La Plata Lake Fishing Guide, Macon County, Missouri

• Overview

  La Plata Lake is one of the Macon County waters in Missouri. It sits in pine and birch. This is a pocket water of some 22 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. The bank runs about 1.1 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. For supplies, La Plata is 1.4 miles out. For a city, Columbia is 74 miles off. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on La Plata Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Across Macon County, recorded fish include black bullhead, bluegill and green sunfish. The county list is broader than any single water. On La Plata Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 77°F and January at 24°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid March. Break-up sits around mid March on average, with the water closing again about late December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to La Plata Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. For a change of water, Santa Fe Lake is 1.4 miles distant. Treat La Plata Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.