Lake of the Ozarks Bass Fishing – 16 Apr 2026 | Fishing report

This trip showed just how fast things are changing right now on Lake of the Ozarks. Water temps jumped up to 68 degrees, and you can really see the fish transitioning hard into a different phase.

We spent about 7 hours on the water and caught 25 bass, with 7 keepers going 24.6 pounds total. Best 5 came in at 10.5 pounds. Not a huge numbers day compared to earlier trips, but the quality is definitely starting to show up.

Conditions were all over the place with a mix of sun, rain, and clouds throughout the day. Light south wind around 9 mph, and the water ranged from stained to muddy. That changing water color played a big role in how the fish were positioned and what they would commit to.

We started out around LORA, moved to PB2, then worked our way to the entrance of the Grand Glaize (MM 0), before finishing back at LORA. Like most spring days, it took a few adjustments to really dial things in.

The jerkbait was the dominant bait for numbers, producing 16 fish, and it also accounted for the two biggest keepers of the day. Most of those fish were coming off forward-facing sonar targets and around breakwaters, making it a great tool for finding and triggering active fish.

Where things really came together was filling out the limit. A 5-inch PBJ worm produced 4 of the 7 keepers and was key for consistency. Once we slowed down and focused on the bank, we were able to pick up those additional quality bites that helped build the bag.

We also picked up a key fish on a PBJ jig and one on a white swimbait, but overall this was a day where you needed both approaches, covering water with the jerkbait and then slowing down to capitalize on those areas.

Big takeaway right now is the lake is in transition. You can still catch fish on moving baits like a jerkbait, including some of your biggest bites, but slowing down is becoming more important if you want to consistently put together a solid limit.

Get more info at Lake of the Ozarks Fish Intel here: https://lakeoftheozarksfishintel.com/

Get an excellent guide, Captain Jack Uxa, here: https://www.lakeoftheozarksfishingguide.com/
573-434-2570.

Appreciate you watching and supporting Mid Missouri Angling.

My Lake of the Ozarks Fishing Reports Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZubefBIucWLmw6xh0nUWv1_tBs0K6YKM

Music provided by
🔥 NEFFEX – How’s It Supposed to Feel (Clean)
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Email: ➡ midmoangling@gmail.com
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⏰ Timecodes ⏰
0:00 – Intro
1:51 – The Highlights
9:10 – Fishing Summary
9:15 – Bait(s)
9:20 – Locations
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