Ed Franko

Sorry my daily fishing post got behind a few days.. Friday I had the extreme pleasure of fishing with The one and only Doug and Ed. We have had some weird up and down weather but they did mange to catch some fish on a Crankbait..the water temp was hovering around the 50 degree mark and the water was clear.. It looked as if the water had dropped about 6 inches but the Dam Report said it was unchanged from the day before. Both of these guys are good fisherman and if the weather would of been better they would of loaded the boat... Good time guys I wish it would of been better....

Water temp is 47 The water is clear ... The junk is just about gone that was on the top... Lake levels 654.4 Minimal generation for the next 3 days. The bite has been pretty good on Jigs, Crankbaits, Mo Rig and spinnerbait.... You need wind and shad to make it happen. The big bass are eating those gizzard shad. This is the time of the year to catch your big lady...Getting ready to put my burr suit on and give it heck. Pictured is a nice one my buddy caught yesterday..

DANDY!!!!

Water temp 49.9 The lake has lots of floating stuff bottom snot. The lake is clear The lake is down to winter pool And the fishing is good Got good info from my Doc.Tuesday.. He told me do what I want fish as much as I want.If If it hurts don't do it. So yesterday I went out for a couple hours and just as I got out the wind stopped and the water got slick. I caught a two keepers in shallow water in the back of a creek. My friend a couple of coves over knocked the snot out of them fishing a little deeper on a spinnerbait slow rolling. He had several over four and one over five . Yep he got into a school of good ones.. The tournament weights have been great and I understand they are all being caught on the same bait. Give me a call and lets book a trip. Fishing this lake is a good time for sure..

I saw a couple of docks that had got twisted around . That was on the north shore Jackson Branch. Will be out today YES I AM GOING FISHING !!!! Have a great day I will for sure....

I agree 100%... A bunch of those fish were caught down on the dam end of the lake...Think they will swim back... I have the same issue with the BBB Thank god they now have a weigh in spot at Point Randall. I helped work that one last year and we weighed lots of fish.. Those fish would of been taken all the way to Alhona to be weighed and released.. I will say that we worked super hard to release all of the fish alive and lost very few.. I fished tournaments years ago and I remember having a six fish limit that weighed 24 pounds and change and got 24th place. This lake has been kicking out tons of fish for years and years.. That's why I am a 100% catch and release Bass Guide.. What a place to live for sure...

I was stuck at 7/11 For the longest time. I actually caught two of them in one evening.. I really wonder how big that fish would of been if it had a belly like me... Here is another one that I caught that was a good one for sure.

Off the water for a few weeks more.. My surgery went well but I am sore as a hammer hit thumb.. But getting better by the day..I will post fishing info as I get it... Big Ed I am going to post a few pictures as soon as I can figure out how to size them properly. This picture was my Big eyed Molly hog of the year.. I caught this fish on a Zoom 10.5 Old monster worm.. Scale said 8/6 fished released alive and well. Later I sure wished I had measured it for a replica.

Secret I have caught some dandys on that Old Red Eye... Fishing today was a little tougher No wind this morning made a big difference. Didn't have long to fish but i went out to swing at them... Tough bite for sure for me. I didn't fish for those green fish very long.. I then took my neighbor to catch some crappie and we caught some nice ones for the skillet. Crappie Corn meal and a skillet of oil... What can be better than that. Off the water now for a while heading to St. Louis for some repairs and maintenance on my back. Enjoy your spring fishing ! Be back in a little while.... Big Ed Out!

Water temp 46 to 50 .... Water color stained ... Wind about 20 from the south east...Cloudy with spot showers.. They dropped the lake again last night several inches GOT THEM TODAY...... Finally !! Found the bass real good in the backs of creek channel coves in four feet of water or less..The bite was on and they smacked a spinnerbait real good. . You had to see shad you had to have a structure and wind was the key. I caught five keepers off of one piece of structure..Not all at one time I worked the area several times . It just showed they were reloading. To find a spot like that is golden. My best 5 would of went over 18 for sure. The biggest fish of the day would of went 4.5 and I did not catch that one on a spinnerbait but on a Carolina rigged lizard. It was on a secondary point.I had 14 keepers and several shorts. My partner had a blast for sure....Good day by anyones standard. To bad that it doesn't happen like that ever day but it sure is fun when it is done... Normally I would never burn a spot up like that however I have limited fishing days for a while... Hey call book a trip April on and i will do everything to make you have a great day..Hopefully I will be back at it sooner but only time will tell... Have a great day Good fishing Big Ed www.bigedsguideservice.com 573-692-6710

Water Temp was 46 Still dropping the lake and the lake is clear.. Forecast for tomorrow is some rain..I think that will turn those fish on... Another day of beautiful weather.. It has to have been in the mid 70s with just a little wind... I fished with Jon Ziegler the weather guy from KOLR 10 in Springfield. It was a tough bite for me but as usual someone caught them in a tournament . i really enjoyed his company I just wish the fishing would of been better for us... We did catch some crappies they were hanging out around the big docks.. They really had pushed up under the docks to get out of the sun.. I had a friend that caught their limit dunking minnows under their condo dock..

