Fishing Report For Lake Springfield, MO

By Rick Seaman

March 13, 2025

Popular Fish Species Reports
Lake Springfield Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Today's Weather & Forecast
Boat Launch Ramps
Fishing License
Map
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Fishing Report Lake Springfield, MO

Fishing Reports

Popular Fish Species Lake Springfield, MO

Largemouth Bass

Current Report: Fair To Good
Outlook: Good To Very Good

With all the cover in Lake Springfield, locals report using a wide variety of lures to catch bass here. Jigs and stick worms are very popular, especially in shades of drab greens. Spinnerbaits also catch a good number of bass as it draws them out of thick cover to strike. Wary bass, especially the bigger bass are cautious about biting lures, but a jerkbait often fools even the wisest of these big bass. Jerkbaits are catching fish year round, although you may have to work them slow during the coldest months, and pause them for 10 or 15 seconds.

Channel Catfish

Current Report: Fair To Good
Outlook: Good

Lake Springfield reports for catfish are just fair, but are expected to improve once the water warms and these cats move into shallower water. The spawn begins in shallow, rip rap areas, when the water temperatures reach the mid sixties. Fishing for channel catfish is often productive around any kind of structure. Fishing late in the day until midnight often produces some of the best fishing activity. Submerged road beds, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin. Use a slip sinker,or Carolina rig setup, with cut bait, prepared baits or nightcrawlers.

White Crappie

Uncle Buck's Panfish Creatures Curly Tail Minnow Rigged

Current Report: Fair To Good
Outlook: Good

Crappie fishing reports from locals have been decent lately at Lake Springfield. Spring is the premiere time to be on the water as crappie move into shallow coves to spawn - usually starting in late March. Docks, especially with brush piles can be terrific any time the crappie are somewhat shallow. Brush, wood and bridge pilings are also a good place to cast small crappie jigs or live minnows. Light tackle with 4 lb to 8 lb line is ideal. Locals report good success using fish finders to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover.

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, white crappie, walleye, bluegill, green sunfish, longear sunfish, redear sunfish and rock bass at Lake Springfield in Missouri.

Lake Springfield is a 318-acre reservoir with about 7 miles of shoreline, located on the southern outskirts of Springfield, MO. The lake contains significant numbers of submerged trees, brush and vegetation, providing ample cover for fish and baitfish. There is plenty of access for bank fishing.

Primary fish species to catch

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Click here for boat ramps available at this lake.

Fishing License

Click here for a Missouri Fishing License.

Map - Fishing & Access

Rick Seaman is a fishing enthusiast with over five decades of fishing experience, a retired tournament fisherman, author of numerous published articles on fishing, and co-author of the book "Bass Fishing - It's not WHAT you throw, It's WHERE you throw it".