Take it from an expert: This is the time to fish Lake of the Ozarks

Bass fishing at the big lake

Lake of the Ozarks is known nationally for its bass fishing. Here are a few facts about the lake and its bass.

• AGE: Lake of the Ozarks is an old-timer. It was created in 1931 when Bagnell Dam was finished.

• SIZE: The big lake covers 55,000 acres. It has 1,375 miles of shoreline, longer than the entire state of California. It stretches 92 miles from end to end.

• DOCKS: There are 70,000 boat docks on the lake, and many of them provide good hiding places and shade for the bass.

• BASS POPULATION: Because the water doesn’t fluctuate the way some reservoirs do, the bass consistently pull off good spawns. In 2013, surveys showed that 23 percent of the bass in the Niangua arm exceeded 15 inches in length.

• HIGH PRAISE: Nationally known bass pros Guido and Dion Hibdon live on the big lake, and they say it is one of the best bass-fishing spots in the country.

• MORE INFORMATION: Go to FunLake.com.

This story was originally published May 3, 2014 at 4:37 PM with the headline "Take it from an expert: This is the time to fish Lake of the Ozarks."