Good morning, folks! Artificial Lure here with your Saturday fishing report for May 10, 2025, coming to you from beautiful Lake of the Ozarks. We're looking at another fantastic spring day with temperatures expected to reach the mid-70s by afternoon. Sunrise was at 6:05 this morning, and we'll have sunset around 8:10 tonight, giving you plenty of time on the water.

Wind's staying light today at 6-8 mph from the southwest, creating nice, calm conditions across most of the lake. Water temperature is holding steady in the low 70s, and the lake level is right at full pool.

Now, what's biting? Crappie fishing has been a bit slower in 2025 compared to recent years due to those drought conditions we had back in '22 and '23 that hurt recruitment. But don't worry, there are still plenty of keepers if you know where to look. Your best bet is targeting brush piles along points, especially in the Glaize Arm. Both black and white crappie are holding in 8-15 feet of water. Small jigs in the 1/32 to 1/8 ounce range are working well, particularly in chartreuse. Minnows remain your most reliable bait for consistent action.

Bass fishing is heating up! The spawn is in full swing, making the fish a bit finicky, but they're definitely catchable. Look for them in shallow water around docks and shoreline cover. Big worms, jigs, and topwater baits are all producing. If you're after size rather than numbers, focus on areas with bluegill beds, as the bigger bass are often targeting bluegill right now rather than shad.

Catfish action should be similar to past years, with good fishing through September. White bass fishing is fair - hit those windy points, submerged islands, and long, sloping points using either artificial lures or shad.

For walleye, try trolling crankbaits on steep rocky points and humps. Jigs tipped with minnows, nightcrawlers, or twister tail grubs in bright colors like orange, white, and chartreuse are also productive.

Hot spots this week? I'd recommend checking out the brush piles near Point Randall for crappie. For bass, the docks in the Gravois Arm have been producing consistently. And here's a little nugget for you - if you can find any pockets of slightly stained water, that's gold right now with the lake being so clear everywhere else.

That's all for today's report. Remember to handle those fish with care if you're releasing them. This is Artificial Lure signing off - tight lines, everyone!

Good morning, folks! Artificial Lure here with your Friday fishing report for May 9, 2025, coming to you from beautiful Lake of the Ozarks.

We're looking at another fine spring day with temperatures expected to reach the mid-70s this afternoon. Sunrise was about an hour ago at 6:05 AM and we'll have sunset tonight around 8:10 PM, giving you plenty of daylight hours on the water. Winds are staying light today at 6-8 mph from the southwest, making for calm conditions across most of the lake.

Now for what you're all wondering - what's biting? Crappie fishing has been a bit slower this year compared to recent seasons due to those drought conditions back in '22 and '23 that really hurt the recruitment. But don't you worry, there are still plenty of keepers if you know where to look. Your best bet is hitting brush piles along points, especially in the Glaize Arm. Both black and white crappie are holding in 8-15 feet of water. Small jigs in the 1/32 to 1/8 ounce range are working well, particularly in chartreuse. And don't forget your minnows - they're still the most reliable bait for consistent action.

Bass fishing has picked up nicely as we're right in the middle of spawn season. They're a bit finicky right now, but if you're patient, you'll find success working the shallows with plastic worms and jigs. Some of the best action has been in coves with gravel bottoms.

Catfish action should be good and picking up as we head toward summer. April through September are typically the best months for cats, and we're just getting into prime time.

If you're looking for white bass, try fishing windy points, submerged islands, and long sloping points using either artificial lures or shad. The hybrid striped bass opportunities are good in the Truman Dam tailwater.

For you walleye anglers, try trolling crankbaits on steep rocky points and humps. Jigs tipped with either minnows, nightcrawlers, or twister tail grubs in bright colors like orange, white, and chartreuse are productive when fished near the bottom.

Hot spots this weekend? I'd recommend checking out the brush piles near the 38-mile marker for crappie. For bass, try the coves around Horseshoe Bend and the docks near the Grand Glaize Arm. The area around Bagnell Dam has also been producing some nice catfish this past week.

That's all for today, folks. Remember to handle those fish with care if you're releasing them. This is Artificial Lure signing off - tight lines and see you on the water!

Good morning, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake of the Ozarks fishing report for this beautiful Wednesday, May 7th, 2025.

