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Fishing Reports

Fishing Report For July 2014

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

The report is from the Bassing Bob monthly meeting with Bassing Bob’s experts covering the month of July. We were fortunate this month because all of Bassing Bob’s experts were able to attend. Present for our discussion: Jack Uxa of Jack’s Guide Service; Wayne Fitzpatrick, owner of Fitz Fishing Tackle & Supplies in Osage Beach; James Dill, owner of Crock-O-Gator Bait Company. Joining us as a guest this month was Greg Stoner with the Missouri Department of Conservation Fisheries biologist at Lake of the Ozarks.


The  report is from the Bassing Bob monthly meeting with Bassing Bob’s experts covering the month of July.  We were fortunate this month because all of Bassing Bob’s experts were able to attend. Present for our discussion: Jack Uxa of Jack’s Guide Service; Wayne Fitzpatrick, owner of Fitz Fishing Tackle & Supplies in Osage Beach; James Dill, owner of Crock-O-Gator Bait Company.  Joining us as a guest this month was Greg Stoner with the Missouri Department of Conservation Fisheries biologist at Lake of the Ozarks.

This report can be viewed on the Bassing Bob video page. There are 4 videos for this report. Look under the “Videos” tab for the videos titled July Expert Bass Fishing Meeting at Lake of the Ozarks, Part 1 of 4, Part 2 of 4, Part 3 of 4 and Part 4 of 4.

The water been clear to stained in most areas of the lake in June.  Unlike most years the lake has been very little generation in June.  Traditionally the month of June experiences generation that pull the bait fish over the points and bluff ends.  This has normally positioned the bass on predictable structure in larger numbers such as bluff ends, bluffs, main and secondary points. 

With the lack of current in the month of June, the bass have moved more into deeper brush piles which is normally more of July pattern. The best pattern for July is searching for brush piles in 20-30 foot depths. Along with deeper brush piles the bass can still be found on big structure. Look for main points with busted up boulder rock as the bass will use this cover the same as brush piles.  The bass will not be schooled up on these points as when there is current but there will still be bass on this type structure.

For the brush piles try deeper docks where the back(shallow side) of the dock is 12 feet and the deeper end is 20-25 feet.  Cast to the shallow side of the dock and drag your bait along the dock feeling for sunken brush out to the deeper end of the dock. Look for docks with rod holders and chairs set up for fishing as these are the type of docks that have brush around them.  Docks are an excellent area to start your search for brush pules as it is easy access to drop Christmas trees and other brush for the property owner. Another way to locate brush piles is to use a heavy jig around deeper docks and drag the jig along the side.  This is a proven method to locate deep brush piles.

Baits of choice are 10” Berkely texas rigged worm. The Texas rigged worm has been a staple at lake of the Ozarks for years and is an excellent choice to use in these brush piles. Jack suggest using heavier line such as 17 pound with a ½ Oz sinker nad 5/0 worm hook.  Any line smaller you have the chance of breaking off in these brush piles.

Also in the brush piles try a heavy jig and deep diving crank bait.  The crank bait is a good choice to start with as it will get an aggressive fish to strike right away. Wayne suggest taking the crankbait right through the brush pile, once you feel the brush pile, stop reeling and just pull or “finesse” the lure through the brush pile.  By finessing the crankbait through the brush pile you will feel the lure bounce off the brush which normally triggers the strikes.   

Despite the deep freeze and many shad dying off from the long periods of freeze this winter, Greg Stoner suggest the shad population is very good. We did not lose our spawning population of shad. Locating schools of shad near the structure such as bluffs, bluff ends or cover such as boulder rock and brush piles remains important in July.

July is one of the best months throughout the year for night fishing. Condo docks are excellent area to fish at night.  The area around the docks provide light in addition many large bass use the condo docks as cover during the day.  With the air temperature dropping in at night and low light conditions, the bass will move out from under these docks into shallower water to feed.  The large condo docks have large cables that the bass will lay on those cables. Dark color baits such as junebug, black, red shad are good choices for night fishing.

Top 2 baits from each expert for July.

Jack Uxa-10” Berkley Texas rigged worm and brush hawg or power hawg

Denise Dill- Crock-O-Gator ¾ or 1 oz Reaction Jig with a Peca Craw Trailer and Fluke

Jim Dill- Crock-O-Gator Swamp Bug Senior and large shakey head. For guide trips Jim likes using a fluke around deep docks and bluffs.

Wayne Fitzpatrick-3/4 or 1 oz. jig in black/blue, peanut butter and jelly, and straight green pumpkin and a 10 or 12 inch power worm. Wayne would fish the Glaize bridge to the dam and also up the river to get away from baot traffic

Greg Stoner-Gregs first species he would like to fish for is Crappie, than catfish and third would be bass,

For more monthly  information on Fishing Lake of the Ozarks, have the monthly Lake of the Ozarks Fishing News Magazine mailed to your home by clicking this link.

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