Special Waterbody Regulations

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:
Only flies, artificial lures, and unscented soft plastic baits are allowed for all species.
Catch-and-release only for all species.

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 all species.
Only flies, artificial lures, and unscented soft plastic baits are allowed for all species.

You must have a trout permit to keep trout during other times of the year.

Trout may be taken by pole and line using all types of lures and baits under statewide limits, except during the dates listed below.

November 1 - January 31:
Catch-and-release only for trout.
Only flies, artificial lures, and unscented soft plastic baits are allowed.

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.

From Skyline Drive bridge near Orla in Laclede County to the Gasconade River:

Daily limit: 6 black bass including only 1 smallmouth bass

Length limit:
Smallmouth bass—minimum 15”

Within 225 feet below Bagnell Dam:
No fishing is allowed, except live bait may be taken by dip net and throw net only.

From the no-fishing zone below Bagnell Dam to U.S. Highway 54:
Trotlines, throwlines, limb lines, snagging, snaring and grabbing are prohibited.

From U.S. Highway 54 to the Missouri River:
Snagging, snaring and grabbing for nongame fish are allowed from March 15 through April 30 only.
No person shall continue to snag, snare or grab for any species after taking a daily limit of 2 paddlefish.