Best common carp lakes in Missouri
9 Missouri waters hold common carp. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. 20-pound freight trains in every water. Feed on shallow mud flats — sight-fish them like bonefish.
- Lake of the Ozarks — 130 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill
- Harry S. Truman Reservoir — 90 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Channel Catfish
- Meramec River — 12 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout
- Missouri River — 40 ft max · Sauger, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish
- Smithville Lake — 55 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill
- Wappapello Lake — 35 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
- Thomas Hill Reservoir — 45 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
- Longview Lake — 66 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Crappie
- Creve Coeur Lake — 10 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
When to fish common carp in Missouri
- Spring 2–10 ft — The best sight-fishing of the year — mudding fish in warm bays.
- Summer 3–15 ft — Chum a spot and wait — carp patrol the same flats daily.
- Fall 5–18 ft — Heavy feeding before winter; find the warmest water.
- Winter 10–30 ft — Podded up in deep, slow water.
Also in Missouri: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best white bass lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best white bass & hybrids lakes · best flathead catfish lakes · best blue catfish lakes · best freshwater drum lakes · best longnose gar lakes · best brown trout lakes
Common Carp elsewhere: Minnesota · Michigan · Montana · Washington · North Dakota · Iowa · Indiana · Connecticut · Nebraska · Ohio · Utah · Colorado · New York · Wisconsin · Kentucky · Arizona · Texas · Illinois · Kansas · Tennessee · Delaware · New Jersey · Virginia