Spinnerbait Fishing on Long Branch Lake
Long Branch Lake · Missouri · Midwest
Long Branch Lake sits just east of Macon, Missouri, impounded on the Little Chariton River by the Corps of Engineers in 1981. The reservoir runs roughly 12 miles at full pool, offering a blend of submerged timber in the upper arms, clay and gravel points mid-lake, and a deeper main channel that holds fish through the heat of summer and cold of winter. Water clarity tends toward stained to slightly tannic, particularly in the upper creek arms after rain, which keeps bass tight to visible cover rather than suspended open water.
A wire-arm lure with one or two rotating blades and a skirted jig head. The blades produce flash and vibration that triggers reaction strikes from bass that may not be actively feeding. Exceptional in low-visibility water, around grass edges, over submerged structure, and during cloudy or windy conditions.
Spinnerbait Setup for Long Branch Lake
| Rod | 7'–7'3" medium-heavy casting rod, moderate-fast action |
| Reel | 6.4:1–7.1:1 baitcaster |
| Line | 15–17 lb fluorocarbon or 30 lb braid |
| Weight | 3/8–3/4 oz (lighter in shallow, heavier for deeper retrieves) |
Seasonal Tactics on Long Branch Lake
Lake: Pre-spawn largemouth push into the timbered upper arms and shallow clay flats by mid-April when water temps hit 58–65°F; a 3/8 oz chartreuse/white spinnerbait worked slowly along flooded timber edges and submerged brush is one of the most consistent producers of the year. Spotted bass tend to stage slightly deeper on secondary points in 8–12 ft before making the same move.
Spinnerbait: Best season for spinnerbaits. Slow-roll a 1/2 oz through shallow grass and over submerged timber in pre-spawn.
Lake: Once surface temps crest 80°F, bass compress to the main channel edges and deeper timber in 18–28 ft; a football jig dragged on the outside timber lines or a drop shot finesse rig along channel swings produces when topwater bite dies off midday. Early morning topwater on shallow flats near the upper arms remains viable through June.
Spinnerbait: Slow-roll deep along grass edges and main lake points at first light. Night fishing with black spinnerbait is excellent.
Lake: Shad schools move into the mid-lake coves and flat creek mouths through October, pulling aggressive bass up into 6–12 ft of water; a 3/4 oz white or chartreuse swimjig paralleled along the timber line, or a Heddon Super Spook Jr. over open pockets, covers water quickly during this chase-and-ambush period.
Spinnerbait: Match shad patterns — white/chartreuse with willow blades. Cover water fast along shoreline transitions.
Lake: Cold-water bass stack on main channel timber and hard-bottom points in 22–35 ft when water temps drop below 48°F; a blade bait like a 1/2 oz Swedish Pimple worked vertically over submerged standing timber is a legitimate option that most Missouri anglers overlook in favor of jigs. Slow-dragging a 3/8 oz football jig on clay-gravel points produces fish on warming afternoons.
Spinnerbait: Slow-roll a heavy (3/4 oz) spinnerbait along steep banks and points at the slowest possible retrieve.
Best Conditions
Stained to muddy water, wind, overcast skies, grass edges, spring pre-spawn, post-cold-front recovery, shallow flats
Trailer hook is not optional in open water — bass swipe at spinnerbaits and miss the main hook constantly. Add a #4 trailer hook always.
More Techniques for Long Branch Lake
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