Four Rivers Reservoir Fishing
A 134-acre Missouri reservoir in Vernon County.
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Four Rivers Reservoir, measured and mapped
Missouri anglers get 134 acres of reservoir at Four Rivers Reservoir, a water of Vernon County. Plan on about 6 miles to reach Metz, the nearest town. Fisheries work here belongs to the MDC Kansas City Region. The surrounding ground is August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area.
There are 2 mapped ramps on the water.
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.
Boat ramps serving Four Rivers Reservoir
- August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area (west ramp)boat ramp, parking; Missouri Department of Conservation
- August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Areaboat ramp, parking; Missouri Department of Conservation
Fallback launches near Four Rivers Reservoir
- August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area on Unit 3 LakeUnit 3 Lake, 2 miles northeast
- August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area (north ramp)boat ramp, parking, 5 miles northeast
- Cephas Ford Accessboat ramp, parking, 5 miles south
- August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area (east ramp)boat ramp, parking, 5 miles east
- Harmony Mission Lake Conservation AreaHarmony Mission Lake, 6 miles northwest
- Peabody Conservation Area, Pit 4Pit 4, 8 miles northwest
MDC boat ramp/access, dock and jetty layers; USACE Little Rock District ramps and USACE recreation areas; retrieved October 27, 2026.
Limits that govern Four Rivers Reservoir
| 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 |
Unless named below, Four Rivers Reservoir follows the statewide rows.
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.
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The largest neighbour in the table is Schell Lake, 287 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Attractors | Species named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four Rivers Reservoir | 134 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Unit 3 Lake | 2 miles northeast | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Harmony Mission Lake | 6 miles northwest | 93 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Izaac Walton Lake | 11 miles south | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Radio Springs Lake | 13 miles south | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Schell Lake | 15 miles east | 287 | 3 | 62 | 0 |
MDC waterbody outlines, ramp and attractor layers, 2026 prospects; retrieved October 27, 2026.
Bait, beds and backup water by Four Rivers Reservoir
Backup lakes close to Four Rivers Reservoir
- Unit 3 Lake2 miles northeast
- Harmony Mission Lake6 miles northwest
- Izaac Walton Lake11 miles south
- Radio Springs Lake13 miles south
- Schell Lake15 miles east
Tackle stores on the road to Four Rivers Reservoir
- Dains Fish Farmbait and tackle shop, Schell City, 19 miles
- Boon Docks Marine Servicemarina, El Dorado Springs, 20 miles
Overnight bases close to Four Rivers Reservoir
- Rich Hill6 miles
- Nevada12 miles
- Butler17 miles
Which Missouri counties hold Four Rivers Reservoir
- Vernon Countyseat: Nevada
Ozark-ready Piscifun reels for a day on Four Rivers Reservoir
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Lakes and streams close to Four Rivers Reservoir, pictured
Photo: Darin House, CC BY 2.0
Photo: MoBikeFed, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: MoBikeFed, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: mostateparks, Public domain
Clearing up the basics of Four Rivers Reservoir
What corner of Missouri holds Four Rivers Reservoir?
It lies in Vernon County, the MDC Kansas City Region, about 6 miles from Metz.
How much open water does Four Rivers Reservoir have?
About 134 acres.
Which ramp should I use at Four Rivers Reservoir?
Use August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area (west ramp), one of 2 mapped ramps.
What can a Missouri angler hook at Four Rivers Reservoir?
No species listing comes with it.
What are the daily limits at Four Rivers Reservoir?
Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky): 6 a day; All year.
Do I need a Missouri permit to fish Four Rivers Reservoir?
Missouri anglers 16 through 64 carry a fishing permit: $14 a year for residents, $57 for nonresidents, or $9 for a daily permit.
Do I need a boat permit for Four Rivers Reservoir?
No horsepower rule is in this data; follow posted signs.
Is there a bait store on the road to Missouri's Four Rivers Reservoir?
Dains Fish Farm, about 19 miles away.
Put Four Rivers Reservoir on the Show-Me fishing list
Permit prices and the statewide limits sit on one page.