Lake Of The Ozarks Poker Run October 2018
A fatal crash involving an MTI powerboat the day before the shootout resulted in the MTI factory, which calls Lake of the Ozarks its home waters, to choose not to run in the shootout. In addition to the Kaczans, another first time participant who came out with an award was Steve Cleinmark of St. Charles, Ill., who ran his Cougar 22 MTR powered. The Lake of the Ozarks Harbor Hop is a fun poker run on the water where you spend a day cruising from stop to stop picking up enough playing cards to complete a hand. (Hopefully a winning hand!) You get to draw not just one, but two of those cards right here at Dog Days Bar & Grill.
- Lake Of The Ozarks Poker Run October 2018 2019
- Lake Of The Ozarks Poker Run October 2018 Calendar Printable
- Lake Of The Ozarks Poker Run October 2018 Events
- Lake Of The Ozarks Poker Run October 2018 Calendar
- Understanding Quality Bass Movements
- Docks, Shadows, Bluffs, Back Creek Coves…and Buzz Baits
- Best Fishing Times…Where and When
By John Neporadny Jr.
Bluffs and docks could be a winning combination for Lake of the Ozarks anglers this autumn.
“I would start in the morning and hit as many bluff end docks as I could because those big fish will come up and suspend under those docks in the fall,” says James Dill of James Dill Guide Service and owner of Crock-O-Gator Bait Company. “I have caught a lot of big fish on an isolated dock that other people just blow by.”
Quality bass that usually hang along the bluff drops during the summer start suspending when the shad move to the surface in the fall. The bass suspend under the bluff-end docks sitting over depths of more than 50 feet and use the boathouses as ambush points to pick off shad. Dill notes this pattern works best when the water temperature drops into the 70-degree range from mid-September to November.
The local guide tempts these suspending bass with a black, 3/4-ounce, Crock-O-Gator Head-knocker Buzz Bait, with a gold blade, which he retrieves on 17-pound fluorocarbon line along the sides of the dock, all the way to the front ends. “I will start out reeling it pretty fast, then I will slow it down until I catch a couple,” says Dill. “You may hit a bunch of docks and not catch too many, but sooner or later when you do catch a fish, doing that, it is going to be a good one.” Most of the strikes occur on the front corners of the docks although Dill occasionally catches some fish midway down the sides of the docks.
The bluff pattern works for Dill on the whole lake, but when he’s fishing the lower end, he usually throws a Zara Spook on 14-pound monofilament around the docks in the clearer water. Dill advises any angler practicing for a tournament should run the lake and search a 15-mile stretch for isolated docks on the bluff ends. “See how many of those docks you can find in a certain area,” says Dill, who warns anglers to avoid fishing those docks during practice.
Another main lake pattern that produces quality fish for Dill in early October involves stair-stepping a jig down bluff shelves, structure that big bass live on year-round. Dill opts for a 3/4-ounce Crock-O-Gator Reaction Jig or a 1-ounce football jig in dark colors (brown, green or black/blue) tipped with a bulky plastic trailer in the same color. He keys on shelves in the 15 to 18 foot range where he pops the jig off a shelf and lets it fall quickly to the next shelf. The local guide repeats the process until the lure drops off into the channel.
Dill likes to make a milk run of bluff docks before 10 a.m. and makes about five to eight casts per dock. Once the sun rises higher in the sky and casting shadows around the docks, Dill leaves the docks and moves to the back of creeks and coves to target shallow docks. “If it is quiet and nobody has been back there you can catch big fish out of a foot of water,” says Dill.
The buzz bait still produces later in the day for Dill if he throws it to the shady areas of the docks. Then he likes to flip the buzzer into the wells where the lure’s buzzing sound echoes off the boat hoists. “It sends a whole different sound in there especially on those shallow docks,” reveals Dill. “When you flip all the way to the back and you bring that buzz bait out, it is echoing through there. If there is a fish within 50 yards, he is coming to eat that thing.”