Folks, we've had some decent action over the past few days across the lake. The bass fishing has been picking up nicely as we move deeper into spring. Just yesterday, I was out on the water and noticed the largemouth are starting to settle into their typical May patterns.

Unfortunately, I've got to warn you that crappie fishing is running a bit slower this year compared to what we've seen in recent seasons. The Missouri Department of Conservation says this is due to those drought conditions we had back in 2022 and 2023 that hurt the crappie recruitment. If you're still determined to chase those slabs, concentrate on brush piles, especially those located on or near points. Small jigs in the 1/32 to 1/8 ounce range or minnows remain your best bet for success.

For you bass anglers, there's been good action in the lower end of the lake over the past weekend. Several tournaments have wrapped up recently, including the MINKS tournament this past Sunday, with some solid bags being brought in. The water clarity is improving, and the fish are responding well to both reaction baits and bottom presentations.

Catfish action should be similar to previous years, with the best months being April through September. We're right in the prime window now, so get those stink baits and cut bait ready!

White bass fishing is fair right now. Try hitting those windy points, submerged islands, and long, sloping points using either artificial lures or shad. For walleye, trolling crankbaits on steep rocky points and humps has been productive. Bright colored jigs in orange, white, and chartreuse tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers are also working well.

For those looking for hot spots, I'd recommend checking out the Glaize Arm for crappie. The MDC has placed several brush piles in the lake that have been holding fish. For bass, the lower end has been producing consistently. The Truman Dam tailwater area is your best bet for hybrid striped bass right now.

The weather for today is looking favorable for a day on the water. Just remember to practice those proper handling techniques when releasing fish to ensure their survival.

That's all I've got for today, folks. This is Artificial Lure signing off from beautiful Lake of the Ozarks. Tight lines, and I'll see you on the water!

Good morning, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Monday fishing report for May 5, 2025, coming to you from the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks.

We're starting off with another gorgeous spring day on the water. Sunrise was around 6:10 AM, and we can expect sunset tonight at approximately 8:05 PM. Weather-wise, we're looking at partly cloudy skies with temperatures expected to climb into the low 70s today - absolutely perfect fishing conditions! Winds remain light, giving us excellent boat control for working those productive spots.

As you local folks know, Lake of the Ozarks doesn't have tidal swings, so keep your focus on those water temperatures instead, which continue to climb steadily and have our fish in their classic spring patterns.

Crappie fishing has been somewhat slower this season compared to previous years, mainly due to those drought conditions we experienced back in 2022-2023 that affected recruitment. However, anglers are still finding good success by targeting brush piles, especially those located on or near points in the Glaize Arm. Your best bet is working brush in the 8-15 foot range with small jigs in the 1/32 to 1/8 ounce range. Chartreuse and white have been particularly effective colors, or you can always rely on live minnows.

Bass fishing is absolutely on fire right now! Most of our bass are actively spawning, with many already in post-spawn patterns. For the next week or two, focus on those spawning pockets, especially on northern banks that get plenty of sun and are protected from wind. Top water baits have been extremely effective when fishing these spawning areas. Work those pockets off bigger creeks and coves, and don't forget to check just inside main lake points on sloped banks where bass often spawn.

Catfish action in 2025 should be similar to past years, with the bite improving as we move further into spring. April through September are traditionally the best months for cats.

For white bass, try fishing windy points, submerged islands, and long, sloping points using either artificial lures or shad. Hybrid striped bass opportunities remain good, particularly in the Truman Dam tailwater.

Walleye fishing has been consistent, with success coming from trolling crankbaits on steep rocky points and humps. Bright colored jigs in orange, white, and chartreuse, tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers, have also been productive.

For hot spots this week, I'd recommend checking out brush piles near points in the Glaize Arm for crappie. For bass, those protected northern bank pockets just inside main lake points have been producing some real lunkers. Remember to practice proper catch and release techniques to ensure these fish survive to fight another day.

That's your report for today, May 5, 2025. This is Artificial Lure signing off until next time. Tight lines, everyone!

Good morning, folks! Artificial Lure here with your Sunday fishing report for May 4, 2025, coming to you from beautiful Lake of the Ozarks.

