Try Fishing Without Having To Buy A Permit
During the Saturday and Sunday following the first Monday in June, any person may fish state waters without an MDC fishing permit, trout permit, and prescribed area daily tag. However, user fees and permits may still be required at county, city, or private fishing areas. Normal regulations, such as size and daily limits, still apply, too.
Find An Area, Use Our Gear
Many conservation areas that offer Free Fishing Days programs also have gear you can use at no charge. Area Free Fishing Days programs appear on this page from April until the opportunity ends in June. For more information about Free Fishing Days, call your regional office.
Check the events calendar below for Free Fishing Days events scheduled around the state.
Free Fishing Day Events
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.
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.The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites women to fish for free Saturday Sept. 27 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. 27th. During the event, a part of the park’s Zone 2 fishing area 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 .