Roy Davis Lake near Salem: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Roy Davis Lake lies in Reynolds County, in Missouri. What surrounds it is mixed woodland. About 10 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. On size it sits at the modest end of our Reynolds County list. Salem sits 21 miles from here and is the nearest stop. For a city, St. Louis is 96 miles off. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Roy Davis Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Fish documented in Reynolds County include rainbow darter, brook darter and current darter. The county list is broader than any single water. The shape of Roy Davis Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 76°F in July and bottom out at 30°F in January. Fishing continues through most of the calendar, with quiet spells rather than closures. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Roy Davis Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Lake Turner at 20 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on Roy Davis Lake is worth confirming on the day.