Story by Hunter Baughman | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
It’s here! We are in Osage Beach, Missouri for the Chompers/NPFL Stop #5 at Lake of the Ozarks presented by Bait-Wrx. I’m currently sitting in our Airbnb rental listening to my kids play in the living room. I believe two toddler girls playing could possibly be the loudest noise in the world. Regardless, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. They are just as proud of me whether I’m first or last. First would be a nice change though!
This has been a strange week for me so far. As I’ve said in the past, I’m a die-hard deer hunter. Muzzleloader season opened Saturday in Arkansas, and I was able to get one hunt in before we made the five hour drive up here. That’s kind of put my brain in this weird place.
I’d love to be hunting but I’ve got a job to do this week. I’ve been watching our trail cameras, and one of our shooter bucks has showed up in the daylight multiple times this week. Add family and friends sending deer pictures plus seeing deer around the lake while I fish, and this country boy is in a real pickle.
But we’re here to fish and that’s what I intend to do!
The lake is fishing pretty tough, as expected. Like I talked about in last week’s column, fall is a tough time of year.
The water is in the upper 60s. This place is borderline being on fire. Unfortunately, I think it’ll happen a week or two after we leave. The fish just seem to be in a funk. The water is cool, and the backs of creeks are so full of shad you could walk across them. But the fish just haven’t quite committed to moving back yet.
I’ve seen fish from inches deep to 30 feet deep, which is typical. I do think the bulk of fish weighed in will come from 15 feet or less. I’m not positive what cover or structure will prove to be most dominant. Wood is normally a huge deal this time of year, but this place has so many docks they can tend to override the wood bite. Even if an angler isn’t targeting docks, they will be in play. At the very least, everyone will make a few throws at docks as they are going around them. Others will thoroughly fish each one.
This will make the fifth week I’ve been here for a multiple day tournament. I know what to expect yet this place blows my mind every time. The number of docks on this lake is mind boggling. Everywhere you go there are docks. Little ones. Big ones. Some with a helicopter landing pad on them. And so many huge boats! Boats that make a bass boat look like a toy. That’s why I’m happy we don’t have an off day and are fishing Wednesday through Friday. The weekends get rough out here. Even this time of year. There are so many concrete sea walls, the boat waves don’t have anywhere to go.
I hope you tune in to all the coverage starting Wednesday. It should be a good one! I expect 17 pounds a day to win and 11 pounds a day to get paid. I’ll be back with a column next week to see if I was close on the weights and to give you a rundown of my tournament.
Until then, good luck fishing!
Hunter Baughman – Angler Profile
