Smith Lake, Missouri: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Out in Platte County, Missouri, sits Smith Lake. The surface lies 817 feet up. This is a pocket water of some 5 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. On size it sits at the modest end of our Platte County list. Leavenworth is the closest town at 2.4 miles. The big place round here is Kansas City, 22 miles distant. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Smith Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Open biodiversity records for Platte County list bluegill, rainbow smelt, green sunfish and common carp. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. The near bank of Smith Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 78°F, with January the cold end at about 27°F. The season stretches long at both ends here. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Time your trip to Smith Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. The nearest car park is 110 yards from the water. There are toilets half a mile off. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Merritt Lake sits 0.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Signs at Smith Lake carry more weight than any list.