This is Artificial Lure with your Lake of the Ozarks fishing report.
We’re sitting under a warm early‑summer pattern. Temps are running in the mid to upper 80s this afternoon with muggy humidity, light south to southwest breeze around 5–10 mph, and only a slight chance of a pop‑up storm late day. Skies are mostly clear early and late, with a few fair‑weather clouds mid‑day. Sunrise is right around 5:45 a.m., sunset about 8:35 p.m., so you’ve got a long window to work low‑light bites.
No real tide to worry about here, but lake level and current matter. Ameren’s Bagnell Dam releases have been modest, so current is light outside of peak power‑generation hours. When they’re pulling water, look for bass and stripers to set up tighter on points and along channel swings; when it’s slack, you’ll want to slow down and fish tighter to cover.
Bass have been in a classic early‑summer mix. A few fish are still hanging shallow around boat docks and bluff shade, but a lot of the better keepers are sliding out to secondary points, brush piles in 12–20 feet, and ends of docks near the main channel. Recent reports from local marinas and tackle shops have plenty of 12–16 inch largemouth coming in, with the occasional 4‑ to 5‑pounder weighed from night tournaments. Spotted bass are showing up as bonus fish on finesse rigs.
Best bass lures right now:
- Topwater walking baits and buzzbaits at first light over points and around dock walkways.
- Medium‑diving crankbaits in shad or green craw patterns on chunk rock.
- 3/8‑ to 1/2‑ounce jigs in green pumpkin or black/blue skipped under docks.
- Finesse worms and shaky heads in watermelon red or green pumpkin for post‑front or mid‑day finesse work.
Crappie action has shifted deeper but is still solid. Anglers are picking up decent numbers of 9–11 inch fish off brush piles and deeper dock cables in 12–18 feet. Best bet is small hair jigs or 1/16‑ounce plastics in natural shad or monkey milk colors, sometimes tipped with a small minnow. Work just above the brush, not in it, and watch your electronics—most schools are suspending.
Catfish are waking up with the warm water. Jugliners and setliners have been boxing good numbers of channel cats and some blues off the main channel edges and the backs of larger coves. Cut shad, fresh cut bluegill, and chicken liver are all putting fish in the boat. If you’re rod‑and‑reel fishing, anchor on a ledge in 10–25 feet and fan‑cast baits. The night bite has been especially strong.
If you’re chasing white bass or the occasional hybrid, keep an eye out for schooling activity early and late on mid‑lake flats and near main‑lake points. Small chrome spoons, tail‑spinners, and little swimbaits will do the job when they’re pushing shad to the top.
A couple of suggested hot spots:
- Gravois Arm: Focus on secondary points and big dock systems; good for bass early on topwater, then jigs and worms once the sun gets up. Crappie are holding on deeper docks here too.
- Niangua Arm: Slightly more stained water; great for catfish on cut bait, and bass along laydowns and rocky points with crankbaits and spinnerbaits.
Overall fish activity is best at dawn and dusk, with a slower, more finesse‑oriented bite mid‑day. Plan to hit your prime spots early, then slide deeper or under shade as the sun gets high.
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