Fishing Report For August 2014

Friday, August 1, 2014

This report is from the Bassing Bob monthly meeting with Bassing Bob’s experts covering the month of August. 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 Dennis Berhorst.

This report is from the Bassing Bob monthly meeting with Bassing Bob’s experts covering the month of August.  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 Dennis Berhorst.

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 August 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.

For the most part, the experts all agree that very similar patterns will continue into August that occurred in July. 

The water been clear to stained in most areas of the lake in July.  The weather in July has been extremely cool for the month of July.  The water temperature for the most part has ranged from 80-86 degrees, much cooler than the past couple of years. The best bite near the end of July has been 10” worms, ¾ and 1 ounce jigs and brush hogs.

The bass are still in deeper brush piles which is normal for the month of August. The best pattern for August 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.

With the cooler water temperatures than normal, several bass are being caught in brush piles from 10-15 feet as well. Dennis likes to start in the deeper brush piles as he believes the larger bass are going to continue to be in the deeper brush from 20-30 feet of water.  If he is not getting bit on deeper structure with brush piles, he will begin to target more shallow brush.

For locating 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.

When the boat traffic gets heavy near the main points, channel swings, or drops try the backs of the coves with deeper docks in over 15-20 feet of water. Look for channel swings towards the back and target those docks. Any type of structure such as channel swings, small bluff transitions, drop-offs, deeper docks in pockets are all good examples of structure.

Try the shaded side of the docks with top water baits such as a Zara Spook.  If you’re not getting the bites on topwater try a 10 Texas Rigged worm, jigs and swim jigs.

Other baits that are working around these deeper dock are fishing higher in the water column with square bill crankbaits, swimming fluke juniors, watermelon seed flukes.  The best docks to fish higher in the water column have some wind blowing on them and baitfish nearby.

All the experts agree the bigger fish are moving in the month of August and September.  They suggest look for where the fish are going, not where they have been.

To learn more about August fishing patterns and the top 2 baits these experts will use see the August Videos at www.bassingbob.com/videos