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The water temperature at Lake of the Ozarks has surpassed 70 degrees and most Crappie are leaving their spawning beds. There are still a few male Crappie on the banks, however most have spawned, moved back into deeper water, and will be found in areas that have an abundance of small shad and other forage available. Look for significant Crappie concentrations in the middle to back of lake coves in 20-30 feet of water. If you can locate brush pile habitat at the aforementioned water depth you'll likely find significant Crappie numbers hanging out therein. There are also schools of open water Crappie schools to pursue with forward imaging in the middle to back of coves. The crankbait trolling bite is also heating up. Best of luck to you and hope to see you on the water soon! Captain Chris Barber 
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There are many facts and misunderstandings about the crappie spawn but the most important thing you need to know is the spawn is a GREAT time to fish! When the lake water temperature reached 55 -65 degrees you need to be on the water. Target and fish shallow lake arms during the early spawn as the water will warm up earlier in these areas vs. deeper coves and lake arms. Importantly, pay attention to your electronics so you know where the fish are, when they move shallow, and fish accordingly. Many people use jigs exclusively to catch crappie during all seasons of the year however quite a few prefer to go "old school" and utilize live bait such as minnows. Live bait can be very effective when utilized properly and many prefer to fish live bait under a slip cork. It's always fun to see a cork disappear when the bite occurs and its a great way for beginners to fish. Others like to cork crappie with jigs and this too is an effective way to catch Crappie. Regardless of your preferred technique, be sure to get out on the water in the spring time of the year and enjoy the unique spawn fishing season before the fish scatter and move deeper. Tight lines!  April 3 was a fantastic day to catch blue catfish on Lake of the Ozarks! The catfish are biting and they're now in shallower water (10-20 feet of water) and gorging themselves on large schools of gizzard shad. You can readily catch blue catfish on cut shad using rod and reel or catfish jugs. Blue catfish are great table fare and they're pursued by many anglers at Lake of the Ozarks. Three anglers caught 37 blue catfish. 27 were of legal size to keep and 10 fish that measured "in the slot" (26-34 inches of length) were released unharmed. Releasing blue catfish in the protected slot is a great tactic to protect the future of the fishery as this keeps a good population of breeding fish in the fishery. We utilize size 9 circle hooks so the fish are hooked in the lip and therefore don't get deep hooked which adversely impacts fish survival. We prefer to utilze sizable chunks of cut gizzard shad to catch Lake of the Ozarks blue catfish. Give Barber Fishing Guide Service a call and we'll put you on some nice blue catfish!   Missouri is known for its excellent fishing opportunities, with its vast water resources providing some of the best fishing trips in the Midwest. With an abundance of rivers, streams, and lakes, Missouri offers year-round fishing opportunities for anglers of all skill levels. Whether you're a seasoned angler or just starting, fishing trips in Missouri are a great way to enjoy the outdoors and explore the state's natural beauty.
Lake of the Ozarks One of the most popular fishing destinations in Missouri is Lake of the Ozarks. With over 1,150 miles of shoreline, Lake of the Ozarks is the largest lake in the state and provides excellent fishing opportunities year-round. The lake is home to a variety of fish species, including largemouth bass, Kentucky bass, white bass, crappie, catfish, bluegill, sunfish, spoonbill, and many other species. Anglers can fish from the shore, rent a boat or book a fishing charter with a local guide. Many fishing guides offer half-day and full-day fishing charters, providing anglers with everything they need to catch fish, including gear, bait, and knowledge of the best fishing spots on the lake. Barber Fishing Guide Service is one of the best fishing guide services and boat charter companies at Lake of the Ozarks. Read our customers’ reviews on Google and check our charters for more information. Current River Another popular fishing destination in Missouri is the Current River. The Current River is a designated National Scenic Riverway and is known for its crystal-clear waters and trophy trout. The river is stocked with rainbow and brown trout and provides excellent fly-fishing opportunities. Anglers can wade in the river or float it in a canoe or kayak. Guided fishing trips are also