Jacks Fork Fishing Map & Spots (MO)

Hatch outlook

Willow fly (summer mayfly)Active window

Typical here: Apr 1 – Oct 31 · recurring broods all summer — the heart of it is June–July, famously around July 4th on the Tennessee River lakes; any one hatch lasts days to ~3 weeks

dunhatches at dusk — clouds of bugs just before dark, continuing into the night — after hatching they fly to shoreline foliage — trees near lighted docks get covered; the feeding zone is the water under bug-loaded overhanging bushes and willows
spinnerthe following days: mating, egg drop and spent flies falling from the overhangs — the bream bite under the bushes runs as long as the bugs do

A two-level event: bream stack under the bug trees, and the big bass stack under the bream. Fish the same bushes twice — small for bream, big for the bass just outside them.

Crickets or small poppers under a float tight to the bug-covered bushes for bream; beetle spins and hair jigs just under the surface; for the bass, run a bluegill-pattern topwater or squarebill down the outside edge of the overhangs.

The event happens over under and just outside overhanging willows and bushes on steep banks; trees near lighted docks after dark

Next on this water

Spring crawfish emergence · forageFeb 15 – May 15 · in ~6 months

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours on this water are approximations. Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

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Recent catches at Jacks Fork

Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.

No shared catches here yet — be the first.Log a catch from the map above and share it to put Jacks Fork on the board.

Fishing Jacks Fork: what the data says

Wild Ozark canyon float to Two Rivers. The river tops out around 8 ft. Depth here is modeled from the true shoreline and max depth rather than surveyed; use it to plan, not to navigate. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.

The drawn water covers 881 acres wrapped in 60.9 miles of bank. An index of 14.7 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. All of it is shallow-zone water — under ~15 ft across the entire basin, so the food chain has the run of the place. The basin spans about 19.5 mi end to end and 3.1 mi across at its widest. Shannon County claims this one. If the bite dies, Current River is 11 mi to the southeast.

Smallmouth Bass fishing at Jacks Fork

Come spring, look for smallmouth bass tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 8 ft; the winter hold is 2 to 8 ft. Start at Riffle & run (mile 8.1). It's a rock pile holding about 3 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig is the honest summer answer here.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 8 ft	dawn & dusk	Riffle & run (mile 8.1) (3 ft)	Ned rig, Tube jig
Summer	2 to 8 ft	dawn & dusk	Riffle & run (mile 8.1) (3 ft)	Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig
Fall	2 to 8 ft	midday & dawn	Riffle & run (mile 8.1) (3 ft)	Jerkbait, Blade bait
Winter	2 to 8 ft	midday	Current seam (mile 18.7) (4 ft)	Blade bait, Hair jig

Notable structure

The chart marks 12 structure features on Jacks Fork; the deepest is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) at about 6 ft.

Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 6 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8): creek channel, around 6 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 5.6): creek channel, around 6 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 11.2): creek channel, around 6 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 16.5): creek channel, around 6 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 20.5): creek channel, around 6 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 22.7): creek channel, around 6 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 25.5): creek channel, around 6 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 28.0): creek channel, around 6 ft
Current seam (mile 18.7): current seam, around 4 ft
Riffle & run (mile 8.1): rock pile, around 3 ft
Riffle & run (mile 14.3): rock pile, around 3 ft

Public access & boat ramps

Joshua T. Chilton Memorial Landing (Eminence) — ramp

Access data: Missouri Department of Conservation — Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.

Jacks Fork fishing regulations

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 Jacks Fork specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Missouri fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Jacks Fork?

Jacks Fork is about 8 ft (2 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.

What fish are in Jacks Fork?

Anglers target smallmouth bass on Jacks Fork.

Where is the best fishing spot on Jacks Fork?

Riffle & run (mile 8.1) is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.

When is the best time to fish Jacks Fork?

For smallmouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning 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.

What are the fishing regulations for Jacks Fork?

Fishing on Jacks Fork 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.

Nearby waters

Current River 11 mi · Mark Twain National Forest 21 mi · Eleven Point River 32 mi · Clearwater Lake 36 mi · Ripley Lake 41 mi · Big Piney River 45 mi · Council Bluff Lake 51 mi · North Fork of the White 51 mi · Norfork River 61 mi, AR · Wappapello Lake 62 mi · Norfork Lake 66 mi, MO/AR · Gasconade River 67 mi

See how Jacks Fork stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Missouri

Browse all Missouri fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. 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.