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Best largemouth bass lakes in Missouri

106 Missouri waters hold largemouth bass, 7 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. 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. Ambush predator that relates to cover — weeds, timber, docks — and moves shallow to feed.

1. Table Rock Lake — 218 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 19 public access sites
2. Lake of the Ozarks — 130 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #2: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 6 public access sites
3. Norfork Lake — 176 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
4. Bull Shoals Lake — 210 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #4: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 7 public access sites
5. Harry S. Truman Reservoir — 90 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Channel CatfishWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
6. Gasconade River — 12 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel CatfishWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 15 public access sites
7. Stockton Lake — 100 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 6 public access sites
8. Mark Twain Lake — 70 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 18 public access sites
9. Meramec River — 12 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 15 public access sites
10. Pomme de Terre Lake — 80 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, CrappieWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 18 public access sites
11. Smithville Lake — 55 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 20 public access sites
12. Wappapello Lake — 35 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 8 public access sites
13. Mozingo Lake — 72 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
14. Thomas Hill Reservoir — 45 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
15. Forest Lake — 43 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
16. Fellows Lake — 81 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
17. Hazel Creek Lake — 44 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
18. Long Branch Lake — 72 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
19. Clearwater Lake — 42 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #19: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 8 public access sites
20. James River — 9 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Longnose GarWhy #20: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 5 public access sites
21. Harrison County Lake — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
22. Lake Jacomo — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #22: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
23. Niangua River — 9 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Longnose GarWhy #23: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 9 public access sites
24. Blue Springs Lake — 34 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #24: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
25. Duck Creek Conservation Area — 12 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #25: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached

…plus 81 more Missouri waters holding largemouth bass.

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When to fish largemouth bass in Missouri

• Spring 2–10 ft — Pre-spawn through spawn: target shallow flats, pockets and cover near deep access.
• Summer 8–20 ft — Fish the edges: weedlines, drop-offs, and deep cover close to shallow feeding areas.
• Fall 4–15 ft — Follow the baitfish: points and creek channels leading into pockets.
• Winter 15–35 ft — Slow and deep: steep drops and channel bends near wintering basins.

Also in Missouri: 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 common carp lakes · best longnose gar lakes · best brown trout lakes

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