available on the Current River, providing anglers with expert knowledge of the river's currents, hatches, and best fishing spots. Missouri River The Missouri River is another great fishing destination in Missouri, with over 400 miles of navigable water. The Missouri River is home to a variety of fish species, including catfish, bass, and walleye. Anglers can fish from the shore, rent a boat or book a guided fishing trip. Guided fishing trips on the Missouri River are a great way to learn about the river's history, geology, and ecology, while also catching fish. Fishing trips in Missouri are not just limited to lakes and rivers. The state is also home to several conservation areas and parks that offer excellent fishing opportunities. These include August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area, Weldon Spring Conservation area, Meramec Conservation Area, Roaring River State Park, Montauk State Park and many others. These parks and conservation areas are stocked with bass, catfish, panfish, trout, and other species that provide anglers with an enjoyable experience in a relaxing and picturesque setting. If you're planning a fishing trip in Missouri, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you'll need a valid Missouri fishing license, which can be purchased online or at most sporting goods stores in the state. Second, make sure you have the appropriate gear for the type of fishing you plan to do. If you're unsure of what gear you need, consult with a local fishing guide or a knowledgeable staff member at a local bait and tackle shop. Third, be aware of any fishing regulations in the area you plan to fish. Missouri has specific fishing regulations that vary by location and fish species, so make sure you're familiar with them before you start fishing. In conclusion, fishing trips in Missouri offer some of the best fishing opportunities in the Midwest. With its vast water resources and abundance of fish species, Missouri is a top destination for anglers of all skill levels. Whether you prefer fishing on lakes, rivers, or in conservation areas and parks, Missouri has something to offer every angler. So, grab your gear, get your fishing license, and head to Missouri for your next fishing adventure! For any help in fishing trips in Missouri, please call (314) 583-8174 or visit our website, https://www.barberfishingguideservice.com/ for more information. The weather has been changing between hot and cold but the Crappie are still biting. We're finding and catching some Crappie shallow in the water column still schooled up in their winter pattern and others are 10-20 feet deep or deeper. (Though some schools are smaller than what we've seen earlier in the season) Some schools are in deep water and others are near the bank, especially in the late afternoon. The Crappie are hitting corks and minnows or jigs. Blue Ice has been a productive color for us the past few days. A chartreuse or pink jig head seems to enhance the bite, and crappie niblets also seem to help. Though the wind has been brutal and we've had a few cold fronts, this has been a productive time of the year to fish Lake of the Ozarks.  My wife and daughter wanted a fresh fish dinner so we went crappie fishing on Lake of the Ozarks a couple hours yesterday (3/25) and quickly caught enough black crappie for a family dinner. We're so blessed to have such a wonderful fishery in our backyard! Of late, the black crappie are sunning on shallow chunk rock or pea gravel banks in the afternoon. (3 to 10 feet of water depth with adjacency to deeper water) The surface water temp yesterday was 48 degrees and Lake Ozark Crappie love to soak up the sun driven warmth provided by rocky banks in the afternoon. Fish banks on the north side of coves that have max afternoon sun exposure. We scan these banks with Humminbird mega side imaging and key in on specific areas using Mega Live forward imaging. Once we find them we simply spot lock anchor the boat, and proceed to catch them with cork and minnow or cork and jig! Prespawn fishing with this technique can be fast action and a lot of fun! Our crappie dinner was outstanding!  The bass bite is decent right now and the key to catching them is finding the shad as the Bass will be nearby. Search about half way back coves using side scan imaging to find shad and the bass will be in the vicinity. The water is warming and the fish are migrating into coves as they do every year in preparation for spawn. The Bass aren't yet on the shallow flats in appreciable numbers and we're finding them in deeper open water on shad schools and on banks that are in close proximity to deep water in areas that have abundant gizzard shad forage. This time of year Largemouth Bass can be caught on Alabama rigs, swim baits, jerk baits, or smaller crankbaits. The bite isn't as strong as it is during the spawn but they will eat when you find them. Though it takes a bit of patience and good electronics to find them, its a good time to catch nice Bass on Lake of the Ozarks!  