Fishing in Benton County, Missouri
Courthouse in Warsaw. MDC manages its fish from the MDC Kansas City Region.
- 2lake pages
- 0ramps
- 3river pages
Pick for striped bassPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Lake of the Ozarks: Mike Trinastich, CC BY-SA 3.0
A fishing primer on Benton County
At the 2020 Census, Benton County had 19,394 people, with the courthouse in Warsaw. The Census Gazetteer lists 48.5 square miles of water beside 704 of land. On MDC maps this water belongs to the MDC Kansas City Region.
Lake of the Ozarks leads 2 lake pages in the area, which cover 100,462 acres in all. MDC has mapped 1,156 placed attractors spread over 2 lakes and ponds.
Census 2020 population and 2023 Gazetteer areas; MDC Managed Public Waterbody outlines, boat ramp/access, dock, jetty and fish attractor layers; USACE ramp layers; retrieved October 2026.
Ramps, docks and lake pages of Benton County on one map
MDC boat ramp/access and dock layers, USACE ramps, MDC lake label points and MDC stream access areas. Checked October 2026.
Reservoirs and community lakes across Benton County
| Lake | Acres | Ramps | Motor note | Fish MDC names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake of the Ozarks | 51,132 | 6 | hybrid striped bass, striped bass, largemouth bass | |
| Harry S Truman Lake | 49,330 | 1 | hybrid striped bass, largemouth bass, white bass |
Lake pages over the Benton County line, nearest to Warsaw first.
| Lake | From Warsaw | Acres | Ramps | Motor note | Fish MDC names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farrington Park Lake | 21 miles north | 16 | 1 | ||
| Spring Fork Lake | 23 miles north | 114 | 1 | ||
| Pomme de Terre Lake | 27 miles south | 7,662 | 0 | largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass | |
| South Lake, J. N. "Turkey" Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area | 28 miles north | 8 | 1 | ||
| North Lake, J. N. "Turkey" Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area | 28 miles north | 22 | 1 | ||
| Clover Dell Park Lake | 30 miles north | 10 | 0 |
MDC Managed Public Waterbody outlines (GIS acres), MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects species and boating notes; retrieved October 2026.
For the striped bass herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 The fish lineup in water around Benton County
The bars count lake pages within 50 miles of Warsaw where MDC reports or trout programs name each fish; channel catfish tops the list.
Species named in MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects text, the MDC state record list and MDC trout program waters, counted per lake page within 50 miles; not a full survey.
Numbered pools and small lakes of Benton County
The MDC waterbody map holds 9 further ponds and pools in Benton County, 5 of them numbered pools or ponds on conservation areas.
| Water | Acres | Attractors | Nearest place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truman Lake Tailwaters | 150 | 0 | Warsaw |
| Big Buffalo Lake | 6 | 0 | Stover |
| Pond 1, Mora Conservation Area | 2 | 0 | Cole Camp |
| Heron Lake | 2 | 0 | Stover |
| Pond 4, Hi Lonesome Prairie Conservation Area | 1 | 0 | Cole Camp |
| Pond 3, Hi Lonesome Prairie Conservation Area | 1 | 0 | Cole Camp |
| Pond 2, Hi Lonesome Prairie Conservation Area | 1 | 0 | Cole Camp |
| Kids Fishing Pond | 0 | 0 | Warsaw |
| Pond 1, Hi Lonesome Prairie Conservation Area | 0 | 0 | Cole Camp |
MDC Managed Public Waterbody outlines and fish attractor layer, retrieved October 2026.
Creeks and rivers running through Benton County
- Osage River7 MDC ramps, 7 access areas, 276 mi in Missouri
- South Grand River2 MDC ramps, 2 access areas, 106 mi in Missouri
- Pomme de Terre River4 access areas, 129 mi in Missouri
Further Ozark-style streams in Benton County (1)
- Ross Creek1 MDC access area
USGS gauges reporting in Benton County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Osage River At Warsaw, Mo | 25.89 ft gage height | Nov 11 6:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 7:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
MDC stream access areas and boat ramps, MDC trout and smallmouth management layers, USGS NHD lengths and USGS gauges; retrieved October 2026.
