Lake Buteo, Missouri: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Missouri, Lake Buteo falls inside Johnson County. The bank is 778 feet above sea level. About 7 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. On size it sits at the modest end of our Johnson County list. The nearest town is Whiteman Air Force Base, 1.7 miles away. East Independence sits 48 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lake Buteo

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Johnson County include bluegill, orangethroat darter, green sunfish and johnny darter. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Lake Buteo light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 78°F; by January the average is down near 27°F. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lake Buteo. Fish feed harder before a change in weather than after it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. The nearest car park is half a mile from the water. Overnight stays are possible about half a mile out, where camping is mapped. There are picnic tables recorded roughly half a mile off. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Clear Fork Lake sits 1.1 miles off and takes the overflow. For Lake Buteo in particular, ask before you travel.