Good morning, anglers! Here’s your fishing report for Lake of the Ozarks on April 14, 2025. Today’s conditions are setting up for an interesting day on the water with cool temperatures and fish activity on the rise as the season transitions deeper into spring.
Weather this morning is brisk, with temperatures hovering in the mid-to-upper 30s due to a recent cold front. The highs today should rise into the 50s, and we’re entering a warming trend through the week, perfect for fish to become more active. Sunrise is at 6:39 AM, and sunset will be at 7:45 PM—plenty of daylight for fishing. The water temperature ranges between 50°F and 58°F, depending on the area, with muddy conditions in tributaries like the Glaize Arm following recent rain.
The bass, especially largemouth and spotted bass, are in pre-spawn mode. They are staging near points, pockets, and shallow banks, waiting for consistent water temperatures to push shallow. Jerkbaits, Alabama rigs, and spinnerbaits are excellent choices to target these bass at varying depths. Stick baits, Carolina rigs, and jigs also remain effective when targeting brush piles or shadows under docks. Reports have recently highlighted solid catches, including some largemouth ranging between 6 and 7 pounds.
Crappie fishing is heating up and has been described as "on fire." They are moving into the shallows to spawn, best targeted in pea-gravel pockets and brush piles. Use small jigs or minnows set a foot or two under a bobber. While crappie numbers are slightly down from previous years due to past droughts, they’re still catchable, with many meeting or exceeding the 9-inch minimum size.
For catfish anglers, blue and channel catfish are active and respond best to drifting cut or live shad along deep flats, mouths of coves, and river channel breaks. Flathead catfish are also biting well using live bait near woody cover or boulders. Today’s conditions make it a great time to test these spots for some big pulls.
If you’re targeting walleye, head to steep rocky points and humps, trolling brightly colored jigs or crankbaits along the bottom—think orange, white, or chartreuse. The action for white bass is steady as well in tributary arms like the Niangua or Little Niangua, with small spinners or jerkbaits being excellent choices.
Hot spots to try today include points and brush piles in the Grand Glaize Arm for bass and crappie, as well as coves near the Osage and Niangua Arms for crappie and catfish. The Bagnell Dam spillway also provides opportunities for shore anglers to catch a mix of bass, crappie, and catfish.
With improving weather and pre-spawn activity ramping up, today should shape up to be a strong outing. Tight lines, and enjoy the Ozarks!
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