Lake of the Ozarks

Black bass fishing will be similar to last year on the Niangua and Glaize Arms. Catch rates for bass were much higher than in the past few years while the percent of fish over the length limit was slightly lower, anglers may catch more fish but throw more back. Both bass and crappie were in excellent body condition, possibly due to increased forage from the cicada emergence and abundant shad this year. Largemouth bass electrofishing surveys conducted during the spring of 2024 indicated that the percentage of the population equal to or greater than the 15-inch minimum length limit was 15 percent on the Niangua Arm and 16 percent on the Glaize Arm. The percentage of the population of spotted (Kentucky) bass over the 12-inch minimum length limit on the Niangua arm was 33 percent, and on the Glaize Arm was 25 percent. Although bass can be caught year-round, the best times are spring and fall, especially around points, brush piles, and docks. The best producing lures are topwater baits (low light periods), plastic worms, jigs, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits. Winter is also an excellent time to fish for bass by slowly fishing jerkbaits off points or pea gravel banks. 

Crappie fishing will be slower in 2025 than the past several years. Drought conditions led to poor recruitment of crappie in 2022 and 2023. During the fall of 2024, approximately 75 percent of both black crappie and white crappie on the Glaize Arm were equal to or greater than the 9-inch minimum length limit. Concentrate on brush piles, especially those located on or near points. The ability to locate good structure is the key to successful crappie fishing on Lake of the Ozarks. Visit: http://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z4u for information about brush piles that have been placed in the lake by MDC staff.  Small jigs (1/32 to 1/8 ounce) and minnows are the best baits. 

Catfish action in 2025 should be similar to the past few years. The best months are April through September for channel catfish. Blue catfish remain active later into the fall and can be caught year-round. Drifting and fishing live or cut shad on days with a light breeze consistently produces the best catches. Blue catfish have a tendency to inhabit open water, so fishing some distance from the shoreline with your bait several feet off the bottom may increase your odds. The mouths of coves, deep flats, and river channel breaks are prime areas. Note that a protected slot length limit pertaining to blue catfish went into effect in 2014.  All blue catfish from 26 inches to 34 inches in length must be immediately returned to the water. If you are after channel catfish, try to keep your bait on or near the bottom, and fish relatively close to the shoreline. To catch flathead catfish, use live bait such as a small bluegill or green sunfish instead of cut bait and fish near large boulders or woody cover. 

White bass fishing should be fair. Fish windy points, submerged islands and long, sloping points using either artificial lures or shad. Opportunities for catching hybrid striped bass are good in the Truman Dam tailwater and, during the summer and winter months, in spring-fed areas of the lake. Walleye have been consistently stocked in Lake of the Ozarks since the mid-1990's. Walleye are typically caught by trolling crankbaits on steep rocky points and humps. Jigs tipped with either minnows, nightcrawlers, or a twister tail grub, fished on or near the bottom, is another productive technique. Unlike bass, walleye tend to prefer bright colored jigs and dressings such as orange, white, and chartreuse. The lake also offers good fishing for a number of other species including paddlefish, sunfish, gar, and common carp. Remember to use proper handling techniques when releasing fish back to the water to ensure their survival.