Special Waterbody Regulations

From Highway 17 to the Gasconade River:
Length limit: Goggle-eye: minimum 8"

From Slabtown Access to the Gasconade River:
Daily limit: 6 black bass including only 1 smallmouth bass.
Length limit: Smallmouth bass: minimum 15"

Lakewide: Ozark and Taney
Daily limit:
Catfish (channel, blue and flathead): 10, combined total of these three species
Crappie: 15 fish
Length limit:
Black bass: minimum 15" on largemouth and smallmouth bass; minimum 12" on spotted bass
Crappie: 10" minimum

On the lake and its tributaries: Ozark, Taney, Christian, and Douglas
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"
There are no length limits for white bass, yellow bass, or their hybrids.

In the Swan Creek Arm above U.S. Highway 160: Taney
From February 20 through April 14, walleye and sauger may be taken and possessed only between 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.

From Powersite Dam to Highway 76: Taney
Prohibited Methods: Trotlines, throwlines and limb lines

From Highway 17 to the Current River:

Length Limits:
Smallmouth bass—minimum 15”

Daily Limit:
6 black bass including 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

The use of porous-soled waders is prohibited.
While on any waters with length limits, all trout you possess must be kept with head, tail, and skin intact.

Upper outlet of Rainbow Spring to Patrick Bridge - 8.6 miles:  Blue Ribbon Trout Area, see restrictions below.

Unimpounded river and its tributaries from Patrick Bridge to Norfork Lake - 7.0 miles:  Red Ribbon Trout Area, see restrictions below.