Sat 2/18/2017 Weather sunny and in the 70s Water temp 44 to 46.... visibility 5 to 7.. Continue to drop the lake looked like another 3 to 6 inches.. Going to continue to drop the lake until it gets to 654. They want it down to that level by March1st I think that we needed a little wind to help the fishing and a steady lake would help also. Another day on the lake however the weather was great but the fishing was slow again.. We found some fish on a couple of gravel flat banks but they seemed to be scattered. t caught one 4.34 on a crankbait but dinks were the deal of the day. Then after a couple of hours we went and scanned some condo docks looking for crappie..We found them in fifty feet plus of water suspended fifteen feet down.. Swim a jig through them and you would get bit.

Weather low 70s Surface water temp 46 to 48 Water color clear 6 to 8 ft visibility Lake Level 655.0 Moderate Generation Lake dropped 6 inches over night Well in just a few words I will size up today.... IT SUCKED for me. Didn't get to go out until this afternoon maybe that was the reason. I caught lots of dink and I mean dink Crappie.. We did have a few keepers but it was like 10 to 1 not really worth it.All of the Crappies were suspended in about ten feet of water and really ate a Bobby Garland Jig. I did have one good one around 14 inches but that was the only good good one. Fished for Bass and caught a few . Found the fish shallow and caught them on a jerk bait and a crank bait. I fished a jig in several of my favorite brush piles and nothing was happening. I know that somewhere some place those old Bug Eyed Molly Hogs are stacked up like cord wood . I will go on the hunt again tomorrow the next day the day after that etc... Will post some pictures as soon as I figure that out... Some of you said you have fished around my house . If my boat is home stop in and say hey if you like....

My name is Ed Franko (aka Big Ed). I am a fishing guide here on beautiful Lake of the Ozarks. I live around the three and a half mile marker in Downing Branch Cove. My wife and I own Bass and Baskets Bed and Breakfast. The name of my guide service is Big Ed's Guide Service. I am strictly a catch and release Bass Guide. I do fish for food fish, crappie from time to time, however I would rather catch something that pulls my string. I fish mainly from the dam to the Gravios. My objective is for you to have a great time and learn something as I will learn from you. I fish out of a 2016 Phoenix 921 XP (thank you Howard McCallister) rigged with 250 Mercury Pro XS, Lowrance Electronics, and MinnKota Trolling motor. Yes I love my Phoenix. Nothing like a great fishing platform. I start my guide trips from my house and will give you all the attention I possibly can. Can I put you on the biggest bass in the lake? Will we catch them like the guys on TV on every cast? Oh son, I believe in magic but it simply does not work like that. Fish bite when they want to. They never are in the same place and they come in all different sizes. If a client catches one over 8 we will measure it, weigh it, take lots of pictures of it then Release It. Yes I said release it.. HOWEVER I will pay for a fiberglass replica of it for you. This is how strong I feel about catch and release. I will post as much as possible and will report the good, the bad and the ugly. Those that know me, know that I tell it like it is. And yes you should have been here yesterday, just kidding. I normally fish everyday and hope to report every day as well. My reports will include water temp, water color, what my clients are fishing for what I am fishing. More than anything the truth of what is really going on. No I will not give exact locations or baits but i will give you information such as a jig , worm or a topwater. Do I know everything about bass fishing? HECK NO but I know enough to get by. I have back surgery scheduled in a week. So until the end of March it is going to be hit and miss. I have friends that will keep me up to date so I will post when I can, what I can.. I hope you find my posts helpful. Please comment if you like . Please don't call for fishing info unless you are booking a trip. Please don't take this wrong. I love to talk but I want to give my time to my present clients and in the evening I like to spend it with family.. Send me a message and I will answer it as soon as possible. If you call to book a trip and I don't answer leave me a message and I will call you back.. Thanks for understanding. Good Fishing! Big Ed bigedsguideservice.com 573-692-6710

Small fish are easy to catch but the big guys and gals are hiding out. The BBB had some good weights but everyone that I talked to had a rough go. It is amazing to me that nothing over 7 was caught. I fish the lake everyday and finding a good pattern to catch big keepers is real tough right now. You can catch a limit of keepers but the kicker fish is the tough one. The coves are full of little shad and it is like a bass buffet. Yesterday I was in a cove and it looked like you could walk to shore on the shad. I have never seen so many bait fish in my life they are everywhere. The water temp is in the mid 70s and the lake is clear from the dam to the Gravois. Go fishing have a good time and enjoy your day! Time to go fishing starting late today... Good Fishing Big Ed

Sounds good to me. I really have no idea I was just stating what I heard and what you say makes sense to me.

