Artificial Lure here on the Lake of the Ozarks with your Friday, November 21, 2025, fishing report. Another chilly morning—air temps just above freezing at sunrise, which crept up around 6:56 AM. Highs should touch 49°F today with mostly clear skies and just a light northwest breeze about 7 mph. Water temps are down into the low 50s across most of the lake and clarity is decent out past the mouths of large coves. Sunset will be at 4:54 PM, so plan your afternoon sets accordingly.

No tide to wrangle with on Lake of the Ozarks, but the fall drawdown’s about finished and the lake’s holding steady. Depths are typical for late November—still enough water over the brush but lower in the backs, especially on those shallow flats.

Bass action has been steady, leaning toward a classic late-fall pattern. Recent video updates from anglers on the lake, like those from November 18 and Veterans Day, show good numbers of largemouth and spotted bass pulled from secondary points and brush piles mid-morning through early afternoon.

The best bites have been coming with a two-part approach. Early in the day, work topwater along outside docks, especially in the clearer arms like Gravois and Glaize. Classic walking baits—think Zara Spook Jr.—are still drawing strikes if you get out just before the sun pops over the treeline. Once the sun’s out, most locals are switching over to brush piles and chunk rock banks. That’s where jigs in green pumpkin with a little orange or blue flake, as well as finesse worms on shaky heads, are getting hit. Spinnerbaits fished slow, bumping cover, will pick up those stubborn fish holding tight.

Soft plastics rigged Texas style or on a shaky head are getting bit along dock walkways and submerged wood. Several solid keepers, mostly 2–4 pounds with the occasional kicker, have weighed in at the scales for folks targeting brush in the 10- to 20-foot range this week, based on updates from Major League Fishing and YouTube recaps from Austin & Bernie’s outings. Crankbaits—shad or crawfish patterns—also accounted for a few nice bass, especially on windblown banks and points.

Crappie are showing steady in Gravois Arm and mid-lake brush. Recent reports say folks are hauling in fish up to 12 inches. Best trick has been a 2-inch Bobby Garland Baby Shad or a crappie stinger in pearl or chartreuse, fished on a light jig just over the brush at 10–15 feet. Minnows are also working, especially midday once the sun gets high and the fish hold a little tighter to cover.

Catfishing’s hit or miss, but a few decent blues have been caught on cut shad and nightcrawlers set out along channel drops and outside the main river bends. Best luck is after dark or right before daylight.

If you’re looking for hotspots, check out:
- **Brush piles along the mouths of Gravois and Northshore coves:** Consistent for both bass and crappie in this pattern.
- **Secondary points in Linn Creek Arm and around the 17–24 Mile Mark:** These hold shad schools and are drawing in numbers of keeper bass.

A quick rundown on the top baits for today:
- **Bass:** Green pumpkin jigs, shaky head worms, spinnerbaits in white/chart, topwater walking baits at dawn.
- **Crappie:** Bobby Garland Baby Shad, crappie stingers (pearl/chartreuse), small minnows.
- **Catfish:** Cut shad, nightcrawlers.

No big tournament pressure right now so it’s mostly just locals on the water. Pressure’s light and the bite is honest. Dress warm, move slow, and be patient—the big ones are getting their feed on before true winter sets in.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s fishing report from your local Lake of the Ozarks expert, Artificial Lure. Be sure to subscribe for your daily fix of local angling news and tips—and as always, good luck out there!

This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Great deals on...