Putman Lake Fishing in Dent County, Missouri

• Overview

  Putman Lake falls in Dent County, part of Missouri. The country round it is mixed woodland from end to end. Around 32 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. A shoreline of some 1.1 miles keeps the choices simple. Of the waters listed here in Dent County, this is the largest. Start from Salem, 2.6 miles down the road. The nearest city of size is Columbia, 98 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Putman Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Open biodiversity records for Dent County list Missouri saddled darter, banded darter, black bullhead, johnny darter and orangethroat darter. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. At Putman Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 30°F in January and 77°F in July. The season stretches long at both ends here. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. It sets the rhythm of the year at Putman Lake. Water temperature lags behind air temperature by days, not hours.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Bass Lake sits 1.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Where Putman Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.