Lake Tishomingo Fishing Guide, Jefferson County, Missouri

• Overview

  In Missouri, Lake Tishomingo falls inside Jefferson County. The ground round it is open valley. Around 120 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The edge runs 2.5 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Nothing else we list in Jefferson County covers more water. Start from Cedar Hill, 3.8 miles down the road. After that come Hillsboro at 5.8 miles and LaBarque Creek at 8.6 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Lake Tishomingo

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Records held for Jefferson County cover orangethroat darter, longear sunfish and rainbow darter. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Lake Tishomingo fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 78°F in July and bottoms out near 30°F in January. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Lake Tishomingo fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Belews Creek, 2.5 miles out. Nothing here settles the position at Lake Tishomingo for certain.