Moving to Missouri Next Year

[papajoe222]

Both my daughters and their families will be moving to Missouri. My oldest this spring to the Springfield area and my youngest next summer to the Kansas City area. That means Papa and grandma will be moving.  Although my area of interest centers around the higher populations, better health care options, I'm looking for an area that offers some decent bass fishing. I have fished Table Rock on a number of occasions, prefer smaller bodies of water (I got lost on TR after the sun went down one time). Any lakes within an hour drive of either city? I've been checking out some properties, but it'd be helpful to target a specific area in my search.

TIA

[Jig Man]

Stockton and Pomme de Terre are both north of Springfield and a lot smaller than Table Rock.  Stockton is my favorite.

 

Stockton has lmb, smb, and spots as well as walleye.

 

Pomme de Terre has lmb, spots, and a few smb up in the rivers.  It has a few walleye and has musky.

 

 

[senile1]

I second @Jig Man's recommendations.  Stockton Lake is simply awesome.  At approximately 24,900 acres it isn't small, but to me it fishes like a smaller lake.  Maybe it just fits the way I fish, but I have not had a bad day there in a long time.  Having said that, it could just be luck of the draw because I am only able to get down there a couple of times a year.  During week days traffic on the lake is minimal.  

 

Pomme De Terre is fun too.  Although, I only fish it now and then the bass seem to cooperate there as well.  

[Jig Man]

When you get moved let us know where you are going to live.  That way I can get you to the best launch areas.

[bowhunter63]

Welcome to Missouri Hope you like Smallmouth fishing. I live in Springfield.Nice place. Plus Bass Pro Shops is just down the road 

[Bankbeater]

First off welcome. Between Springfield, Kansas City, and Jefferson City you have the larger reservoirs, but there is also a bunch of smaller areas that are managed by the conservation dept. 

[KCFinesse]

3 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

First off welcome. Between Springfield, Kansas City, and Jefferson City you have the larger reservoirs, but there is also a bunch of smaller areas that are managed by the conservation dept. 

The nice part is that many of the conservation lakes fish completely different than the big highland reservoirs. There's a lot of options to fish what you like at any given time (or fish to the conditions).

 

- Jared

[Cuivre]

Welcome to MO.  I live in St.Joe area, but lived in NE MO as well.  I wouldn't look past the lakes in KS either.  I was a member of a KS kayak bass club and fished many of their lakes in addition to the MO lakes.  NW MO is much better fishing than NE MO.  Smithville and Mozingo are my favorite "bigger" lakes, but they are not big by the southern MO lakes standards.