Best fishing lakes in Missouri: 12 lakes and what bites

The lakes at a glance

1. Truman Lake

Truman Lake spreads over 55,600 acres of water. Expect crappie, largemouth bass, catfish and white bass. At about 80 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Truman Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Lake of the Ozarks

Lake of the Ozarks covers some 54,000 acres. The fish here are largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and white bass. The deepest water is around 130 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Lake of the Ozarks today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Table Rock Lake

Table Rock Lake covers 43,100 acres of water. It holds largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and walleye. It goes down to about 220 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Table Rock Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Mark Twain Lake

At 18,600 acres, Mark Twain Lake is a big lake. The lake is near Monroe City. Clarence Cannon Dam holds it on the Salt River. It holds catfish, largemouth bass, crappie and walleye. It goes down to about 85 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Mark Twain Lake was created by damming the Salt River and is named after the Missouri-born author Mark Twain.

Mark Twain Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Wappapello Lake

At some 8,400 acres, Wappapello Lake is a good-sized lake. It lies about 3.2 miles northwest of Greenville. Wappapello Dam holds it on the St. Francis River. Expect white bass, largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. It goes down to about 47 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Wappapello Lake was built by damming the St. Francis River and is one of the older Corps of Engineers reservoirs in Missouri.

Wappapello Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Smithville Lake

Smithville Lake spreads over 7,190 acres of water. It lies within an easy drive of Kansas City (about 19 miles). Smithville Dam holds it on the Little Platte River. Largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and walleye are the draw. Smithville Lake was built by damming the Little Platte River near Kansas City and is managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Smithville Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Pomme de Terre Lake

Pomme de Terre Lake covers 7,820 acres of water. The lake is within an easy drive of Springfield (about 38 miles). It holds largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and muskie.

Pomme de Terre Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Lake Jacomo

Lake Jacomo covers 970 acres. It lies about 2.2 miles northeast of Blue Springs. The fish here are crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass and catfish. The deepest water is around 53 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Lake Jacomo is a Jackson County Parks reservoir within Fleming Park that opened in 1959.

Lake Jacomo today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Stockton Lake

Stockton Lake is a reservoir of 25,000 acres of water. It lies within an easy drive of Springfield (about 25 miles). Stockton Dam holds it on the Sac River. The usual Missouri mix applies: largemouth bass, walleye, crappie and bluegill. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Stockton Lake was completed in 1969 by damming the Sac River for flood control, hydropower, and recreation.

Stockton Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Long Branch Lake

Long Branch Lake covers about 2,010 acres. You will find it about 1.9 miles southeast of Macon. It holds largemouth bass, crappie, walleye and catfish. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Long Branch Lake was completed in 1978 by damming the East Fork Little Chariton River in Macon County, Missouri.

Long Branch Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Longview Lake

Longview Lake spreads over 930 acres of water. The lake is near Grandview. It is the Little Blue River behind Longview Dam. It holds bluegill, largemouth bass, catfish and crappie.

Longview Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Montrose Lake

Montrose Lake covers 1,600 acres. It lies within an easy drive of Lee's Summit (about 46 miles). It holds largemouth bass, white bass, catfish and crappie. Montrose Lake is a 1,600-acre cooling lake built on Deepwater Creek to supply water for a nearby coal-fired power plant.

Montrose Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Pick by species

A lake appears under a fish when it holds it, by the record or by the type of lake.

• Bass: Truman Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake and Mark Twain Lake
• Walleye: Table Rock Lake, Mark Twain Lake, Smithville Lake and Lake Jacomo
• Crappie: Truman Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake and Mark Twain Lake
• Pike and muskie: Pomme de Terre Lake
• Catfish: Truman Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, Mark Twain Lake and Smithville Lake

When to go

• Spring: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Summer: walleye are usually fair. Warm surface. They go deep in the day; try evenings.
• Fall: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Winter: walleye are usually fair. Cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

Before you go

A Missouri fishing licence covers every lake here; the state fish and wildlife agency publishes the limits and any special rules lake by lake. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.