Fishing at Stein Lake, Warren County, Missouri

• Overview

  Stein Lake sits in Warren County, out in Missouri. The water sits 866 feet up. At roughly 11 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Warrenton lies 2.3 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is St. Louis, 55 miles away. Nearby, in order: Givens Number 1 Lake 0.8 miles, Lowell Sprick Lake 2.4 miles away, Cedar Grove Lake 3 miles, John Scofield Lake 5.8 miles away and Cedar Knoll Farm Lake 7.1 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Stein Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Warren County records list orangethroat darter, bluegill and fantail darter among the fish reported. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Stein Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 28°F to 77°F. The season stretches long at both ends here. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. That shapes the year on Stein Lake. Weed growth peaks in late summer and changes where you can fish.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Bluegill and other panfish take small jigs or worms under a float near any cover. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Givens Number 1 Lake is 0.8 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Stein Lake.