Northwest Missouri / Missouri River Corridor
Little Compton Lake puts public fishing on the Grand River side
On the north bank of the Grand River, Little Compton Lake gives northeastern Carroll County a public-water note that is not the Missouri River story. The conservation area includes 1.5 miles of river frontage and a 40-acre lake managed for public fishing.
The Conservation Department bought the area in 1983 to provide outdoor activities including fishing, hunting, and nature enjoyment. The fish mix is broad for a small lake: largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, carp, and buffalo all belong in the area description.
The land around the water has its own job. Upland areas protect the lake’s watershed and support upland game. About 120 acres of bottomland forest along the Grand River protect the bank and provide habitat for deer, turkey, and other forest wildlife.
Treat this like an MDC conservation area, not a town park. The area map, posted signs, and MDC regulations are the working guide for the lake, the river bank, and any hunting ground around Little Compton Lake.
Where to see it
- Little Compton Lake Conservation Area
MDC keeps the current area map, fishing rules, hours, and access details.
References
More from Carroll County: browse every local note for the county.
Last checked against the sources above: July 16, 2026.