Hideout Lake near Hillsboro: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Hideout Lake is a Jefferson County water, in Missouri. Rolling hill runs right down to the water. At roughly 9 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. The nearest town is Hillsboro, 2.2 miles away. The nearest city of size is St. Louis, 32 miles away. Not far off: Lake Wauwanoka 1.7 miles away, 4 miles away is Vatterott Lake Loraine 4 miles away, 4.5 miles away is Williams Lake and Lake Louise 4.9 miles away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Hideout Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. County-wide records name orangethroat darter, longear sunfish and rainbow darter. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Treat Hideout Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 30°F in January up to 77°F in July. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. At Hideout Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Lake Wauwanoka at 1.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Treat access at Hideout Lake as something to verify.