Detwiller Lake near Milan: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Detwiller Lake stands in Sullivan County, Missouri. This is lake country bush country. The water measures roughly 6 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Our Sullivan County list holds plenty of bigger water. Milan is the closest place, 2.4 miles off. It is 98 miles to Columbia, the nearest city. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Detwiller Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Across Sullivan County, recorded fish include black bullhead, green sunfish and logperch. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. At Detwiller Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 76°F on average, January about 24°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Ice-out usually falls in mid March, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Open water usually runs from mid March until about late December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. The season on Detwiller Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Booth Lake at 2.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing on Detwiller Lake should be assumed from this page alone.