Holiday Lake in Lafayette County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Holiday Lake lies in Lafayette County, in Missouri. Height above sea level is 774 feet. Oak Grove is the closest town at 3.1 miles. Beyond it, Grain Valley at 5.7 miles and Buckner at 8.3 miles. Also worth knowing: 1.9 miles out stands Lafayette County Lake J-21, Twentes Lake some 5 miles off, 5.2 miles out stands Beckemeyer Lake, Odessa Hills Lake some 5.8 miles off and 6.6 miles out stands Number 81 Lake. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Holiday Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Lafayette County records list rainbow smelt, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp and green sunfish among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Holiday Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 27°F to 78°F. In milder years the surface never sets. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Plan around that when you fish Holiday Lake. Sudden cold puts fish down faster than sustained cold does.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. The water borders Sni-A-Bar Conservation Area, so reserve rules are likely to apply. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Lafayette County Lake J-21 at 1.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Holiday Lake locally before you travel.