Catching Fall Bass At Lake Of The Ozarks

[Phil Lilley]

Fishing for bass in the fall can be a most rewarding experience for an angler's body and soul.

The cooler temperatures provide a relief from the scorching heat that you had to endure during the summer and the leaves changing colors creates an eye-pleasing scene that lulls you into a state of tranquility.

The fishing this time of year can be just as enjoyable, since the cooling water temperature triggers bass into gorging themselves on shad in preparation for winter. The action can get fast and furious on a variety of shad-imitating lures when you find bass feeding on baitfish.

Turbid water and an abundance of flats in the upper ends of Lake of the Ozarks’ tributaries makes these areas ideal for bass in September. Some consistent fall patterns can be found on the Lake of the Ozarks in the upper reaches of the Osage, Grand Glaize, Gravois and Niangua arms.

Favorite targets of local anglers are shallow docks along flats. The shad forage is tremendous both on the main lake and in coves during this time. Although patterns tend to be inconsistent in the fall due to the shad scattering throughout the lake, one type of cover always holds fish. Boat docks along flats are the best bets for good fall action, especially on the mid to upper Osage arm, which has plenty of these bass havens. A favorite fall pattern is flipping a ½-ounce black-and-blue jig and plastic crawfish on 20-pound test line behind docks or in the brush alongside docks 5 to 7 feet deep. Docks along the flats seem to produce better than the floating structures on the channel banks. The fish typically hold tight to cover so flip or pitch around the docks and let the jig fall into the cover. Allow the lure sit in the cover for a couple of seconds and shake your rod to make the jig rattle. If this fails to induce a strike, move on to the next target.

A secondary pattern also works on docks or along flat points. Tie on a 3/8-ounce white or chartreuse spinnerbait with a silver single number 4 shallowleaf blade and wind it in with a slow, steady retrieve along the sides of docks.

The jig pattern usually begins in late summer and lasts through October. The spinnerbait pattern works best in September and October. Since sunshine draws bass tighter to cover, the flipping technique produces better in sunny weather. The spinnerbait pattern calls for windy weather.

The turnover completely shuts down fishing in the upper ends for a few days. You can usually avoid this situation by heading down lake to the clearer water areas by the dam, which usually turns over last. For information on lodging and other facilities at the Lake of the Ozarks or to receive a free 162-page vacation guide, call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-FUN-LAKE or visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitors Bureau web site at funlake.com.

[WHARFRAT]

Second that for fall bass. I like to run a white spinnerbate with a lg willowleaf silver blade just below the surface. Just so you can see a small wake. I generally have best luck near or between docks with a lot of chunk rock. And the great thing about fall fishing, you can be successful with this pattern all day long. I've caught almost every fish that swims there on this pattern. When its real windy and the shad get blown in, you can have a field day with whites and hybrids. Can't wait to get my butt down there.

[L W Little]

Headed down Weds - will be fishing somehwere between the 42 and 60mm. I've had luck with black and blue chatterbait lately as well as a 1/4oz road runner head with smoke color swim grub trailer - all off the docks - mostly shallow water.

John - I assume you mean main lake flats and docks. I also hav ebeen hitting the shallow water docks on the opposite side of the channel back in the cove.

[FishDreamer]

Catching fish this year at the ozarks has never been sooo easy. Get yourself some square billed crank baits throw them on rocky flas in the backs of coves that have shap pushed in them. Throw and retrieve on fish after another. There will be lots of white bass mixed in with large mouths.... Its so easy a caveman can do it. Once that pattern dies out throw a black and blue brush hog on the corners of the docks right by the flats and nail them. Go back after you have caught those fish and the flat bite will be on again. Rinse and repeat.. If your not having the time of your life doing this you have no pulse.

[L W Little]

Just came back from 2 1/2 days fishing at LOZ. OUr best boites came off the wind blow corners of docks on spinner baits, buzz baits, curly tail grub on a 1/4 oz road runner head. Also got on the Chomper bite where wind was blowing inot a pocket near the main lake. Biggest fish came on a sq. billed KVD crankbait but overall not much of a CB bite. Most of the fish were smaller - don't knwo where the big ones are. Blue bird skies the whole time - glad we had wind.