LakeExpo.com

LAKE OF THE OZARK, Mo. – Bass are chomping plastic worms along cliff shelves and points close to deep water, according to local pro bass fisherman Jim Dill.

“Throw a Crock-O-Gator Shaker Head rigged with a Gene Larew Salt Flicker. Throw it against the cliff; the fish are hitting it at about eight feet. When it settles on the shelf give it a jerk and let it drop down to 20 feet, then reel it back up,” Dill said.

Bagnell Dam operators are pulling water at medium to heavy generation this weekend keeping the shad moving in the current and bass bunched up, easily found on fish finders. When the dam stops pulling water and the water temperature warms, the bass will spread out and head for brush.

The surface temperature is currently between 71-76F and the water is stained. Typically, darker-colored baits are the most effective in stained water and lighter colors in clear conditions.

The Lake Level measured at the dam is 659.5, only six inches away from full pool.

(Jim Dill is professional bass fisherman, firefighter, and fishing guide at Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. Dill has fished Lake of the Ozarks for 20 years. He is sponsored by Sportworld Boat Center, Ranger Boats, Evinrude, Falcon Rods and Crock-O-Gator Bait Company)

CRAPPIE

James Bryant at Bryant’s Osage Outdoors recommends vertical jigging minnows 15-18 feet straight down over brush. “We’ve also been selling a lot of blue and chartreuse and purple and chartreuse,” he said. The rough water from boat traffic this weekend will likely make crappie stick closer to cover under docks.

The early morning hours are always peak feeding times.

“Normally, when the dam pulls water like it is now and water is not too rough, crappie will move out to banks and secondary points, so you’ll have some luck trolling bluff ends transitioning to shallow points,” Bryant said.  He recommends the Bandit 1100 or Bass Pro XPS Nitro crankbaits in natural shad color.

ON THE WEB

Crock-O-Gator Bait Company

http://www.crockogatorbaitcompany.com

James Dill Guide Service

http://www.jamesdillguideservice.com/

Bryant’s Osage Outdoors

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bryants-Osage-Outdoors/146508558715003

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