WHAT: 2024 National Fishing and Boating Week
WHEN: June 1-9, 2024
WHERE: Throughout the Lake of the Ozarks area
For anyone that would like to get out on the water to enjoy National Fishing and Boating Week, Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks provides many fun opportunities to cast a line or spend some time on the water.
“National Fishing and Boating Week is a great reminder to get outdoors to enjoy two very popular pastimes at the Lake of the Ozarks,” says Lagina Fitzpatrick, executive director of the Lake of the Ozarks Tri-County Lodging Association. “It’s also a great way to make lasting memories with your family and friends, no matter if you have ever gone fishing or been boating before. Both fishing and boating are very relaxing activities and they are great ways to get to enjoy the Lake of the Ozarks.”
Ever since the Lake of the Ozarks was created in 1931, it has been a Midwestern paradise for anyone that loves to fish or go boating.
The Lake of the Ozarks is routinely touted as one of the best freshwater fisheries in the country, with over 500 fishing tournaments taking place each year. Healthy populations of largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish (blue and channel) thrive in the 600 billion gallons of water that make up the Lake, providing excellent fishing opportunities for first-timers all the way up to professional tournament anglers. Anglers can fish from docks, the lakeshore or they can book a local Lake of the Ozarks fishing guide to take them out for a half- or full-day of fishing.
National Fishing and Boating Week coincides with Missouri Department of Conservation’s Free Fishing Days, June 8 and 9. During Missouri’s free fishing days, any person may fish the Lake of the Ozarks without a Department of Conservation fishing permit or other daily required tags. The Missouri Department of Conservation’s Camdenton Conservation Office, 783 Thunder Mountain Road, also offers free fishing tackle that can be checked out similar to a book from a library to help those that may not have the requisite equipment to enjoy this favorite pastime.
For boaters, the Lake of the Ozarks offers numerous ways to have on-the-water fun. So much so that the Lake of the Ozarks was voted the “Best Lake for Water Sports” and the “Best Recreational Lake” in the nation by readers of USA Today. The Lake of the Ozarks was also named by BoatUS magazine as one of the top lakes in the country for boaters.
Over 50 marinas around the Lake area offer a variety of boat rentals and three luxury cruising yachts provide vacationers without their own boat the opportunity to get out on the water and enjoy this boating paradise.
Your Lake of the Ozarks Adventure Awaits
Anyone traveling to the Lake of the Ozarks can choose from a variety of accommodations that will fit every style and budget. There are full-service large-scale resorts and smaller family-owned and operated resorts as well as charming bed and breakfasts or comfortable cabins and cottages. There is no shortage of fully furnished vacation rental homes and condominiums to choose from. There also is a selection of familiar hotels and motels at the Lake. For those who prefer sleeping under the stars, there are spacious campgrounds and RV parks interspersed throughout the area.
For more fun vacation ideas, or to learn more about all the year around events, attractions, as well as lodging and dining options available at the nation’s “Best Recreational Lake” and “Best Lake for Water Sports,” call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau (CVB) at 1-800-FUN-LAKE, or visit www.FunLake.com.
