Palmer Sill Lake in Lafayette County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Within Lafayette County, Missouri, you have Palmer Sill Lake. The ground around here is mixed woodland. This is a pocket water of some 4 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. On size it sits at the modest end of our Lafayette County list. Some 3 miles away sits Lexington, the nearest settlement. Higginsville lies 8.7 miles off, Richmond another 11 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Palmer Sill Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Lafayette County records list rainbow smelt, bluegill, channel catfish and common carp among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The shape of Palmer Sill Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 26°F to 77°F. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Palmer Sill Lake fishes to that pattern most years. A rising level after rain switches things on for a day or two.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Number 185 Reservoir, 2 miles away. Check the position on Palmer Sill Lake before loading the car.