Lake of the Ozarks Early Crappie Outlook
By John Neporadny Jr.

The spring crappie fishing outlook should be good to excellent whether you decide to dunk a minnow or pitch a jig at Lake of the Ozarks. Crappie abound throughout the lake and   springtime crappie fishing heats up in early March and continues to excel on some parts of the lake until almost Memorial Day. Lake levels remain fairly constant throughout the years at Lake of the Ozarks so crappie reproduction is pretty consistent most years.

Warm spells of two to three days in February can trigger some good shallow-water action, according to guide Terry Blankenship.  “One of the most fun patterns for me in February is bobber fishing,” he says. “You can catch large numbers of fish in February because the crappie are starting to prepare for their spring fattening up for the spawn.”

“That time of year the shallower long coves and creek arms will warm the quickest,” Blankenship says. “If  there is a lot of south wind warming the water and rolling it onto the north banks, the baitfish will go to those shores which will bring in gamefish. “ 

Blankenship suggests you can catch the biggest fish of the year as shallow as 2 feet deep during the warm days of February and early March.  His favorite lures to stick below a bobber are Bobby Garland Baby Shad and Baby Shad Swim’R soft plastics on 1/16-ounce jigheads.  He also relies on a Bobby Garland 3-inch Slab Slay’R for dock shooting in the early spring.

The veteran guide rates the Grand Glaize, Niangua and Little Niangua arms and Indian Creek on the Gravois arm as the best areas to try for early spring crappie action. 

Prespawn crappie usually bunch up in brush piles 8 to 15 feet deep in the coves throughout March and early April.  The spawn begins on the upper reaches and tributaries of the lake in early April and spreads down lake to the dam by the end of April.  Ideal spawning areas are pea gravel pockets laden with boat docks or laydowns.

For information on lodging at the Lake of the Ozarks or to receive a free 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.

Copies of John Neporadny's book, "THE Lake of the Ozarks Fishing Guide" are available by calling 573/365-4296 or visiting the web site www.jnoutdoors.com.

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