Fishing at Lake Capri in Columbia, Missouri

The Neighborhood of Lake Capri is minutes away from some of the best fishing in Columbia, Missouri, ranging in scope from tiny local ponds to the rolling waters of the Missouri River. Anglers with a valid Missouri fishing license can catch bass, trout, catfish and many other game fish species in the Lake Capri area, with annual stocking and an open ice fishing season that make pulling fish from the water a year-round endeavor.

  1. Lakes and Ponds at Rocky Fork

    • Rocky Fork Conservation Area is one of the closest fishing areas to Lake Capri -- a little more than 5 miles away -- and also one of the wildest. Spanning 2,200 densely wooded acres and crisscrossed with quiet hiking trails, Rocky Fork Conservation Area is home to 20 fishable lakes and ponds, many of which are accessible only on foot. Drive-in access is available at 52-acre Rocky Fork Lake, which includes a concrete boat ramp and ADA-accessible fishing pier, but anglers in search of seclusion can hit the trail and find access to several other lakes and ponds. Common game fish include largemouth bass, sunfish, catfish and crappie, and the conservation area's calm waters are perfect for fishing by kayak or float tube.

    The Finger Lakes

    • Finger Lakes State Park shares a border with Rocky Fork Conservation Area, and is home to several lakes with similar fishing opportunities. When viewed from above, the lakes of Finger Lakes State Park do indeed look as though they might have been carved out by the fingers of a giant hand. Strip mining during the 1960s was their true origin, but as the landscape recovered and the former pit mines filled with water, what was once a desolate landscape became one of the best fishing spots in the Columbia area. Heavily stocked with panfish, bass and catfish by the Missouri Conservation Department, the Finger Lakes are easily accessible to shore anglers, and a concrete boat ramp provides a place to get out on open water. Boats are restricted to electric motors and non-powered craft only, and you can rent a canoe or kayak at the park.

    Columbia City Parks

    • Nine city parks in Columbia include fishing lakes, and fishing is permitted year-round. Stephens Lake in Stephens Lake Park includes an ADA-accessible fishing boardwalk and paved trails around the shoreline -- and one of the lakes at Twin Lakes Recreation Area has an accessible fishing dock with a shade canopy. These lakes and several others are stocked with bass, crappie and catfish by the Missouri Conservation Department. Cosmo-Bethel Lake, a 7-acre pond in Cosmo-Bethel Park, is also stocked with trout during the winter months. About 2,400 trout are placed in the lake at the end of October, and fishing is restricted to artificial lures and catch-and-release from November through January. During winter months, Cosmo-Bethel Lake is open to ice fishing when conditions allow.

    The Big River

    • About 30 minutes from Lake Capri, the Missouri River is almost certainly the best catfish water in the Columbia Area. Many miles of riverfront are protected within state-operated conservation areas along the banks o the Missouri, and anglers can find ample shore access at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area and Plowboy Bend Conservation Area. Fishing for catfish is particularly good on summer nights, and other fish like crappie, carp and drum are also available. Boat launch facilities are not provided within the conservation areas, but visitors can easily carry a canoe or kayak down to the water and launch it by hand. Overnight camping is allowed along the riverbank from April to September.