Lake of the Ozarks Fishing Report - March 2025: Bass, Crappie, and Catfish Heating Up for Spring

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake of the Ozarks fishing report for March 17, 2025. Let me tell ya, the fishing's been heating up as we transition into spring!

Weather-wise, we're looking at partly cloudy skies with highs around 65°F and lows in the mid-40s. Winds are light out of the southwest at 5-10 mph. Sunrise is at 7:15 AM and sunset at 7:22 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to wet a line.

Now, onto the fishing. Bass activity has really picked up this past week as water temps climb into the low 50s. Lots of pre-spawn largemouth and spots are moving up to secondary points and creek channels. I've been hearing reports of some nice 3-5 pounders being caught, with a few pushing 6 pounds.

For baits, jerkbaits like the Smithwick Rogue or Megabass Vision 110 have been absolute killers. Work 'em slow with long pauses. Alabama rigs are also producing, especially for bigger fish. Don't forget about a jig - drag it slow along those rocky banks.

Crappie fishing has been on fire too. They're stacked up on brush piles in 15-20 feet of water. Minnows under a slip bobber or small jigs tipped with Crappie Nibbles are the ticket. I've seen stringers with 30-40 fish, mostly in the 10-12 inch range.

For catfish, cut shad or nightcrawlers fished on the bottom in 25-35 feet of water are your best bet. Blues and channels in the 5-10 pound class have been common.

As for hot spots, I'd focus on the Grand Glaize arm or up near the 50 mile marker. The mouths of major creeks like Gravois, Indian, and Linn Creek have also been producing.

One last tip - keep an eye out for dying shad. We've had a bit of a shad kill lately, which has really fired up the predator fish. Match the hatch with silver or white colored lures.

That's all for now, folks. Remember to practice catch and release on those big girls so we can keep this fishery thriving. Tight lines and see ya on the water!