Kirksville Area Lakes

[KansasBoy13]

Anyone ever fish Hazel Creek Lake or Forest Lake in the Kirksville, MO area? Going to be moving there in the near future and was just wondering. I've found very little info on the fishing there anywhere on the internet. Thanks.

[MoSportsmen]

I have fished these lakes for 30 years. Thousand Hills should be real good this year. The high water of the last couple years has kept fishing slow and allowed fish to grow and should be pleanty of them. There is a good ballanced population of fish at Thousand Hills. Good handy place to get on the water and worth your time.

Hazel Creek is good also. Great chance of catching big bass. The lake has suffered from low reproductive rates in the last decade due to a MDC accedent of stocking too many grass carp. This made aquatic vegitation almost non existant and no where for the babies to hide. The lake is on the up swing as the grass carp are dying of old age.

Another piece of good water should be LaPlata this year. The big lake has had a fee imposed to put a boat in for the last couple years. This has turned away many. I am thinking this year the fee will really be worth paying....about 25.00 per annual permit. Two years of slow down on fishing pressure can't be a bad thing. I am thinking I will get my money's worth this year if I get a chance to go up there. Good bass and crappie. Probably try to whack some big grass carp with my bow also.

Good home water to have. I have just moved to Macon and I got new water to learn.

Tom

[eric1978]

You're really close to this place: http://www.trophycountry.com/FishingPhotos.html

If you have deep pockets, try them out for a crazy day of fishing. It's pretty incredible for MO. Expensive though.

I'm in one of those pics from six or seven years ago. Been thinking about selling my kid so I can afford to go back.

[MoSportsmen]

I know of them, Filmed a duck hunt there. Planned on doing a fishing show there but lost my connection. Nice place. They are dong more fishing business than deer hunting.

Tom

[KansasBoy13]

We fished Green City Lake once, caught a couple nice bass and my fiancee caught a really nice catfish on a Mepps but only time we fished there in the boat. We fished Union Ridge from the boat once caught a small crappie on topwater! Only time I can remember doing that and a couple dink bass. Then I fished Hazel Creek with my dad for the first time on Memorial Saturday. Expecting it to be busy we pretty much had the lake to ourselves. He caught a 6 lb largemouth and a 7 lb muskie amongst many other nice bass that day on topwater and soft plastics. First muskie either of us ever caught and only one still. He caught it on a 7 inch power worm, hit like a bluegill he said, wouldnt fit in the net had to land it by hand, only a little worried about that lol. He said it was possibly the best day fishing he ever had. That was the only place we fished for the rest of the year, never had a bad day. The best part of the lake is there are so many coves there is always a place to get out of the wind in our little pond prowler. I don't think we ever caught a small fish out of that lake. I think this year we may try Thousand Hills for some walleyes and yellow perch but Hazel Creek definitely has the goods. We saw a lot more people fishing for crappie than bass there tho.

Is there only one place to launch at Thousand Hills and it is pay isn't it? Thanks.

[MoSportsmen]

Thousand hills does charge an annual fee. Very cheep to get a annual tag for your electric powered boat. For me with a motor boat Thousand hills was always a lot easier for a quick trip. Thousand hills is not great fishing from the shore, though I have caught and seen caught many fish right in front of the dinning lodge. Hazel is definately my choice if I want to spend the time to get to my favorite spots with a electric. There are many little lakes within 30 miles they are all better than a weekend on LOZ for most of us average fishermen.

Tom