Macon City Lake Fishing
A 189-acre Missouri lake in Macon County.
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Sizing up Macon City Lake
In Macon County, Macon City Lake measures 189 acres on the conservation department map. Macon is the nearest town, some 2 miles off. MDC manages it within the MDC Northeast Region. Missouri visitors reach it through Macon City Lake.
Boaters have 1 mapped ramp to choose from. MDC habitat work left 6 attractor points here.
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.
Structure placed in Macon City Lake
The MDC attractor layer shows 6 points at Macon City Lake, placed in 2015.
| Material | Points | Years placed |
|---|---|---|
| Cedars | 6 | 2015 |
MDC Fishing Interactive Map, fish attractors layer (material and year placed as mapped), retrieved October 27, 2026.
Every mapped access at Macon City Lake
- Macon City Lakeboat ramp, parking, privy nearby; Missouri Department of Conservation
Accesses a quick trailer haul from Macon City Lake
- Atlanta Conservation Area, Pond 8Pond 8, 8 miles north
- Thomas Hill Reservoir Conservation Area (north ramp)Thomas Hill Reservoir, 11 miles southwest
- Dodd Accessboat ramp, parking, 12 miles northwest
MDC boat ramp/access, dock and jetty layers; USACE Little Rock District ramps and USACE recreation areas; retrieved October 27, 2026.
Daily limits on Macon City 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 |
The statewide rows set the baseline at Macon City Lake.
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.
For the largemouth herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 Macon City Lake next to five nearby lakes
By MDC acreage, Thomas Hill Reservoir tops the neighbours at 4,013 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Attractors | Species named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macon City Lake | 189 | 1 | 6 | 0 | |
| Blees Lake | 3 miles southeast | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Long Branch Lake | 3 miles northwest | 2,750 | 0 | 14 | 9 |
| Thomas Hill Reservoir | 13 miles southwest | 4,013 | 4 | 30 | 6 |
| La Plata City Lake | 18 miles north | 84 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| Sugar Creek Lake | 19 miles south | 308 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
MDC waterbody outlines, ramp and attractor layers, 2026 prospects; retrieved October 27, 2026.
Next stops near Macon City Lake
Other still water near Macon City Lake
- Blees Lake3 miles southeast
- Long Branch Lake3 miles northwest
- Thomas Hill Reservoir13 miles southwest
- La Plata City Lake18 miles north
- Sugar Creek Lake19 miles south
Bait counters that serve Macon City Lake
- Ardent Outdoors Incbait and tackle shop, Macon, 2 miles
- Tong Branch Marina Storemarina, Macon, 2 miles
- Sunderland Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Moberly, 22 miles
Show-Me towns a drive from Macon City Lake
- Macon2 miles
- La Plata18 miles
- Huntsville22 miles
The Missouri counties Macon City Lake reaches into
- Macon Countyseat: Macon
Piscifun tackle a Missouri angler might take to Macon City Lake
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Hollows, bluffs and lakes by Macon City Lake, in photos

Photo: mostateparks, Public domain

Photo: mostateparks, Public domain

Photo: Heath Cajandig, CC BY 2.0

Photo: Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC0 1.0
Things Show-Me visitors wonder about Macon City Lake
Which MDC region covers Macon City Lake?
You will find it in Macon County, the MDC Northeast Region, about 2 miles from Macon.
What surface area does MDC give Macon City Lake?
Some 189 acres.
Where does a Show-Me boater launch on Macon City Lake?
1 mapped ramp, including Macon City Lake.
What fish does MDC report at Macon City Lake?
The MDC sources here name no species.
Does Macon City Lake have special fishing rules?
Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky): 6 a day; All year.
Is a trout permit needed at Macon City Lake?
Missouri anglers 16 through 64 carry a fishing permit: $14 a year for residents, $57 for nonresidents, or $9 for a daily permit.
Does MDC allow gas motors on Macon City Lake?
Posted rules at the access apply; none is on file here.
Who sells minnows and crawdads near Macon City Lake?
Drive about 2 miles to Ardent Outdoors Inc.
Does Macon City Lake have fish attractors?
MDC lists 6 points of placed cover.
Pick a date for Macon City Lake
Check the daily limit before a fish goes in the livewell.

