Fishing at Charles Ransdell Lake, Ralls County, Missouri

• Overview

  Charles Ransdell Lake stands in Ralls County, Missouri. It sits in open valley. It covers about 5 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. On size it sits at the modest end of our Ralls County list. The closest town, Hannibal, is 6.4 miles away. For a city, Columbia is 68 miles off. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Charles Ransdell Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. County-wide records name orangethroat darter, fantail darter, green sunfish, slenderhead darter and bluegill. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Charles Ransdell Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 26°F to 77°F. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. 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. On Charles Ransdell Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. The nearest alternative is Crystal Blue Lake, 0.4 miles out. The position on Charles Ransdell Lake is worth confirming on the day.