My wife and I will be going to Broken Bow this weekend. We are staying at Beavers Bend State Park (thank you to those who gave recommendations). Now I need a little more help:

Is it obvious where I can run on plane, what are the hazards?
Any tips on catching something, I understand top water has been working lately?

All advice is appreciated. If you see us out there say hello, Blue G3 with 90 Yamaha. Thanks in advance.

The lake is safe for the most part watch for islands and long points. When you go up to the river end the point run a long way out or has trees on them follow another boat in there and make it easy WE caught our fish on ned rig but the top water bite is getting better look for schooling bass for the top water

Be carful up the river. Stay in the river channel. Plenty of hardwoods to watch out for once you get off the main lake. No need to go incredibly far up the river. Like Joe said, best to follow another boat. Should be plenty running at any given time to follow. Texas rig, drop shots and ned rigs in the small v shaped coves. Sit in the middle of the cove, which may be 30-50 fow, and fan cast to shore. Fish it all the way back to the boat. My best bites have been away from shore in the trees in 30 fow. Top water bite should be on for the first few hours of the day.

Good Luck!

If you really want to have some crazy fun, go out at night on the banks with a flash light and catch a bunch of small craw fish. You can catch a ton in a pretty short amount of time. Then the next day drop some of those down in the brush piles all over the lake. My tourney partner does an annual trip up there and does this exact thing. Said its an absolute blast. And don't let anyone shame you on here for using live bait...I'd be willing to bet 95% of the people on here first started fishing with bobbers and worms or minnows hanging underneath them.

Crawfish technique mentioned above does work well. however, if you want to go artificial, top water in the morning is killer. Drop shot, c-rig points and brush piles after that. Then, share all the pics of the hawgs you catch!!

fyi - structure is very easy to find at Broken bow

If you've never been, spend some time romancing your wife as you cruise the lake. Prettiest lake in this part of the country. That's once the bite stops of course!!

I'd suggest being careful running anywhere near points and islands. Most points that lead to islands are relatively safe if you run dead in the middle. But, I don't suggest it. Idle!! There's a spot as you leave the marina, about 1/3 mile out of the cove at 11 o'clock that is in the middle of the lake that looks like a cement truck sunk. WATCH IT!! Fish points with timber, shad colored jerkbaits, white or green, you'll tear up the spots. Then drop shot timber with wacky worms off points in 10-15' of water. You may only catch a bunch of spots, but you guys'll have fun.

Eat breakfast at Steven's Gap and lunch or dinner at Grateful Head. Few new restaurants, brewery, live music, pizza joint, cigar store, up north of town around 2 or 3 miles, kinda neat.

I apologize for my late reply to this thread, work has been--well WORK! Anyway, thank you for all the great tips. We did not have great success with the fishing. The wind was blowing pretty hard and it rained some. However, we did enjoy the beauty of the lake and the area. Thanks again for the tips. The image below was taken at sunset on Broken Bow.