydn’s trips this week looked like big fun on the Grand Fishing Report Facebook group. He’s tinkering with Catfish but leaning Spoonbill and White Bass on swimming minnows.
Catfish
Jeff’s brother drifted Horse Creek with the trolling motor (not just wind), riding up and over an underwater island from about 30 ft into 15, Blues to 10 lb — then a family fish fry.
White Bass
Speculative but classic evening troll / windy-point pattern — Governor’s Island, Goat Island, Weed Island, Bad Island, Sweetwater, Shangri-La point — Dinner Spinners, swimming minnows or small Crappie Magic crankbaits. Jeff was in Greenwood/Worcester and still needed to get Dinner Spinners to Haydn for clients.