MDC stocks rainbow and brown trout for KC urban fishing

Kansas City, Mo. – Conditions are extra favorable for late-winter trout fishing in the Kansas City area thanks to a weather warmup and some recent trout stockings by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). Anglers will find plenty of fish in the four stocked lakes, said Bob Mattucks, an MDC fisheries management biologist.

MDC stocks trout during winter at urban lakes in the Kansas City metro area to provide anglers extra opportunities to catch fish close to home. Fish stocked in January received relatively light angling pressure due to cold weather and icy conditions, Mattucks said, so good numbers remained in the lakes. Then the final trout stocking for this winter included rainbow trout on Feb. 25 and brown trout on Monday, March. 9.

Lakes stocked recently include:

• James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area at Lee's Summit, Coot Lake and Plover Lake each received 1,000 rainbow trout and 1,000 brown trout.
• Lakes at the Fountain Bluff Sports Complex in Liberty received 1,000 rainbow and 1,000 brown trout.
• Chaumiere Lake in the Kansas City park system received 875 rainbow trout and 875 brown trout. The park is near Interstate 35 and the intersection of North Cleveland Avenue and Northeast 43rd Terrace in Kansas City, North.

Rainbow trout require cool water year round and are not native to the metro area. But in winter, water temperatures fall and MDC stocks trout to provide a unique opportunity for anglers.

Anglers can catch rainbow trout with spinning, spin casting or fly fishing tackle. Small spinners, flies or scented baits are all effective lures for catching rainbow trout, Mattucks said. The scented baits are the most popular with anglers. Small jigs are also effective.

Brown trout were available for stocking due to an abundant supply at MDC's Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery near Branson. Some anglers have good luck catching brown trout using minnows as bait, he said. Scented baits, spinners, flies and jigs will also work.

Statewide trout fishing regulations apply. All Missouri residents over age 15 and under 65 must have a valid fishing permit, and all non-residents over age 15 must have a fishing permit. The daily limit is four trout. To keep trout, all anglers of all ages must have a Missouri trout permit.

Anglers can check MDC's winter trout fishing hotline for the Kansas City metro by calling 816-525-0300, ext. 4001. More information about trout fishing in Missouri is available at mdc.mo.gov/fishing/fishing-how-tos/trout-fishing.