The lake is managed by MDC fisheries management biologist Greg Stoner, who reports that the number of legal largemouths (those 15 inches or better) is well above average. He sees no reason those numbers will not continue through 2005 and maybe even improve.

The shad spawn in 2004 was a bumper crop, and the results will start showing up in 2005. The 2003 shad spawn was weak, which hurt growth rates in early 2004, but the fish are recovering nicely.

Stoner points anglers towards the Glaize arm for the better numbers of fish, as electrofishing results show largemouths are a little more numerous and a little bigger in that arm than in the Niangua Arm. His advice to anglers: Read these results with "a grain of salt." He said: "The water is better for electrofishing in Glaize, so that may skew our results. Anglers should not read this as advice not to fish the Niangua Arm. It's a good part of the lake."

When it comes to trophy largemouths, there's no better location in the state. Lake of the Ozarks is full of them. Some of the numbers are mind-numbing.

In most tournaments it will take a bag of five fish weighing 20 pounds or more to win. Most of the time, anything short of than 17 or 18 pounds won't even get you a check. Stoner reports that fish in the 7-pound class are common, and while not common, fish to 10 pounds are a realistic possibility. About how many places can anglers say that?

Where should you look for these brutes? Well, most anglers will send you into the Glaize arm of the lake for the really big ones. Keep in mind, however, that big fish are not little fish. They are scattered, not found in the same locations - at least most of them - and do not eat the same forage. So, truth be told, you might catch your trophy almost anywhere.

A few miles south of Jefferson City, near Russellville, is a tiny lake - almost a pond, really - that you should consider fishing at least once during the year. It's Winegar Lake (excellent numbers, fair size).

According to MDC fisheries management biologist Scott Williams, it has an almost unbelievable population of largemouths living in its waters. The electrofishing results show more than 300 largemouth bass sampled per hour. That's twice the typical sampling rate from the very best bass lakes in the nation.

Winegar's water is very clear - visibility is usually over 7 feet - and the fish are easily spooked. Local anglers recommend fishing after dark for the best success.

OK - so the fish aren't very big. Think about it this way: What a place to practice or take a kid fishing! There aren't very many lakes like Winegar around, take advantage of it while you can.

West of Lake of the Ozarks, anglers will encounter the Harry S. Truman Reservoir (good numbers, good size). Over the years, this 87-square-mile body of water has been one of the most consistent largemouth lakes in the Show Me State.

Trish Yasger, MDC management biologist for the lake, speculates that the stable population is due to the consistently successful spawns in the lake. She attributes these successful spawns to the fact that largemouths spawn unusually deep in Truman. The reasons for this are known only to the fish, and they aren't talking.

The deep spawn isolates their eggs and fry from the ravages of rapidly rising and falling water, a problem common to most flood-control reservoirs. Truman is no exception.

Yasger's electrofishing studies show good numbers of and excellent health for largemouths between 4 and 24 inches. Such a wide range shows a balanced population, and is encouraging for the future of bass at Truman. The excellent health speaks to the high quality of the lake's forage base.

MDC fishing resource technician Eric Dennis reports that this lake is on the upswing when it comes to largemouth bass fishing. The lake supports good numbers as well as respectable size largemouths. They can be caught by persistent anglers nearly all year long.

Mozingo is a great place for those anglers who are physically challenged. It offers five handicapped accessible boat docks and one handicapped accessible fishing pier.

Bilby Ranch Lake (excellent numbers, good size) is also near Maryville. It's part of the 5,000-acre Bilby Ranch Conservation Area. The main lake offers bass anglers 130 acres of water. The surrounding conservation area supports at least 15 public ponds.

The main lake supports an excellent population of largemouths. Several of the ponds also offer good largemouth bass angling. Don't pass them by just because they're small. That'd be a mistake.

Last, but by no means least, is Pony Express Lake (excellent numbers, good size). Its 240 acres are located nine miles west of Cameron. It offers anglers a chance to catch high numbers of largemouths and at least an outside chance for a trophy.

Pony Express can be fished from both shore and by boat. There are quite a few brushpiles in the lake. Local anglers suggest fishing around them, no matter the season. They always seem to produce a few keepers.

And there you have it. Pick your spot and get ready for some serious bass fishing this year. Thanks to the MDC, you have lots of choices.