Fishing at Wheelgate Lake, Phelps County, Missouri

• Overview

  You will find Wheelgate Lake in Phelps County, Missouri. The surface lies 1,043 feet up. The water measures roughly 5 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Most waters listed here for Phelps County are larger. The closest town, Saint James, is 1.7 miles distant. The big place round here is Columbia, 76 miles distant. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Wheelgate Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Species logged across Phelps County include rainbow darter, rainbow trout and longear sunfish. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Wheelgate Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 77°F, with January the cold end at about 30°F. The year gives four workable seasons without severe ends. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. On Wheelgate Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Bedell Lake, 1.9 miles away. The position on Wheelgate Lake is worth confirming on the day.