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Missouri · Fishing
Missouri puts fishing within reach no matter where you are in the state. The 266 listed spots on Roamze range from small community impoundments like Nodaway County Community Lake near Pickering and Constable Lake near Spickard in the north,
200 spots9 townsUpdated dailyFree to access
View on mapFishing · 200 spots
Missouri puts fishing within reach no matter where you are in the state. The 266 listed spots on Roamze range from small community impoundments like Nodaway County Community Lake near Pickering and Constable Lake near Spickard in the north, to Ozark-edge reservoirs like Mark Twain Lake near Stoutsville and Smithville Lake near Trimble in the west. Down in the Bootheel you have access points like Ransburgh Hole near New Madrid and Bratcher Lake near Charleston, while the St. Louis corridor offers lakes like Clyde Mosley Lake near Wentzville and August A. Busch Lake Number 31 near Defiance. River anglers have options too, including Outlet Park near Wheatland and the Shell Knob Rec Site near Eagle Rock along Table Rock Lake's upper arms. The species mix across these waters leans heavily toward largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, and bluegill — as reflected at Mark Twain Lake, one of the larger reservoirs on the list at 672 feet elevation. Whether you're after a quiet afternoon at a neighborhood lake like Bo Co Mo Lake near Columbia or a full day on a major impoundment, Missouri's spread of public fishing access is genuinely hard to beat in the Midwest.
Largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, and bluegill are the most common targets across the listed waters, and Mark Twain Lake near Stoutsville is a good example of a reservoir where all four are present. Smaller community lakes like Gray Lake near Kansas City and Coot Lake near Lee's Summit tend to be stocked with channel catfish and bluegill, making them solid options for casual trips. Check the Missouri Department of Conservation's fishing forecast tool before you go for site-specific stocking and population data.
Spring (late March through May) is the most productive window overall, especially for crappie during their pre-spawn staging and largemouth bass moving into shallows. Fall (September through October) is a close second for bass and catfish as water temperatures drop. Summer fishing on lakes like Smithville Lake near Trimble and Lake Tishomingo near Hillsboro is best done early morning or after 6 p.m. to avoid midday heat that pushes fish deep.
Thibaut Point
~1h 24m drive
A worthwhile stop near MO.
Bledsoe Ferry
~1h 25m drive
A worthwhile stop near MO.
Niangua River - Ha Ha Tonka Access
~1h 5m drive
Moderate
Pinnell Lake
~45 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MO.
Meadow Brook Lake
~47 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MO.
Willibrand Lake
~49 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MO.
Swan Lake
~51 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MO.
Hulen Lake
~55 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MO.
Hulen Lake
~55 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MO.
Lake of the Ozarks
~60 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MO.
Katy Lake
~1h 4m drive
A worthwhile stop near MO.
Mononame 67 Lake
~1h 6m drive
A worthwhile stop near MO.
Also worth it near here
Lake fishing
Parkville, MO
Lake fishing
La Grange, MO
Lake fishing
Pleasant Hill, MO
Lake fishing
Labadie, MO
Lake fishing
Schell City, MO
Lake fishing
Defiance, MO
Lake fishing
Defiance, MO
River fishing
Ava, MO
Lake fishing
Auxvasse, MO
Lake fishing
Dardenne Prairie, MO
Lake fishing
Strafford, MO
Lake fishing
Rushville, MO
Lake fishing
Osceola, MO
creekFly fishing
Bennett Springs, MO
rainbow trout
Surf fishing
Cassville, MO
Lake fishing
MO
River fishing
Van Buren, MO
Lake fishing
Warsaw, MO
Lake fishing
Macon, MO
Lake fishing
Rolla, MO
Lake fishing
Mound City, MO
Lake fishing
Piedmont, MO
River fishing
Piedmont, MO
Lake fishing
Columbia, MO
Yes, a Missouri fishing permit is required for anyone 16 and older at all waters listed here. Some conservation area lakes, including those in the August A. Busch Wildlife Area near Defiance, may have additional area-specific regulations such as gear restrictions or closed seasons on certain sections. Always pull up the current MDC regulations for the specific access point before your trip, since rules can differ even between lakes on the same property.
A medium-action spinning rod in the 6- to 7-foot range handles the majority of situations you'll encounter at lakes like Junior Lake near Fulton or Allendale Lake near Pleasant Hill. For catfish at river access points like Outlet Park near Wheatland, a heavier medium-heavy rod with 15-20 lb monofilament and a simple slip-sinker rig is standard. Crappie at reservoir sites like Mark Twain Lake respond well to small jigs in the 1/16 to 1/8 oz range fished around brush piles and dock structure.
Many of the listed sites are specifically designed for easy access. Pier fishing at Peoples Creek near Wappapello and lake fishing at spots like Hideout Lake near Hillsboro and Fishermans Lake near Briarwood Estates involve minimal hiking and are suitable for kids and beginners. Mark Twain Lake's Frank Russell Access is rated easy and has parking and launch infrastructure that makes it manageable for first-timers. Avoid river access points like Shell Knob Rec Site near Eagle Rock if you're new to reading current, as water conditions there vary more than at still-water lakes.
