|
Bilby Ranch Lake
Information: (816) 271-3100
Excellent fishing
opportunities await those anglers trying this 110
acre lake, 15 minutes west of Maryville.
Largemouth bass are plentiful in Bilby Ranch Lake.
Spring electrofishing in 2005 again revealed an
astounding number of largemouth bass 12-16" range,
as well as a few lunkers. Bass anglers should
concentrate their efforts along the dam rip rap,
over the rock islands, or in the flooded timber in
the upper two arms of the lake. With the high
density bass population, the panfishing in Bilby
is outstanding. Shore anglers enjoyed catches of
bluegill over 9 inches and master angler-sized
redear sunfish up to 11 inches in 2005, and 2006
should be no different. Crappie anglers have taken
their toll on the 3-5 year old year class, so
crappie will run a bit smaller in 2006 than
anglers are accustomed. Fishing with small
plastics and jig and minnow combinations over
newly installed cedar tree brush piles, or over
rock piles will still produce limits in the spring
and fall. Bilby Ranch usually freezes thick enough
in the winter to allow ice anglers a chance at
crappie and bluegill. Channel cats are plentiful
in Bilby, with a chance at a fish over 25 inches.
Try the rip rap of the dam with dip bait and
liver. Walleye from the 2002 stocking are growing
extremely well in Bilby’s clear water. Spring fish
sampling produced many walleye, with fish up to 24
inches. The Missouri Department of Conservation
continued the walleye stocking program with 5"
fingerlings stocked in September 2005, these fish
should be legal (15"+) size in 2007-2008. Please
release all under-sized walleye back into the lake
unharmed. A disabled-user accessible covered
fishing dock at the boat ramp has brush piles and
deep water within casting distance, and produces
good catches of all species for shore anglers.
Numerous 1-acre and larger ponds on the area hold
good populations of largemouth bass, bluegill, and
channel catfish for those anglers willing to walk
in from the public parking lots. |
|
Buffalo Bill
Lake
This 45-acre
lake is located on the northern edge of Pony
Express Lake Conservation Area. The lake
goes unnoticed by many anglers on the area
but it provides excellent fishing whether
you are targeting bluegill or largemouth
bass. A new fishing dock was installed in
2005 along with cedar brush piles submerged
within casting distance from the dock. Good
catch rates for nice-sized bluegill (7-9")
are common. The bass are abundant and
scrappy, but sizes tend to be less than 15".
The crappie are tougher to locate but can
provide fast action and an excellent meal. |
|
Che-Ru Lake
This 160-acre
lake on Fountain Grove Conservation Area
offers anglers a unique fishing
experience.
Numerous habitat types such as submerged
levees, borrow ditches, rock reefs and
standing timber hold several fish species.
The lake has moderate numbers of largemouth
bass with several longer than 15 inches.
Anglers fishing with crank baits, jigs, or
live bait may pick up an occasional walleye.
The crappie population has good numbers of
9- to 11-inch fish. White bass can offer
fast paced action on windy days. The lake is
gaining a reputation for trophy flathead
catfish. The lake has several fish over 20
pounds. This fishery is unique and can be
easily destroyed. In order to estimate
harvest, numerous flathead catfish have been
tagged. If an angler catches a tagged fish,
they should contact the Missouri Department
of Conservation at 660/646-6122. A new
disabled user fishing dock and privy have
been popular additions to the lake. The lake
is closed to fishing from October 15th
through February 15th. |
|
Grindstone
Reservoir
The City of
Cameron raised the outlet height on this
180-acre reservoir during 2005 to increase
water capacity. Higher water levels will
provide added nutrients and increased cover
for fish, and the fishery should respond
favorably. However, a large watershed causes
water levels and water clarity to fluctuate
after rainy periods and fishing success can
be slow until lake settles down. Channel
catfish may be caught despite unsettled
conditions with good catch rates for fish
from 15-22". Crappie fishing can be good
during more stable water level times for
7-9" fish, and a few from 11-13". The
largemouth bass show good overall sizes with
most fish from 12-20". |
|
Happy Holler
Lake
Crappie
remains the fish of choice for most anglers
heading for this Andrew County lake.
