September 2026
Follow the shad
All about the shad migration. The shad made a big move into the creeks, and the bass and crappie followed them in.
- Water temp
- 77–79°F
- Lake level
- Around 658 ft
- The bait
- Shad, in creeks
Fishing Reports
Lake of the Ozarks, month by month
What we caught, where we found them, and what the water was doing. Written up at the end of every month, with the photos from those trips.
August 2026
August on the water
A hot month that fished early. Most of the good work happened before eight in the morning.
- Water temp
- Upper 80s
- Lake level
- Near full pool
- Clarity
- Light stain
July 2026
Beat the traffic
Hot, and it fished like it. Early or not at all, and the four hour trips were the right call.
- Water temp
- Mid 80s
- Lake level
- Full pool
- Clarity
- Clear
June 2026
Early boats, early fish
Summer set up ahead of schedule. Strong mornings, and the lake got busy by ten.
- Water temp
- Upper 70s
- Lake level
- Full pool
- Clarity
- Clear
May 2026
Post-spawn and shad
The shad spawn made the first hour of daylight worth getting up for, and the rest of the day stayed steady.
- Water temp
- Upper 60s
- Lake level
- Full pool
- Clarity
- Light stain
April 2026
Shallow and everywhere
The spawn. Shallow, willing fish, and the easiest month of the year to put a first timer on them.
- Water temp
- Low 60s
- Lake level
- Near full pool
- Clarity
- Stained
March 2026
The month it turns on
Water warmed fast, the fish came a long way up, and the lake started fishing like spring.
- Water temp
- Mid 50s
- Lake level
- Rising
- Clarity
- Stained
February 2026
The first stir
Still winter, but the water gained a few degrees and the fish started thinking about moving.
- Water temp
- Low 40s
- Lake level
- Winter pool
- Clarity
- Clear
January 2026
Cold water, short windows
Cold and clear. The bite lasted a few hours in the middle of the day, but the fish that ate were good ones.
- Water temp
- Upper 30s
- Lake level
- Winter pool
- Clarity
- Very clear
Want a month like that?
Four, six or eight hours at a flat $100 an hour. Call or text and Mike will tell you what they are doing this week.