Lake of the Ozarks, located in the southwestern part of Missouri, is a man-made reservoir created by the construction of Bagnell Dam on the Osage River. Bagnell dam was completed in April of 1931 and the lake quickly became a popular destination for boating, fishing, and all types of water-related activities. Tourists, anglers, and boating enthusiasts flock to the lake year round due to its unique structure, size, and amenities. The lake surface area exceeds 54,000 acres and its main channel exceeds 92 miles. In addition, it has numerous arms, coves, and inlets making it one of the largest man made lakes in the nation. Interestingly, Lake of the Ozarks has more shoreline than the state of California at 1150 miles! Lake of the Ozarks contains a variety of fish species and attracts thousands of anglers from across the country. Many experts consider Lake of the Ozarks one of the top ten largemouth bass, Crappie, and Catfish fisheries in the nation. Because of its tremendous fishery, Lake of the Ozarks hosts hundreds of local, regional, and national Bass, Crappie, and Catfish tournaments annually. One of the most popular game fish species in the Lake of the Ozarks is the Largemouth Bass. Largemouth Bass can grow over two feet in length and record fish weigh more than 20 pounds. While Lake of the Ozarks Largemouth Bass don’t reach this size (as far as we know), there have been Largemouth Bass caught and released in the lake that exceeded 10 pounds. The lake also has a decent Kentucky Bass (aka Spotted Bass) population. These fish do not grow as big as the Largemouth Bass, however they're scrappy fighters and important residents of the fishery. The best time to catch (and hopefully release) heavy Largemouth Bass is spring time when female fish are full of eggs and spawning. Largemouth Bass can be caught year-round using a variety of techniques, baits, lures, and tactics including plastic worms, creature baits, jigs, spinnerbaits, top water lures, crankbaits, and a host of other offerings. Another very popular Lake of the Ozarks game fish species is the Crappie. People come to Lake of the Ozarks from across the nation to pursue this species due to their abundance and quality. White and Black Crappie that reside in Lake of the Ozarks reach up to 18 inches of length and weigh up to 4 pounds. (Although very few reach this size) The longest White Crappie caught on Barber Fishing Guide Service charters to date was 17.5 inches, and appeared to be in late life decline. The heaviest Crappie I'm aware of caught in Lake of the Ozarks weighed 3.74 pounds. The average White and Black Crappie caught in Lake of the Ozarks will be 9-12 inches and weigh up to one pound. Crappie exceeding 13 inches are frequently caught. Crappie exceeding 15 inches and weighing more than 2 pounds are somewhat rare in Lake of the Ozarks but they do exist. Crappie fishing at Lake of the Ozarks can be successful all year once an angler learns where and how to catch them. The best seasons to catch a lot of Crappie are spring (during the spawn) and winter when the Black Crappie school in large numbers. The daily Crappie creel limit on Lake of the Ozraks is 15 fish, 9 inches or longer. Though most anglers eat their catch, "catch and release" fishing also occurs with this species. Electronic technology known as "forward imaging" has become a main stay of successful Crappie anglers. Successful anglers use a variety of techniques to catch Crappie including simple minnow rigs with hooks and/or corks, small lead jig heads paired with plastic or marabou jig bodies, small spoons, crankbaits, and other offerings. In addition to being fun to catch, Crappie are excellent table fare. Catfish are very abundant in the Lake of the Ozarks. There are 3 primary species of catfish in Lake of the Ozarks; Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, and Flathead Catfish. Blue Catfish can reach or exceed weights exceeding 100 pounds in Lake of the Ozarks though fish of this size are quite rare. The average blue catfish on the lower end of Lake of the Ozarks will weigh between 3 and 15 pounds. It’s fairly common to catch Blue Catfish in excess of 20 pounds on Lake of the Ozarks but really big fish (over 50 pounds) don’t get caught very often. Many anglers favor the taste of Blue Catfish over other species and they are indeed excellent table fare. The daily Lake of the Ozarks limit of Blue Catfish is 10, with no more than 2 of your creel exceeding 34 inches. Lake of the Ozarks has a protected “slot limit” size of 26-34 inches and these fish must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught. The slot limit was put in