Winter Wonderland Fishing at Lake of the Ozarks: Braving the Cold for Bountiful Catches

As of January 4, 2025, the fishing scene at Lake of the Ozarks is quite chilly but still promising for those willing to brave the cold. Here’s what you need to know:

**Weather and Sunrise/Sunset:**
Expect daytime temperatures to reach around 4°C (39°F) with nighttime lows dipping to -7°C (19°F). There are about 5 hours of sunshine, and sunrise is at 7:27 AM, with sunset at 5:02 PM[2].

**Fish Activity:**
While the cold weather slows down some species, others remain active. Catfish, particularly channel catfish, can still be caught, although the best months for them are typically from April to September. However, blue catfish remain active year-round. For now, focus on deeper waters and structure like brush piles and rocky points[1][3].

**Best Spots:**
The spillway section of Bagnell Dam is a great spot to fish from the shore and can yield white bass, black bass, catfish, walleye, and crappie. The Glaize Arm is another hot spot, especially for crappie, where you can find them near brush piles and points[1][3].

**Lures and Bait:**
For crappie, use small jigs (1/32 to 1/8 ounce) and minnows. Walleye can be caught by trolling crankbaits on steep rocky points or using jigs tipped with minnows, nightcrawlers, or a twister tail grub. Brightly colored jigs like orange, white, and chartreuse work well for walleye. For catfish, traditional baits like nightcrawlers and stink baits are effective[1][3].

**Tidal Report:**
Lake of the Ozarks is a reservoir and does not have tidal changes, so you don’t need to worry about tides affecting your fishing.

Given the cold weather, it might be a bit challenging to catch large numbers of fish, but the lake's diverse fish population ensures there's always something biting. Dress warmly, and good luck on the water