Higginsville City Lake

Largemouth bass fishing should continue to be good for both legal (greater-than 15 inches) fish and sublegal (less-than 15 inches) fish. The bass population is one of low density, yet high quality. Anglers report catching good numbers of all sizes of bass up to 20+ inches in length. Try fishing with spinnerbaits, crankbaits and plastic worms off of points and near structure. Fishing for bluegill should be fair with fish up to 6 inches in length. Try fishing off of the bank with worms. Crappie fishing should also be fair. The crappie population is stunted and there are numerous small, slow growing crappie along with some larger ones. Anglers should expect to catch a lot of 6 to 8-inch crappie and are encouraged to harvest all sizes of crappie caught up to their daily limit of 30. Try fishing the west shore from below the spillway of the upper lake to the pier and around the point with jigs and/or minnows especially during April and May.

Catfishing should continue to be good during the summer; please note that pole and line fishing is the only legal method to catch catfish. Each year 1,500 channel catfish (8-12 inches) are stocked in the fall. There are good numbers of all sizes of channel catfish with some over 5 pounds! Try fishing below the spillway and dam of the upper lake (by boat or bank), off the pier or dock, and along the banks, with worms, dough bait, and cut baits. Flathead catfish were stocked several years ago, there is some limited natural reproduction and flatheads up to 40 + pounds! Try fishing with live bluegill, green sunfish, shad, and cut bait below the spillway of the upper lake (by boat or bank), along the west shore to the pier and down by the dam on the south side of the lake.

Good bank fishing can be found along all of the entrance roads around the lake.  Anglers are reminded that in addition to a fishing permit, a city use permit is required to fish the lake.  Permits can be purchased from numerous businesses in town. Remember to use proper handling techniques when releasing fish back to the water to ensure their survival.