Fall Fishing at the Lake of the Ozarks

Fall is an exciting time at the Lake of the Ozarks. Between all of the fall themed events, family and friends gathering for deer season, and all of the fun holiday activities, the lake is an exciting place. Fishing is also a very popular activity around this time of year. It may be cold outside, but that can be a prime condition for the ultimate fishing score. The cold water temperatures can cause bass to feed heavily. Our boat club at the Lake of the Ozarks has some fantastic boats that members can use to fish from. Freedom Boat Club at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to give you an inside look into 3 types of black bass that could be feeding heavily this time of year, which could make for a great fishing trip.

Black Bass

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, there are 3 types of Black Bass:



Largemouth Bass

Found in lowland lakes, artificial impoundments of all sizes, permanent pools of streams, and quiet backwaters of large rivers. Thrives in warm, moderately clear waters with little or no current.

Family: Centrarchidae (sunfishes) in the order Perciformes (perch-like fishes)

Description: The largemouth is a large, slender, elongated, streamlined sunfish with a very large mouth. The upper parts are greenish; the lower sides and belly are white, without dark spots or with spots that are irregularly arranged. The midside has a broad, dark, continuous stripe. The upper jaw reaches far beyond the rear margin of the eye, except in small young. The tongue is smooth. The dorsal fins not well connected. The cheek scales are the same size as the rest of the body scales.


Size: Total length: 10 to 20 inches; weight: ½ to 4½ pounds; maximum about 24 inches and 15 pounds.



Smallmouth Bass

Also called "brown bass," "brownie" and "bronzeback," this popular gamefish is found predominantly in cool, clear Ozark streams and large reservoirs in the Ozarks. Found sparingly in the upper Mississippi River and it's principal prairie tributaries that have clear water and permanent flow.

Family: Centrarchidae (sunfishes) in the order Perciformes (perch-like fishes)

Description: Large, elongated fish with a moderately large mouth. Cheek scales are much smaller than the rest of body scales. The back and sides are greenish-brown with faint dark mottling and bars; the belly is whitish overlain with dusky pigment.  No dark horizontal stripe. Without rows of dark spots. Upper jaw reaches to about the rear margin of the eye in adults. Tongue usually has a rough patch. Dorsal fins connected. Most closely related to largemouth and spotted bass.


Size: Total length: 10 to 20 inches; weight 1/2 to 4 pounds; maximum about 22 inches long and 6 pounds.



Spotted Bass


Also called "spot" and "Kentucky bass," this species inhabits permanent-flowing waters that are warmer and slightly more turbid than those where the smallmouth bass occurs. Begin to recognize it by noting the form of its stripe and the length of its jaw.

Family: Centrarchidae (sunfishes) in the order Perciformes (perch-like fishes)

Description: Large, elongated fish with a large mouth. Upper jaw reaches to or slightly beyond the rear margin of the eye in adults. Green with a dark horizontal stripe. Upper parts are greenish with darker mottlings; the lower sides and belly are whitish with dark spots arranged in streaks. The midside has a broad, dark continuous stripe. Cheek scales much smaller than rest of body scales.  The tongue has a rough patch.


Size: Total length: 10 to 17 inches; weight: 1/2 to 3 1/2 pounds; maximum about 20 inches and 4 to 5 pounds.

Interested in Having Full Access to an Entire Fleet of Boats to Fish From?


At Freedom Boat Club at the Lake of the Ozarks, we take the hassle out of boating. Members get to enjoy boating with no maintenance, slip rental or ownership, winterization or storage costs. Becoming a member of Freedom Boat Club allows you to enjoy boating for HALF the cost of owning a single boat. You pay 1 monthly payment for the use of 9 boats here at the Lake of the Ozarks, in addition to the fleets of boats available at our 145+ locations across the nation. For more information on boat membership at Freedom Boat Club, call our office at 573-302-0392.







873 Crow Ln. Ste. B5
Osage Beach, MO 65065

573-302-0392

Bridgeview Marina 19MM

NEW 2nd Location
1062 Susan Rd.
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Osage Villa Resort 2MM

jimkoch@freedomboatclub.com

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