Crisp Winter Bite at Lake of the Ozarks - Jan 5, 2026 Fishing Report

Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your Lake of the Ozarks fishing guru, comin' at ya with today's report for January 5th, 2026. Winter's grip is on, but the bite's crisp and steady if you hit it right.

Fishing Reminder's solunar forecast shows a **poor day** overall with First Quarter Moon at 38% proximity. Major bite windows: 6:20-8:20 AM (just wrapped), next at 6:36-8:36 PM. Minors: 1:35-3:35 PM and 11:37 PM-1:37 AM. Sunrise around 7:30 AM, sunset by 5:30 PM—short days, so bundle up. No tides here on the lake, but water's clearin' up post-rain, temps hoverin' low 40s like that Watts Bar report nearby.

Fish activity's solid on **bass, crappie, and walleye** per the Lake of the Ozarks Fishing Report podcast—folks pullin' 'em deep in coves on sunny days. Recent catches: limits of bass on jigs and minnows, crappie stackin' on brush, walleyes night-bitin'. Major League Fishing pros nearby rocked football jigs (7/16-oz with trailers), Damiki rigs, and underspins for suspended fish in 10-40 feet.

Best lures: **3/4-oz Crock-O-Gator jig** or football jig with craw trailer for bass around timber—slow drag it. Alabama rigs or swimbaits for roaming schools. Finesse with 1/4-oz shaky heads on medium-light spinning rods. Bait-wise, **golden shiners, minnows** from local shops like Fitz Fishing Tackle—thread 'em on for crappie and walleye. Inline spinners for trout if you're ice-edge fishin'.

Hot spots: **Bagnell Dam** for current breaks and walleye, **Jennings Branch Cove** for bass huggin' brush—user spots from Fishing Reminder.

Hit those windows, stay safe on the water.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI