Ripley Lake near Doniphan: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Ripley Lake is a Ripley County water, Missouri side. It stands 653 feet above sea level. About 18 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. For supplies, Doniphan is 7.7 miles out. Beyond it, Corning at 27 miles and Pocahontas at 28 miles. Close by you also have: Glen Holland Lake just 4.3 miles, Avon Gibson Lake at 11 miles, Meadows Lake just 13 miles, Cave Lake at 18 miles and Hughes Lake just 18 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Ripley Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Species logged across Ripley County include rainbow darter, longear sunfish and slender madtom. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. At Ripley Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 79°F; the cold one sits at 33°F. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. At Ripley Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. A launch point is recorded some half a mile off. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Glen Holland Lake is 4.3 miles distant. Nothing on Ripley Lake should be assumed from this page alone.