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270-acre lake near Bethany. The lake tops out around 24 ft. The depth chart comes from U.S. Geological Survey bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
The outline encloses 262 acres, worked by 7.2 miles of shoreline. A development index of 3.2 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. 89% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Call it 1.7 mi long by 0.9 mi wide at the broadest reach. Harrison County claims this one. North Bethany City Reservoir sits 7 mi southeast — the closest neighbouring chart.
Come spring, look for channel catfish tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 7 to 24 ft, then a winter hold in 7 to 24 ft. Start at Old creek channel. It's a creek channel holding about 9 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Old creek channel (9 ft) | |
| Summer | 7 to 24 ft | night & dusk | Old creek channel (9 ft) | |
| Fall | 7 to 24 ft | dusk | Old creek channel (9 ft) | |
| Winter | 7 to 24 ft | midday | Deep basin (22 ft) |
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 7 to 24 ft, and winter fish settle into 7 to 24 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for fall walleye. Time it for the evening and early morning. You won't need more than a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Old creek channel (9 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 7 to 24 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (7 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 7 to 24 ft | dusk & night | Break off the point (7 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 7 to 24 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (22 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
When the water first warms, flathead catfish slide up into 5 to 20 ft. Summer is a 6 to 24 ft game here, winter a 7 to 24 ft one. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 22 ft of water and rates prime come fall. The feeding windows run after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Old creek channel (9 ft) | |
| Summer | 6 to 24 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (22 ft) | |
| Fall | 7 to 24 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (22 ft) | |
| Winter | 7 to 24 ft | midday | Deep basin (22 ft) |
When the water first warms, crappie slide up into 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 7 to 24 ft, and by winter most fish are in 7 to 24 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Old creek channel: a creek channel around 9 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 7 to 24 ft | dawn & dusk | Old creek channel (9 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Old creek channel (9 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 7 to 24 ft | midday | Deep basin (22 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Come spring, look for largemouth bass tight to the bank in 2 to 10 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 7 to 24 ft. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 2 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (7 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 7 to 24 ft | midday | Break off the point (7 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Come spring, look for bluegill tight to the bank in 1 to 6 ft. They move out to 4 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 7 to 24 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 2 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Break off the point (7 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 7 to 24 ft | midday | Deep basin (22 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
8 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 22 ft, is the deepest of them.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Missouri waters are set by the Missouri Department of Conservation — and special regulations can apply to Harrison County Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Missouri fishing regulations →
Harrison County Lake is about 24 ft (7 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from U.S. Geological Survey bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target channel catfish, walleye, flathead catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, bluegill on Harrison County Lake.
Old creek channel is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For channel catfish, the summer bite is best in after dark and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Harrison County Lake is regulated by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Check the official Missouri regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
North Bethany City Reservoir 7 mi · The Wayne Helton Memorial Wildlife Area 18 mi · Slip Bluff Lake 21 mi, IA · Nine Eagles Lake 21 mi, IA · Lake Paho Conservation Area 22 mi · Lake Paho 22 mi · Worth County Community Lake 23 mi · Mt. Ayr Old Reservoir 23 mi, IA · Elam Bend Conservation Area 25 mi · Loch Ayr 25 mi, IA · Sands Timber Lake (Blockton Reservoir) 27 mi, IA · Little River Watershed Lake 30 mi, IA
See how Harrison County Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Missouri · best walleye lakes in Missouri · best crappie lakes in Missouri · best bluegill lakes in Missouri
Browse all Missouri fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: U.S. Geological Survey. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.