Lake Siesta near De Soto: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Look for Lake Siesta in Jefferson County, Missouri. The bank gives way to open valley. Surface area runs to about 7 acres — small enough to read in one session. For a base, De Soto sits 2.1 miles out. The nearest city of size is St. Louis, 38 miles away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it. There is room enough here for more than one party without crowding.

• Where to Fish on Lake Siesta

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Across Jefferson County, recorded fish include orangethroat darter, longear sunfish, rainbow darter and bluegill. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Lake Siesta gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 30°F to 78°F. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. The season on Lake Siesta rarely departs from it. The first warm days of the year bring fish shallow quickly.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Bluegill and other panfish take small jigs or worms under a float near any cover. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. The nearest alternative is Spring Lake, 0.6 miles out. Ask locally about Lake Siesta if anything is unclear.