Lake of the Ozarks fishing guide: coves, points and bass

A lake built from coves

Lake of the Ozarks covers about 54,000 acres (roughly 85 square miles), but its most striking number is its shoreline — more than 1,100 miles of it, among the longest of any reservoir its size, thanks to a maze of winding arms and coves. It reaches around 130 ft at its deepest near Bagnell Dam.

That shoreline shape means there's always a sheltered cove out of the wind and a steep bluff point nearby — the two structure types that drive most of the fishing here, whichever part of the lake you happen to be on.

Fish species

• Largemouth bass — the most sought-after species, moving between coves and points through the seasons.
• Crappie — stack in coves and around brush, especially in spring and fall, and a favorite for anglers fishing light tackle.
• White bass — school and chase baitfish along points and open flats, often giving fast action when a school is located.
• Catfish — work deeper water and the bases of bluffs, especially productive after dark.

Points: the lake's backbone

Bluff and gravel points dropping into 8–20 ft hold largemouth and white bass that feed along the slope — a spinnerbait or crankbait worked down the edge is the classic approach. Deeper points, falling to 24–28 ft and even 32–36 ft, come into play in summer and winter when fish push deeper to find comfortable water.

The backs of coves, in the 12–20 ft range, concentrate baitfish and draw largemouth and crappie in behind them, while upper arms near creek inflows carry food through a wider 8–20 ft band that both species use, particularly after rain brings fresh water and food into the system.

With this many coves and points to choose from, LakeScope's 3-D lake bed view for the Lake of the Ozarks is a quick way to narrow down which ones actually have the depth and slope worth fishing, rather than guessing from the shoreline alone.

See the lake bed in 3-D

Season by season

Getting on the water

The lake's long, branching shape means access points are spread out across many arms — pick a ramp near the stretch you plan to fish rather than trying to run the length of the lake, which can easily take longer than expected given how much it winds.

A lake that mixes fishing with everything else

Lake of the Ozarks is also one of the Midwest's busiest recreation lakes, with heavy pleasure-boat traffic through the main channel, especially on summer weekends. Many of the best fishing coves sit just off that main channel, out of the worst of the wake and noise.

Early mornings before the lake fills up with other boats, and weekday trips generally, tend to produce calmer water and a more relaxed pace for working a cove or point thoroughly.

Water level

Lake of the Ozarks is managed by its dam operator and the level can shift with power generation and rainfall. A modest drop can expose gravel points or shrink the back of a cove you were counting on, changing a familiar spot more than you'd expect from just a foot or two of water.

Check LakeScope's current level reading before you head out, especially if you're fishing shallow cover or a cove you haven't visited recently.

Finding your own coves

With more than 1,100 miles of shoreline, there are far more coves than any one angler can fish regularly, and many hold similar structure to the well-known spots without the same boat traffic. Comparing a quiet cove's shape and depth on the map against a productive one you already know is a reliable way to find new water.

A cove with a point near its mouth, a gradual taper toward the back, and some depth change along one side tends to offer largemouth and crappie several different places to hold depending on conditions, which is often more valuable than one dramatic feature alone.

Safety and rules

• Wear a life jacket — this lake sees heavy recreational boat traffic, especially on summer weekends.
• Watch for wind funneling down the long main channel, which can build waves fast in open stretches.
• Cold water in winter and early spring is dangerous even close to shore; dress for the water, not the air.
• Check current Missouri fishing license rules and size and bag limits before keeping any fish.

Check before you go

With so many coves and points to pick from, a quick check of conditions narrows the lake down fast and saves running to the wrong arm of the lake.

LakeScope shows today's water temperature, lake level, wind and recent bite times for Lake of the Ozarks, helping you choose an arm of the lake before you launch.

Questions