MDC runs trout hatcheries at four parks and stocks rainbow trout throughout the season.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds anglers that March 1 marks the annual opening of catch-and-keep trout fishing at Missouri’s four trout parks: Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon, Montauk State Park near Licking, Roaring River State Park near Cassville, and Maramec Spring Park near St. James. The catch-and-keep season at the trout parks runs through Oct. 31. The daily limit is four trout, and the possession limit is eight for all four parks.
Trout season in Missouri is a cooperative effort between the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Division of State Parks managing the state parks and MDC operating fish hatcheries at Bennett Spring, Montauk, and Roaring River. Trout raising, stocking, and fishing at Maramec Spring Park is a cooperative effort between MDC and The James Foundation.
MDC operates trout hatcheries at all four parks and will stock about 20,000 trout among the four parks for opening day. MDC will continue to stock the trout parks daily during the catch-and-keep season, totaling more than 600,000 trout annually at the four trout parks and about 1 million trout annually statewide.
Due to hatchery construction activities at Bennett Spring, trout will be stocked opening day and then three times per week during the season
Trout anglers need a daily trout tag to fish in Missouri’s trout parks during the catch-and-keep season. The cost of a daily trout tag is $5 for adults and $3 for those 15-years-old and younger. Daily trout tags can only be purchased at each of the four trout parks. MDC encourages trout anglers to have the correct amount of cash for daily tags, if possible.
Missouri residents ages 16-64 and nonresidents ages 16 and older also need a fishing permit in addition to the daily trout tag. A daily fishing permit is $9. MDC encourages trout anglers to buy fishing permits ahead of time from numerous vendors around the state, online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, or through MDC’s free MO Fishing app, available for download on the App Store or Google Play.
Thousands of anglers from Missouri and beyond flock to Missouri’s four trout parks each year. While many leave with some trout, they all leave more than $100 million in spending along the way, which supports thousands of jobs and helps local economies. Learn more about Missouri’s trout parks online at mdc.mo.gov/fishing/species/trout/trout-parks.
OTHER ANGLING OPPORTUNITIES
Missouri has a wealth of trout waters outside of the trout parks, including red, white, and blue-ribbon areas that support naturally reproducing trout. For more information, visit mdc.mo.gov/fishing/species/trout/trout-areas.
MDC also offers the Missouri Blue Ribbon Trout Slam to honor anglers who catch a trout in at least five of the nine blue-ribbon trout streams. Participants can have their successes listed on the MDC website. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/troutslam.
DON’T SPREAD ROCK SNOT
To prevent the spread of the invasive alga called didymo or “rock snot,” the use of shoes, boots or waders with porous soles of felt, matted or woven fibrous material is prohibited at all trout parks, trout streams, Lake Taneycomo, and buffer areas. Get more information at mdc.mo.gov/fishing/protect-missouri-fishing/dont-spread-didymo.
