Atkinson Lake Fishing
A 434-acre Missouri lake in St. Clair County and Vernon County.
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Where Atkinson Lake sits and how big it is
The MDC outline gives Atkinson Lake a surface of 434 acres, spread over St. Clair County and Vernon County. The shortest run to a town is Schell City, near 3 miles. Biologists of the MDC Kansas City Region look after it. MDC lists it as part of Schell-Osage Conservation Area.
You can launch at 1 mapped ramp. Anglers can target 18 mapped attractor points.
Outboard motors larger than 10 horsepower may be used, but are required to be operated at no wake speed.
Boating note quoted from the MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects report for Atkinson Lake.
MDC Managed Public Waterbody outlines (GIS acres, region, managing area) on gisblue.mdc.mo.gov, Census 2023 places, retrieved October 27, 2026. MDC office phone: 816-622-0900.
This season at Atkinson Lake, per MDC
In its 2026 prospects, MDC reports on Atkinson Lake as follows:
Largemouth bass are abundant; most bass caught by angers will be 12 to 15 inches long, but some larger bass (over 3 pounds) are present. A daily limit of two bass is allowed with a length limit of 15 inches. Anglers should experience good angling for bluegill . Most bluegill are smaller than 8 inches, but are abundant and large numbers can be caught fishing from the bank near the dam, and SW 200 Rd to Schell-Osage headquarters, during May and June. Small spinners and small crankbaits, such as artificial crayfish, is a productive method to catch both bass and bluegill. During the hot summer months, worms and crickets with bobbers will be the most effective means to catch these fish.
Angling for crappie is good using minnows and jigs. Crappie fishing has been reportedly good, and anglers can experience good crappie fishing in April and May. Most reports of crappie angling are from boat anglers, concentrating on upright structures. Staff have also began construction and placement of artificial habitat structures near the bank to increase fishing success by bank anglers. Due to low water levels, crappie sampling was not performed. sampling data from Fall of 2021 shows a good spawn from spring of 2021 and that cohort of fish will likely be 9-10 inches in the Autumn of 2023. Fall trap-net samples will take place in 2023. Daily limit for crappie is 15.
Outboard motors larger than 10 horsepower may be used, but are required to be operated at no wake speed. Atkinson Lake is located on Schell-Osage Conservation Area and is a waterfowl refuge. The lake is closed to all activities from October 15-January 31.
From El Dorado Springs, take Highway 54 west 6 miles, then Route AA north 12 miles, then Route RA east 1 mile to SW 200 (Blair Rd, gravel). Take SW 200 1.5 miles. Atkinson Lake is on the south side of SW 200.
MDC, 2026 Missouri Fishing Prospects (report), quoted; retrieved October 27, 2026.
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Tap a fish to open its Missouri species page; each one is named for Atkinson Lake by MDC.
MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects text, MDC State Record Fish list and MDC trout program statements, retrieved October 27, 2026.
MDC fish attractors in Atkinson Lake
MDC maps 18 attractor points in Atkinson Lake, placed in 2024.
| Material | Points | Years placed |
|---|---|---|
| Cedars | 9 | 2024 |
| HabitatCove | 9 | 2024 |
MDC Fishing Interactive Map, fish attractors layer (material and year placed as mapped), retrieved October 27, 2026.
Ramps and docks on Atkinson Lake
- Schell-Osage Conservation Area on Atkinson Lakeboat ramp, parking, privy nearby; Missouri Department of Conservation
Boat ramps within reach of Atkinson Lake
- Schell-Osage Conservation Area (east ramp)Schell Lake, under a mile north
- Schell-Osage Conservation Area (west ramp)Schell Lake, 2 miles northwest
- Taberville Accessboat ramp, parking, 3 miles east
- August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area (east ramp)boat ramp, parking, 11 miles west
- August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area (north ramp)boat ramp, parking, 12 miles west
MDC boat ramp/access, dock and jetty layers; USACE Little Rock District ramps and USACE recreation areas; retrieved October 27, 2026.
Bag and length rules at Atkinson Lake
| Species | Daily limit and length | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky) | 6 a day | All year |
| 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 |
At Atkinson Lake the statewide limits apply, with any listed exception taking priority.
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.
MDC lakes near Atkinson Lake, put side by side
For more room to roam, Schell Lake offers 287 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Attractors | Species named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atkinson Lake | 434 | 1 | 18 | 5 | |
| Schell Lake | under a mile northwest | 287 | 3 | 62 | 0 |
| Unit 3 Lake | 14 miles west | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Four Rivers Reservoir | 16 miles west | 134 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Izaac Walton Lake | 20 miles southwest | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Harmony Mission Lake | 21 miles west | 93 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
MDC waterbody outlines, ramp and attractor layers, 2026 prospects; retrieved October 27, 2026.
What else lies close to Atkinson Lake
Lakes to try after Atkinson Lake
- Schell Lakeunder a mile northwest
- Unit 3 Lake14 miles west
- Four Rivers Reservoir16 miles west
- Izaac Walton Lake20 miles southwest
- Harmony Mission Lake21 miles west
Shops anglers stop at before Atkinson Lake
- Dains Fish Farmbait and tackle shop, Schell City, 4 miles
- Boon Docks Marine Servicemarina, El Dorado Springs, 10 miles
- Fuzzy's Bait & Boozebait and tackle shop, Osceola, 24 miles
Where to sleep before fishing Atkinson Lake
- El Dorado Springs10 miles
- Appleton City13 miles
- Rich Hill18 miles
Counties sharing Atkinson Lake
- St. Clair Countyseat: Osceola
- Vernon Countyseat: Nevada
Line and reels from Piscifun ahead of Atkinson Lake
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Photographs of fishing water by Atkinson Lake
Photo: MoBikeFed, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: MoBikeFed, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Semipaw, CC BY 3.0
Photo: mostateparks, Public domain
Before a trip to Atkinson Lake, the common questions
Where in the Show-Me State is Atkinson Lake?
The outline sits in St. Clair County and Vernon County, the MDC Kansas City Region, about 3 miles from Schell City.
How many acres is Atkinson Lake by MDC mapping?
The outline measures 434 acres.
Where is the nearest ramp to Atkinson Lake?
Yes, 1 mapped ramp, such as Schell-Osage Conservation Area on Atkinson Lake.
Which gamefish are named for Atkinson Lake?
MDC names largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish and common carp.
Is there a length limit at Atkinson Lake?
Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky): 6 a day; All year.
Can a visitor from another state fish Missouri's Atkinson Lake?
Missouri anglers 16 through 64 carry a fishing permit: $14 a year for residents, $57 for nonresidents, or $9 for a daily permit.
Is there a horsepower limit on Atkinson Lake?
MDC writes: Outboard motors larger than 10 horsepower may be used, but are required to be operated at no wake speed.
Where does a Missouri angler buy bait near Atkinson Lake?
Closest listed: Dains Fish Farm, 4 miles.
What is the 2026 outlook for Atkinson Lake?
Largemouth bass are abundant; most bass caught by angers will be 12 to 15 inches long, but some larger bass (over 3 pounds) are present. A daily limit of two bass is allowed with a length limit of 15 inches. Anglers should experience good angling for bluegill . Most bluegill are smaller than 8 (MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects)
Has MDC added fish cover to Atkinson Lake?
Yes: 18 attractor points on the MDC layer.
Give a Missouri weekend to Atkinson Lake
Buy the Missouri permit online before the trip.