Driving directions: Three and two-tenths miles north of Kirksville on Highway 63, then 1.5 miles west on Hungry Hollow Road (look for cantilever sign).
Annual Prospects Report
The largemouth bass population continues to improve at 530-acre Hazel Creek Lake located just north of Kirksville. Anglers that routinely fish Hazel Creek Lake know that it has the potential to produce trophy bass. According to a spring 2021 survey, 24 percent of the bass captured were 15 inches or longer, and one in ten was 18 inches or longer! Due to the absence of suitable aquatic vegetation, anglers should target bass near woody cover in spring and timbered creek channels in the summer. The white crappie population has improved in response to the enhanced bass population. Results from a fall 2019 survey indicated that 42 percent of the white crappie captured were 9 inches or longer. If anglers can locate black crappie the potential for trophies exist.
Muskie fishing in 2024 is predicted to be excellent with the possibility of one in three fish measuring 36 inches or longer. September and October are great months to target feeding muskie. To safely release these large, toothy predators at boat side, anglers should keep a floating ruler, needle-nose pliers, hook cutter, and leather gloves nearby. Anglers who wish to assist first-hand with muskie management in Missouri are encouraged to participate in the Show-Me Muskie Project, a volunteer angler diary program. Anglers can find out more about the Show-Me Muskie Project and muskie fishing information by visiting the Missouri Department of Conservation Web page at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Zob. New in 2023 will be the start of a mark-recapture project on muskie. Anglers are encouraged to assist. Interested anglers can reach out to management biologist DJ Loken to obtain tag readers. Channel catfish in the 2-4-pound range are available, but not in substantial numbers. Blue catfish were last stocked in 1990 and can be caught in spring using dead shad as bait. A popular place to fish for blue catfish among local anglers is off the causeway at the south end of the lake. Bow fishing for common carp and grass carp is highly encouraged and can be very exciting throughout the spring and summer months.
Three and two-tenths miles north of Kirksville on Highway 63, then 1.5 miles west on Buck Creek Road.
