Winter Fishing Bliss at the Lake of the Ozarks - A Year-Round Angling Paradise

Today, January 18, 2025, at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, the fishing conditions are quite favorable despite the winter chill. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:

### Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise is at 7:27 AM, and sunset will be at 5:17 PM, giving you about 9 hours and 50 minutes of daylight[2].

### Weather and Water Conditions
The water temperature is typically cold this time of year, but the lake rarely freezes over completely, making it a great spot for year-round fishing. The water levels are stable, and there are no significant tidal changes to worry about since Lake of the Ozarks is a freshwater lake.

### Fish Activity
The Lake of the Ozarks is renowned for its abundant populations of black bass, crappie, white bass, catfish, and bluegill. During winter, bass tend to congregate in deeper areas, often around structures like docks and brush piles. Yesterday, anglers reported catching several black bass in the 2-5 pound range, along with some crappie and catfish. The fish are a bit sluggish due to the cold, but using the right lures and bait can still yield good results[4].

### Best Lures and Bait
For black bass, try using jigs, crankbaits, and soft plastics. The docks, especially those with sunk brush piles, are hot spots for bass. Crappie can be caught using small jigs and minnows, particularly around submerged structures. For catfish, nightcrawlers and stink baits work well, especially near the spillway section of Bagnell Dam[4].

### Hot Spots
- **Alhonna Resort**: This area is hosting the Alhonna Resort Winter Bass Brawl today, and it's known for its productive fishing spots, especially around the docks and submerged structures[1].
- **Spillway Section of Bagnell Dam**: This area offers excellent bank fishing opportunities for white bass, black bass, catfish, walleye, and crappie. The public access areas on both sides of the spillway are good spots to try your luck[4].

Overall, the Lake of the Ozarks remains a fishing paradise even in the winter, with plenty of fish to be caught if you know where to look and what to use. Good luck out there