Fall Fishing at Lake of the Ozarks: Secrets to a Successful Day on the Water

As of November 17, 2024, the fishing scene at Lake of the Ozarks is looking promising, especially with the crisp fall conditions. Here’s what you need to know for a successful day on the water. ### Weather and Time Today, the sunrise is at 6:55 AM and sunset at 4:57 PM. The moon phase is waning gibbous, which can affect fish activity, but the overall conditions are favorable. The major bite times are from 12:44 to 14:44, and the minor bite times are from 8:12 to 10:12 and 17:17 to 19:17[3]. ### Fish Activity The fall season is one of the best times to fish at Lake of the Ozarks, with both bass and crappie being very active. Largemouth bass and spotted bass are plentiful, especially around points, brush piles, and docks. Crappie, both white and black, are also abundant, particularly near brush piles located on or near points[5]. ### Catch Reports Yesterday saw a good number of bass and crappie caught. Bass anglers reported success using topwater baits during low light periods, as well as plastic worms, jigs, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits. Crappie anglers did well with small jigs and minnows. Catfish, including channel and blue catfish, were also caught, especially by those drifting with live or cut shad[2][5]. ### Best Lures and Bait For bass, topwater baits, plastic worms, jigs, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits are highly recommended. For crappie, small jigs (1/32 to 1/8 ounce) and minnows are the best bets. For catfish, live or cut shad are effective, and for flathead catfish, live bait such as small bluegill or green sunfish works well[5]. ### Hot Spots Some of the best spots to try today include the Niangua and Glaize arms, particularly around points and brush piles. Jennings Branch Cove, McCoy Branch Cove, and Duck Head Point are also known for their productive fishing. For crappie, focus on areas like Moonlight Bay and Still Water Bay, where the structure is favorable[3][5]. With the right lures and knowledge of the hot spots, you should have a great day fishing at Lake of the Ozarks. Enjoy the fall weather and tight lines This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.