Pictured are Ethan and his dad, Brent, from KC, who catch these awesome stripers with Xieng Chanthavong with Hooked on Fishing LLC
Beaver Tailwaters:
Winter is steadily taking hold as the Ozarks shift into that early-season chill. This is the point in the year when the early-morning angler doesn’t just greet the sunrise — they risk frostbite. With the cold snap we felt Sunday into Monday, the most productive fishing windows continue to slide later into the day. The Corps is still running hydrogeneration in the early mornings, pushing the last of the fall debris downstream and steadily improving clarity.
Weather Outlook: Dec. 6 – Dec. 12
The upcoming week brings a mix of seasonal chill and a surprising stretch of warmth. Saturday starts off gray with lingering fog, but skies begin opening by midday, topping out in the low 50s. Sunday follows with a blend of clouds and sunshine and a slightly milder feel, reaching the mid-50s before dipping close to freezing overnight.
Monday cools back down, offering a brisk mix of sun and clouds with highs in the upper 40s. By Tuesday, a noticeable warm-up returns as clear skies push temperatures into the upper 50s. That warm trend builds into Wednesday and Thursday — both shaping up to be beautiful mid-December days with highs climbing into the low 60s under partly sunny skies.
By Friday, another cool push settles in. Sunshine hangs around, but temps fall back into the low 50s during the day, with a sharp drop into the upper 20s overnight — a reminder that winter isn’t going anywhere.
Fishing Conditions
Morning fishing on the Beaver tailwaters is showing gradual improvement as daily sunshine helps warm the surface layer. Still, midday through late afternoon remains the most reliable bite window, especially during the warm stretch Tuesday through Thursday.
Light tackle continues to shine. Pautzke Fire Bait, PowerBait, and small spoons are producing consistently. For those throwing artificials, downsizing is still the golden rule. Small jerkbaits and Rooster Tails worked with slow retrieves and long pauses are drawing the most attention. With colder water, those pauses matter more than ever — trout won’t chase far.
Weekly Game Plan
- Start deep and slow on cold mornings and cloudy days.
- Slide a bit shallower during warmer mid-week afternoons and pick up your retrieve slightly.
- Use natural tones under cloud cover; add flash when the sun is out and the air warms.
Final Thoughts
Even as winter tightens its grip, the Beaver tailwaters should fish well for anglers willing to adjust with the temperature swings. Slow, patient techniques will pay off on cold days, and a little extra shine in your presentation during the warm afternoons can make the difference.
Austin Kennedy, Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service
Beaver Lake:
Striper fishing has been good when you find them feeding on a good concentration of bait. Use your graph to locate bait and start to work the area with live bait, channel swings on the south end have been best. Some stripers have been moving on shallow flats to feed on the bigger gizzards, bait on those shallow flats are holding from 2 – 5 ft. of water. Casting a wake bait or pencil popper are great options for these shallow feeding stripers.
Very important tip if you’re fishing top water is not to jerk your rod to set the hook when you see the stripers strike your bait, just keep reeling and continue your retrieve until you feel the weight of the fish. You’ll have better hook up ratios when using a top water bait. Crappie are moving to shallow flats chasing bait, they are getting closer to the surface as the water temps are starting to cool off finally. Brush piles sitting in 10 – 20 ft. of water will hold them too.
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