Parman Lake Fishing Guide, Nodaway County, Missouri

• Overview

  Nodaway County, Missouri, is where Parman Lake sits. It sits at 1,053 feet above sea level. At roughly 5 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Compared with other Missouri water on our list, it sits high. Supplies mean a trip to Maryville, 2.7 miles off. Stanberry lies 20 miles off, Bedford another 21 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Parman Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Reported across Nodaway County: channel catfish, stonecat, flathead catfish, black crappie and bluegill. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Anyone new to Parman Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 76°F and January about 23°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid March. From about mid March to around mid December, expect open water on the long-run figures. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. The season on Parman Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Schimming Lake, 2.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. None of that is settled for Parman Lake in what we hold.