Missouri and Minnesota - need recommendations!

[iaYakker]

My dad and I are looking at taking one or two 2.5 day trips this spring/summer. We want to go north or south. What are some awesome lakes that aren't completely recreational? He has a 16.5' tracker so heavy winds wouldn't treat us too well either! I want to catch big largemouth, but also wouldn't be opposed to some chunky smallmouth either.

 

Southern half of Minnesota or northern half of Missouri would be perfect! Thanks!

 

Lately I've just been google mapping and have found some nice options that way too.

[scaleface]

Theres lots  of   small Conservation lakes in northern Missouri that offer really good  bass   fishing . Most  of them will allow your boat just idle speed only. 

 

   Heres an idea if your camping ,you could head to Mark Twain Lake . Its 18,000 acres . Up the road just a few miles is Monroe City lake , its a   good little 80 acre reservoir . I have caught lots of big bass there . Then directly  below MT is  another smaller dam that create a a lake ,  its about ten miles long . You could fish three different lakes from one location . 

 

Heres a nice interactive map by the Conservation Dept.

http://mdcgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=aa720aaaf06b49269b355b5a6e049d28

[senile1]

If I were looking for big bass I would go to Mozingo up by Maryville, MO.  West of Maryville, Bilby Ranch lake is known for large bass as well.  Mozingo is just over 1000 acres and maximum boat speed is limited to 40 mph.  Bilby is 110 acres.  

[FryDog62]

There is some decent largemouth fishing in southern Minn, but not much Smallmouth fishing outside of either the Mississippi (Wabasha to LaCrosse) or the Root River (more of a canoe river). 

[sully420]

You could pretty much throw a dart at a map of Minnesota and hit a good largemouth lake. I'd try south cedar lake but honestly there are so many little honey holes up here you cant go wrong.

[iaYakker]

Anybody have any info on Long Branch in Missouri near Macon? Bass numbers decent there??

[Bluebasser86]

It's right there under my favorite lake or river;

https://fishing.mdc.mo.gov/reports/hazel-creek-lake

 

Don't expect a lot of fish, but the quality is there, plus some big toothy critters. Just a few of the fish from our last trip there.

[scaleface]

15 hours ago, iaYakker said:

Anybody have any info on Long Branch in Missouri near Macon? Bass numbers decent there??

I  have fished it a few times and never had a lot of luck and cant explain why . It has a reputation for being a poor bass lake . Nearby Thomas Hill on the other hand , has been my best lake for numbers of keepers . But beware , we always called it "The bowl that blows . " It gets windy there and not a  lot of wind breaks .  They are so close that you could fish both and Hazel Creek that Blue mentioned .

[FryDog62]

On 4/6/2018 at 2:20 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

It's right there under my favorite lake or river;

https://fishing.mdc.mo.gov/reports/hazel-creek-lake

 

Don't expect a lot of fish, but the quality is there, plus some big toothy critters. Just a few of the fish from our last trip there.

I drove from Minnesota past Kirksville, MO several times per year while taking my 2 kids to college in Columbia... I think I even saw a sign for Hazel Creek at one point.  I always thought if I drove from here to Mo that I had to keep going past Columbia down to Table Rock before I could find good fishing.  Dang, now they’ve both graduated and I won’t be going that way any time soon.  But great looking fish Blue!  I showed it to a few of my musky-snob  friends that think the only place in the world to catch both bass and muskie is Minnesota/Wisconsin. 

 

We are in the process of getting about 30 inches of snow this weekend, if I could somehow hitch up the boat on these roads I might just drive straight South to Kirksville ... or anywhere at this point.  We may not have ife off our lakes until June at this point.  Oh my...  but a great report to read.  Thx

[Bluebasser86]

1 hour ago, FryDog62 said:

I drove from Minnesota past Kirksville, MO several times per year while taking my 2 kids to college in Columbia... I think I even saw a sign for Hazel Creek at one point.  I always thought if I drove from here to Mo that I had to keep going past Columbia down to Table Rock before I could find good fishing.  Dang, now they’ve both graduated and I won’t be going that way any time soon.  But great looking fish Blue!  I showed it to a few of my musky-snob  friends that think the only place in the world to catch both bass and muskie is Minnesota/Wisconsin. 

 

We are in the process of getting about 30 inches of snow this weekend, if I could somehow hitch up the boat on these roads I might just drive straight South to Kirksville ... or anywhere at this point.  We may not have ife off our lakes until June at this point.  Oh my...  but a great report to read.  Thx

I've caught 11 muskie in my life, all from Missouri. 

 

Drive about 9 hours south and I can put you on a 50+ fish day no problem right now. Bring your favorite jerkbaits and jerkbait combo and you're set. Might not be any over 3 pounds but largemouth and spots galore!

[FryDog62]

Unfortunately could be at least a couple weeks before I can trailer my boat out of here...

[scaleface]

Hazel creek has been drawn down for weed control . Conservation dept does not recommend trying to launch a boat .

 

"

largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits; all other species slow; water level is extremely low due to weed management; NOTICE boat landing use not advised.

(Reported on: 4/17/18)"