Missouri Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Lake of The Ozarks 07/11/05:

District 78 Tackle Shop fishing report from Red Oak Resort

The fishing picked up this week with the cooler temps and more anglers on the water. Bass and catfish are the hot catches with a few crappie and sunfish for variety.The water is hot and murky with only about 8 inch visibility and mid 80's temps.

Bass: The bass were really hitting the topwater stuff this week with a number of 3-4 lb fish being reported by different anglers. Buzzbaits and poppers were the most often mentioned with spooks next in line. Breezy points and wind blown docks seemed to be the best for topwater action. The time period of 5:30 am til about 9:00 am were most reported. As mid-morning arrives soft plastics seem to take over along the deeper dock ends and brush piles. 12-18 feet is the magic depth.

Mid -day slows with some deep jig fish being caught in 25 feet or so along the bluff ends. Heavy fast falling jigs with a bulky trailer in black/blue or brown /chart are the colors of choice. Night fishing is very productive also with large worms, ( 10 inch and larger ) or brush hawgs in dark colors being the best bet. Large, heavy, dark spinner baits with gold Colorado blades are also catching fish.

Crappie: The crappie are deep in 15-20 feet of water, just above the brush or next to large chunk rock. Minnows and small crankbaits are the best options right now. Jigs and tubes still are producing and a limit of large fish requires much moving. 4-6 fish from a spot seems to be about all. The fish are coming to the lighted docks at night where yellow or chart, jigs are producing.

Catfish: The early evening catfishing is GREAT ! Everyone has been catchin fish from the docks in 4-12 feet of water. Nightcrawlers, minnows, shrimp, liver, and stink baits are the big bites. For large cats the later evening after the jet ski's have stopped and the boat traffic has slowed is excellent. Many large fish have been reported on jugs and trotlines. Shad and bluegill, or medium crawfish are the baits for a big one. A few over 30 lbs were reported this week.

Bluegill: The bluegill and green sunfish are actively hitting poppers and flies in the morning and evenings. Mid morning through late afternoon worms and nightcrawlers are your best choice along and under the docks.

White Bass: The whites have been active in the morning and evening on windy points and deep channel swings. Crankbaits have been producing some fish as well as small spinners, both inline and regular spinner baits are producing. The whites have been the slowest bite reported this week.
Good luck out there this week and be safe.