Number One Lake Fishing near Troy, Missouri

• Overview

  This water sits in Lincoln County, Missouri. This is mixed woodland country. The water measures roughly 5 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Supplies mean a trip to Troy, 13 miles off. After that come Elsberry at 14 miles and Bowling Green at 15 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Number One Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Across Lincoln County, recorded fish include orangespotted sunfish, common carp, bluegill, gizzard shad and white bass. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. At Number One Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 77°F in July and bottoms out near 27°F in January. The season stretches long at both ends here. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. It holds true on Number One Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. The nearest car park is 160 yards from the water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Number Two Lake, 0.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. The position on Number One Lake is worth confirming on the day.