Ozarks Fishing Hot Spots: Bass, Crappie, and Catfish Action Heating Up for Early Spring

This is Artificial Lure coming to you with today’s fishing report for Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. We’re about as prime as it gets for early spring fishing, so grab your rods and hit the water.

Weather this morning started brisk with lows in the upper 30s, but expect a mild rebound this afternoon into the low 60s. Skies are mostly clear with a patch of clouds rolling through, but no major weather fronts are expected today, keeping the bite steady. Sunrise was around 6:35 AM, and sunset is set for 7:45 PM. There’s no tidal influence here in the Ozarks, but lake levels are sitting a few feet below summer pool—water’s at 656. The water temperature is in the mid-50s, and there’s good color, especially up in the river arms after last week’s rain[1][8].

Bass are on the move and getting into pre-spawn mode. The recent Big Bass Bash saw an eight-pounder weighed in, with quite a few six and seven-pound lunkers brought to the scales these past two weeks[1][8]. The big females are staging just outside shallow brush and on secondary points, ready to slide up with another stretch of warm days. Best bet for largemouths right now: tie on a black and blue or green pumpkin jig in that stained water, or throw a chartreuse and black square bill crankbait, especially if you’re dealing with runoff in the upper arms. Jerkbaits like a Megabass 110 or Smithwick Rogue are still catching fish, especially on windblown points and chunk rock banks—work them slow with a long pause if the sun’s high and the bite’s tough[1][9][10].

Crappie fishing is solid, especially around docks and brush piles. Most are staging or just starting to spawn—expect plenty of fish packed full of eggs. Minnows or 1/16-ounce jigs under a fixed bobber will fill a bucket quick. A Roadrunner or anything with a little flash can turn the trick in shallow, off-colored coves. Brush piles on points are loaded up—check the Glaize and Niangua arms, and use the Missouri Department of Conservation’s online map for public brush pile spots[1][2][10].

If you’re after catfish, the bite’s picking up. Blue cats in particular are moving shallower. Drifting fresh cut shad is the ticket for bigger fish. Plenty of bank action below Bagnell Dam and along the main channel[7].

For those looking for a sure bet, here are today’s hot spots. First, hit the north shoreline and secondary points from the glaize up through the Osage arm—especially around docks with brush. Second, the upper Big and Little Niangua arms are fishing well after last week’s rain, with warmer, murkier water pushing fish shallow[1][8].

Wrap it all up with this: focus shallow, fish with confidence, and don’t be afraid to mix it up between jigs, crankbaits, and jerkbaits for bass, or keep it simple with a minnow for crappie. The spring action is here—tight lines from Artificial Lure.