Mires Lake in Nodaway County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Mires Lake is set in Nodaway County, Missouri. It lies 1,060 feet above sea level. Small enough that any disturbance crosses the whole surface. On size it sits at the modest end of our Nodaway County list. Maryville sits 3.6 miles from the bank. Further out sit Stanberry (17 miles) and Bedford (21 miles). It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Mires Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Nodaway County records list channel catfish, stonecat, flathead catfish, black crappie and bluegill among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Fish Mires Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 76°F at the top of summer and 23°F at the bottom of winter. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid March. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid March and starts locking again about mid December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. On Mires Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. If the gate is shut, 102 Watershed Number 18 Lake at 0.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Mires Lake if anything is unclear.