Special Waterbody Regulations

Mainstem and its tributaries:
Daily limit: Black bass: 12 fish, including no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species
Length limit: Spotted bass: None

From Highway 8 bridge in Crawford County to Huzzah Creek:
Length limit: Goggle-eye: minimum 8”

Mainstem and its tributaries, except as noted below:
Daily limit: Black bass—The daily and possession limit is 12 fish and may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Length limit: Spotted bass—No minimum length limit

From Highway F in Washington County to the Big River:
Length limit: Smallmouth bass—minimum 15”
Daily limit: Daily and possession limit of 12 black bass, which may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species, may include only 1 smallmouth bass

This area encompasses the Mississippi River, including

• the temporary overflow waters east of the Missouri Pacific Railroad between Cape Girardeau and Scott City,
• and the temporary overflow waters east of the mainline and setback levees between Commerce and the Arkansas state line.

Mississippi River, including Pools 20-26
Paddlefish—The open season is March 15 through May 15 and Sept. 15 through Dec. 15.
Nongame fish—Snagging, snaring and grabbing are allowed from March 15 through May 15 and from Sept. 15 through Dec. 15.

Daily limits:
Channel catfish and blue catfish—The daily and possession limit is 20, combined total of these species.
Flathead catfish—The daily and possession limit is 10 fish.
Walleye and sauger—The daily and possession limit is 8, combined total of both species.
White bass, yellow bass, striped bass and their hybrids—The daily and possession limit is 30, combined total of these species.
Nongame fish—The daily and possession limit is 100, combined total of these species, except that bighead carp, common carp, goldfish, grass carp and silver carp may be taken and possessed in any number.

Length limits:
Black bass—minimum 12”
Walleye and sauger—None
White bass, yellow bass, striped bass and their hybrids—None

Allowed methods:
Nongame fish may be taken by bow and possessed at any hour of the day in all flowing portions, except in Sand Chute below the mouth of the Salt River in Pike County where they may only be taken by bow from sunrise to midnight.
Limit of 2 poles per licensed angler
Limit of 50 hooks on a trotline

Temporary overflow waters east of the Missouri Pacific Railroad between Cape Girardeau and Scott City
Nongame fish may be taken by bow and possessed at any hour of the day.

Temporary overflow waters east of the mainline and setback levees between Commerce and the Arkansas state line
Nongame fish may be taken by bow and possessed at any hour of the day.

Lakewide:

Daily limit:
Catfish (channel, blue and flathead): 10, combined total of these species
Crappie: 15

Length limit:
Black bass: minimum 15” on largemouth and smallmouth bass; minimum 12” on spotted bass
Crappie: minimum 10”

On the lake and its tributaries:

Daily limit:
Striped Bass: only 3 striped bass may be included in the aggregate.

Length limit:
Walleye and sauger: minimum 18”
Striped Bass: minimum 20”
White bass, yellow bass, or their hybrids: none

Length limits:
Black bass: minimum 13”
Crappie: minimum 9”

Daily limit:
Crappie: 15

Trout permits are required if trout are kept.

Trout may be taken by pole and line using all types of lures and baits allowed by state regulations, except during the dates listed below.

November 1 - January 31:
Catch-and-release only for trout.
Flies, artificial lures, and unscented soft plastic baits only.
Only 1 pole may be used.
Use of chum is prohibited.

Above Wappapello Dam, from the lake and its tributaries including the St. Francis River and its tributaries:
Size limit: Walleye and sauger — minimum 18”

Within 225 feet below Wappapello Dam:
No fishing is allowed.

From within 700 feet below the spillway walls of Wappapello Dam:
Trotlines, throwlines, limb lines, bowfishing, gigging and atlatls are prohibited.

Within that part of the river that forms a boundary between Arkansas and Missouri
Nongame fish may be taken by bow and possessed at any hour of the day in the flowing portions.

From Highway B in Carter County to Cane Creek

Length limits: Smallmouth bass—minimum 15”
Daily limit: 6 black bass including only 1 smallmouth bass.

Daily Limit:
Crappie: 30 with no more than 15 fish over nine inches.

On the lake and its tributaries including the St. Francis River and its tributaries above Wappapello Dam
Length limit: Walleye and sauger: minimum 18”