Fishing at Durgens Creek Watershed Lake 1 B, Lewis County, Missouri

• Overview

  Out in Lewis County, Missouri, sits Durgens Creek Watershed Lake 1 B. The land about it is rolling bush. Small at around 14 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The nearest place of any size is Canton, 5.7 miles away. Further out sit Quincy (15 miles) and Palmyra (21 miles). It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Durgens Creek Watershed Lake 1 B

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Open biodiversity records for Lewis County list green sunfish, johnny darter, slenderhead darter, bluegill and orangespotted sunfish. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. This water repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 24°F in January to roughly 77°F in July. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. After mid March the shallows warm and the fish move up. The lid tends to go about mid March and return around late December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. On this water the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. 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. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, Durgens Creek Watershed Lake Number 1 A is 0.7 miles off. Nothing on this water should be assumed from this page alone.