Pine Forest Lake Fishing in Washington County, Missouri

• Overview

  Pine Forest Lake sits in Washington County, out in Missouri. It sits in rolling hill. At roughly 15 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Missouri listings. For supplies, Potosi is 3.7 miles out. It is 61 miles to St. Louis, the nearest city. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Pine Forest Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Species logged across Washington County include fantail darter, rainbow darter, greenside darter, orangethroat darter and bluegill. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Pine Forest Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 76°F, with January the cold end at about 30°F. Spring and autumn are the strongest, but nothing is truly closed. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. That is the shape of the year on Pine Forest Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Settle Mine Tailings Pond, 5 miles out. Confirm access to Pine Forest Lake locally before you travel.