Truman Lake Preview
High water. Summer heat. Flooded cover. Tight AOY races.
Nobody ever calls Truman easy, but year after year it produces memorable winners and some of the most important moments of the MoYak season.
Jim Harding
Since 2022
Length
Reviewed
One thing stands out immediately:
Every Truman winner over the last four MoYak events has landed between 81.25″ and 87″.
That consistency is remarkable considering the wildly different conditions Truman has presented from year to year.
Recent Truman History
2025
Oshey captured his first MoYak victory by a single inch over Chad Davison. The event produced 376 fish, 50 limits, and proved Truman could still kick out quality despite hot weather and changing conditions.
2024
A tougher overall event with only 145 fish submitted, but Longshore still found enough quality to separate himself from the field.
2023
The hometown favorite protected his water and delivered another strong Truman performance. Mason Brock and Zachary Woolverton also cracked the 81-inch mark.
2022
One of the highest-water Truman events in recent memory. Nearly eleven feet high and fishing small. Only 46% of anglers caught limits, yet the top of the leaderboard was loaded with quality.
The Ghost of 100.5″
Every Truman conversation eventually comes back to Jim Harding.
In June 2020, Harding assembled one of the greatest bags in MoYak history, posting 100.5″ anchored by a 22.5″ big bass.
His recap reads like a Truman textbook. Falling water. Flooded cover. Buzzbait fish. Wood. Brush. Log jams. Constant adjustments.
Two 19-inch fish. A 22.5-inch giant. A final 21.5-inch upgrade caught near the ramp.
The lesson remains relevant today:
Truman rewards anglers who adapt faster than everyone else.
Trends Worth Watching
Chad Davison Factor
Second in 2025, fourth in 2022, eighth in 2023, and fourth again in 2024.
Few anglers have been more consistently dangerous on Truman.
Local Knowledge Helps
Jared Fosnow’s 2023 victory showed how valuable local knowledge can be, but Truman has repeatedly rewarded traveling anglers who make good decisions.
High Water History
Flooded bushes, changing current, muddy water, and fluctuating levels have appeared repeatedly in winning stories.
One Big Bite Matters
The difference between first and fifth often comes down to a single 19- to 22-inch fish.
Why You Should Fish This One
Summer events traditionally see attendance start to decline.
The heat arrives. Vacations happen. The season gets long.
That’s exactly why Truman becomes such an opportunity.
Fewer anglers means fewer competitors standing between you and valuable AOY points, Team points, Championship qualification, All-American qualification, and sponsor bonus opportunities.
Truman is rarely easy, but it is almost always meaningful.
2026 Prediction
Expected Winning Length: 82″–86″
Potential Big Bass: 20″–22″
Dark Horses: Jason Shifflett, Zach Woolverton, Chris Robbs
Safe Pick: Chad Davison
AOY Impact: Massive
This lake has humbled some of the best anglers in Missouri.
It has also produced 100-inch bags, career-defining victories, and some of the most memorable finishes in MoYak history.
The AOY race is tightening. The water is rising. The temperatures are climbing.
Truman Lake is next.
