Fishing Events

Come spend a few relaxing hours learning the art of fly tying! Many different materials will be available for use, Pat will teach the skill, and you can go home with a supply of your finished products!

Come spend a few relaxing hours learning the art of fly tying! Many different materials will be available for use, Pat will teach the skill, and you can go home with a supply of your finished products!

Join us for some trout fishing at McKay Park in Jefferson City. Equipment and instruction will be provided so no experience is necessary. Meet MDC staff at the parking area in the NW corner of the park at the end of Sunset Lake Road. All participants ages 16 to 64 must come prepared with a Missouri Fishing Permit. Participants of all ages must have a Trout Permit to keep trout. Registration required. Ages 6+

Come spend a few relaxing hours learning the art of fly tying! Many different materials will be available for use, Pat will teach the skill, and you can go home with a supply of your finished products!

Fishing is a great way to connect to nature and spend time with family and friends. Join us for this open fishing day at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center and learn from our experts how to fish. Equipment and bait are provided but you are welcome to bring your own. A fishing license will not be required for this event and children below 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Come get hooked on fishing with the Missouri Department of Conservation.

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 the Discover Nature-Fishing Lessons 1 and 2, which are best to complete before Lessons 3 and 4 (hosted later). Participants will learn about fishing equipment, casting, rigging a fishing rod, baiting a hook, and proper fish handling. The Discover Nature-Fishing program is available for ages 7 and up. This program will take place at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center. Participants will not be required to have a valid fishing license for this program.

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 12) 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 3rd. Kids ages 15 and under can pick up free trout tags at the park store on May 2nd from 5-9 p.m. and all day on May 3rd. 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