Lake Venita in Lafayette County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Lafayette County, Missouri, sits Lake Venita. Height above sea level is 909 feet. At 13 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Odessa lies 0.6 miles from the water. For a city, East Independence is 22 miles off. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout. The name is unique in the state, so there is no confusion.

• Where to Fish on Lake Venita

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Across Lafayette County, recorded fish include rainbow smelt, bluegill, channel catfish and common carp. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Lake Venita that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 78°F in July and bottom out at 27°F in January. Neither winter nor summer shuts things down for long. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Lake Venita fishes to that pattern most years. Spring warms the shallows first, so start there.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Odessa Lake sits 2.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Lake Venita are worth checking on the day.