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Fishing Lake Paho Conservation Area: what the data says
1-acre lake near undefined. MDC-managed public fishing pond. The lake tops out around 15 ft. These contours are modeled — built from the real shoreline and the water's maximum depth — so read them as a guide, never as navigation. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
On the chart, Lake Paho Conservation Area draws 1 acres inside 0.2 miles of shoreline. A shoreline index of 1.3 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features.
Largemouth Bass fishing at Lake Paho Conservation Area
The spring pattern is a shallow one: largemouth bass in 2 to 10 ft. As the season builds they drop to 5 to 15 ft, wintering in 5 to 15 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 3-ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (7 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shoreline break (7 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Channel Catfish fishing at Lake Paho Conservation Area
The spring pattern is a shallow one: channel catfish in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 5 to 15 ft, wintering in 5 to 15 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 13-ft range, prime in winter. Time it for after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (13 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Deep basin (13 ft) | |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Deep basin (13 ft) |
Bluegill fishing at Lake Paho Conservation Area
In spring, bluegill run shallow here, mostly 1 to 6 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 15 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring bluegill. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shoreline break (7 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Deep basin (13 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Crappie fishing at Lake Paho Conservation Area
Start shallow in spring: crappie sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 5 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in winter. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 5 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline break (7 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dawn | Shoreline break (7 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Deep basin (13 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 13 ft
- Shoreline break: drop-off, around 7 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
Lake Paho Conservation Area 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 Lake Paho Conservation Area specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Missouri fishing regulations →
Common questions
How deep is Lake Paho Conservation Area?
Lake Paho Conservation Area is about 15 ft (5 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 Lake Paho Conservation Area?
Anglers target largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish on Lake Paho Conservation Area.
Where is the best fishing spot on Lake Paho Conservation Area?
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
When is the best time to fish Lake Paho Conservation Area?
For largemouth 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 Lake Paho Conservation Area?
Fishing on Lake Paho Conservation Area 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
Lake Paho 2 mi · Nine Eagles Lake 13 mi, IA · The Wayne Helton Memorial Wildlife Area 16 mi · Slip Bluff Lake 18 mi, IA · North Bethany City Reservoir 20 mi · Harrison County Lake 22 mi · Crowder State Park Lake 23 mi · Little River Watershed Lake 24 mi, IA · Bob White Lake 24 mi, IA · Corydon Reservoir 28 mi, IA · Jamesport Community Lake 31 mi · Humeston Reservoir 32 mi, IA
See how Lake Paho Conservation Area stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Missouri · best crappie lakes in Missouri · best bluegill lakes in Missouri · best channel catfish lakes in Missouri
Browse all Missouri fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.