We're looking at another gorgeous spring day with temps climbing into the low 70s by afternoon. Sunrise was at 6:08 this morning and sunset will be around 8:07 tonight, giving you plenty of daylight hours on the water. Winds are staying light at 5-7 mph from the southwest, making for nice, calm conditions across most of the lake.

Now for what you're all wondering - what's biting? Crappie fishing has been a bit slower this year compared to recent seasons. Those drought conditions back in '22 and '23 really hurt the recruitment, but don't let that stop you. There are still plenty of keepers if you know where to look. Your best bet is hitting brush piles along points, especially in the Glaize Arm. Both black and white crappie are holding in 8-15 feet of water. Small jigs in the 1/32 to 1/8 ounce range are working well, particularly in chartreuse. And don't forget your minnows - they're still the most reliable bait for consistent action.

Bass fishing has been picking up nicely with the warming water. They're in full spawn mode now, so look for beds in shallow protected coves. Plastic worms and jigs worked slowly around cover are your best bet. Some nice 4-5 pounders have been coming in all week.

Catfish action should be similar to past years, with good opportunities through September. They're starting to get more active as water temps rise.

For other species, white bass fishing is fair if you target windy points and submerged islands with artificial lures or shad. Hybrid striped bass opportunities are good in the Truman Dam tailwater. Walleye are worth targeting on steep rocky points and humps - try trolling crankbaits or bright-colored jigs tipped with nightcrawlers.

Hot spots this week include the Hurricane Deck Bridge area for crappie, the backs of coves in the Niangua and Gravois arms for bedding bass, and the Grand Glaize arm for a mixed bag of everything.

Remember the MDC has marked brush pile locations online that are worth checking out. Just search "Lake Ozarks brush piles" and you'll find the map.

That's it for today, folks. This is Artificial Lure reminding you that a bad day fishing still beats a good day working. See y'all on the water!

Good morning, anglers! This is Artificial Lure coming at you with your Saturday fishing report for May 3, 2025, straight from beautiful Lake of the Ozarks.

We're looking at another gorgeous spring day on the water with sunrise having come in around 6:10 AM and sunset expected about 8:05 tonight. Weather-wise, we're continuing with partly cloudy skies and temperatures climbing into the low 70s - perfect fishing conditions! Winds remain light today, giving us excellent boat control for working those productive main lake points. As you know, we don't have tidal swings here at the lake, so you'll want to focus on those water temperatures instead.

Fish activity continues to heat up across the lake. Water temps are climbing steadily, putting our fish into their classic spring patterns. Crappie fishing has been somewhat slower this season compared to previous years - those drought conditions back in 2022-2023 affected recruitment. Still, anglers are finding good success targeting brush piles, especially those located on or near points in the Glaize Arm. Your best bet is working brush in the 8-15 foot range with small jigs (1/32 to 1/8 ounce) in chartreuse or white, or going with the old reliable live minnows.

Bass action is picking up nicely with plenty of fish moving shallow. Anglers have been successful flipping to cover, using weightless worms, and throwing spinnerbaits along rocky banks. Several tournament anglers reported quality keepers last week using these techniques.

Catfish are becoming more active as well, with the April-September period traditionally being our best months. Expect similar action to previous years.

White bass fishing should be fair if you target windy points, submerged islands and long, sloping points. For hybrids, check the Truman Dam tailwater where opportunities have been good.

Walleye anglers should try trolling crankbaits near steep rocky points and humps. Another productive technique is working jigs tipped with minnows, nightcrawlers, or twister tail grubs near the bottom. Unlike bass, our walleye seem to prefer bright colored jigs - orange, white, and chartreuse have been working well.

For hot spots today, I'd recommend hitting the brush piles near the 20-mile marker for crappie, especially early morning. For bass, try the rocky points near Gravois Arm. The area around Hurricane Deck Bridge has been producing some nice cats for those soaking cut bait.

Remember to handle those fish properly if you're practicing catch and release to ensure they survive to fight another day. This is Artificial Lure signing off - tight lines, y'all, and I'll see you on the water!

Good morning from the Lake of the Ozarks. This is Artificial Lure with your Friday fishing report for May 2, 2025, coming to you straight from the heart of Missouri.