I always heard that turnover happens when the upper layer of water gets colder than the lower level. Cold water is heavier that warm water thus sinking causing the lake to turnover. Now at that time it is more fun to sit on the couch unless you are willing to make runs away from the turnover. Most of the time you can not only see the water looks different but smells different. It is not happening yet on the lower end of the lake. Laker67 sounds totally different than my guess but I am just going on what I have heard. As far as the ice floating. I heard that is because ice contains tiny air bubbles. Who knows? A great fishing excuse yes and it sure does suck for a few days. The water temp yesterday was 75.3 and the lake is clear on the lower end. Again this is what I have heard and for sure I am no repeat no expert. Good Fishing

Tough bite for sure ! Big fish are just plain hard for me to find . i think that this next weather front might help them it can't hurt that is for sure. The fish have so much natural food that they are very selective on what they want and when they want to eat. You can catch fish on just about any type of lure you want and any way you want to catch them. However I can not find a real good productive pattern. . if you are in Downing Branch cove and see Bass and Basket Bed and Breakfast and my white Champion is here. Honk, wave, yell or stop in and say hey. Have a good safe day on the lake! Big Ed Sorry for the doom and gloom

Well it is tougher than a Two Dollar Steak Hang Jawl!. You can catch fish but the big guys are hiding somewhere real good. Oh some guys are catching them but not like normal. The weather has chilled down a little and the lake is in the low 80s and clear. I am seeing lots of shad back in the coves but very little chasing action. I had a trip this morning and they chased shad a couple of times but just for a second or two. The fish I have been catching have not been really relating to brush but scattered. There is not any real pattern that I can find at this time. As always in the fall the lake will turn over and then things will get stable but until that happens it is touch and go. Well ladies and gents it is time to hit the lake so until next time seeeeeeeeeeeeeee you .. Big Ed

Fishing here at the lake is tough both night and day. The small bass and a mix of whites can be found in the backs of coves chasing shad. As far as the water conditions the lake is up a little and it has lots of floating junk. Be real careful at night because there is stuff big enough to crunch your boat. The fishing has been diffrent all year and changes daily. Water temp low 80s ..... The lake is clear for Lake Ozark Standards...... The lake has been on the rise..... Small Shad are everywhere..... Fishing is great...... Catching not so good... Fish early or fish late.............. Just go fishing and have a good time ... Be Careful!!! I would key in on brush in the 15ft range and cover it real good with a big worm. Watch for the chasers and throw a chug bug or a spook at them. Have a good time and enjoy the lake! Big Ed.

Hey there fellow anglers! Fishing is starting to change here on Beautiful Lake of the Ozarks. I am still catching bigger fish on the main lake points fishing a worm but not as good as it was. The past few early mornings the fish have been chasing shad in the back of coves and you can catch a bunch of them if you hit it right. We have a bunch of shad this year and as the year goes on the fishing will get better and better. The size of the chasers are small but you can catch a limit of keepers pretty quick if you are lucky. No you will not win a tournament with these fish but catching fish on top water is hard to beat. Zara Spooks and Chug Bugs will show you a good time. Shad is the key and they are just about everywhere. Find the shad find the fish. The water temp this morning was just under 80. This is unheard of in mid August. Normaly it is in the low 90s.. Mornings have been the best for me with the last few daylight hours being good also. I have to admit night fishing for me has been terrible most of the time.I know some guys are sacking them up but not me. The kids are going back to school and during the week you can fish just about anywhere you want without getting beat up. Weekends are still pretty busy but in just a few more weeks that will change also. If you can schedlue it mid week is hard to beat. i just got off the water and t saw just one boat and it was not a fisherman. By the way I have to say I caught them pretty good too. Big Ed

Any of you out there like open wheel racing , My favorite is Sprint cars but I enjoy anything that races on dirt and goes arounfd in circles. Ran a speedway for several years had ny fill of that. Go to the Chili Bowl every year. Go to the Tulsa Shootout every year Go to XX Speedway every Sunday night Go to the Short Track Nationals every year Use to go to quite a few races in several states . I spent more time fishng this year and have not had the time. Ed

A few but they are few and far between. We catch hybrids in the fall chasing shad with the whites but very few stripers. Some of the Hybrids get pretty big and will pull your string real good.

Hello my name is Ed Franko from beautiful Lake of the Ozarks. I am know around the area as Big Ed and I fish LOZ over 300 times a year. The name Big Ed I guess is fitting as I am larger than normal.. I live on the lake and also am a full time guide. I enjoy what I do and love to see the smiles on peoples faces when they catch a fish. If you need information about this lake I would be glad to try to help you . Do I have all the answers no but I will be honest with you. Please email me your questions and I will be glad to get back to you as soon as possible. I fish for Bass mainly and practice catch and release. The lake is currently at 659 the water temp is mid 80s and clear by LOZ standards. My email adress is ed@assandbaskets.com

The best fishing is in early thirty or in the evening just before dark. Is it good fishing well just fair but it is hit or miss right now. They have not run water for the past few weeks to speak of and that slows things down . I have not been fishing down ther myself but I do have connections that have. Sorry that I could not help more.