Fishing Events

Learn the basics and try your hand at filleting crappie, a popular sport fish, under the guidance of staff volunteer Bruce Carpenter. After filleting, we'll sample some pre-cooked crappie and discuss how you can prepare and cook your next big catch. All equipment (and fish!) provided. Registration required. Ages 12+

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites women to fish for free Saturday Sept. 30 at Bennett Spring State Park’s Women’s Free Fishing Day event.

At Women’s Free’ Fishing Day, which will run from 7:30 a.m. to 7:15 p.m., There is no license or daily tag fee. Female anglers can pick up their free daily trout tag at the park store on the evening before or any time during the day of the event on Sept. 30. During the event, a part of the park’s Zone 2 and Zone 3 fishing areas will be reserved for female anglers. Volunteers will be available to help anglers throughout the day, along with members of the Bennett Spring Fly Tying Group who will be hosting live fly-tying demonstrations. Participants are encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment.

This event is sponsored by Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Bennett Spring State Park Store, and the Bennett Spring Fly Tying group. For more information about the event, call the Bennett Spring Hatchery at 417-532-4418 or e-mail Hatchery Manager Ben Havens at Ben.Havens@mdc.mo.gov .

Discover Nature - Fishing Lessons 1 & 2:

Lesson 1: “Equipment, Casting and Proper Fish Handling” combines instruction with hands-on fishing to teach young anglers and families basic fishing techniques and skills. Participants will learn how to properly and safely operate a spin cast fishing rod. Participants will also learn the parts of a fishing rod, how to fasten basic fishing tackle, and how to properly handle and release a fish.

Lesson 2: “How to Tie a Knot and Bait a Hook” combines instruction with hands-on fishing to teach young anglers and families intermediate fishing techniques and skills. Participants will learn to tie an improved clinch knot and how to properly secure bait on hooks.

Fishing equipment, instructors/coaches and bait/lures will be provided.

Ages 7 and above. All children ages 7-15 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Participants DO NOT need a fishing permit to fish during this program.

Each participant will need to register for this program individually on the Missouri Department of Conservation Discover Fishing website.

Please contact the Community Education Assistant, Lance Lewis with questions.

Lance.Lewis@mdc.mo.gov

Come join us October 5th to learn fishing basics.

Lesson 1: Equipment, Casting and Proper Fish Handling combines instruction with hands-on fishing to teach young anglers and families basic fishing techniques and skills. Participants will learn how to properly and safely cast a spincast fishing rod, parts of a fishing rod, how to fasten basic fishing tackle and how to properly handle and release a fish.

Lesson 2: How to Tie a Knot and Bait a Hook combines instruction with hands-on fishing to teach young anglers and families intermediate fishing techniques and skills. Participants will learn to tie an improved clinch knot and how to properly secure bait on hooks.

Fishing equipment and bait/lures will be provided.

All children ages 5-15 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Participants DO NOT need a fishing permit to fish during this program.

*Lessons 1 and 2 are required*

Lesson 3: “Five Common Missouri Fish” combines instruction with hands-on fishing in order to teach young anglers and families the anatomy, habitat, diet, and life cycle of five common Missouri fish.

Lesson 4: “Fishing with Lures and Fishing Regulations” combines instruction with hands-on fishing to teach young anglers and families to identify different kinds of lures and to grasp an understanding of applicable fishing regulations and why we have them.

Fishing equipment, instructors/coaches and bait/lures will be provided.

Ages 7 and above. All children ages 7-15 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Participants DO NOT need a fishing permit to fish during this program.

Each participant will need to register for this program individually on the Missouri Department of Conservation Discover Fishing website.

Please email Lance Lewis, Community Education Assistant with questions.

Lance.Lewis@mdc.mo.gov

Fishing is a great way for kids and families to have fun outdoors, learn about conservation, and make happy memories. Our Discover Nature-Fishing program is a hands-on, four-part fishing instruction series that helps families gain the skills and confidence they need to go fishing on their own.

This program will cover Lessons 3 and 4 which are best completed after Lessons 1 and 2. Participants will learn about Missouri freshwater ecosystems, common fish, artificial lures, and the regulations regarding fishing in Missouri. The Discover Nature-Fishing program is available for ages 7 and up. We will host this program at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center. Participants will not be required to have a valid fishing license and those who have already completed Lessons 1 and 2 will receive fishing related rewards.

Veterans are invited to fish for free Saturday (April 20) at Bennett Springs State Park’s Veterans’ Fishing Day event. This special day is a chance for any veteran to get out and fish! Missouri offers tremendous trout park fishing opportunities and Bennett Spring proudly sponsors this event and an opportunity to fish for FREE.

At Veterans’ Fishing Day, fishing is free for all veterans. There is no license or daily tag fee. All veterans can pick up free trout tags at the park store on the Friday evening before or anytime on Saturday during the event. Fishing hours for the event will be 7 a.m.to 7:30 p.m.

During the event a part of the park’s Zone 2 fishing area will be specially stocked and reserved for anglers who are veterans. Adjacent to the fishing area, volunteers will be hosting a hospitality tent featuring fly tying demos, lessons, casting instruction, and the latest adaptive fishing equipment.

If you are interested in trout fishing, come out and fish with one of our heroes on the water – many volunteers will be on hand to show you the ropes! Not quite sure, practice with some of the casting games on the lawn or tie up a fly.

For more information please contact Ben Havens at Ben.Havens@mdc.mo.gov or call the hatchery at 417-532-4418.

Young anglers will have opportunities to experience the fun of catching fish at Bennett Spring State Park’s Kids’ Fishing Day 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on May 4th. Kids ages 15 and under can pick up free trout tags at the park store on May 3th from 5-9 p.m. and all day on May 4th. A section of Zone 2 and Zone 3 at the park will be reserved for youth anglers. Volunteers will be on hand to help. Kids are encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment. Parents are welcome to help kids, but adults are also asked to let children fish by themselves as much as possible. Only one pole may be used between the helper and the child. Adults are not allowed to fish in the designated kids’ fishing zone.

Volunteers are needed to help with this event. Individuals wishing to volunteer do not need to be experienced anglers. To help with Kids’ Fishing Day or for more information please call the Bennett Spring Hatchery at 417-532-4418