North Bethany City Reservoir Fishing
A 76-acre Missouri reservoir in Harrison County.
Pick for bluegillPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo, nearby stand in for North Bethany City Reservoir: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0
Where North Bethany City Reservoir sits and how big it is
The MDC outline gives North Bethany City Reservoir a surface of 76 acres, spread over Harrison County. The shortest run to a town is Bethany, near 3 miles. Biologists of the MDC Northwest Region look after it. MDC lists it as part of North Bethany City Reservoir (Bethany).
You can launch at 1 mapped ramp. Anglers can target 2 mapped attractor points.
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.
This season at North Bethany City Reservoir, per MDC
In its 2026 prospects, MDC reports on North Bethany City Reservoir as follows:
North Bethany City Reservoir (72 acres) is a clear and deep (40+ feet) lake which serves as one of two city water-supply lakes. The lake is surrounded by wooded slopes and offers a scenic, quiet setting close to town for anglers and folks that just want to get outside. There is a concrete boat ramp, a new floating fishing dock, and associated parking areas to assist anglers. Electrofishing surveys in 2024 showed the fishery offers good numbers of nice-sized (7-9 inches) bluegill. Most bluegill (80 percent) in our surveys were larger than 6 inches with 12 percent over 8 inches.
There were also good numbers of smaller largemouth bass in our surveys. Most bass (62 percent) were less than 12 inches but all of those fish were legal for anglers to harvest given the 12-15 inch protected-slot limit on this lake. This is a great opportunity for kids to experience some success catching and keeping bass, plus enjoy a tasty meal (many anglers prefer eating smaller bass). Harvest of these smaller bass also promotes faster growth for other bass in the lake through reduced competition.
The 2024 surveys showed redear sunfish remain abundant with some good-sized fish (7-9 inches). Channel catfish are stocked in the lake every two years at a rate of 10 catfish per acre.
Two miles north of the city of Bethany on US Highway 69, then west 1/2-mile on W Intrepid Road.
MDC, 2026 Missouri Fishing Prospects (report), quoted; retrieved October 27, 2026.
For the bluegill herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Species reported at North Bethany City Reservoir
Tap a fish to open its Missouri species page; each one is named for North Bethany City Reservoir by MDC.
MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects text, MDC State Record Fish list and MDC trout program statements, retrieved October 27, 2026.
MDC fish attractors in North Bethany City Reservoir
MDC maps 2 attractor points in North Bethany City Reservoir, placed in 2020.
| Material | Points | Years placed |
|---|---|---|
| HabitatCove | 2 | 2020 |
MDC Fishing Interactive Map, fish attractors layer (material and year placed as mapped), retrieved October 27, 2026.
Ramps and docks on North Bethany City Reservoir
- North Bethany City Reservoir (Bethany) accessboat ramp, parking, privy nearby; Missouri Department of Conservation
Boat ramps within reach of North Bethany City Reservoir
- Old Bethany City Lake (Bethany)Old Bethany City Lake, 2 miles south
- Harrison County LakeHarrison County Lake, 6 miles northwest
MDC boat ramp/access, dock and jetty layers; USACE Little Rock District ramps and USACE recreation areas; retrieved October 27, 2026.
Bag and length rules at North Bethany City Reservoir
| 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 |
At North Bethany City Reservoir the statewide limits apply, with any listed exception taking priority.
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.
MDC lakes near North Bethany City Reservoir, put side by side
For more room to roam, Harrison County Lake offers 302 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Attractors | Species named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Bethany City Reservoir | 76 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
| Old Bethany City Lake | 2 miles south | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Harrison County Lake | 7 miles northwest | 302 | 1 | 27 | 9 |
| Lake Paho | 20 miles east | 236 | 2 | 94 | 4 |
| Jamesport Community Lake | 24 miles southeast | 27 | 1 | 32 | 0 |
| Crowder State Park Lake | 25 miles southeast | 22 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
MDC waterbody outlines, ramp and attractor layers, 2026 prospects; retrieved October 27, 2026.
What else lies close to North Bethany City Reservoir
Lakes to try after North Bethany City Reservoir
- Old Bethany City Lake2 miles south
- Harrison County Lake7 miles northwest
- Lake Paho20 miles east
- Jamesport Community Lake24 miles southeast
- Crowder State Park Lake25 miles southeast
Where to sleep before fishing North Bethany City Reservoir
- Bethany3 miles
- Albany17 miles
- Princeton24 miles
Counties sharing North Bethany City Reservoir
- Harrison Countyseat: Bethany
Line and reels from Piscifun ahead of North Bethany City Reservoir
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Photographs of fishing water by North Bethany City Reservoir
Photo: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Americasroof at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Laura Gilchrist, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Before a trip to North Bethany City Reservoir, the common questions
Where in the Show-Me State is North Bethany City Reservoir?
The outline sits in Harrison County, the MDC Northwest Region, about 3 miles from Bethany.
How many acres is North Bethany City Reservoir by MDC mapping?
The outline measures 76 acres.
Where is the nearest ramp to North Bethany City Reservoir?
Yes, 1 mapped ramp, such as North Bethany City Reservoir (Bethany) access.
Which gamefish are named for North Bethany City Reservoir?
MDC names largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish and common carp.
Is there a length limit at North Bethany City Reservoir?
Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky): 6 a day; All year.
Can a visitor from another state fish Missouri's North Bethany City Reservoir?
Missouri anglers 16 through 64 carry a fishing permit: $14 a year for residents, $57 for nonresidents, or $9 for a daily permit.
Is there a horsepower limit on North Bethany City Reservoir?
No motor limit is on file; signs on site decide.
Where does a Missouri angler buy bait near North Bethany City Reservoir?
Every listed shop is over 25 miles off.
What is the 2026 outlook for North Bethany City Reservoir?
North Bethany City Reservoir (72 acres) is a clear and deep (40+ feet) lake which serves as one of two city water-supply lakes. The lake is surrounded by wooded slopes and offers a scenic, quiet setting close to town for anglers and folks that just want to get outside. There is a concrete boat (MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects)
Has MDC added fish cover to North Bethany City Reservoir?
Yes: 2 attractor points on the MDC layer.
Give a Missouri weekend to North Bethany City Reservoir
Buy the Missouri permit online before the trip.