Keeping fish legally in Benton County
Start with the statewide table for Benton County, then check the list of waters with their own rules.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky) | 6 a day | All year |
| Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky) (Ozark streams) | 6 a day; 12" minimum | May 23, 2026–Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Channel catfish | 10 a day | All year |
| Blue catfish | 5 a day | All year |
| Flathead catfish | 5 a day | All year |
| Crappie (black and white) | 30 a day | All year |
| Goggle-eye (Ozark, rock, and shadow bass) and warmouth | 15 a day; 7" minimum | All year |
| Muskellunge | 1 (daily limit is 1 muskellunge or 1 northern pike); 36" minimum | All year |
| Northern pike | 1 (daily limit is 1 muskellunge or 1 northern pike) | All year |
| Paddlefish (spoonbill) | 2 a day; 32" minimum (eye to fork of tail) | March 15–April 30 |
| Pickerel (chain and grass) | 6 a day | All year |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | 10 a day; 30" maximum (snout to fork of tail) | All year |
| Trout (rainbow and brown) | 4 a day; Rainbow: none; Brown: 15" minimum in streams | All year |
| Walleye and sauger | 4 a day; 15" minimum | All year |
| White, yellow, and striped bass and their hybrids | 15 a day; No more than 4 longer than 18" | All year |
Where Benton County rules differ from statewide (15)
| Water | Where | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Harry S. Truman Reservoir | Lakewide | Black bass — 15" minimum length limit on largemouth and smallmouth bass; 12" minimum length limit on spotted bass |
| Harry S. Truman Reservoir | Lakewide | Crappie — 9" minimum length limit; 15 fish daily limit |
| Harry S. Truman Reservoir | Lakewide | Nongame fish — Snagging, snaring, and grabbing are allowed from March 15 through April 30 only. |
| Harry S. Truman Reservoir | On the lake and its tributaries | Paddlefish — 34" minimum body length, measured from eye to fork of tail |
| Harry S. Truman Reservoir | On the lake and its tributaries | No person shall continue to snag, snare, or grab for any species after taking a daily limit of 2 paddlefish. |
| Harry S. Truman Reservoir | On the lake and its tributaries | Blue catfish — 26" to 34" protected slot length limit; 10 fish daily and possession limit; the daily limit may not contain more than 2 blue catfish more than 34". |
| Lake of the Ozarks | Lakewide | Black bass — 15" minimum length limit on largemouth and smallmouth bass; 12" minimum length limit on spotted bass |
| Lake of the Ozarks | Lakewide | Crappie — 9" minimum length limit; 15 fish daily limit |
| Lake of the Ozarks | Lakewide | Nongame fish — Snagging, snaring, and grabbing are allowed from March 15 through April 30 only. |
| Lake of the Ozarks | On the lake and its tributaries | Paddlefish — 34" minimum body length, measured from eye to fork of tail |
| Lake of the Ozarks | On the lake and its tributaries | No person shall continue to snag, snare, or grab for any species after taking a daily limit of 2 paddlefish. |
| Lake of the Ozarks | On the lake and its tributaries | Blue catfish — 26" to 34" protected slot length limit; 10 fish daily and possession limit; the daily limit may not contain more than 2 blue catfish more than 34". |
| Lake of the Ozarks | Within a boundary beginning from the face of Truman Dam downstream along the left descending bank to the no-fishing zone sign at the East Bl | No fishing is allowed. |
| Lake of the Ozarks | From the downstream end of the no-fishing zone below Truman Dam throughout the no-boating zone (look for signs and buoys) | Paddlefish may not be possessed. |
| Lake of the Ozarks | From the downstream end of the no-fishing zone below Truman Dam to U.S. Highway 65 | Trotlines, throwlines, limb lines, jug lines, snagging, snaring, and grabbing are prohibited. |
Limits and seasons as printed in A Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations 2026 (MDC, effective March 1, 2026), page 20 (booklet PDF); retrieved October 27, 2026. Rules as printed in A Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations 2026 (MDC, effective March 1, 2026) (booklet PDF, Special Regulations on Large Lakes and on Rivers and Streams); checked against the current Wildlife Code October 27, 2026.