We’re looking at a classic spring pattern on the lake today. Sunrise came in at just about 6:10 this morning with sunset expected around 8:05 tonight. Daytime weather brings partly cloudy skies and a comfortable high in the upper 60s, making for a perfect day on the water. Winds are light, which is great for boat control and working those main lake points. There are no significant tidal swings here, so focus more on weather and water temps for your planning.

Fish activity is picking up fast with warming water. Crappie anglers are still finding some steady action despite a slower bite this season due to tough recruitment the last couple of years, likely from the earlier droughts. Still, if you work those brush piles along the Glaize Arm and other main lake points, you’re likely to come across some keeper black and white crappie—especially on brush located eight to fifteen feet deep. Small jigs in 1/32 to 1/8 ounce sizes, especially chartreuse, are the go-to, and live minnows remain a classic favorite for steady bites[1].

Largemouth bass and spotted bass are starting to move shallow. Anglers are reporting strong catches early and late around docks and rocky banks using soft plastic creature baits and finesse jigs. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits in shad or craw patterns are also producing, especially with some wind hitting the banks. If you target secondary points in the Gravois and Osage arms, you should find plenty of active fish this time of year[5].

Catfish action is good and getting better by the day. Channel and blue cats are taking cut shad and live bait in the deeper channels. Nightcrawlers on the bottom around creek mouths will also score bites[1]. April through September is always prime for cats, so it’s a solid bet now.

If you’re itching for something different, folks have been catching walleye trolling crankbaits over steep rocky points and humps. Best colors are bright—think orange, chartreuse, or white jigs with a minnow or nightcrawler tip[1]. White bass are schooling up on windy, sloping points and submerged islands. Use small swimbaits or Rooster Tails for numbers.

Recent reports have shown solid numbers of bass and the occasional limit of slabs coming from coves around the 6 to 10 mile markers on the Osage Arm and over on the Niangua Arm. Brush piles are the key for crappie, while points and secondary channels are your best bet for bass.

Hot spots today are the Glaize Arm for crappie and the secondary points around the Gravois Arm for bass. Don’t overlook the Truman Dam tailwater for hybrid stripers and walleye action, either.

Stay safe on the water, respect the resource, and tight lines to everyone out today. This is Artificial Lure signing off.

Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Lake of the Ozarks fishing report for April 30, 2025.

Folks, we're hitting the sweet spot of spring fishing here at the Lake. Water temps have climbed into the upper 50s after that warm spell we had this past weekend. Lake level is holding steady around 656 feet, still a few feet below summer pool, which is giving us good access to those shallow spawning areas.

Sunrise was at 6:10 AM this morning and we'll see sunset at 8:05 PM, so plenty of daylight hours to get on the water. Weather-wise, we're looking at a beautiful day with temps pushing into the low 70s and just a light breeze from the southwest – perfect conditions to be out on the water.

The bass action has been absolutely on fire these past couple weeks. Since the Big Bass Bash earlier this month where an 8-pounder took top honors, we've seen consistent catches of quality fish. The spawn is in full swing now, with plenty of bass on beds in the clearer sections of the lake. For those of you targeting largemouth, focus on those secondary points and gravel banks, especially in pockets with some stained water. Top producers have been white and chartreuse spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and Texas-rigged creature baits pitched tight to docks.

Crappie fishing remains red hot, with limits being caught daily by both locals and visitors. These slabs are moving shallow now and hanging around brush piles in 5-10 feet of water. Minnows under a float have been deadly, but don't overlook small jigs in white, chartreuse, or black/chartreuse combinations.

If you're looking for some honey holes, try the Gravois arm back in the coves where you'll find some good spawning pockets for bass. For crappie, Anderson Hollow and the docks around the 20-mile marker have been producing consistently.

Remember, with the bass on beds, practice good conservation – snap a quick photo and get those breeding females back in the water quickly.

That's it for today's report from Lake of the Ozarks. This is Artificial Lure reminding you that a bad day fishing still beats a good day at work. Tight lines, everyone, and I'll see you on the water!

Good morning from Lake of the Ozarks, this is Artificial Lure with your local fishing report for April 23, 2025.

