US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 105466277).
The red circle marks Schell Lake.
Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Missouri: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).
Official MDC pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.
Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.
Fish species the Missouri Department of Conservation lists for fishing here: White Bass, Sunfish, Catfish, Crappie, Black Bass.
Source: Missouri Department of Conservation page for Schell-Osage Conservation Area (fish listed under Fishing; for areas with several lakes the list covers the whole area) and the MDC managed public waterbodies map. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.
Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.
Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 105466277), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: MDC managed boat ramps and accesses. Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (38.0138, -94.0713). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Schell Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.
Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.
2 public access sites listed, 2 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.
| Site | Town | Owner | Type | Parking | Fee | Uses | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schell-Osage Conservation Area | Schell City | Missouri Department of Conservation | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | No fee | Boating | 38.0141, -94.0605 |
| Schell-Osage Conservation Area | Schell City | Missouri Department of Conservation | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | No fee | Boating | 38.0143, -94.0838 |
MDC managed boat ramps and accesses
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
Reported on or near Schell Lake
USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database
USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.
Schell Lake covers about 390 acres in Schell City, Missouri (Vernon County).
Missouri Department of Conservation lists White Bass, Black Bass, Crappie, Catfish and Sunfish.
Yes. 2 public trailer launches are listed: Schell-Osage Conservation Area and Schell-Osage Conservation Area. Check posted fees and parking rules.
Schell Lake touches Schell City in Vernon County and St. Clair County, Missouri.
Know Schell Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).
Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Missouri lakes & ponds · All waters in Schell City