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Ozarks Fishing Forecast: Bass, Crappie & Walleye Bites, Best Lures & Hotspots - Dec 26, 2025
Published 4 months ago
Description
Howdy, folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishin' guide right here on the Lake of the Ozarks. It's a crisp mornin' on December 26th, 2025, 'round 8:30 AM, and we're lookin' at partly cloudy skies with temps hoverin' in the low 40s, risin' to the high 40s by afternoon—perfect for bundle-up bass chasin', per the National Weather Service advisory on dense fog easin' off. Sunrise was at 7:18 AM, sunset 'round 4:52 PM, givin' us a solid 9.5 hours of light. No tides here on this big ol' reservoir, but water levels are steady, cooler than normal like Truman Lake nearby, makin' fish a bit finicky.
Bass are the stars lately—young gun Luke Karg and partner A.J. Massa just crushed nearly 19 pounds Day 1 at Truman, takin' Team of the Year with custom spinnerbaits tipped chartreuse and straight-tail lures for big bites in muddy water, accordin' to WV News. Here at the Ozarks, Matt Fox snuck a Toyota Series win December 3rd on MLF, haulin' limits with dock-skippin' jigs. Recent reports from West Plains Daily Quill say bass peaked last fall with supermoon evenings, but winter's slowin' the bite—folks pullin' 3-5 pounders steady. Crappie and walleye joinin' in shallows, pickerel tough but Norfork-style action nearby.
**Best lures:** Ned rigs year-round for finesse smallmouth, per Major League Fishing—mushroom jighead with 2.5-inch worm or creature bait, drag it slow on rocky banks. Custom spinnerbaits or jigs skipped under docks for largemouth, like Karg's "insane" casts. **Top baits:** Minnows or nightcrawlers on jigheads for crappie; live shad if you can net 'em.
Hit these hot spots: **Shawnee Bend** for deep brush bass, and **Gravois Arm docks**—fish are stackin' on points with that cold water pushin' 'em shallow.
Y'all stay safe out there, check regs, and wear your PFDs.
Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more Ozarks updates! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Bass are the stars lately—young gun Luke Karg and partner A.J. Massa just crushed nearly 19 pounds Day 1 at Truman, takin' Team of the Year with custom spinnerbaits tipped chartreuse and straight-tail lures for big bites in muddy water, accordin' to WV News. Here at the Ozarks, Matt Fox snuck a Toyota Series win December 3rd on MLF, haulin' limits with dock-skippin' jigs. Recent reports from West Plains Daily Quill say bass peaked last fall with supermoon evenings, but winter's slowin' the bite—folks pullin' 3-5 pounders steady. Crappie and walleye joinin' in shallows, pickerel tough but Norfork-style action nearby.
**Best lures:** Ned rigs year-round for finesse smallmouth, per Major League Fishing—mushroom jighead with 2.5-inch worm or creature bait, drag it slow on rocky banks. Custom spinnerbaits or jigs skipped under docks for largemouth, like Karg's "insane" casts. **Top baits:** Minnows or nightcrawlers on jigheads for crappie; live shad if you can net 'em.
Hit these hot spots: **Shawnee Bend** for deep brush bass, and **Gravois Arm docks**—fish are stackin' on points with that cold water pushin' 'em shallow.
Y'all stay safe out there, check regs, and wear your PFDs.
Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more Ozarks updates! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI