Fishing in Henry County, Missouri
Courthouse in Clinton. MDC manages its fish from the MDC Kansas City Region.
- 2lake pages
- 10ramps
- 2river pages
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The fishing picture in Henry County
County offices for Henry County sit in Clinton; 21,946 people lived in the county in 2020. Census mapping puts 697 square miles of land and 35.4 square miles of water inside its lines. MDC manages its fisheries from the MDC Kansas City Region.
2 paged lakes, 50,774 acres, and Harry S Truman Lake at the head of the list by size. Public launching comes down to 10 public ramps, 0 of which MDC rates accessible. Anglers hunting cover can use 788 MDC attractors placed in 1 water.
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.
Lake outlines and ramps around Henry County, pinned
MDC boat ramp/access and dock layers, USACE ramps, MDC lake label points and MDC stream access areas. Checked October 2026.
The bigger impoundments of Henry County
| Lake | Acres | Ramps | Motor note | Fish MDC names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harry S Truman Lake | 49,330 | 1 | hybrid striped bass, largemouth bass, white bass | |
| Montrose Lake | 1,444 | 3 |
With few lake pages inside Henry County, the closest ones beyond its line follow, measured from Clinton.
| Lake | From Clinton | Acres | Ramps | Motor note | Fish MDC names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farrington Park Lake | 18 miles northeast | 16 | 1 | ||
| South Lake, J. N. "Turkey" Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area | 22 miles northeast | 8 | 1 | ||
| North Lake, J. N. "Turkey" Kearn Memorial Wildlife Area | 23 miles northeast | 22 | 1 | ||
| Lions Lake | 26 miles north | 13 | 1 | ||
| Schell Lake | 30 miles southwest | 287 | 3 | ||
| Atkinson Lake | 30 miles southwest | 434 | 1 | 10 hp limit | largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill |
MDC Managed Public Waterbody outlines (GIS acres), MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects species and boating notes; retrieved October 2026.
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Lake pages inside 50 miles of Clinton were tallied by the fish MDC names; channel catfish comes first.
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.
Conservation-area ponds in Henry County
Another 39 MDC waters in Henry County are listed by size until more is published, 38 of them numbered pools or ponds on conservation areas.
| Water | Acres | Attractors | Nearest place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitaker Lake | 23 | 0 | Deepwater |
| Pit 14, Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area | 15 | 0 | Hartwell |
| Pit 6, Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area | 12 | 0 | Clinton |
| Pond 1, Connor O. Fewel Conservation Area | 11 | 0 | Calhoun |
| Pit 12, Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area | 11 | 0 | Hartwell |
| Pit 13, Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area | 10 | 0 | Hartwell |
| Pond 5, Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Grand River Bottoms) | 8 | 0 | Deepwater |
| Pit 2, Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area | 8 | 0 | Clinton |
| Pit 9, Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area | 8 | 0 | Clinton |
| Pit 1, Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area | 6 | 0 | Clinton |
| Pit 5, Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area | 6 | 0 | Clinton |
| Pit 7, Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area | 6 | 0 | Clinton |
| Pit 11, Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area | 5 | 0 | Clinton |
| Pond 2, Clinton Office | 4 | 0 | Clinton |
| Pond 2, Connor O. Fewel Conservation Area | 4 | 0 | Calhoun |
| Pond 19, Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Brownington) | 4 | 0 | Brownington |
| Pit 3, Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area | 3 | 0 | Clinton |
| Pond 21, Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Brownington) | 3 | 0 | Brownington |
| Pond 3, Connor O. Fewel Conservation Area | 3 | 0 | Calhoun |
| Pond 11, Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Deepwater Creek) | 2 | 0 | Deepwater |
| Pond 17, Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Upper Tebo Creek) | 2 | 0 | Calhoun |
| Pond 1, Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Bethlehem) | 2 | 0 | Clinton |
| Pond 3, Chapel View Prairie Conservation Area | 2 | 0 | Deepwater |
| Pond 1, Clinton Office | 1 | 0 | Clinton |
| Pond 4, Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Bethlehem) | 1 | 0 | Clinton |
| Pond 6, Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Grand River Bottoms) | 1 | 0 | Clinton |
| Pond 18, Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Brownington) | 1 | 0 | Deepwater |
| Pit 10, Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area | 1 | 0 | Clinton |
| Pit 4, Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area | 1 | 0 | Clinton |
| Pond 12, Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Deepwater Creek) | 1 | 0 | Deepwater |
| Pond 2, Chapel View Prairie Conservation Area | 1 | 0 | Deepwater |
| Pond 5, Chapel View Prairie Conservation Area | 1 | 0 | Deepwater |
| Pit 8, Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area | 1 | 0 | Clinton |
| Pond 2, Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Bethlehem) | 1 | 0 | Clinton |
| Pond 3, Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Bethlehem) | 0 | 0 | Clinton |
| Pond 7, Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Grand River Bottoms) | 0 | 0 | La Due |
| Pond 1, Chapel View Prairie Conservation Area | 0 | 0 | Deepwater |
| Pond 20, Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Brownington) | 0 | 0 | Brownington |
| Pond 4, Chapel View Prairie Conservation Area | 0 | 0 | Deepwater |
MDC Managed Public Waterbody outlines and fish attractor layer, retrieved October 2026.
Wade and float streams of Henry County
- Osage River7 MDC ramps, 7 access areas, 276 mi in Missouri
- South Grand River2 MDC ramps, 2 access areas, 106 mi in Missouri
More streams in Henry County (1)
- Deepwater Creek1 MDC access area
Stage and flow in Henry County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| South Grand River At Urich, Mo | 47 cfs, 2.31 ft gage height | Nov 7 12:15 pm Not updated since Nov 7, 2026. |
| Big Creek Near Blairstown, Mo | 11 cfs, 8.49 ft gage height | Nov 11 7:00 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.
Accesses listed for Henry County
- Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area, Pit 1Pit 1, boat ramp, parking
- Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area, Pit 11Pit 11, boat ramp, parking
- Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area, Pit 12Pit 12, boat ramp, parking
- Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area, Pit 14Pit 14, boat ramp, parking
- Montrose Conservation Area (east ramp)Montrose Lake, boat ramp, parking
- Montrose Conservation Area (south ramp)Montrose Lake, boat ramp, parking, privy nearby
- Montrose Conservation Area (west ramp)Montrose Lake, boat ramp, parking, privy nearby
- Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Grand River Bottoms) on South Grand RiverSouth Grand River, boat ramp, parking
- Urich Access on South Grand RiverSouth Grand River, boat ramp, parking
- Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Deepwater Creek) accessMDC area, boat ramp
MDC boat ramp/access, fishing dock, jetty and cleaning station layers; USACE Little Rock District ramp layers; retrieved October 2026.
What may be kept from Henry County water
Unless the booklet names a water, Henry County lakes and streams follow the statewide rows below.
| 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 |
Henry County waters with their own MDC rules (2)
| Water | Where | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Montrose Lake | Whole water | Black bass — 18" minimum length limit; 2 fish daily limit |
| Montrose Lake | Whole water | Crappie — 15 fish daily limit |
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.
Big-fish records connected to Henry County
| Species | Weight | Method | Water | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spotted Bass | 2 lbs. 11 oz. | jug line | Harry S Truman Lake | May 11, 2016 | MDC record list |
MDC State Record Fish list (first page of 135 records readable) and MDC news releases, retrieved October 2026.
Tournaments launching in Henry County
Organizer pages show 19 events tied to Henry County, with 5 still ahead.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 18, 2027 | Joe Bass Truman Division 2027-04-18 | Truman Lake | Joe Bass Team Trail |
| May 16, 2027 | Joe Bass Truman Division 2027-05-16 | Truman Lake | Joe Bass Team Trail |
| June 20, 2027 | Joe Bass Truman Division 2027-06-20 | Truman Lake | Joe Bass Team Trail |
| Aug. 22, 2027 | Joe Bass Truman Division 2027-08-22 | Truman Lake | Joe Bass Team Trail |
| Sept. 19, 2027 | Joe Bass Truman Division 2027-09-19 | Truman Lake | Joe Bass Team Trail |
| Oct. 24, 2026 | Joe Bass Team Trail Invitational, Truman Lake (2026) | Truman Lake | Joe Bass Team Trail |
| Sept. 20, 2026 | Joe Bass Truman Division 2026-09-20 | Truman Lake | Joe Bass Team Trail |
| Sept. 19, 2026 | Big Fish, Bright Future Bass & Crappie Tournament, Truman Lake (2026) | Truman Lake | Compass Health Network |
| Aug. 23, 2026 | Joe Bass Truman Division 2026-08-23 | Truman Lake | Joe Bass Team Trail |
| July 11, 2026 | Mo-Yak Elite Series Stop #5 Truman Lake (2026) | Truman Lake | Mo-Yak Fishing Series |
| June 14, 2026 | Joe Bass Truman Division 2026-06-14 | Truman Lake | Joe Bass Team Trail |
| June 6, 2026 | BFL Ozark Division Truman Lake (2026-06) | Truman Lake | Major League Fishing |
Organizer schedule and results pages (MDC publishes no tournament calendar), checked October 2026.
Tackle counters and marinas in Henry County
Where Henry County anglers buy gear
- Bait & Morebait and tackle shop, Clinton
- Everhart Outdoor Supplybait and tackle shop, Clinton
- Tebo Creek Bait Stopbait and tackle shop, Clinton
Yellow Pages and chain store listings, guide listings (county of business); retrieved October 2026.
Within a few miles of Henry County
Town pages inside Henry County
- Clintonpop. 9,174
- Windsorpop. 2,775
Counties that surround Henry County
- St. Clair County24 miles south
- Johnson County25 miles north
- Benton County28 miles east
- Bates County31 miles west
Line and reels from Piscifun ahead of Henry County
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Fish pictures to know before Henry County
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: -Rorey-, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Hunting in Henry County
Public hunting land, seasons and processors for Henry County are on State Hunting Spots, our sister site.
Answers for anglers working Henry County
Where does a trailered boat slide in across Henry County?
There are 10 public ramps, of which 0 carry the accessible flag.
Which impoundment is the giant of Henry County?
Harry S Truman Lake, at 49,330 acres on its MDC outline.
What do anglers catch around Henry County?
Channel catfish lead the count of lake pages within 50 miles that MDC reports name, followed by crappie, largemouth bass and bluegill.
Which Henry County counters stock lures and line?
3 listings, such as Bait & More.
Which guide businesses keep an office in Henry County?
Guide listings all point to other counties.
Which Missouri town runs the business of Henry County?
Officials meet in Clinton.
How much does an MDC fishing permit cost for Henry County?
Residents pay $14 and nonresidents $57 for a year of fishing in Missouri, and a daily permit is $9.
Which counties border Henry County?
St. Clair County, Johnson County and Benton County lie closest.
Which region of MDC serves Henry County?
MDC maps place it under the MDC Kansas City Region.
Which weigh-in is next on the Henry County calendar?
19 events on file; next is Joe Bass Truman Division 2027-04-18 on Truman Lake, April 18, 2027.
Are there special limits in Henry County?
The 2026 booklet prints 2 special-regulation bullets naming this area, starting with Montrose Lake; the table above shows each.
Which state records were caught in Henry County?
Spotted Bass, 2 lbs. 11 oz., from Truman Reservoir.
Spend a morning on Henry County lakes
Ramp pages show parking, privies and directions.