Stringers of crappie in the 9"-12" range can
be found hidden along the dam and rock
jetties. This lake is far enough north that
during most winters there is enough ice to
find crappie among the numerous brush piles.
Redear sunfish is another panfish that might
draw an angler’s interest. Although
difficult to catch, the use of small worms
or crickets in the shallows in late spring
and early summer can reward you with 10"+
fish. Bluegill are common in the 6"-8" size
range. They can be found near the habitat
enhancement enclosures and off the dam. The
dock and shoreline areas are fished heavily
but the use of a boat will get you back into
the standing timber and virtual isolation.
Largemouth bass sizes continue to fall short
of the 18" length limit. Fish the standing
timber to entice the bite of one of the few
legal fish in the lake. Channel catfish
continue to be stocked and are readily
caught off the rock jetties. This lake
continues to be a solid performer in both
the size and number of fish available. |
|
|
Harrison
County Reservoir
Located
northwest of Bethany, this 280-acre
reservoir continues to provide excellent
panfishing opportunities. Bluegill in the 8
to 10 inch range are abundant and can be
caught throughout the year on light tackle.
Crappie fishing was a bit slower in 2005
than in recent years, but fish from 9-11"
were caught consistently, with some fish
over 13 inches. For best success, use
bobbers or slow vertical jigging with small
jigs or minnows in and around submerged
brush. Channel catfish are abundant and
range in sizes up to 26". Largemouth bass
are also numerous, but not too large (12-15"
on average). |
|
Hartell
Conservation Area
Located just
northeast of Plattsburg, MO in Clinton
County, Hartell Conservation Area offers a
quiet location to spend a day with the
family, plus the opportunity to catch a fish
of a lifetime. This 114 acre Conservation
Area has 5 small lakes (2-5 acres) that are
intensively managed for high-quality fishing
and a 6th pond reserved
exclusively for special (i.e. kid’s) fishing
events. Hartell CA is a catch-and-release
only area, additionally only artificial
lures and flies may be used. These strict
area regulations help manage the area for
trophy fishing for all species. Area lakes
contain trophy largemouth bass, bluegill,
crappie, redear sunfish, and channel
catfish. The best part about Hartell CA is
its accessibility. The graveled road leading
into the area takes you on a very scenic
loop putting the angler right on the
doorstep of each of the lakes. All lakes are
accessible for small boats and canoes
(electric motors only) and a few boats are
available to use at no charge. There is also
a covered, disabled user accessible fishing
dock available on the largest of the area
lakes. If you would like the opportunity to
catch a fish of a lifetime and leave an area
with multiple Missouri master angler awards,
visit Hartell CA. Bring a camera! If you
make the trip once it’s a guarantee it won’t
be your last. |
|
|
Indian Creek
Lake
This 192 acre
lake is located on Poosey Conservation Area.
Largemouth bass fishing is excellent. A 12-
to 15-inch protected slot length limit
continues to improve the bass population.
Bass anglers can expect the majority of
their catch to be fish 12 to 15 inches long.
