Hunnewell Lake Fishing
A 236-acre Missouri lake in Shelby County.
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The facts on Hunnewell Lake
MDC maps Hunnewell Lake at 236 acres of open water in Shelby County. From the water, Hunnewell sits about 3 miles away. The water sits inside the MDC Northeast Region. Access comes through Hunnewell Lake Conservation Area.
Walk-on fishing comes from 2 docks and jetties. 44 attractor points of cedar, stumps or rock sit on its bottom.
Anglers are allowed to use electric trolling motors on MDC boats.
Boating note quoted from the MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects report for Hunnewell 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: 660-785-2420.
MDC sampling notes on Hunnewell Lake
The 2026 Missouri Fishing Prospects says this about Hunnewell Lake:
Largemouth bass fishing is expected to be fair in 2026. Results from the 2025 spring electrofishing survey indicated a 60 percent increase in the overall catch rate compared to 2023. Anglers can anticipate that over 50 percent of their catches will be 8 inches or larger, while only 4 percent will be over 15 inches. Anglers are strongly encouraged to harvest bass up to their daily limit of six bass that are less than 12 inches long to help improve the size structure of the population. Bass measuring 12 to 15 inches are under a protected slot to promote the harvest of smaller bass and address the overpopulation issue.
Hunnewell Lake serves as the water supply for the Hunnewell Hatchery. Several regulations are in place to reduce the chances of an accidental introduction of invasive species, such as zebra mussels. To protect Hunnewell Hatchery, private boats and bait transported or held in containers with water are prohibited. Boats and oars are provided free of charge on a first come, first served basis. Anglers are allowed to use electric trolling motors on MDC boats. Anglers must supply their own Coast Guard-approved personal floatation (life jackets).
MDC, 2026 Missouri Fishing Prospects (report), quoted; retrieved October 27, 2026.
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The roster for Hunnewell Lake comes from MDC sources; unlisted fish may also be present.
MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects text, MDC State Record Fish list and MDC trout program statements, retrieved October 27, 2026.
Brush piles and cover in Hunnewell Lake
Habitat crews mapped 44 attractor points in Hunnewell Lake, placed between 2010 and 2023.
| Material | Points | Years placed |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar-Hardwood | 44 | 2010 to 2023 |
MDC Fishing Interactive Map, fish attractors layer (material and year placed as mapped), retrieved October 27, 2026.
Where to get on Hunnewell Lake
Boaters heading to Hunnewell Lake will find no mapped ramp; nearby options are below.
Walk-out docks on Hunnewell Lake
- Hunnewell Lake Conservation Areafishing dock, accessible
- Hunnewell Lake Conservation Areafish cleaning station, accessible
More MDC ramps around Hunnewell Lake
- Hunnewell Access on North Fork Salt RiverNorth Fork Salt River, 3 miles southwest
MDC boat ramp/access, dock and jetty layers; USACE Little Rock District ramps and USACE recreation areas; retrieved October 27, 2026.
What a Missouri angler may keep at Hunnewell 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 |
These statewide rows hold at Hunnewell Lake unless a special regulation below changes them.
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.
Hunnewell Lake and the closest MDC lakes
Mark Twain Lake leads this group on size with 18,353 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Attractors | Species named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunnewell Lake | 236 | 0 | 44 | 6 | |
| Route J Reservoir | 13 miles southeast | 93 | 1 | 12 | 5 |
| Mark Twain Lake | 15 miles south | 18,353 | 0 | 140 | 9 |
| Tom Sawyer Lake | 16 miles south | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Twain Lake Reregulation Pool | 18 miles southeast | 408 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sever (Henry) Lake | 22 miles north | 116 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
MDC waterbody outlines, ramp and attractor layers, 2026 prospects; retrieved October 27, 2026.
Shops, towns and water around Hunnewell Lake
Neighbouring MDC impoundments to Hunnewell Lake
- Route J Reservoir13 miles southeast
- Mark Twain Lake15 miles south
- Tom Sawyer Lake16 miles south
- Mark Twain Lake Reregulation Pool18 miles southeast
- Sever (Henry) Lake22 miles north
Where to stock the cooler for Hunnewell Lake
- Indian Creek Marinamarina, Monroe City, 11 miles
- Joe's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Stoutsville, 17 miles
- Blackjack Marina Incbait and tackle shop, Perry, 18 miles
- Nemo Bait Cobait and tackle shop, Perry, 24 miles
Towns with a bed near Hunnewell Lake
- Monroe City8 miles
- Shelbina9 miles
- Paris18 miles
County-by-county pages for Hunnewell Lake
- Shelby Countyseat: Shelbyville
Piscifun spinning and casting gear to pack for Hunnewell Lake
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Fish pictures to know before Hunnewell Lake
Photo: Dominic, CC BY 4.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Photo: MONGO, CC BY-SA 3.0
Hunnewell Lake: questions Show-Me anglers bring up
Which Missouri county is Hunnewell Lake in?
Look in Shelby County, the MDC Northeast Region, about 3 miles from Hunnewell.
What does MDC list as the size of Hunnewell Lake?
Roughly 236 acres on the MDC outline.
Can I trailer a boat into Hunnewell Lake?
MDC and the Corps map no ramp on it; the nearby list above has options.
Does Hunnewell Lake have bass and crappie?
On the list: largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, blue catfish and black crappie.
Which 2026 Missouri rules apply on Hunnewell Lake?
Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky): 6 a day; All year.
What does a fishing permit cost for Hunnewell Lake?
Missouri anglers 16 through 64 carry a fishing permit: $14 a year for residents, $57 for nonresidents, or $9 for a daily permit.
What motors are allowed on Hunnewell Lake?
MDC writes: Anglers are allowed to use electric trolling motors on MDC boats.
Which shop on our Missouri list is nearest Hunnewell Lake?
Try Indian Creek Marina, roughly 11 miles off.
Is Hunnewell Lake fishing well in 2026?
Largemouth bass fishing is expected to be fair in 2026. Results from the 2025 spring electrofishing survey indicated a 60 percent increase in the overall catch rate compared to 2023. Anglers can anticipate that over 50 percent of their catches will be 8 inches or larger, while only 4 percent will (MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects)
Are there brush piles in Hunnewell Lake?
44 points, broken down by material above.
Hitch the bass boat and head for Hunnewell Lake
Read the limits above, then pick the ramp nearest your target.