Late Spring Fishing Heats Up at Lake of the Ozarks

Artificial Lure here with your Lake of the Ozarks fishing report for May 30th, 2025. Sunrise hit the water this morning at 5:46 a.m., with sunset expected at 8:24 p.m. We’re looking at classic late-spring conditions: warm highs in the upper 70s, light winds out of the southwest, and partly cloudy skies. Water level is at full pool, and May’s full moon last week means the spawn is winding down, with a good mix of both spawning and post-spawn activity out there. There’s no tidal movement here, but the lake is alive with fish transitioning between shallow and deeper patterns.

Bass fishing has been on fire the last week. Largemouth are hanging tight to docks, secondary points, and especially those shaded stretches by midday. Both reaction baits and bottom presentations are working. Local tournament anglers weighed in some solid bags last Sunday, showing the bite’s still hot. Topwater lures like Whopper Ploppers and walking baits are drawing explosive strikes, especially early and late in the day. As the sun gets higher, switch to green pumpkin jigs, shakey heads, or a Texas-rigged worm and work those deeper docks and brush piles. According to local experts, the lower end of the lake, especially from Toll Bridge to the Dam, has the best clarity and most visible beds. But don’t overlook those protected spawning pockets just inside main lake points in the upper Glaize and Niangua arms.

Crappie action is a little tougher this year, and the Missouri Department of Conservation attributes it to the poor recruitment from drought over the last couple seasons. Still, if you’re targeting crappie, focus on brush piles near points—especially on the Glaize Arm—using small jigs in the 1/32 to 1/8 ounce range, or live minnows. Most of the keepers have come off deeper piles in 12 to 18 feet this week, but you can still pick some up on laydowns near the bank early in the morning.

Catfish are in their prime, and now’s the time to go after them with cut shad or live bluegill fished on the bottom near channel swings and the mouths of coves. The main lake and lower Niangua arm are producing some nice blues and channels, especially after sundown.

A couple of hot spots to check out:
- Coffman Bend for early morning bass schooling and topwater action.
- Brush piles near the mouth of the Glaize Arm for both bass and crappie.
- The mouth of Linn Creek and the flats above the 10-mile marker for steady catfish action.

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