Cast your lines for bass, walleye, catfish, crappie or even muskie. Pomme de Terre Lake is one a the few places close to Missouri to offer true muskellunge (muskie) fishing.
Pomme de Terre Lake is located in west central Missouri Ozarks on the Pomme de Terre River. The Pomme de Terre Project was authorized by Congress in 1938 as part of a comprehensive flood control plan for the Missouri River Basin. At multipurpose pool Pomme de Terre Lake covers 7,820 acres and can expand to as much as 16,100 acres during periods of heavy rain as excess runoff is impounded to prevent downstream flooding.
The Pomme de Terre Dam is an earth and rockfill embankment, is 7,240 feet long and stands 155 feet above the streambed. The dam’s impervious core was made of heavily compacted clay and is virtually watertight. The outlet works, consisting of the control tower, tunnel and stilling basin. The control tower is equipped with two hydraulically operated gates which controlled release of water through the dam and reduces the force of the water flowing downstream.
The phrase “Pomme de Terre” is French for “Apple of the Earth” or “potato”. The Pomme de Terre River was probably named after plants that resembled potatoes that grew on this banks. This plant was probably an Apios Americana or Potato Bean and was used for food by the Indians.
With locations on both the Pittsburg and Hermitage sides of Pomme de Terre Lake, the State Park offers a little bit of everything. A marina and boat ramps make it easy to get in the water and fish for bass, walleye, catfish, crappie, or muskie. Two public swimming beaches make for great places to cool off or laze the day away. Two hiking trails satisfy an appetite for adventure. And more than 250 campsites make the park ideal for multi-day getaways.
Fishing is allowed anywhere on Pomme de Terre Lake. For fishing at the State Park Marina, there is a $2 per day fee for adults and $1 for children.
