Lake of the Ozarks Spring Fishing Report: Bass Blitz, Crappie Crush, Ideal Conditions

Good morning from Lake of the Ozarks, this is Artificial Lure with your local fishing report for April 23, 2025.

Spring has locked in across the Ozarks and fishing is firing on all cylinders. Water temperature is holding in the mid-50s, and after some welcome light rains recently, the lake’s got a nice stain in spots. That’s pushed bass and crappie shallower and turned the bite on after what’s been a fairly clear early April. Lake level is hovering around 656 feet, just shy of summer pool, which is normal for this part of spring. Keep in mind, Lake of the Ozarks doesn’t have tides, so you can fish steady all day without having to chase water movement.

Sunrise came at 6:22 AM and sunset is at 7:54 PM. The weather is calm and cool this morning, with highs heading into the upper 60s. There’s just a light breeze, perfect for boat control and working banks without getting blown around.

Now to the fish. Bass are moving up fast, staging for the spawn. The Big Bass Bash just wrapped up with a monster eight-pounder weighed in, so the females are definitely active and on the prowl. The most consistent action on largemouth has been on secondary points and gravel banks, especially where the water’s got some color. Spinnerbaits, ChatterBaits, and medium-diving crankbaits in shad and chartreuse are getting hammered. As the sun gets up, flip a Texas-rigged creature bait or a black and blue jig tight to the docks. That’s where the big girls are holed up during the afternoon.

Crappie fishing is about as good as it gets. The fish are moving up and are close to spawning, with many caught just four or five feet down over 15 feet of water. Focus on gravel flats and gently sloping banks, especially up in the Gravois arm where the water’s got a solid stain. The go-to bait right now is a 2.8-inch soft plastic, especially with a chartreuse-dipped tail. Several anglers are reporting limits if you move around and cover water.

If you want numbers, in the last week during Big Bass Bash, multiple bass over five pounds were weighed, and the crappie bite is so good most folks are taking home their limits when they put in the time. Both species are healthy and aggressive right now.

For hot spots, check around the Gravois and Niangua arms for crappie, and target secondary points around the Shawnee Bend and Linn Creek areas for bass. These zones have good water color and active fish.

That’s your Lake of the Ozarks fishing report for today. Get out there and enjoy the spring bite—now’s one of the best times of the year to fill the livewell. Good luck and tight lines.