A Fishin' Report from the Lake of the Ozarks - October 25, 2025

Howdy, folks—Artificial Lure here, comin’ at ya live from the Lake of the Ozarks, where the fish are always up to somethin’ and the coffee’s always hot. Let’s dive into what’s cookin’ out on the water as of Saturday, October 25, 2025—your boots-on-the-ground, local angler’s report.

## Weather & Sun Times

This mornin’ started off crisp and calm, with a light jacket recommended but a sweatshirt off by lunch—typical for a late October day around here. The Lake of the Ozarks doesn’t see tidal changes like the coasts, but the water’s been steady, and there’s been just enough breeze to ripple the surface without makin’ it a whitecap parade. Sunrise was right around 7:30 AM, and we’ll get about 10 and a half hours of daylight before sunset around 6:10 PM. Plenty of time to wet a line, soak in the scenery, and maybe even bring home supper.

## Fish Activity

The fall bite is on fire right now. If you’re lookin’ for action, you picked the right weekend. Crappie have moved up into the docks and brush piles—decent numbers are bein’ pulled in on minnows, especially jigged under a bobber in 8 to 12 feet of water. Folks are also seein’ crappie on chartreuse and pink jigs, little 1/16-ounce jobs. Bluegill are still chasin’ worms and crickets in the shallows, and the catfish—both channels and flatheads—are hittin’ on nightcrawlers, stink baits, and cut shad, especially near the docks and creek mouths after dark.

But the real story? Largemouth and smallmouth bass are crushin’ topwater lures early and late in the day. Squarebill crankbaits in shad patterns are workin’ along rocky points, and if you’re after bigger bass, a shakey head jig with a green pumpkin or watermelon craw trailer is your best bet. The Lake of the Ozarks Daily Fishing Report podcast backs this up—craw baits, squarebills, and topwaters are the ticket right now. Some locals are even chuckin’ frogs for shallow, weedy bites, but you’ll want to bring your patience for that.

## Recent Catches

Just this past week, anglers have been pullin’ in limits of crappie, especially in the mid-lake areas. Bass are runnin’ 2 to 4 pounds, with a few lunkers pushing 5 pounds, mostly on live bait and plastic craws. Catfish are steady; nothing too crazy, but 3 to 10-pound fish aren’t unusual. Sunfish? They’re still bitin’ everywhere, and the kids can’t get enough of ‘em.

## Best Lures & Baits

For bass, right now you can’t go wrong with a white or chartreuse spinnerbait at first light, then switch to a green pumpkin shakey head or a squarebill crankbait as the sun gets higher. Work ‘em slow around rock points and secondary channels. For crappie, slip a small jig or minnow under a cork and work the shaded docks and brush—don’t overlook the deeper brush piles out from the bank, either. Catfish want cut bait or fresh shad, and bluegill will eat just about any worm or cricket you dangle in front of ‘em.

## Hot Spots

Two of my go-to honey holes this time of year:
**Glaize Creek Area**—Just loaded with crappie and bluegill right now, especially around the docks and submerged timber.
**Niangua Arm**—Great for early morning topwater bass and evening catfish, especially near the mouth where the main channel comes close to shallow banks. Don’t overlook the coves near the old Linn Creek area for schoolin’ fish and some quiet, peaceful fishing.

## Final Notes

Make sure you’ve got your Missouri fishing permit, respect your fellow anglers, and keep the place clean—we all want that next great day on the water. If you’re new to the game or it’s been a while, the Missouri Department of Conservation’s “Discover Nature – Fishing” program has beginner lessons at Buford Pond and Miller Lake, but you might want to call ahead—spots fill up fast.

Thanks for tuning in, folks! If you love local fishing intel, make sure to subscribe for updates. Until next time—tight lines and calm waters.
This has been a quiet please production, for more

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Howdy folks, artificial lore here coming at you. Live from
the Lake of the Ozarks. When the fish are always
up to something and the coffee's always hot, let's dive
into what's cooking out on the water. As of Saturday,
October twenty fifth, twenty twenty five, your boots on the
ground local anglers report this morning started off crisp and calm,

(00:20):
with a light jacket recommended, but a sweatshirt off by lunch,
typical for a late October day around here. The Lake
of the Ozarks doesn't see tidal changes like the coasts,
but the water's been steady and there's been just enough
breeze to ripple the surface without making it a white
cap parade. Sunrise was right around seven thirty am, and
we'll get about ten and a half hours of daylight

(00:41):
before sunset around six ten pm. Plenty of time to
wet a line, soaking the scenery, and maybe even bring
home supper. The fall bite is on fire right now.
If you're looking for action, you pick the right weekend.

(01:03):
Crappy have moved up into the docks and brush piles.
Decent numbers are being pulled in on minnows, especially jigged
under a bobber in eight to twelve feet of water.
Folks are also seeing crappy on chartrews and pink jigs
little one six to twenty eight ounce jobs. Bluegill are
still chasing worms and crickets in the shallows and the catfish.
Both channels and flatheads are hitting on night crawlers, stink baits,

(01:26):
and cutshad especially near the docks, and creek mouse after dark.
But the real story. Largemouth and small mouth bass are
crushing topwater lures early and late in the day. Square
bill crank baits and shad patterns are working along rocky points,
and if you're after bigger bass, a shaky head jig
with the green pumptin or watermelon crawl trailer as your

(01:48):
best bet. The Lake of the Ozarks Daily Fishing Report
podcast backs this up. Craw baits, square bills, and top
waters are the ticket right now. Some locals are even
chucking frogs for shallow wheat bites, but you'll want to
bring your patience for that user now. Recent catches, just
this past week, anglers have been pulling in limits of crappy,

(02:10):
especially in the midlake areas. Bass are running two to
four pounds with a few lunkers pushing five pounds, mostly
on live bait and plastic. Cross catfish are steady, nothing
too crazy, but three to ten pound fish aren't unusual sunfish.
They're still bitten everywhere and the kids can't get enough

(02:30):
of them. For bass right now, you can't go wrong
with the white or chartruse spinner bait at first light.
Then switch to a green pumpkin shaky head or a
square billed crank bait as the sun gets higher. Work
them slow around rock points and secondary channels. For crappy,
slip a small jig or minnow under a cork and
work the shaded docks and brush. Don't overlook the deeper

(02:53):
brush piles out from the bank. Either catfish want cut
bait or fresh shad, and blue gale will eat just
about any worm or cricket you dangle in front of them.
Glaze Creek area just loaded with crappie and bluegill right now,
especially around the docks and submerged timber Niangua arm great

(03:13):
for early morning topwater bass and evening catfish, especially near
the mouth where the main channel comes close to shallow banks.
Don't overlook the coves near the Old Linn Creek area
for schooling fish and some quiet, peaceful fishing. Make sure
you've got your Missouri fishing permit, respect your fellow anglers,
and keep the place clean. We all want that next

(03:36):
great day on the water. If you're new to the
game or it's been a while, the Missouri Department of
Conservations Discover Nature Fishing program has beginner lessons at Buford
Pond and Miller Lake, but you might want to call ahead.
Spots fill up fast. Thanks for tuning in, folks. If
you love local fishing Intel, make sure to subscribe for

(03:57):
updates until next time. Tight lines in calm waters. This
has been a quiet, pleased production for more