Swimming a jig along the sides and in the wells of shallow docks also produces heavyweight bass for Dill in early October. Dill advises looking for bluegill, but keeping a safe distance from the docks. “If you are pitching those docks and there are bluegill that are 4 feet out looking into those dock corners there is a big fish there,” says Dill.
Bass can be found just about anywhere under a shallow dock, but the bigger fish tend to hide in hard-to-reach areas such as the walkways behind the dock cables and those small cracks in the flotation. “You have to hit those spots where nobody else has hit,” says Dill.
For information on lodging and other facilities at the Lake of the Ozarks or to receive a free vacation guide, call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-FUN-LAKE or visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitors Bureau web site at www.funlake.com.
Copies of John Neporadny’s book, “THE Lake of the Ozarks Fishing Guide” are available by calling 573/365-4296 or visiting the web site www.jnoutdoors.com. The guide also has a special chapter on how touring bass pros Denny and Chad Brauer, and Guido and Dion Hibdon, fish their home waters throughout the year. Another chapter covers Winning Bass Tournament Patterns that reveal how Central Pro-Am, Wal-Mart BFL and Bassmaster events have been won since the 1990s.
One of the most exciting events leading up to the 30th Annual Shootout at Lake of the Ozarks is the Shootout Poker Run. Over 150 boats are expected at this year’s poker run on Friday, August 24, 2018. This is quite the sight to see whether you're a participant or spectator! Helicopters and drones will be present to get awesome pictures and videos of your boat. The party kicks off the night before at the Shootout Poker Run Meet and Greet and Silent Auction at Performance Boat Center. From registration and breakfast at Big Thunder Marina to poker run strategy, this is your ultimate guide to the 2018 Shootout Poker Run.
Photo Credit: Lake Shots Photography
Lake Of The Ozarks Poker Run October 2018 2019
Pre-Registration, Auction, and Party at Performance Boat Center
Party with fellow boaters and pre-register for the poker run at Performance Boat Center’s first-class event on Thursday, August 23, 2018, from 4 PM to 9 PM, next to Redhead Lakeside Grill (21MM). Early registration costs $250. Registration increases to $300 on August 20, 2018. The registration fee includes: breakfast for two at Big Thunder Marine, two t-shirts, lunch stop at Captain Ron’s, Captain’s Bag, and DVD. While there, enjoy food, drinks and check out Performance Boat Center’s beautiful facility while participating in “Lights! Camera! Auction!” At this year’s silent auction, you will find great deals on golf, restaurants, sports, boating accessories and so much more! 100 percent of the proceeds go to Shootout charities. Insider Tip: Don’t leave early; there is a spectacular fireworks show at dusk!
Lake Of The Ozarks Poker Run October 2018 Calendar Printable
Lake Of The Ozarks Poker Run October 2018 Events
Registration, Breakfast, and Start of the 2018 Shootout Poker Run
The Shootout Poker Run has been billed as the biggest poker run of the season! The day kicks off with breakfast and registration at Big Thunder Marina (8MM) on Friday, August 24, 2018, at 7:30 AM. After breakfast, Captains and their mates gear up for the poker run that gets underway at 10 AM with eight stops: Paradise (24MM), Redhead’s Lakeside Grill (21MM), Larry’s on the Lake (31MM), NautiFish Rum Bar (3.5MM Niangua Arm), Captain Ron’s (34.5MM), Bulldog’s Beach House (33MM), Big Dick’s Halfway Inn (47MM), and finishes at Shady Gators (7MM). One card is drawn at each stop. The best 5-card hand wins! Additional hands will be available for purchase throughout the event. The lunch stop is at Captain Ron’s from 11 AM to 2 PM. Dinner and award ceremony at 6 PM at Shady Gators. Once at Shady Gators, be sure to be in line before 6 PM. Insider Tip: Most boats run all the way to Big Dick’s for the first stop, more than 40 miles away! It is an exhilarating ride everyone should experience at least once!
Lake Of The Ozarks Poker Run October 2018 Calendar
Photo Credit: Sky View Photography
Have you ever been to The Shootout Poker Run? If so, do you plan on making Big Dick’s your first stop? How many stops do you plan on making? Join the conversation, we would love to hear from you!