Cave Lake, Missouri: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Cave Lake belongs to Oregon County, Missouri. Height above sea level is 469 feet. At 9 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Ground here is low by Missouri standards. The closest town, Thayer, is 16 miles away. It is 120 miles to Memphis, the nearest city. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Cave Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Fish documented in Oregon County include rainbow darter, greenside darter, orangethroat darter, fantail darter and rock bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Cave Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 79°F and January near 33°F. Whether it freezes depends on the year. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Cave Lake. Long daylight spreads the feeding across more hours.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Hughes Lake is 0.5 miles off. Check the current arrangement for Cave Lake.