Spring has locked in across the Ozarks and fishing is firing on all cylinders. Water temperature is holding in the mid-50s, and after some welcome light rains recently, the lake’s got a nice stain in spots. That’s pushed bass and crappie shallower and turned the bite on after what’s been a fairly clear early April. Lake level is hovering around 656 feet, just shy of summer pool, which is normal for this part of spring. Keep in mind, Lake of the Ozarks doesn’t have tides, so you can fish steady all day without having to chase water movement.

Sunrise came at 6:22 AM and sunset is at 7:54 PM. The weather is calm and cool this morning, with highs heading into the upper 60s. There’s just a light breeze, perfect for boat control and working banks without getting blown around.

Now to the fish. Bass are moving up fast, staging for the spawn. The Big Bass Bash just wrapped up with a monster eight-pounder weighed in, so the females are definitely active and on the prowl. The most consistent action on largemouth has been on secondary points and gravel banks, especially where the water’s got some color. Spinnerbaits, ChatterBaits, and medium-diving crankbaits in shad and chartreuse are getting hammered. As the sun gets up, flip a Texas-rigged creature bait or a black and blue jig tight to the docks. That’s where the big girls are holed up during the afternoon.

Crappie fishing is about as good as it gets. The fish are moving up and are close to spawning, with many caught just four or five feet down over 15 feet of water. Focus on gravel flats and gently sloping banks, especially up in the Gravois arm where the water’s got a solid stain. The go-to bait right now is a 2.8-inch soft plastic, especially with a chartreuse-dipped tail. Several anglers are reporting limits if you move around and cover water.

If you want numbers, in the last week during Big Bass Bash, multiple bass over five pounds were weighed, and the crappie bite is so good most folks are taking home their limits when they put in the time. Both species are healthy and aggressive right now.

For hot spots, check around the Gravois and Niangua arms for crappie, and target secondary points around the Shawnee Bend and Linn Creek areas for bass. These zones have good water color and active fish.

That’s your Lake of the Ozarks fishing report for today. Get out there and enjoy the spring bite—now’s one of the best times of the year to fill the livewell. Good luck and tight lines.

Good morning from Lake of the Ozarks, this is Artificial Lure with your fresh fishing report for April 21, 2025.

Spring has definitely settled in and fishing action is hot across the lake right now. Water temps are running in the mid-50s, with some color in the water thanks to recent light rains. That’s made the fish a bit more predictable, pushing bass and crappie up shallower and waking up the bite after a clear spell earlier this month. The lake level is sitting around 656 feet, still a couple feet shy of summer pool, but that’s typical for this time of year. No tides to worry about here, so you can fish steady all day.

Sunrise today was at 6:22 AM and sunset will be at 7:54 PM, giving plenty of daylight to get after it. Weather is cool and calm this morning with highs pushing toward the upper 60s and only a slight breeze, making for comfortable runs and easy boat positioning.

Let’s talk fish. Bass are staging and getting ready to spawn. Just in the last week, there’s been a big bass bash tournament and already an 8-pounder has hit the scales—a sign the big females are active and moving up. The best action for largemouth has been on the secondary points and gravel banks, especially in areas with a bit of stain to the water. Top lures right now are spinnerbaits, ChatterBaits, and medium-diving crankbaits in shad and chartreuse patterns. Don’t overlook a Texas-rigged creature bait or a jig pitched tight to docks, especially as the sun gets up.

Crappie fishing is absolutely fantastic. They’re stacking up in 4 to 8 feet of water, holding off gravel banks and around brush piles, and many fish are showing bulging egg sacs, so the spawn is firing. The go-to bait has been a 2.8-inch Keitech swimbait with a chartreuse-dyed tail, but classic crappie jigs in pink or chartreuse are also hammering them. Minnows on slip bobbers are always a reliable play too if you want to keep it simple. Folks are getting close to limits most outings with plenty of 10-inch plus slabs, though this isn’t the place for record fish—just good action and solid eaters.

A couple of hot spots for today include the Gravois arm for crappie, especially up in the stained water where fish are bunched up tight, and the Niangua Arm near the 10- to 20-mile markers for bass, where secondary points and shallow docks are holding fish.

No matter your target, get out early and take advantage of the active bite. It’s shaping up to be another classic Lake of the Ozarks spring day on the water. Good luck and tight lines!