07 September 2025
Late Summer Bite Going Strong at Lake of the Ozarks
Lake of the Ozarks Missouri Daily Fishing Report
About
Artificial Lure here reporting from Lake of the Ozarks. We’re kicking off Sunday, September 7th, with the late summer bite still going strong. Sunrise was at 6:43 a.m. and sunset will be around 7:32 p.m., so you’ve got a solid window for early morning and evening action. There’s no tidal fluctuation in the Ozarks—just good old lake levels, which are steady right now. As for weather, we’re waking up to mild temps in the low 70s, highs today should top out near 88°F with a light south breeze and mostly sunny skies. All in all, textbook September weather for getting after them.
Bass anglers are finding solid numbers in both the main lake and the big coves. According to the Lake of the Ozarks Missouri Daily Fishing Report, the most reliable patterns have been fishing shallow cover in the mornings with buzzbaits and walking topwaters—those classic bone and chrome colors are getting big blowups, especially off docks and seawalls. As the sun gets up, folks are switching over to big swimbaits and medium-diving crankbaits around deeper docks and brush piles. Luke Routh Fishing points out that big swimbaits in natural shad patterns are fooling quality largemouth and spots right now, especially around schooling shad.
Crappie are holding tight to deeper brush, typically in the 15 to 25-foot range near bluff ends and creek mouths. Anglers are catching limits using small hair jigs tipped with minnows, as well as Bobby Garland Plastics in blue ice and monkey milk. Fish the shady side of docks once the sun is up and watch your line closely—these bites can be subtle.
The catfish bite continues to be strong. The local podcast confirms that blue cats are running big off the deeper flats and creek channels, mostly on cut shad and fresh perch heads. Target 20 to 35 foot areas just outside the main channel swings and set up before dark for your best shot at a trophy blue.
For bait, nightcrawlers and cut shad are always safe bets this time of year for cats, while live minnows or 2-inch paddle tails do well for crappie. Bass are chomping not just on swimbaits but also green pumpkin jigs and shaky heads, especially once boat traffic picks up later in the day.
Now for hot spots—Gravois Arm is a go-to for chasing bass, especially around Mill Creek and near Coffman Bend. For crappie, you can’t go wrong fishing brush at the mouth of Little Niangua or dipping docks up Bear Creek. Catfish hunters are finding their big bites just off the main Osage channel between the 40 and 60-mile markers.
Bass, crappie, and blue cats are the headline catches, but don’t forget there’s always a shot at a big hybrid or white bass if you find the shad schools busting on the surface near main lake points.
Thanks for tuning in, folks—make sure to subscribe so you never miss the latest bite updates, gear tips, and local knowledge. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
Bass anglers are finding solid numbers in both the main lake and the big coves. According to the Lake of the Ozarks Missouri Daily Fishing Report, the most reliable patterns have been fishing shallow cover in the mornings with buzzbaits and walking topwaters—those classic bone and chrome colors are getting big blowups, especially off docks and seawalls. As the sun gets up, folks are switching over to big swimbaits and medium-diving crankbaits around deeper docks and brush piles. Luke Routh Fishing points out that big swimbaits in natural shad patterns are fooling quality largemouth and spots right now, especially around schooling shad.
Crappie are holding tight to deeper brush, typically in the 15 to 25-foot range near bluff ends and creek mouths. Anglers are catching limits using small hair jigs tipped with minnows, as well as Bobby Garland Plastics in blue ice and monkey milk. Fish the shady side of docks once the sun is up and watch your line closely—these bites can be subtle.
The catfish bite continues to be strong. The local podcast confirms that blue cats are running big off the deeper flats and creek channels, mostly on cut shad and fresh perch heads. Target 20 to 35 foot areas just outside the main channel swings and set up before dark for your best shot at a trophy blue.
For bait, nightcrawlers and cut shad are always safe bets this time of year for cats, while live minnows or 2-inch paddle tails do well for crappie. Bass are chomping not just on swimbaits but also green pumpkin jigs and shaky heads, especially once boat traffic picks up later in the day.
Now for hot spots—Gravois Arm is a go-to for chasing bass, especially around Mill Creek and near Coffman Bend. For crappie, you can’t go wrong fishing brush at the mouth of Little Niangua or dipping docks up Bear Creek. Catfish hunters are finding their big bites just off the main Osage channel between the 40 and 60-mile markers.
Bass, crappie, and blue cats are the headline catches, but don’t forget there’s always a shot at a big hybrid or white bass if you find the shad schools busting on the surface near main lake points.
Thanks for tuning in, folks—make sure to subscribe so you never miss the latest bite updates, gear tips, and local knowledge. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn