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SPORTSMEN'S INFORMATION NETWORK |
Council Bluff Lake Fishing Prospects 2006Council Bluff Lake (Southeast Region)Information: (573) 290-5730 This 440-acre lake, located on Mark Twain National Forest in Iron County,
boasts the best redear sunfish population in the region. Fish 7-10" are very
abundant (Master Angler fish = 10"), although 11-12" fish are not uncommon.
These fish are most readily caught during the spring and early summer on small
worms or crickets. Due to very clear water, fish are often found deeper than in
other lakes, even during the spawn. Fish for redears on the bottom in water
4-15' deep, targeting points and the mouths of coves. Look for spawning beds in
shallow water in May and June. Bluegill are less abundant but of quality size
also; 7-8" fish can be found in the lake’s abundant submerged timber. Largemouth
bass are abundant and average 12-17". They can be challenging to catch in the
clear water, requiring finesse and light tackle. Topwaters in the very late
evening and early morning are often the ticket. Channel catfish are stocked
annually. The MDC is conducting a study on channel catfish in Council Bluff. A
number of catfish in the lake have been marked with tags worth from $10 to $100.
If you catch a tagged catfish, return the tag to: Mo. Dept. of Conservation,
1110 South College Avenue, Columbia, MO 65201. Along with the tag, be sure to
send the following information–date fish was caught, length of fish, whether
fish was kept or released, and your name and address. Angling should continue to
be good for catfish up to 20". There is a concrete boat ramp off Highway DD and
a gravel ramp off Highway 32.
Directions: There's no easy way, but go to Potosi. From Potosi, take Hwy P, Southwest
to Hwy C (which runs roughly East and West). At Hwy C, go West for a very
short distance (1/4 mi.?) and go South on Hwy DD for 7-8 mi., until you
see signs for the US Forest
Directions courtesy Halfasmuch from MDC conservation cafe.
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The lake is a little over 400 acres and you can use any size motor BUT anything over 10hp is idle speed only. I havent been there this year yet but last year I caught some nice bluegill and redear. It is kind of hard to fish cause it is so clear.
I go down hwy 67 cause I don't like hwy 21. I go down hwy 67 to Bismark and cut over to hwy 21 and turn right on 21 for a short end
Report May 10, 2002 by Vince from the conservation
cafe`
I was there last Saturday. I was fishing for bass
and hooked two. Bigger one was 14 inches.
Gave up on them and caught quite a few sunfish on
small topwater baits along the shore. The way so many boats were tied up
in the trees, I guess the crappie were biting. A lot of flooded timber-like
Mark Twain.
Mountainman was right about the hp limit, but I saw one loser open up his 200hp motor and take off across the lake. We got to the ramp as he was waiting for his trailer to be backed in, so we waited at the dock...then he sprayed us with his prop as he was pulling onto the trailer.
Other than that it was a good day to be out on the water.
One more thing-on the highway leading up to it, you'll see a sign that says "National Forest Entrance Ahead", but nothing about the lake-thats the place you need to turn. We missed it and had to go a few miles extra to find a place to turn around.
Just to add a note here. My wife and I took a little Sunday drive and drove to Council Bluff. There were 66 rigs parked at the main boat ramp parking lot at noon. Two more came in as we were driving out. They would have trouble finding a spot to park at all. An additional 11 were at the small unimproved ramp on the far end. And no, there wasn't a tournament going on. That's a heck of a lot of pressure for a 450 acre lake. This lake is deep and extremely clear, with lot's of standing timber and grass cover. With this kind of pressure the fishing is tough.
This report suprises me.
We don't see this kind of fishing pressure in north Missouri. Especially
on a lake that seems to be this hard to find in the first place.
There must be some pretty good fishing here for it to attract them like
this.
