My family in MO used to have a lakefront house on the Gravois arm, right in front of the entrance to Indian Creek. Man, that was some good fishing right there!

Our address was in Laurie MO, but the house was inbetween Laurie and Gravois Mills. When dad died we sold the house, much to my regret. But we live in Texas and so...

I would definitely recommend the upper, northeasterly part of the lake to the Osage Beach area, both for safety and fishing.

LOL, I grew up in Missouri too, more towards Kansas City. Missouri doesn't have a ton of lakes like we do down here, so the whole state seems to move south on the weekends.

Thx for all the info..

AHJimbo,

The conditions on Lake of the Ozarks are not being exaggerated. It can be treacherous, more congested than most any reservoir with more cruisers than any other area.

Pick a Monday - Wednesday and take your time. Those large criser wakes sneak up on you like a barge wake. The boats on LOZ can be like an ocean vessel. Very large!

Try the upper end if you can and the first of the week is less hectic.

There are several resorts around, and the upper arm of Warsaw is just down home.

BCB

Be off the lake by 9am and disregard night fishing as you'll get run over. That lake is probably the most dangerous lake in the country. My father in law lives there and there is always someone getting run over. A bass boat doesn't have a chance against a cigarette boat.

I just got back from LOZ. Spent a week there. Fishing was great. Had only one bad day out of 6 and that was last Friday during a cold front. We fished a lot of docks...6lb 2oz was out biggest bass and lost one bigger right at the boat. There are a lot of fish around and behind the docks. We did better if we could find water with a little stain or dingy color to it.

We stayed near the dam - Make sure to take a GPS with a good map of the Lake. Twin Islands area is good. Osage Beach is a nice place to visit and lot of restaurants there.

Lots of VERY BIG boats there. We fished during the week and it was not too bad but I would not want to be there after school lets out. Make sure to eat at Shady Gators near Horseshoe Bend area - also has water access, slips and a place to park boat to eat.

I wouldn't be caught dead on that water in the summertime in a bass boat, or think about fishing without a vest on, and I can't fish in a vest. No joke what these guys above have said about that water. I have been there a ton in the summer time and we go to party thats it. But if you do that make sure you have a DD they are way strict about driving drunk up there both in your car and on the boat.

Glad I asked you guys for some opinions!! I think we're gonna scratch that trip and try and find something a little less crowded! Thx all for your input.
Jim

You don't have to scratch MO off the list. Table Rock Lake is a nice fishing destination, and you're close to Branson, Silver Dollar City, Eureka Springs AR, the original Bass Pro Shop in Springfield, lots of family stuff to do.

Table Rock is a great area and so is Stockton. Stockton has LM, spots, and smallies. Also a good crappie and walleye population. About the only other boats on the lake are sail boats and big houseboats. Deep, clear lake with miles of shoreline.

SE Kansas grass grower

+1 .... one of my favorite lakes