Garkie Lake Section 8 near Canton: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  In Missouri, Garkie Lake Section 8 belongs to Lewis County. It sits at 591 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 4 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Lewis County. Canton sits 8.3 miles from here and is the nearest stop. The big place round here is Columbia, 84 miles distant. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Garkie Lake Section 8

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Across Lewis County, recorded fish include green sunfish, johnny darter, slenderhead darter, bluegill and orangespotted sunfish. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On this water the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 77°F at the top of summer and 24°F at the bottom of winter. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early March. From about early March to around late December, expect open water on the long-run figures. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. This water runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, Lake O'Vaughn is 1.1 miles off. None of that is settled for this water in what we hold.