Lake Paho Fishing
A 236-acre Missouri lake in Mercer County.
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Lake Paho, measured and mapped
Missouri anglers get 236 acres of lake at Lake Paho, a water of Mercer County. Plan on about 4 miles to reach Princeton, the nearest town. Fisheries work here belongs to the MDC Northwest Region. The surrounding ground is Lake Paho Conservation Area.
There are 2 mapped ramps on the water. There are also 2 docks and jetties. The attractor layer marks 94 spots of sunken cover.
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: 816-271-3100.
Lake Paho in the 2026 Fishing Prospects
MDC fisheries staff wrote this outlook for Lake Paho in the 2026 Missouri Fishing Prospects:
Lake Paho (273 acres) offers fishing, camping (no hookups), and a peaceful natural setting for those wanting to relax in the outdoors. Anglers have long recognized the lake for quality-sized largemouth bass, but recent surveys show a trend towards more but smaller bass. Electrofishing surveys from 2017-2025 showed a significant increase in catch rates for bass, much of that due to bass from 6-12 inches and an increase in the amount of aquatic vegetation. In 2025, several bass in our surveys were in the 8-15” range but a few fish larger than 20 inches were observed as well.
MDC, 2026 Missouri Fishing Prospects (report), quoted; retrieved October 27, 2026.
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These fish are tied to Lake Paho through MDC reporting and records, not a full netting census.
MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects text, MDC State Record Fish list and MDC trout program statements, retrieved October 27, 2026.
Habitat MDC added to Lake Paho
Look for 94 placed cover points in Lake Paho, placed between 2014 and 2023.
| Material | Points | Years placed |
|---|---|---|
| Hardwood | 67 | 2014 to 2023 |
| Cedars | 27 | 2023 |
MDC Fishing Interactive Map, fish attractors layer (material and year placed as mapped), retrieved October 27, 2026.
Boat ramps serving Lake Paho
- Lake Paho Conservation Area (north ramp)boat ramp, parking, privy nearby; Missouri Department of Conservation
- Lake Paho Conservation Area (south ramp)boat ramp, parking, privy nearby; Missouri Department of Conservation
Shore anglers' spots at Lake Paho
- Lake Paho Conservation Areafishing dock
- Lake Paho Conservation Areafishing jetty
MDC boat ramp/access, dock and jetty layers; USACE Little Rock District ramps and USACE recreation areas; retrieved October 27, 2026.
Limits that govern Lake Paho
| 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, Lake Paho 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.
How Lake Paho compares with nearby water
The largest neighbour in the table is Harrison County Lake, 302 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Attractors | Species named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Paho | 236 | 2 | 94 | 4 | |
| North Bethany City Reservoir | 20 miles west | 76 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Old Bethany City Lake | 21 miles southwest | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Crowder State Park Lake | 22 miles south | 22 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Harrison County Lake | 22 miles west | 302 | 1 | 27 | 9 |
| Jamesport Community Lake | 30 miles south | 27 | 1 | 32 | 0 |
MDC waterbody outlines, ramp and attractor layers, 2026 prospects; retrieved October 27, 2026.
Bait, beds and backup water by Lake Paho
Backup lakes close to Lake Paho
- North Bethany City Reservoir20 miles west
- Old Bethany City Lake21 miles southwest
- Crowder State Park Lake22 miles south
- Harrison County Lake22 miles west
- Jamesport Community Lake30 miles south
Tackle stores on the road to Lake Paho
- Ameican Sportsmanbait and tackle shop, Trenton, 23 miles
Overnight bases close to Lake Paho
- Princeton4 miles
- Bethany22 miles
- Trenton23 miles
Which Missouri counties hold Lake Paho
- Mercer Countyseat: Princeton
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Lakes and streams close to Lake Paho, pictured
Photo: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: mostateparks, Public domain
Clearing up the basics of Lake Paho
What corner of Missouri holds Lake Paho?
It lies in Mercer County, the MDC Northwest Region, about 4 miles from Princeton.
How much open water does Lake Paho have?
About 236 acres.
Which ramp should I use at Lake Paho?
Use Lake Paho Conservation Area (north ramp), one of 2 mapped ramps.
What can a Missouri angler hook at Lake Paho?
MDC points to largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish and white crappie.
What are the daily limits at Lake Paho?
Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky): 6 a day; All year.
Do I need a Missouri permit to fish Lake Paho?
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 Lake Paho?
No horsepower rule is in this data; follow posted signs.
Is there a bait store on the road to Missouri's Lake Paho?
Ameican Sportsman, about 23 miles away.
What did MDC sampling find at Lake Paho?
Lake Paho (273 acres) offers fishing, camping (no hookups), and a peaceful natural setting for those wanting to relax in the outdoors. Anglers have long recognized the lake for quality-sized largemouth bass, but recent surveys show a trend towards more but smaller bass. Electrofishing surveys from (MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects)
Where do fish hold on cover in Lake Paho?
MDC placed 94 attractor points; see the map above.
Put Lake Paho on the Show-Me fishing list
Permit prices and the statewide limits sit on one page.