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Missouri lakes and reservoirs

Macon City Lake Fishing

A 189-acre Missouri lake in Macon County.

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Photo of Long Branch Lake: mostateparks, Public domain

Macon County

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.

189acres
1mapped ramps
6attractor points
1counties

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.

Cover

Structure placed in Macon City Lake

The MDC attractor layer shows 6 points at Macon City Lake, placed in 2015.

MaterialPointsYears placed
Cedars62015

MDC Fishing Interactive Map, fish attractors layer (material and year placed as mapped), retrieved October 27, 2026.

Access

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.

Limits

Daily limits on Macon City Lake

SpeciesDaily limit and lengthSeason
Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky)6 a dayAll year
Channel catfish10 a dayAll year
Blue catfish5 a dayAll year
Flathead catfish5 a dayAll year
Crappie (black and white)30 a dayAll year
Goggle-eye (Ozark, rock, and shadow bass) and warmouth15 a day; 7" minimumAll year
Muskellunge1 (daily limit is 1 muskellunge or 1 northern pike); 36" minimumAll year
Northern pike1 (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 dayAll year
Shovelnose sturgeon10 a day; 30" maximum (snout to fork of tail)All year
Trout (rainbow and brown)4 a day; Rainbow: none; Brown: 15" minimum in streamsAll year
Walleye and sauger4 a day; 15" minimumAll year
White, yellow, and striped bass and their hybrids15 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.

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Compare

Macon City Lake next to five nearby lakes

By MDC acreage, Thomas Hill Reservoir tops the neighbours at 4,013 acres.

LakeDistanceAcresRampsAttractorsSpecies named
Macon City Lake189160
Blees Lake3 miles southeast10000
Long Branch Lake3 miles northwest2,7500149
Thomas Hill Reservoir13 miles southwest4,0134306
La Plata City Lake18 miles north84170
Sugar Creek Lake19 miles south308100

MDC waterbody outlines, ramp and attractor layers, 2026 prospects; retrieved October 27, 2026.

Nearby

Next stops near Macon City Lake

Other still water near Macon City Lake

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

Piscifun tackle a Missouri angler might take to Macon City Lake

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Photos

Hollows, bluffs and lakes by Macon City Lake, in photos

Long Branch Lake, Missouri
Long Branch Lake 3.1 mi
Photo: mostateparks, Public domain
Mark Twain Lake, Missouri
Mark Twain Lake 42 mi
Photo: mostateparks, Public domain
Boone County, Missouri
Boone County 57 mi
Photo: Heath Cajandig, CC BY 2.0
Hannibal, Missouri
Hannibal 58 mi
Photo: Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC0 1.0
Answers

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.