Lake of the Ozarks Bass Fishing – 31 Mar 2026 | Fishing report
If you want to see how a consistent early spring jerkbait bite plays out on Lake of the Ozarks, this trip is a perfect example of what to look for and how it sets up.
We were on the water March 31, 2026 for a full 8-hour day and found a really steady bite from start to finish. Conditions were about as textbook as it gets for this time of year, with water temps sitting right around 60 degrees, overcast skies most of the day, and a solid south wind blowing 12 with gusts up to 23. The water had that typical Ozarks stain, which set up perfectly for a moving bait bite along the banks.
We ended up catching 34 bass with 8 keepers going 31 pounds total, and a best five right at 10.8 pounds. The quality is definitely improving, and you can tell those fish are starting to transition and group up a little better than they were just a few days prior.
The pattern was simple, but it mattered where you applied it. This was all about fishing wind-blown banks and staying around active water. Most of the fish were relating directly to the bank, and only a couple came off laydowns, which tells me they’re still in that transition phase and not fully locked into heavy cover yet. When the wind was pushing in, the fish were there. When it wasn’t, it got real quiet.
The jerkbait absolutely dominated again. The Pro Blue jerkbait (Billy used a Megabass 110-1; I used a Megabass Jr) accounted for 30 of the 34 fish and 6 of the 8 keepers. It was clearly the deal all day long. We mixed in a white swimbait, which produced 2 fish and both were keepers, and a PBJ worm that picked up a couple smaller fish later in the day. That swimbait bite is something to keep an eye on moving forward, especially as these fish continue to move up.
The bite had a few key flurries, especially mid-morning and again around midday when we connected with some of the better fish. We had a couple over 2 pounds, including a 2.40 and a 2.27, which were solid upgrades for this pattern. Those better bites came off the same type of areas, wind, bank, and just covering water until you ran into them.
Overall, this is exactly what you want to see heading into April on Lake of the Ozarks. The fish are still somewhat spread, but they’re grouping more each day, and the quality is starting to show. The jerkbait bite is strong, but you can see that swimbait starting to come into play, which usually means things are about to get even better.
Also, a quick note on gear, I’m running the DD26 Live Foot, and if you’re a Veteran, DD26 Fishing offers a 15% discount at dd26fishing.com. This one was installed by Tyler Phole, and he did a great job. If you’re looking to get one installed, you can reach him at (314) 288-7342.
If you’re fishing LOZ right now, focus on wind, stay on the banks, and keep that jerkbait in your hand. It’s working.
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.
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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Connect with us!
Email: ➡ midmoangling@gmail.com
Phone: ➡ 573-246-0814
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⏰ Timecodes ⏰
0:00 – Intro
2:56 – The Highlights
10:52 – Fishing Summary
10:57 – Bait(s)
11:02 – Locations
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