Lake of the Ozarks Fishing Report: Heating Up for Bass, Slower for Crappie, Prime Time for Catfish

Good morning, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake of the Ozarks fishing report for Friday, May 16th, 2025. We're looking at a beautiful day shaping up with temperatures expected to reach the upper 70s this afternoon. Sunrise was at about 6:00 AM and we'll have sunset tonight around 8:15 PM, giving you plenty of time on the water.

The fishing action has been heating up nicely across the lake as we settle into mid-May. Bass fishing continues to improve with each passing day. The largemouth are following their typical May patterns, and the lower end of the lake has been producing some solid catches over the past week. Several tournaments wrapped up recently with impressive weigh-ins. Water clarity is good right now, and the bass are responding well to both reaction baits and bottom presentations.

Unfortunately, I've got to tell you that crappie fishing remains a bit slower than what we're used to seeing this time of year. This is likely due to those drought conditions we experienced back in 2022 and 2023 that hurt the crappie recruitment. If you're determined to chase those slabs, your best bet is to target brush piles, especially those located on or near points 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 minnows remain a reliable option for consistent action.

Catfish action is entering prime time, folks! With water temperatures steadily climbing, these whiskered critters are becoming more active. Cut bait and stink baits are producing well in the deeper channels.

For those of you looking for hot spots today, I'd recommend trying the area around the 40-mile marker where some nice bass have been pulled in this week. Another productive zone has been along the bluffs near Bagnell Dam, where anglers have been having success with larger-sized bass.

For lures, topwater action is starting to pick up early and late in the day. During midday hours, try deeper presentations with jigs, Carolina rigs, or deep-diving crankbaits. Don't overlook docks with good shade cover, as bigger fish are seeking relief from the increasing sun.

Ken and Michelle Miller reported a nice haul of bass just yesterday using Texas-rigged worms around dock structures. And Jack's Guide Service has been putting clients on some quality fish throughout the week.

Remember, the wind is expected to remain light today at around 6-8 mph from the southwest, making for calm conditions across most of the lake. That's all for today, folks. This is Artificial Lure saying tight lines and good fishing!