MDC

Trout Areas

• Video

Urban Trout Fishing Program

Trout fishing in some Missouri cities heats up during the cold winter months.

Missouri has a wealth of trout waters, including red-, white- and blue-ribbon areas. Use this page to find great trout fishing around the state and throughout the year.

Lake Taneycomo

• Disabled-accessible fishing docks are available on Lake Taneycomo above Powersite Dam and at Cooper Creek accesses.
• Open year-round.
• Only flies and artificial lures may be used, and soft plastic baits and natural and scented baits are prohibited when fishing for any species above the mouth of Fall Creek.
• A Missouri fishing permit is required. A trout permit also is required:
  • If harvesting trout below the U.S. Highway 65 bridge
  • For any fishing above the U.S. Highway 65 bridge.

Location:

Lake Taneycomo, (417) 334-4865.

Trout Parks

• Three trout parks are located at state parks owned and operated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The James Foundation owns and operates Maramec Spring Park.
• Heavily stocked and heavily fished
• Located at hatcheries, they are stocked daily with rainbow trout from March 1 through Oct. 31. Most rainbows stocked are 10 to 12 inches.
• Regulations vary in the four parks. Certain areas may be designated for fly fishing, natural baits, artificial lures or catch-and-release fishing. Ask for details when buying your daily trout tag at the park, or contact the Conservation Department.

• Missouri fishing permit and daily trout tag are required.
• Disabled accessible fishing sites are available at the four trout parks.

Locations:

• Bennett Spring Map (417) 532-4418
• Maramec Spring Map (573) 265-7801
• Montauk Map (573) 548-2585
• Roaring River Map (417) 847-2430

• Conservation Department (573) 751-4115

Blue-Ribbon Trout Areas

• Range from small creeks to large rivers
• Less crowded than trout parks and winter trout areas
• Small streams are not stocked, but depend on self-sustaining populations of Rainbow trout.
• North Fork of the White, Eleven Point and Current rivers are stocked periodically.
• Only artificial lures and flies may be used. Natural, soft plastic and scented baits are prohibited.
• The daily limit is one trout of 18 inches or greater length.
• A Missouri fishing permit is required, and a trout permit also is required if trout are harvested.

Locations:

• Barren Fork Creek (573) 226-3616
• Blue Springs Creek (573) 468-3335
• Crane Creek (417) 895-6880
• Current River (417) 256-7161
• Eleven Point River (417) 256-7161
• Little Piney Creek (573) 368-2225
• Mill Creek (573) 368-2225
• North Fork of the White River (417) 256-7161
• Spring Creek (573) 368-2225

Red-Ribbon Trout Areas

• Less crowded than trout parks and winter trout areas.
• Stocked less intensively than white-ribbon trout areas. Browns are stocked once a year. Rainbows are either stocked, escape from other areas or reproduce.
• Special regulations may include length limits, reduced creel limits and tackle restrictions. See regulations page.
• A Missouri fishing permit is required, and a trout permit also is required if trout are harvested.

Locations:

• Meramec River (573) 468-3335
• North Fork of the White River (417) 256-7161
• Roubidoux Creek (573) 368-2225

White-Ribbon Trout Areas

• Less crowded than trout parks and winter trout areas.
• Stocked less intensively than trout parks.
• Fishing is permitted year-round.
• The daily limit is four trout with no length limit on rainbows. Brown trout must be 15 inches or greater. Further seasonal restrictions may apply. See regulations page.
• A Missouri fishing permit is required, and a trout permit also is required if trout are harvested.

Locations:

• Capps Creek (417) 895-6880
• Current River (417) 256-7161
• Eleven Point River (417) 256-7161
• Hickory Creek (417) 895-6880
• Little Piney Creek (573) 468-3335
• Niangua River (417) 532-7612
• Roaring River (417) 895-6880
• Roubidoux Creek (573) 368-2225
• Stone Mill Spring Branch (573) 596-2814

Winter Trout Areas

• The daily limit is four trout with no length limit, except for Koeneman Park, Walker, Jefferson, Wild Acres, Busch 21 and 28 and Tilles lakes in the St. Louis Region; Cosmo-Bethel Lake in Columbia; Rotary Lake in Jackson; Liberty Park Pond in Sedalia; McKay Park Lake in Jefferson City; Spur Pond in Kirksville; Kiwanis Lake in Mexico; Everyday Pond on the Missouri Western State University Campus in St. Joseph, where catch-and-release with artificial flies and lures is the only legal method for most of the season. See regulations page.
• A Missouri fishing permit is required, and a trout permit also is required if trout are harvested.

Locations:

• Kansas City Trout Lakes
• St. Louis Winter Trout Lakes (314) 301-1500
• Columbia, Cosmo-Bethel Lake (573) 884-6861
• Jackson, Rotary Lake (573) 290-5730
• Jefferson City, McKay Park Lake (573) 884-6861
• Kirksville, Spur Pond (660) 785-2420
• Mexico, Kiwanis Lake (573) 884-6861
• St. Joseph, Everyday Pond on the Missouri Western State University Campus (816) 271-3100
• Sedalia, Liberty Park Pond (660) 530-5500

Barren Fork Creek Map

A map of the Barren Fork Creek area in .pdf format.

Bennett Spring Trout Park and the Niangua River Map

An area map of the Bennett Spring Trout Park and the Niangua River in .pdf format.

Blue Springs Creek Map

A map of of the Blue Springs Creek area in .pdf format.

Capps and Crane Creeks Map

Maps of Capps Creek and Crane Creek areas in .pdf format.

Central Missouri Winter Trout Fishing Map

This is a map in .pdf format of trout fishing areas in the Central Missouri area.

Eleven Point River Map

A map of the Eleven Point river area in .pdf format.

Hickory Creek and Roubidoux Creek Map

Maps of the Hickory Creek and Roubidoux Creek areas in .pdf format.

Kansas City Trout Areas Map

Download and print this map of the Kansas City Region's trout areas.

Lake Taneycomo Map

A map of the Lake Taneycomo area in .pdf format.

Maramec Spring Park and the Maramec River Map

An area map of Maramec Spring Park and the Maramec River in .pdf format.

Mill Creek, Little Piney Creek, Spring Creek and Stone Mill Spring Branch Map

Area map in .pdf format of Mill Creek, Little Piney Creek, Spring Creek and Stone Mill Spring Branch areas.

Montauk Trout Park and Current River Map

Map of Montauk Trout Park and the Current River area in .pdf format.

North Fork of the White River Map

A map of the North Fork of the White River area in .pdf format.

Roaring River Trout Park and Roaring River Map

A map of the Roaring River Trout Park and the Roaring River areas in .pdf format.

St. Louis Winter Trout Areas

Find winter trout fishing at 11 St. Louis-area locations.