State records from water around Benton County
| Species | Weight | Method | Water | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Striped Bass | 9 lbs. 1 oz. | jug line | Lake of the Ozarks | Oct. 31, 2016 | MDC record list |
| Hybrid Striped Bass | 21 lbs. 11 oz. | pole and line | Lake of the Ozarks | May 19, 2019 | MDC record list |
| Spotted Bass | 2 lbs. 11 oz. | jug line | Harry S Truman Lake | May 11, 2016 | MDC record list |
| Striped Bass | 39 lbs. 8 oz. | jug line | Lake of the Ozarks | Oct. 11, 2002 | MDC record list |
MDC State Record Fish list (first page of 135 records readable) and MDC news releases, retrieved October 2026.
The Benton County tournament calendar
Benton County turns up in 1 organizer listings, 0 not yet held.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 27, 2026 | Central Missouri Catfish Tournaments Drake Harbor (2026-06-27) | Lake of the Ozarks | Central Missouri Catfish Tournaments |
Organizer schedule and results pages (MDC publishes no tournament calendar), checked October 2026.
Supplies and hired help in Benton County
Benton County tackle counters
- Anglers and Antlers-Home of the Rocky Top Tube!fly shop, Warsaw
- Baker's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Lincoln
- Bakers Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Lincoln
- Cody's Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Warsaw
- Osage Bluff Marinabait and tackle shop, Warsaw
- Pandora's Happy Box Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Lincoln
- Rocky Top Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Warsaw
- Grand River Marine Repairmarina, Warsaw
- Long Shoal Boat Repairmarina, Warsaw
- Old Oar House Inn & Marinamarina, Warsaw
- Sterett Creek Marinamarina, Warsaw
- White Branch Marinamarina, Warsaw
Benton County fishing guides
- Catfish Safarifishing guide, Warsaw, (660) 723-2701
- Truman Lake Fishing Guide Servicefishing guide, Truman Lake, Warsaw, (816) 506-7722
Yellow Pages and chain store listings, guide listings (county of business); retrieved October 2026.
Close to Benton County
Cities and villages found within Benton County
- Warsawpop. 2,209
- Lincolnpop. 1,144
- Cole Camppop. 1,104
Adjoining county pages for Benton County
- Morgan County24 miles east
- Hickory County25 miles south
- Henry County28 miles west
- Pettis County29 miles north
Piscifun tackle a Missouri angler might take to Benton County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Hollows, bluffs and lakes by Benton County, in photos
Photo: mostateparks, Public domain
Photo: Ben Jacobson ( Kranar Drogin ), CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Semipaw, CC BY 3.0
Photo: MoBikeFed, CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Hunting in Benton County
Public hunting land, seasons and processors for Benton County are on State Hunting Spots, our sister site.
Fishing in Benton County, question by question
Can I launch a bass boat in Benton County?
No mapped ramp lies inside.
Which reservoir is the large one in Benton County?
Lake of the Ozarks, at 51,132 acres on its MDC outline.
What species are common in lakes around Benton County?
Channel catfish lead the count of lake pages within 50 miles that MDC reports name, followed by crappie, largemouth bass and bluegill.
Where do Benton County anglers pick up minnows and nightcrawlers?
Try Anglers and Antlers-Home of the Rocky Top Tube!; the list holds 12.
How many guide listings carry a Benton County address?
The listings show 2 guides and charters based here.
Where do Benton County officials meet?
The courthouse is in Warsaw.
Which MDC permit does a Benton County trip call for?
MDC sells the annual fishing permit at $14 to residents and $57 to nonresidents; $9 buys one day.
Which Show-Me counties are a short drive from Benton County?
Try Morgan County, Hickory County and Henry County.
Which MDC office manages fish in Benton County?
The answer is the MDC Kansas City Region.
How many events fish Benton County water?
1 event on file from organizer pages, none still ahead.
Does the 2026 MDC booklet list exceptions for Benton County?
The 2026 booklet prints 15 special-regulation bullets naming this area, starting with Harry S. Truman Reservoir; the table above shows each.
What record catches come from Benton County?
Hybrid Striped Bass, 9 lbs. 1 oz., from Lake of the Ozarks.
Give Benton County a fishing weekend
River pages list accesses and gauges.