Fishing Wappapello Lake

AKA: Lake Wappapello

Popular Fish Species
Wappapello Lake Fishing Video
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Lake Wappapello, MO

Popular Fish Species Wappapello Lake, MO

Largemouth Bass Fishing

Wappapello Lake offers good largemouth bass fishing year round. Wappapello Lake also has a nice population of larger bass. This fertile lake also offers sufficient cover for both baitfish and bass. Thorough fisheries management by the Missouri Department of Conservation has maintained a quality bass fishery for some time now. When the bite is good, bass typically move shallow and are quite aggressive. If you find them shallow and they are not tempted to bite, slow down and use smaller, lighter baits. Fishing for largemouth bass is good virtually any time they are shallow - in spring, mornings in summer, and during warm Fall afternoons. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap. Around grass use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In deeper water, big worms, jigs and spoons are three good weapons. In winter, spend your time fishing Wappapello Lake on deeper structure where the bass spend much of their time.

Channel Catfish Fishing

Wappapello Lake, again this year, supports a healthy population of channel catfish. In Spring, channel catfish tend to migrate toward incoming water, so stay up river away from the main lake. Night fishing for channel catfish often delivers better results than fishing during the day. In early summer look for rocky banks, the bigger the rocks the better. In summer and winter deeper structure is where to look. The river end of the lake is often the area where the bigger catfish are caught. Fishing for channel catfish is often productive around any kind of structure in the area. Road beds, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig with popular catfish baits. Flathead catfish and blue catfish also reside in the lake and fishing for them is often good as well.

Crappie Fishing

Black and white crappie both reside in Wappapello Lake, with black crappie typically out-weighing white crappie. They do school together so when you find them you may catch both species. Crappie fishing is on the rise and they can be found in sizeable schools. Crappie always like cover and structure, so locate brush and vegetation. Using a fish finder can help locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels in deeper water.

Wappapello Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, longear sunfish, redear sunfish and warmouth at Wappapello Lake in Missouri.

Crappie and sunfish are a big attraction at Lake Wappapello, which is an 8,400-acre lake in the southeast of the state. Bass and catfish fishing are also popular here for both quantity and quality. Largemouth bass is one of the most sought-after fish species in Wappapello Lake. Bluegill is another popular species. White and black crappie are abundant in the lake. Flathead and channel catfish are also popular targets for anglers here.

With over 175 miles of shoreline, there are plenty of places to drop a line and a great place to bring the entire family. Numerous places around the lake are accessible for anglers seeking to fish from the bank. Fishing boats, including canoes, kayaks, bass boats and others, do give anglers an advantage. There are boats available for rent - anything from a kayak to a pontoon boat. Lots of submerged brush and vegetation is scattered around the lake and becomes good targets when the fish are shallow. Creek channels, ledges, humps and points are good areas to locate when the fish move off the bank.

Fishing report for Wappapello Lake

Primary fish species residing in Wappapello Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Wappapello Lake Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES

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Marinas

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