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SPORTSMEN'S INFORMATION NETWORK |
Bilby Ranch Lake (Northwest Region)Information: (816) 271-3100 Excellent fishing opportunities await those anglers trying this 110 acre lake, 15 minutes west of Maryville. Largemouth bass are plentiful in Bilby Ranch Lake. Spring electrofishing in 2005 again revealed an astounding number of largemouth bass 12-16" range, as well as a few lunkers. Bass anglers should concentrate their efforts along the dam rip rap, over the rock islands, or in the flooded timber in the upper two arms of the lake. With the high density bass population, the panfishing in Bilby is outstanding. Shore anglers enjoyed catches of bluegill over 9 inches and master angler-sized redear sunfish up to 11 inches in 2005, and 2006 should be no different. Crappie anglers have taken their toll on the 3-5 year old year class, so crappie will run a bit smaller in 2006 than anglers are accustomed. Fishing with small plastics and jig and minnow combinations over newly installed cedar tree brush piles, or over rock piles will still produce limits in the spring and fall. Bilby Ranch usually freezes thick enough in the winter to allow ice anglers a chance at crappie and bluegill. Channel cats are plentiful in Bilby, with a chance at a fish over 25 inches. Try the rip rap of the dam with dip bait and liver. Walleye from the 2002 stocking are growing extremely well in Bilby’s clear water. Spring fish sampling produced many walleye, with fish up to 24 inches. The Missouri Department of Conservation continued the walleye stocking program with 5" fingerlings stocked in September 2005, these fish should be legal (15"+) size in 2007-2008. Please release all under-sized walleye back into the lake unharmed. A disabled-user accessible covered fishing dock at the boat ramp has brush piles and deep water within casting distance, and produces good catches of all species for shore anglers. Numerous 1-acre and larger ponds on the area hold good populations of largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish for those anglers willing to walk in from the public parking lots.
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