Deal Lake in Monroe County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Deal Lake in the Monroe County part of Missouri. It lies 804 feet above sea level. It measures about 28 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Start from Centralia, 9.8 miles down the road. Paris follows at 11 miles, then Hallsville at 17 miles. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Deal Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Open biodiversity records for Monroe County list fantail darter, green sunfish, slenderhead darter and johnny darter. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Work Deal Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 77°F at the top of summer and 26°F at the bottom of winter. In milder years the surface never sets. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Time your trip to Deal Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Should this one be busy, Cedarlane Farms Lake is 8.3 miles off. Ask locally about Deal Lake if anything is unclear.