Fishing Forecast for Lake of the Ozarks: Crappie Thrive, Bass and Catfish Stir as Water Warms

As of January 19, 2025, the fishing conditions at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri are quite favorable despite the winter chill.

### Weather and Sunrise/Sunset
Today, you can expect daytime temperatures to reach around 4°C (39°F) with nighttime temperatures dropping to -7°C (19°F). There will be about 5 hours of bright sunshine, which is roughly 54% of the daylight hours. Sunrise is at 7:25 AM, and sunset will be at 5:16 PM.

### Lake Conditions
The lake level is currently about 6 feet lower than its summer level, a normal adjustment in preparation for spring rains. The water temperature is in the upper 40s and is slowly warming up.

### Fish Activity
Crappie fishing has been exceptional over the last few months, as they thrive in the cold water. Bass and catfish, however, are more active as the water warms up. Yesterday, anglers reported good catches of crappie, with some bass and catfish starting to show more activity.

### Best Lures and Bait
For crappie, small jigs or minnows set one to two feet below a bobber are highly effective in the shallows. For bass, soft plastic finesse worms, floating worms, creature baits, lizards, and tubes are good choices, especially during the spawn season. White bass can be caught using small spinners and jerkbaits, particularly in the tributaries like the Niangua, Little Niangua, Gravois, and Grand Glaize.

### Hot Spots
The spillway section of Bagnell Dam is a great spot for shore fishing, where you can catch white bass, black bass, catfish, walleye, and crappie. The upper arms of the lake, with their off-colored waters, and the middle lake area are also good spots. Docks with sunk brush piles and lights attract a variety of gamefish species, including bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish.

### Public Access
For those looking to fish from shore, the Missouri Department of Conservation public access areas and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources access areas at Lake of the Ozarks State Park Public Beach Number 1 and Public Beach Number 2 are open to the public.

Overall, it's a great time to be out on the water at Lake of the Ozarks, with plenty of fish activity and favorable conditions for a successful day of fishing.