Fishing at Fon-Du-Lac Reservoir, Jefferson County, Missouri

• Overview

  You will find Fon-Du-Lac Reservoir in Jefferson County, Missouri. It sits at 515 feet above sea level. With some 27 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The bank runs about 0.9 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Size puts it in the front rank of our Jefferson County list. For supplies, Murphy is 0.9 miles out. St. Louis sits 17 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Fon-Du-Lac Reservoir

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Species logged across Jefferson County include orangethroat darter, longear sunfish, rainbow darter, bluegill and banded darter. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The near bank of Fon-Du-Lac Reservoir is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 78°F on average, January about 30°F. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. Anyone fishing Fon-Du-Lac Reservoir regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Number 216 Reservoir at 1.2 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Fon-Du-Lac Reservoir before loading the car.