Marion Lake Fishing in Harrison County, Missouri

• Overview

  The Harrison County end of Missouri holds Marion Lake. It stands 1,010 feet above sea level. At 6 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is high ground by Missouri standards. Start from Bethany, 13 miles down the road. Lamoni is 13 miles and Princeton 19 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Marion Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Harrison County records list johnny darter, black bullhead and channel catfish among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Marion Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 76°F, while January sits near 23°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid March. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid March in spring and again near mid December in autumn. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It holds true on Marion Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. If the gate is shut, H Taylor Lake at 1.1 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Marion Lake locally before you travel.