OSAGE BEACH, Mo. – The Ozark Division of the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine will get its season started on Lake of the Ozarks Feb 21. The popular lake could prove challenging if the current cold weather persists, but the potential is there for a strong wintertime bite at this event, which is presented by Suzuki Marine.
What to expect
Two-time reigning Ozark Division Angler of the Year Eric Olliverson said that Lake of the Ozarks is one of his favorite fisheries in the region, but this event could be a challenge if the water stays frigid.
“That lake really fires in December with excellent fishing until about the time of this event, and then something changes, and we typically get some really cold weather in late February,” he said. “That lake tends to freeze over with a lot of thin layers of ice, and we’ve seen that in some recent Toyota Series events in early March. That’s one thing to keep in mind, because this always seems to be the coldest time of the year.”
These cold temperatures can lead to massive shad kills, which tend to hamper the fishing.
“That can make the fishing very tough if that happens, and if it does, it will be a really top-heavy event with some good bags at the top and tough fishing for most of the field,” Olliverson shared. “That may not happen, but right now the fishing has been on fire. Hopefully it stays that way.”
The new forward-facing sonar rules that limit anglers to just three hours a day with the technology will add a layer of strategy to this event, but Olliverson believes anglers will still be able to get bit outside that window.
“It’s not a great ‘Scoper’s lake like some others in the region where you catch fish out in the open, because the fish tend to stay shallower here and around docks, brush and things of that nature,” he said. “I’ll have it on all practice and try to find which window is best to use it. Sometimes it’s an early bite, and sometimes it’s the last hour or two of the day, so that strategy of when to use it will be important. You can still catch them just casting and covering water without it, but using it to your advantage will still be critical.”
As for what sections of the lake to fish, he says anglers will have options.
“Mid-lake to the dam is where it’s all been going down as of recent, but the Niangua arm always comes into play this time of year,” he said. “Especially the Upper Niangua – the water is warmer coming out of there, and even though the water’s a little more off-color, those fish don’t mind it this early in the year.”
Baits to bring
Olliverson says two essentials for Lake of the Ozarks this time of year are jerkbaits – both shallow and deep-diving versions – and Alabama rigs. Those tools will likely catch the bulk of the bass in the tournament, but he said that an Ozark favorite, the “old-school Wiggle Wart,” can be a factor with the right conditions, especially if a shad die-off forces the bass to switch to a diet that’s heavier on crawfish.
What will it take?
Even if conditions aren’t ideal, Olliverson believes the quality of the fishery will show out. The big weights just might not extend far down the standings.
“I could realistically see 23 or 24 pounds winning it, but it could drop really quickly and only take low teens to make the Top 10,” he predicted.