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Fishing Reports

Fishing Report For Week Ending December 20, 2013

Friday, December 20, 2013

This week the bass are in their winter patterns.  The lower end has experienced the warmest temperatures holding in the in the upper 40’s, mostly around the 47 degrees mark.  The water temperature in the Glaize arm of the lake was in the lower 40’s from 41-45 degrees. The lake level as of today is 658. The plan is to hold the lake level at 658-659 the rest of the month.  After the first of the year they will begin the winter draw down. For the most part the lake is clear with some areas slightly stained.  For most of the week there was minimum generation.

This BSWTA tournament this past Saturday brought in some nice limits.  There were 2 limits over 20 pounds caught on jigs and jerkbaits. The best bite was on channel banks 1/2 to 2/3rds of the way back in the coves with 45 degree banks.  The jerkbait bite is good on main points and secondary points that have windblown on them.  On calm days, the bite has been better on banks that had shade.  With the days being the shortest of the year there are always channel banks you can find shade on.

The bass seem to be a bit more suspended near the end of the week than the beginning of the week.  In the beginning of the week, several keepers and non-keepers were caught just off the 45 degree channel banks in 2-4 feet of water. The boat was positioned in 10-20 feet of water with short cast to the bank.  The bass were hitting after the first or second twitch as it slowly sunk.  The latter part of the week the bass were hitting in 6 feet of water suspended over 10-20 feet of water.

Many of the bites on the jerkbait were while the bait was suspended or slightly sinking.  Long pauses, a count down from 10-15, between twitches is when many of the bass are eating the lure.  Many times you will not feel the bite.  You may experience a slight pull on the line or the very lightest tap.  Often when you go to twich your bait the bass will be on.  Watching your like is very important. .  Several times you will see your line “jump” if so set the hook.  Baits such as RC STX, MegasBass and Smithwick, Lucky Craft suspended jerkbaits are working best.  Weighted jerkbaits with wire or suspend dots will give the bait a slow sinking presentation.   If you have not used wire on your jerkbait,  stop in Fitz Tackle and Supply and talk to Wayne.  He will show you how to precisely fine tune your jerkbait for the very best presentation.

The A-Rig is coming into play more on windy days on secondary points with wind and over the top of brush piles.  Another pattern that has taken a few this week is running the A-Rig along the shaded side of docks.  Although you may not get as many bites as with the jerkbait, the A-Rig normally gets big bites.  It is important to reel the A-Rig very slowly on the retrieve.

The jig is still producing in these same locations.  Locate channel swings as well that swing right up to the bank.  The first drop off into the channel are producing nice bites.  The jig will work all winter long and is a staple here at Lake of the Ozarks.  If you are interested in learning the best techniques for wintertime bass fishing with a jig, contact Jim Dill with James Dill Guide service and owner of Crock-O-Gator Baits.  James is very knowledgeable, a great teacher and an excellent   jig fisherman.  You can contact Jim at 573-204-9005.

The bass are slowly beginning to bunch up on points and bluff ends.  Be sure to listen to the generation report as the winter draw down will begin after the first of the year. As the water begins to drop more, some of the points and bluff ends will have the bass stacked on.

From James Dill:

~~12/22/13 fishing report

 This week water temps have pretty much stabilized and are hovering around 45-48. With this fish seem to be shallow from 2-8 ft of water at the ends of channel banks and bluff pockets. On windy days secondary points with the wind blowing strait into the point will produce fish with suspended jerk baits.
 Or fish just out of the wind or on calm days fish a Jig or plastics on the bottom at a slow hopping pace or dragging the bait will also produce fish. Note ; this time of year bass and drum are feeding on the same food so expect to catch them when fishing for bass, Also if fishing around brush you will probably also catch crappie on stick baits It is also vary command to catch a drum and on the vary next cast catch a nice bass. Just for example On a guide trip this week the totals for the day were; 6 keeper bass over 15” 14 short bass , 14 Drum, 1 crappie and a blue gill .The fish are defiantly biting, so as long as you dress warm with the proper winter gear the Lake of the Ozarks is full of fish ready to be caught.
 Banks to look for when fishing in the winter;
 1, secondary windblown point close to deep water
 2, the end of a channel bank (what your electronics for very tight contour lines, when the tight lines start to spread out, this will be the beginning of the end of a channel bank)
 3, a small section of different size rock along a bank

Pictures from this past week

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