Smithville Lake Fishing
A 6,994-acre Missouri reservoir in Clay County and Clinton County.
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The facts on Smithville Lake
MDC maps Smithville Lake at 6,994 acres of open water in Clay County and Clinton County. From the water, Paradise sits about 1 mile away. The water sits inside the MDC Kansas City Region.
1,022 attractor points of cedar, stumps or rock sit on its bottom. The Corps runs 2 recreation areas around it. Watch for 2 special regulations of its own.
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.
MDC sampling notes on Smithville Lake
The 2026 Missouri Fishing Prospects says this about Smithville Lake:
Smithville Lake is a 7,190-acre reservoir located just north of Kansas City. Smithville Lake largemouth bass catch rates remain very close to an all-time high. Catch rates in 2025 were 157 bass per hour. That number has remained pretty consistent for the last 3 years. Electrofishing surveys show that 29 percent of the bass are over the 15-inch mark. Casting spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and plastics around the numerous newly installed brush piles and hinge cut trees should produce some nice fish. White Bass fishing was excellent in 2025, and recent sampling efforts show another large year class of fish entering the population.
Crappie continue to be the focal point of Smithville Lake. The new crappie regulation continues to have a positive impact on the size structure!! We still encourage anglers to harvest the undersized black crappie and throw back the undersized white crappie. In doing so, the size structure of both species are benefiting. Crappie trap netting shows that the population is pretty close to 50/50 black and white crappies now. All indications look like we are in for another fantastic crappie fishing year in 2026. 31 percent of the black crappies are over 9" and 5 percent are over 10".
Catfishing at Smithville can be outstanding. For best bets on channel catfish, fish at night in the upper ends of the lake arms or along the shallow flats around the islands and main lake. Fresh cut shad or livers work best. Flathead catfish are very popular at Smithville. Flathead catfish can be caught fishing jugs and on trotlines along creek channels and rocky bluffs using fresh shad or other live baits. Remember to always label your lines and watch for boat traffic.
MDC, 2026 Missouri Fishing Prospects (report), quoted; retrieved October 27, 2026.
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The roster for Smithville Lake comes from MDC sources; unlisted fish may also be present.
MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects text, MDC State Record Fish list and MDC trout program statements, retrieved October 27, 2026.
Brush piles and cover in Smithville Lake
Habitat crews mapped 1,022 attractor points in Smithville Lake, placed between 2010 and 2025.
A sample of one point in 6 appears on the map.
| Material | Points | Years placed |
|---|---|---|
| Hardwood | 921 | 2012 to 2025 |
| Cedars | 69 | 2021 to 2022 |
| Rocks | 21 | 2012 |
| NA | 11 | 2010 |
MDC Fishing Interactive Map, fish attractors layer (material and year placed as mapped), retrieved October 27, 2026.
Where to get on Smithville Lake
Boaters heading to Smithville Lake will find no mapped ramp; nearby options are below.
Federal parks on the shore of Smithville Lake
Crows Creek and Little Platte.
More MDC ramps around Smithville Lake
- Lathrop Bridge Accessboat ramp, parking, privy nearby, 10 miles northeast
- Sharps Station Access on Platte RiverPlatte River, 11 miles west
MDC boat ramp/access, dock and jetty layers; USACE Little Rock District ramps and USACE recreation areas; retrieved October 27, 2026.
What a Missouri angler may keep at Smithville 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 |
These statewide rows hold at Smithville Lake unless a special regulation below changes them.
Booklet exceptions at Smithville Lake
| Water as printed | Where | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Smithville Lake | Whole water | Black bass — 15" minimum length limit |
| Smithville Lake | Whole water | Crappie — Daily limit of 30 fish may include no more than 15 fish more than 9" in total length. |
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.
Smithville Lake and the closest MDC lakes
Williams Creek Lake leads this group on size with 99 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Attractors | Species named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smithville Lake | 6,994 | 0 | 1,022 | 8 | |
| Lake Remote | 4 miles southwest | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jesse James Park Lake | 9 miles east | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Picnic Lake | 13 miles northeast | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Williams Creek Lake | 14 miles east | 99 | 0 | 9 | 7 |
| Belcher Branch Lake | 15 miles northwest | 45 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
MDC waterbody outlines, ramp and attractor layers, 2026 prospects; retrieved October 27, 2026.
Shops, towns and water around Smithville Lake
Neighbouring MDC impoundments to Smithville Lake
- Lake Remote4 miles southwest
- Jesse James Park Lake9 miles east
- Picnic Lake13 miles northeast
- Williams Creek Lake14 miles east
- Belcher Branch Lake15 miles northwest
Where to stock the cooler for Smithville Lake
- Camp Branch Marinamarina, Smithville, 3 miles
- Burton's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Smithville, 5 miles
- Rogers Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Liberty, 13 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Libertysporting goods store, Liberty, 14 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Libertysporting goods store, Liberty, 14 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Kansas Citysporting goods store, Kansas City, 15 miles
Towns with a bed near Smithville Lake
- Smithville4 miles
- Plattsburg8 miles
- Kearney10 miles
County-by-county pages for Smithville Lake
- Clay Countyseat: Liberty
- Clinton Countyseat: Plattsburg
Piscifun spinning and casting gear to pack for Smithville Lake
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Fish pictures to know before Smithville Lake
Photo: Dominic, CC BY 4.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Photo: MONGO, CC BY-SA 3.0
Smithville Lake: questions Show-Me anglers bring up
Which Missouri county is Smithville Lake in?
Look in Clay County and Clinton County, the MDC Kansas City Region, about 1 mile from Paradise.
What does MDC list as the size of Smithville Lake?
Roughly 6,994 acres on the MDC outline.
Can I trailer a boat into Smithville Lake?
MDC and the Corps map no ramp on it; the nearby list above has options.
Does Smithville Lake have bass and crappie?
On the list: largemouth bass, white bass, crappie, channel catfish, flathead catfish, walleye and white crappie.
Which 2026 Missouri rules apply on Smithville Lake?
Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky): 6 a day; All year. See the special-regulation table above too.
What does a fishing permit cost for Smithville 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 motors are allowed on Smithville Lake?
Nothing on motors is published here; read the ramp signs.
Which shop on our Missouri list is nearest Smithville Lake?
Try Camp Branch Marina, roughly 3 miles off.
Is Smithville Lake fishing well in 2026?
Smithville Lake is a 7,190-acre reservoir located just north of Kansas City. Smithville Lake largemouth bass catch rates remain very close to an all-time high. Catch rates in 2025 were 157 bass per hour. That number has remained pretty consistent for the last 3 years. Electrofishing surveys show (MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects)
Are there brush piles in Smithville Lake?
1,022 points, broken down by material above.
Hitch the bass boat and head for Smithville Lake
Read the limits above, then pick the ramp nearest your target.