Binder Lake

Binder Lake (150 acres) is situated on Dickerson Creek in the Ozark border region of Missouri on 710 acres of Jefferson City parkland. The park (managed by Jefferson City Parks and Recreation; 573-634-6482) contains numerous amenities including an RV campground, pavilions with picnic tables and barbecue grills, hiking trails, and public restrooms. The restrooms are open approximately April to November. The lake (managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation) has a concrete boat ramp, a disabled-accessible fishing dock and jetty, and two courtesy docks to assist boaters. Largemouth bass fishing should be about the same in 2023 as it was in 2022. Electrofishing samples in 2022 caught more bass over 15" than in previous years. Most Largemouth Bass were between 13-15", with 20" the largest bass sampled. Bass up to 22" have been sampled in previous years. Bluegill fishing will be about the same in 2023 as in 2022. Most Bluegill sampled were between 4-7". In Fall 2022, the Missouri Department of Conservation stocked 4,000 additional channel catfish. The fish were 8-12" when stocked, so in 1-2 years these fish will make nice filets. Crappie were sampled in fall of 2021, and both white and black crappie are found in Binder Lake. White crappie average size was 8.7", the longest at 14.6". Black crappie average size was 7.9", with the longest at 13.5". There were more black crappie sampled than white crappie. In 2023 and 2024, there should be a good number of black and white crappie over 9" available to anglers. Spring of 2022 electrofishing sampling showed redear sunfish are numerous in the 7-8" range with a few over 9".