Artificial Lure bringing you the Lake of the Ozarks fishing report for this brisk November 25th morning.

Daybreak hit the water just before 7 AM today, painting a frosty landscape. We're looking at a classic late November forecast: mid-30s at sunrise ramping up to low 50s by afternoon, with mostly clear skies and light north winds keeping things chilly but comfortable. The lake level holds steady around 657 feet, with slow water generation out of Bagnell Dam. No tides here—just watch the wind and the moon, which is waxing and will brighten up the nighttime bite for those brave enough for after-dark slabs.

Fish activity has shifted deep. Bass anglers in last weekend’s Toyota Series faced tough bites, but those who moved and hit isolated docks close to main lake points found consistent keepers. Jared Lintner hauled almost 52 pounds over three days with a dock run pattern, targeting docks both shallow (just over a foot) and deep (boat in 55 feet). Most pros reported 50 fish a day, but only a handful of keepers, so be ready for lots of dinks and a few quality fish in the mix. Lintner’s top baits: a blue magic swim jig tipped with a white Zoom Z Craw, a classic brown flipping jig, and he switched to a white/gold Chatterbait with a white Zako trailer when the sun was out. If you’re chasing bass today, don’t ignore a Whopper Plopper or topwater lure for that surprise big bite, especially if the wind picks up mid-morning.

Crappie action is typical for late fall. Chris Emery told Wired2Fish the best bet is brushpiles and stake beds in 10–20 feet on the Osage arm where the water's stained. Early and cloudy? Crappie suspend just over cover. As the sun climbs, they drop tight to brush. Clear water patterns call for working bluff drop-offs and main-lake docks sitting over 30 feet. On sunny days, fish shaded dock pockets; on overcast mornings, look for fish suspended near floats. A Baby Shad (ATX Lure Company) on a 1/8-ounce jighead is the ticket. Color choice: black/chartreuse or black/pink in low-light, chartreuse/white and blue ice when sun's out.

Recent catches have been strong. Tournament results show several bags in the high teens for bass, and Mason Chambers, fishing as a co-angler, bagged the biggest crappie string with a 14-9 limit, including multiple 4-pounders after switching to a Whopper Plopper late in the afternoon. Most winter crappie run 11–13 inches, but some slabs over 15 inches are coming in for persistent jig draggers.

Hot spots today:
- **Gravois Arm**: Look for main lake points and isolated docks, especially if they sit over sudden depth changes. Bass are scattered but the bigger fish are here if you work the structure thoroughly.
- **Osage Arm brushpiles**: Classic for late fall crappie. Use electronics to find deep brush. Stake beds in 10+ feet are holding better numbers as water temperature drops.
- **Ha Ha Tonka State Park area**: The coves nearby offer good protection from wind and easy access to docks and deeper bluffs, perfect for both bass and crappie.

Best baits right now:
- For bass: Swim jigs (blue/white), flipping jigs (brown), Chatterbaits (white/gold), and topwater lures like the Whopper Plopper.
- For crappie: 1/8-ounce jigheads with Baby Shad soft plastics, changing colors with light conditions—chartreuse, black, white, and blue.

Local advice: Keep moving. Cover water. The best fish are hitting as the sun starts warming the docks and brush, so plan on a late morning push. Deep water near isolated structure is proving most reliable.

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