place by the MO Department of Conservation to assure the lake maintains a healthy population of breeding fish. Blue catfish are typically caught on cut gizzard shad (the most common bait forage in Lake of the Ozarks) or shrimp, bluegill, and other large natural baits. Lake of the Ozarks also has a very healthy population of channel catfish. Channel Catfish in Lake of the Ozarks don’t often exceed 5 pounds but there have been channel catfish caught exceeding this weight in Lake of the Ozarks. Most anglers prefer to catch and eat Blue Catfish vs. Channel Catfish however many also eat Channel Catfish. Anglers have success catching channel catfish using the same baits listed above and also use hot dogs, chicken livers, and various types of commercially available stink baits. Lake of the Ozarks also has a decent population of Flathead Catfish. Flathead catfish prefer live bait and most are caught on bank poles, trot lines, and dock lines using live bluegill. The best time to catch catfish is before and after the spawn which occurs in the summer when the water temperature reaches 66 degrees, usually in the month of June at Lake of the Ozarks. During the spawn, catfish are typically more difficult to catch as opposed to other species which are on the banks and easier to catch. When Lake of the Ozarks was formed by the creation of Bagnell Dam, a native population of Walleye already existed in the Osage River. Though resident Walleye in Lake of the Ozarks likely spawn each year, a small number of Walleye are also stocked every 2 years by the MO Department of Conservation. Having fished Lake of the Ozarks for decades and caught only 20-30 Walleye, it’s fair to say Lake of the Ozarks doesn’t have a significant Walleye population. Anglers who target them usually focus on deep water as they typically spend most of their time at depths where the water is cooler. Walleye can grow to 36 inches in Lake Ozark (largest one I’ve personally caught) long and weigh up to 10 pounds however most Walleye caught in Lake of the Ozarks will be 12-18 inches long. The best time to catch walleye in Lake of the Ozarks is in the spring and fall when the water temperature is cooler and they are feeding heavily in shallower water. Anglers use a variety of techniques to catch walleye, including trolling with crankbaits, live bait, and jigging with spoons or soft plastics. In addition to these popular fish species, Lake of the Ozarks is also home to several other fish species, including bluegill, sunfish, carp, gar, white bass, hybrid bass, stripers, goggle eye, rock bass, and buffalo. Of these species, bluegill, white bass, hybrid bass, stripers, and sunfish are pursued for sport and table fare. The “rough fish” in Lake of the Ozark are infrequently pursued by bow fishing but gar, carp, and buffalo are not typically taken for table fare. White Bass, hybrid bass, and stripers are caught on jigs, spoons, crankbaits, and other offerings. Though the MO Department of Conservation stocks a few hybrid and striped bass in Lake of the Ozarks every 2 years, their population in Lake of the Ozarks is quite small. White Bass are abundant and reproduce annually in Lake of the Ozarks. In late summer and fall it’s quite common to see large schools of white bass attacking gizzard shad in “boils” on top of the water. In conclusion, Lake of the Ozarks is a unique fishery and paradise for anglers, boaters, and tourists. If you are looking for Lake of the Ozarks fishing guide services, please visit our website; https://www.barberfishingguideservice.com/ It is also recommended to read the FAQ section of our website at https://www.barberfishingguideservice.com/faq.html to learn more about our services.  The water level drop at Lake of the Ozarks has reached the winter Ameren guide curve of 654 feet above sea level. This occurs in February each year and usually adversely affects the fish bite for a few days. The bite has improved over the last few days and should continue to improve as the weather warms and the lake level stabilizes. We're catching Crappie on jigs, minnows, and using corks in a variety of locations as there are large schools of black crappie roaming around that remain grouped up in their winter pattern. We're also catching fish on brush piles. (Crappie and Bass) The best jig colors of late have been white, blue , chartreuse or some combination of those colors.  We're catching a lot of crappie right now as the fish are shallow and roaming in large schools. Jig fishing and cork and jig are great techniques to catch them. We locate the crappie using state of the art side and forward imaging so our customers know where to cast and present baits at the proper depth. Natural colors are producing best for our customers. Give us a call or fill out a contact form and we'll put you on the fish! Captain Chris  |