Ozarks Angling: Summer Sizzle at the Lake

Lake of the Ozarks anglers, this is Artificial Lure coming to you with the latest report for Wednesday, June 4, 2025.

The lake is alive with activity as we ride the tail end of a cool front. Water temps are holding in the low 70s, with early morning fog giving way to mostly sunny skies and a light breeze from the south. Expect a high around 82°F by the afternoon. Sunrise was at 5:44 a.m. today, and sunset will be right around 8:28 p.m.—lots of daylight to chase those slabs and hawgs. Tides aren’t a factor here, so you can focus on wind and water clarity, which is slightly stained up in the creeks and clearer on the main lake.

Bass fishing’s heating up post-spawn. According to Bassing Bob, the Shawnee Bend area and up the Glaize Arm are producing strong numbers of both largemouth and spots. Local sticks are reporting better catch rates than the past couple of years, but you may find yourself kissing a few more fish goodbye as they run a little short of the length limit. Still, quality bites are there, particularly on medium-diving crankbaits like the Phantom Red Craw Wiggle Wart, worked along rip rap and rocky points. Frogs and toads like the Z-Man Goat Toad in black are pulling bites shallow, especially early—target those shaded docks and backs of coves for the best action. If you want to finesse ‘em, throw a Ned rig or dropshot near deeper brush in 8 to 10 feet; bigger females are still staging on those transitions, according to Omnia Fishing’s community reports.

Crappie are looking healthy, thanks in part to a flush of young shad after last March’s natural fish kill. Missouri Department of Conservation says the Glaize Arm and brush piles near points or close to structure hold both black and white crappie over the 9-inch minimum. Small jigs (1/32 to 1/8 oz) in bright colors or minnows under floats are your go-to. The crappie bite has been best at dawn, with smaller males up shallow on pea gravel, while the bigger females are deeper, often around docks—try shooting a jig under the walkway if you can.

Catfish are getting active with the warming water. Set lines and rod-and-reel anglers are pulling blues and channels off chunk rock on cut shad and live bluegill, especially overnight. Best months are right now through September. For white bass and the occasional hybrid, hit long points or wind-blown banks with small swimbaits or spoons in the evening.

Hot spots this week:
- Shawnee Bend area for bass, both shallow and mid-depth
- Glaize Arm brush piles and docks for crappie
- Niangua Arm for catfish and mixed species action

Pro tip: Don’t skip the topwater bite early and late. A walking bait or popper can draw explosive strikes off the main lake points before the sun gets high.

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