Rainbow Spring Fishing near West Plains, Missouri

• Overview

  Look for Rainbow Spring in Ozark County, Missouri. It sits at 725 feet above sea level. Small at around 6 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Nearest place of any size is West Plains, 19 miles away. Willow Springs is 22 miles and Midway 28 miles. In the same area: Noblett Lake (14 miles), Tingler Lake roughly 19 miles, Brent Lake (23 miles), Frisco Reservoir roughly 23 miles and Norfork Lake (26 miles). The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Rainbow Spring

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Ozark County records list longear sunfish, redfin pickerel and rock bass among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Read Rainbow Spring before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 78°F and January at 33°F. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Time your trip to Rainbow Spring by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Noblett Lake, 14 miles out. Rules at Rainbow Spring are worth checking on the day.