Summer 2023

The story of this summer has been low current flow which has made it difficult for a lot of fishermen. The drought has helped some river areas around the lake. Below Bagnel dam has been good as the water is about 60 degrees. It's so much cooler because the water comes out of such deep water from Lake of the Ozarks. 

The main lake isn't doing bad for catfish either as this is one of the best years for blue cats that we have seen in several years. We catch bluegills as bait and catch a lot of 2-8 pound catfish with some good ones up around 20-25 pounds. The big ones we turn back as they are protected by law. The 2-8 pound ones are great to eat. Blue cats eat fresh bluegills, not your typical bottom feeders. Right now we are catching them 20 feet down over 60 feet of water. 

Bass are kind of similar Tackle Hd stealth football jigs are my confidence bait right now as I can do just about everything with a jig. Swim it, stroke it, fish suspended cables 20 feet down over much deeper water. Drop shot have been good also. 

If you don't fish very often trolling crankbaits is a good way to fish also. It's easy, relaxing style of fishing. A lot of the trips I've been doing lately are short 4 hr trips 7-11am and then also a lot of evening trips 4-8pm. But everyday is custom and if you want something specific I might be able to accommodate your request. Things have been busy as july/august is probably the busiest time at the lake. I look forward to mid august when the kids go back to school. In the meantime take advantage of the big blue catfish or river trips. both are great ways to beat the heat and the drought conditions. 

March 2023

 I am helping BassingBob.com with daily fishing reports. I do a fishing report for Tackle HD. It is probably the best report on You Tube every other week. KRMS Radio fishing report every thursday morning at 640am plus John Neporandy has me report for the local news paper. I don't add fishing reports here as often as I should but I do 7 reports a week so I'm constantly giving reports everwhere else. 

The latest for Lake of the Ozarks is good. The lake is slowly warming up into the mid to upper 40's. A huge variety of lures are working for bass. There has not been a big push of bass up on the banks yet but it is happening in certain spot. Most of the bass are still offshore roaming and occasionally feeding. The Alabama rig is still my confidence bait right now. Tackle HD Swimmers in the 3.5 and the 4 inch size are great. They don't tear up as easily as most of the other swimbaits on the market. Blue back herring and smoke shad are my 2 favorite colors. The tournament pressure has been intense the last few weeks. 200 boat tournament have been the norm and it is a lot to deal with if you are a bass. Look for that to continue until things warm up in late april. After the Big Bass Bash is over things will settle down and there will be a big push towards the banks. Bluegills, spawning crappie and bass will return to the shallows and the average fishermen will catch fish. Right now experienced bass fishermen can struggle, but it all depends on the day and there are plenty of big bass being caught right now, make no doubt about it. We had an exceptional day last thursday throwing a rigs to off shore brush with forward facing sonar. Numerous 2-4 pound bass were caught and if you are interested in the lastest information go the other venues I listed above. 

Now crappie fishing has been a different story. Lots of average fishermen are having great success. Forward facing sonar has taken the fishing industry by storm the last 4 years and I use that technolgy everyday. Lots of limits and lots of quality fish are being caught right now and there is just something to the the cool water that crappie like. The best crappie fishing is right now and until things get really warm around Memorial day weekend. I'll still crappie fish in the summer but I much prefer the cooler months. 

I make up for the lack of crappie in the summer by fishing for blue catfish. Blue cats are wide spread and more aggressive than traditional catfish. They feed primarily on shad and it's rare to put our baits on the bottom of the lake like other catfish. I fish for those fish primarily during the summer months. They are great to eat and are perfect for fish fries. Fish 2-5 pounds are common and giant catfish in the 30 pound range are caught every year. They love the hot weather.