Maple Leaf Lake Fishing
A 136-acre Missouri lake in Lafayette County.
Pick for largemouth bassPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo of Missouri River: Rob Stinnett, CC BY 2.0
What the MDC outline says about Maple Leaf Lake
Conservation department GIS puts 136 acres of water inside the Maple Leaf Lake outline in Lafayette County. Groceries and fuel are nearest in Mayview, roughly 5 miles away. It falls under the MDC Kansas City Region. It lies on Maple Leaf Lake Conservation Area.
The ramp layers show 1 mapped ramp. MDC adds 3 docks and jetties for shore fishing. MDC crews have placed 12 fish attractor points in it.
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.
What MDC biologists expect at Maple Leaf Lake in 2026
MDC published this 2026 forecast for Maple Leaf Lake:
Largemouth bass fishing should continue to be good for both legal (greater-than 15-inches) and sublegal (less-than 15-inches) fish. Maple Leaf produces high densities of forage for largemouth bass and anglers report catching bass in the 3-5 pound size range. Fishing crankbaits and buzzbaits along the weed beds and plastic worms around the standing trees are good strategies for bass anglers.
Bluegill fishing will be fair with most bluegill smaller than 6 inches in length. Redear sunfish fishing will be good. To catch redear sunfish, try using a small jig tipped with a little piece of worm fished along the bottom. Sunfish anglers should concentrate along the shoreline during April and May, and then move to standing trees in deeper water during June and July. Anglers may be more successful using worms and slip bobbers around flooded trees.
Crappie fishing will be fair due to the low density of fish. A considerable number of crappie caught by anglers can exceed 9 inches. Anglers may catch crappie on the banks during April and will have to target areas around submerged trees later in the season. Tube jigs and minnows are good crappie baits. Crappie angling can also be very good during September and October using minnows around submerged trees. Channel catfish fishing is good. Catfish anglers should try using stink baits or chicken livers, and fishing from the jetties or the dam in the evening.
MDC, 2026 Missouri Fishing Prospects (report), quoted; retrieved October 27, 2026.
For the largemouth bass herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 Fish worth chasing at Maple Leaf Lake
Chips link each fish named for Maple Leaf Lake by the MDC prospects text, a state record or the trout program.
MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects text, MDC State Record Fish list and MDC trout program statements, retrieved October 27, 2026.
Attractor sites across Maple Leaf Lake
Maple Leaf Lake holds 12 attractor points on the MDC map, placed in 2010.
| Material | Points | Years placed |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar-Hardwood | 12 | 2010 |
MDC Fishing Interactive Map, fish attractors layer (material and year placed as mapped), retrieved October 27, 2026.
Launch points MDC maps around Maple Leaf Lake
- Maple Leaf Lake Conservation Areaboat ramp, parking, privy nearby; Missouri Department of Conservation
Bank fishing structures on Maple Leaf Lake
- Maple Leaf Lake Conservation Areafishing dock, accessible
- Maple Leaf Lake Conservation Areafishing dock, accessible
- Maple Leaf Lake Conservation Areafishing dock, accessible
Other ramps close to Maple Leaf Lake
- Higginsville City Lake (west ramp)Higginsville City Lake, 8 miles northeast
- Higginsville City Lake (east ramp)Higginsville City Lake, 8 miles northeast
- Hazel Hill Community LakeHazel Hill Community Lake, 10 miles south
- Odessa City LakeOdessa City Lake, 11 miles west
- Edwin A. Pape Lake (Concordia)Edwin A Pape Lake, 11 miles east
MDC boat ramp/access, dock and jetty layers; USACE Little Rock District ramps and USACE recreation areas; retrieved October 27, 2026.
Keeping fish from Maple Leaf Lake legally
| 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 |
For Maple Leaf Lake, read the statewide limits first, then any water-specific rule.
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.
Neighbour lakes measured against Maple Leaf Lake
Among the five closest Missouri lakes with pages, Edwin A Pape Lake has the most water at 269 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Attractors | Species named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maple Leaf Lake | 136 | 1 | 12 | 5 | |
| Higginsville City Lake | 8 miles northeast | 147 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Lake Venita | 10 miles west | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hazel Hill Community Lake | 10 miles south | 63 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Edwin A Pape Lake | 11 miles east | 269 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Odessa City Lake | 11 miles west | 87 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
MDC waterbody outlines, ramp and attractor layers, 2026 prospects; retrieved October 27, 2026.
Missouri places a short haul from Maple Leaf Lake
Missouri lakes not far from Maple Leaf Lake
- Higginsville City Lake8 miles northeast
- Lake Venita10 miles west
- Hazel Hill Community Lake10 miles south
- Edwin A Pape Lake11 miles east
- Odessa City Lake11 miles west
Buying minnows and worms near Maple Leaf Lake
- Master Baiters Hooker Havenbait and tackle shop, Odessa, 9 miles
- C & S Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Lexington, 14 miles
- Jo's Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Lone Jack, 18 miles
- Andy's Boat Repairmarina, Sweet Springs, 20 miles
Missouri towns to stay in near Maple Leaf Lake
- Higginsville6 miles
- Odessa10 miles
- Concordia11 miles
Missouri county guides that cover Maple Leaf Lake
- Lafayette Countyseat: Lexington
Reels from Piscifun worth bringing to Maple Leaf Lake
.jpg){kind=link}
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Photo guide to fish at Maple Leaf Lake
Photo: Dominic, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Photo: MONGO, CC BY-SA 3.0
Maple Leaf Lake questions, with short answers
What Missouri town is closest to Maple Leaf Lake?
MDC maps it in Lafayette County, the MDC Kansas City Region, about 5 miles from Mayview.
Is Maple Leaf Lake a large lake for Missouri?
136 acres by MDC GIS.
How many MDC or Corps ramps serve Maple Leaf Lake?
1 mapped ramp on file, Maple Leaf Lake Conservation Area among them.
Which species live in Maple Leaf Lake?
Expect largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish.
How many black bass may a Missouri angler keep at Maple Leaf Lake?
Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky): 6 a day; All year.
What permit does a visitor buy for Maple Leaf 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 boating rules apply at Maple Leaf Lake?
The MDC data here prints no motor rule; check signs at the ramp.
Where do Maple Leaf Lake anglers buy supplies?
Master Baiters Hooker Haven is nearest at 9 miles.
How is fishing at Maple Leaf Lake this year?
Largemouth bass fishing should continue to be good for both legal (greater-than 15-inches) and sublegal (less-than 15-inches) fish. Maple Leaf produces high densities of forage for largemouth bass and anglers report catching bass in the 3-5 pound size range. Fishing crankbaits and buzzbaits along (MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects)
How many attractors are in Maple Leaf Lake?
Yes, 12 mapped attractor points, shown in the cover section.
Plan a day on Maple Leaf Lake
Fees, seasons and special rules are on the permit page.