Are your tackle box and fishing pole ready? March 1 marks the annual opening day of catch-and-keep trout fishing at each of Missouri’s four trout parks. The trout parks’ catch-and-keep seasons run through October 31. The daily limit is four trout, and the possession limit is eight for all four parks.
Despite fall flooding, MDC has been busy restocking the ponds for the opening day.
Restocking
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) 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.
Heavy rains during November 2024 caused significant flood damage to MDC fish hatcheries, disrupting their everyday operations. MDC, therefore, placed all trout stockings on hold until crews could assess and repair the damage and return the facilities to normal operations.
Due to ongoing construction, Bennett Spring State Park will be stocked three times per week.
Where Are The Stocked Ponds?
The four Missouri-stocked trout ponds are Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon, Montauk State Park near Licking, Roaring River State Park near Cassville, and Maramec Spring Park near St. James.
What Is Needed To Fish?
Trout anglers need a daily trout tag to fish in Missouri’s trout parks during the catch-and-keep season. A daily trout tag costs $5 for adults and $3 for those 15 and younger. Daily trout tags can only be purchased at the four trout parks. MDC encourages trout anglers to have the correct amount of cash for daily tags, if possible.
Missouri residents aged 16-64 and nonresidents ages 16 and older also need a fishing permit and the daily trout tag. This daily fishing permit is $9 and can be bought beforehand 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 rush to Missouri’s four trout parks each year. While many leave with some trout, all leave more than $100 million in spending along the way, supporting thousands of jobs and helping local economies.
