Johnson Lake in Cass County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Johnson Lake lies in Cass County, Missouri. The surface lies 1,037 feet up. Small at around 13 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is high ground by Missouri standards. The town to know is Raymore, 1.5 miles out. Overland Park is the closest city, 16 miles away. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Johnson Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Species logged across Cass County include green sunfish, bluegill, orangethroat darter, slender madtom and channel catfish. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Johnson Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 27°F and July at about 78°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Seasons here are moderate, and the fishing runs most of the year. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. The season on Johnson Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Parking is close: a car park sits half a mile from the bank. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Silverlake Enterprizes Lake, 1.4 miles out. Treat Johnson Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.