McCoy Number 1 Reservoir Fishing Guide, Cooper County, Missouri

• Overview

  This water sits in Cooper County, Missouri. The surroundings are mixed woodland. Small even by pond standards, it rewards one careful line. It is a small entry by Cooper County standards. For a base, Boonville sits 1.7 miles out. New Franklin lies 4.7 miles off, Fayette another 14 miles. Round about: Stoelting Lake just 0.7 miles, Trout Lake at 0.9 miles, Number 226 Reservoir just 2.2 miles, M K T Lake at 4.9 miles and Widel Lake just 9.2 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on McCoy Number 1 Reservoir

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Public occurrence data for Cooper County names channel catfish, blue catfish, shortnose gar and silver carp. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On this water the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 78°F, with January the cold end at about 28°F. Some winters cap it and some do not. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. The season on this water rarely departs from it. Settled weather over several days beats a single fine one.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Stoelting Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position on this water before loading the car.