However, catches of large bass are
increasing. A high quality channel catfish
population exists in the lake with several
fish longer than 20 inches. Anglers should
use night crawlers or prepared baits fishing
off the bottom. Anglers interested in
panfishing will find good numbers of
bluegill and redear. At times, crappie
anglers can experience good catches of fish
longer than 10 inches. Regardless of the
catch, fishing is always a good experience
at what many people consider the prettiest
lake in north Missouri. |
|
|
Lake Paho
Bigger largemouth bass continue
to be the draw for most anglers at Lake Paho. Although catch
rates may be lower, there’s a good chance of catching one or two
of the lunkers near submerged brushpiles which are scattered
along the lakeshore. New brushpiles, made from mature cedar
trees, were added the last three years in depths around 10-15
feet. Tops of the brushpiles can be seen above the surface when
water levels are low; however, a depth finder or GPS (if you
have coordinates) is needed during high water. To protect from
over-harvesting the fishery, bass must be over 18" before they
can be kept and the limit is two per day. Most crappie continue
to be small (7-8") but there a few large walleye (>25")
remaining from past stockings. |
|
Mozingo Lake
Largemouth bass densities are
still very high in 1000-acre Mozingo Lake. Spring electrofishing
in 2005 produced the highest fish sampling catch for bass since
the lake opened. The 12-15 inch protected slot is producing
larger fish then in the past, with 27% of bass sampled measuring
over 15 inches. Fish the submerged brush piles, rocky points,
and rip rap banks to find fish. Crappie fishing in Mozingo Lake
is second only to bass in popularity, and 2006 looks to be no
different. Limits of crappie from 9 to 17 inches are common for
those anglers targeting the tasty panfish. Try small minnows in
the shallow timber in the spring, and use your locator to find
suspended schools in deep water in the fall. Bluegill fishing
will continue to be nothing less than outstanding in 2006.
Fishing with live bait in and around woody cover produces limits
of bluegill in the 8-10" range. A growing number of anglers are
taking advantage of quality walleye fishing available in Mozingo
Lake, and some very large fish are available. A 28- inch, 10
pound monster was the largest walleye sampled during the
nighttime spring electrofishing in 2005. Fish the dam at night
from late March to early April with crank baits, or jig and
minnow combinations. Follow the fish to the deep points adjacent
to the old channel with deep diving crankbaits or crawler
harnesses as summer continues. Fishing for channel catfish will
continue to be excellent in 2005, with many channel catfish over
10 pounds possible. Excellent facilities provided by the City of
Maryville surround the lake, with new campground areas, cabins,
a fish cleaning station, picnic pavilions, and improved boat
ramps, as well as disabled-user covered fishing docks. |
|
Nodaway County Community Lake
Nodaway County Lake, just north
of Maryville will provide plenty of action in 2006 for on-shore,
as well as boat anglers looking for numbers of panfish, as well
as a chance at a trophy largemouth bass, channel catfish, or
walleye. Bluegill and crappie are very abundant, but most will
run on the small size. However, some very large crappie over 14"
were sampled in 2005. Anglers can find these panfish in just
about any woody habitat, any time of the year on live bait, and
are encouraged to harvest their limit. Efforts are continuing to
increase the size structure of the panfish population by brush
pile installation and aquatic vegetation re-introduction.
Electrofishing in 2005 again revealed numbers of largemouth bass
over 20 inches. Anglers fishing plastic worm or jig and pig
combinations in any of the newly-installed cedar tree brush
piles scattered throughout the lake will have a good chance at
hooking into a memorable-sized fish. Shad are numerous in
Nodaway County Lake, so shad imitating lures will also work
well. Catfish anglers will find channel catfish to 10 pounds,
and flathead catfish to 40 pounds in and around woody cover.
Dip-baits or cut shad should provide channel catfish anglers
steady action. Although MDC does not currently stock walleyes in
this lake, some very nice fish to 10 pounds roam Nodaway’s deep
creek channel. |
|
Pony Express Lake
This 240-acre lake on the Pony
Express Lake Conservation Area supports a variety of fish, but
most anglers target catfish. Channel and blue catfish are
stocked most years. Recent surveys show channel catfish from
15-22" in length are common. Anglers often enjoy good catch
rates for catfish in the main body of the lake, or near inlets
during periods of runoff, using cut bait and other prepared
baits. Larger blue catfish, up to 30 pounds or more, may be
caught with live bait suspended over deeper channels. Crappie
are abundant but tend to be smaller (6-8"). Anglers are
encouraged to keep all small crappie caught up to their daily
limit of 30. Largemouth bass are not abundant but good catch
rates for 11-17" fish may be found near submerged trees and
brush piles. Anglers may find great fun by targeting common carp
which are abundant at sizes from 10-20 pounds. Recently
constructed angling amenities at the lake include a new
fish-cleaning station located on the end of a newly re-surfaced
and accessible fishing pier. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|