The Osage River hugged the north side of its valley at the point the river runs west to east before its flow was redirected to the south side by the construction of Truman Dam. About half a mile of the original channel was not only left intact, but was also reconnected to the new one.
Because it lacks current, this relic is generally known as the “dead water channel.” The water isn’t actually dead — or even stagnant — and the fishing opportunities to be found in it can be downright lively just about any month of the year.
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