Montrose Lake Fishing
A 1,444-acre Missouri reservoir in Henry County.
Pick for largemouthPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo of Truman Lake: MoBikeFed, CC BY 2.0
What the MDC outline says about Montrose Lake
Conservation department GIS puts 1,444 acres of water inside the Montrose Lake outline in Henry County. Groceries and fuel are nearest in La Due, roughly 4 miles away. It falls under the MDC Kansas City Region. It lies on Montrose Conservation Area.
The ramp layers show 3 mapped ramps. Statewide limits change here in 2 special regulations.
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.
Launch points MDC maps around Montrose Lake
- Montrose Conservation Area (east ramp)boat ramp, parking; Missouri Department of Conservation
- Montrose Conservation Area (south ramp)boat ramp, parking, privy nearby; Missouri Department of Conservation
- Montrose Conservation Area (west ramp)boat ramp, parking, privy nearby; Missouri Department of Conservation
Other ramps close to Montrose Lake
- Truman Reservoir Management Lands (Grand River Bottoms) on South Grand RiverSouth Grand River, 7 miles east
- Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area, Pit 12Pit 12, 9 miles northeast
- Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area, Pit 11Pit 11, 9 miles northeast
- Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area, Pit 14Pit 14, 9 miles northeast
- Haysler A. Poague Conservation Area, Pit 1Pit 1, 10 miles northeast
- Urich Access on South Grand RiverSouth Grand River, 11 miles north
MDC boat ramp/access, dock and jetty layers; USACE Little Rock District ramps and USACE recreation areas; retrieved October 27, 2026.
Keeping fish from Montrose 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 Montrose Lake, read the statewide limits first, then any water-specific rule.
Exceptions MDC lists for Montrose Lake
| Water as printed | Where | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Montrose Lake | Whole water | Black bass — 18" minimum length limit; 2 fish daily limit |
| Montrose Lake | Whole water | Crappie — 15 fish daily limit |
Rules as printed in A Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations 2026 (MDC, effective March 1, 2026) (booklet PDF, Special Regulations on Large Lakes and on Rivers and Streams); checked against the current Wildlife Code October 27, 2026.
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 Neighbour lakes measured against Montrose Lake
Among the five closest Missouri lakes with pages, Harry S Truman Lake has the most water at 49,330 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Attractors | Species named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montrose Lake | 1,444 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Schell Lake | 21 miles south | 287 | 3 | 62 | 0 |
| Atkinson Lake | 22 miles south | 434 | 1 | 18 | 5 |
| Harry S Truman Lake | 23 miles east | 49,330 | 1 | 788 | 11 |
| Butler City Lake | 27 miles west | 70 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
| Unit 3 Lake | 27 miles southwest | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
MDC waterbody outlines, ramp and attractor layers, 2026 prospects; retrieved October 27, 2026.
Missouri places a short haul from Montrose Lake
Missouri lakes not far from Montrose Lake
- Schell Lake21 miles south
- Atkinson Lake22 miles south
- Harry S Truman Lake23 miles east
- Butler City Lake27 miles west
- Unit 3 Lake27 miles southwest
Buying minnows and worms near Montrose Lake
- Bait & Morebait and tackle shop, Clinton, 10 miles
- Everhart Outdoor Supplybait and tackle shop, Clinton, 11 miles
- Dains Fish Farmbait and tackle shop, Schell City, 22 miles
- Tebo Creek Bait Stopbait and tackle shop, Clinton, 22 miles
- Anglers and Antlers-Home of the Rocky Top Tube!fly shop, Warsaw, 25 miles
Missouri towns to stay in near Montrose Lake
- Appleton City9 miles
- Clinton11 miles
- Butler22 miles
Missouri county guides that cover Montrose Lake
- Henry Countyseat: Clinton
Reels from Piscifun worth bringing to Montrose Lake
.jpg){kind=link}
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Photo guide to fish at Montrose 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
Montrose Lake questions, with short answers
What Missouri town is closest to Montrose Lake?
MDC maps it in Henry County, the MDC Kansas City Region, about 4 miles from La Due.
Is Montrose Lake a large lake for Missouri?
1,444 acres by MDC GIS.
How many MDC or Corps ramps serve Montrose Lake?
3 mapped ramps on file, Montrose Conservation Area (east ramp) among them.
Which species live in Montrose Lake?
Its fish are not listed.
How many black bass may a Missouri angler keep at Montrose Lake?
Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky): 6 a day; All year. The booklet adds its own line for it, listed above.
What permit does a visitor buy for Montrose 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 Montrose Lake?
The MDC data here prints no motor rule; check signs at the ramp.
Where do Montrose Lake anglers buy supplies?
Bait & More is nearest at 10 miles.
Plan a day on Montrose Lake
Fees, seasons and special rules are on the permit page.