Special Waterbody Regulations

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Bennett Spring State Park

Restrictions

Unless exempt, you need fishing permit as well as a daily trout tag from March 1 to October 31. The daily trout tag is $5 for adults and $3 for youth 15 and younger. Trout tags and permits can be purchased at the park.

During the November through February catch-and-release season the annual trout permit replaces the daily trout tag.

November 10, 2023 - February 12, 2024
Trout fishing is allowed from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm CST, Fridays through Mondays.
Catch-and-release fishing only.  (Fishing permit and annual trout permit required.)
Allowed lures: flies only

March 1 - October 31
Daily limit: 4 of all species combined. You must stop fishing after have 8 trout in your possession.

Fishing Times
March 1 - October 31
MonthBeginEnd
March6:30 am CST
7:30 am CDT
6:00 pm CST
7:00 pm CDT
April7:00 am7:30 pm
May6:30 am8:15 pm
June/July6:30 am8:30 pm
August7:00 am8:00 pm
September7:30 am7:15 pm
October7:30 am6:30 pm

Allowed lures: Flies, artificial lures, or soft plastic baits, depending on zone. See the Bennett Spring Hatchery area map for details.

Methods:

  • Not more than one pole and line may be used by one person at any time.
  • Gigging, snaring, snagging, and the taking of live bait are prohibited.
  • Some waters are posted as restricted to specific baits or lures.
  • The use of any foods to attract fish, except when placed on a hook, is prohibited.

Fishing zones, allowed methods, and regulations vary. Ask for additional information when you purchase your tag.

 

Bennett Spring State Park is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday through Monday.

Area Type

Name
Trout Parks

Name
Trout Parks
Fish Image
Trout Park
Area Information

Several of the onsite fish hatcheries offer visitor centers and displays and tours.

Blue Springs Creek

Restrictions

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.

Spotted bass: No minimum length limit.

In Crawford County

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.

In Crawford County from Blue Springs to the Meramec River - 4 miles.

Blue Ribbon Trout Area: see restrictions below.

Area Type

Name
Blue Ribbon Trout Area

Name
Blue Ribbon Trout Area
Fish Image
Blue Ribbon Trout Area
Area Information

Harvest is limited to maintain the maximum density of adult trout, create excellent catch-and-release fishing, and provide the occasional chance to harvest a trophy. These areas on the Current and North Fork of the White rivers are stocked with brown trout, and the Eleven Point River is stocked with rainbows.

Area Restrictions

Length Limit: At least 18"
Daily Limit: 1
Authorized Lures: Artificial lures and flies

Only flies and artificial lures may be used, and soft plastic baits and natural and scented baits are prohibited when fishing for any species.
Gigging, bowfishing, and using an atlatl are prohibited, and fish taken by these methods may not be possessed on these waters or their banks.

Bull Shoals Lake

Restrictions

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

Courtois Creek

Restrictions

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”

Huzzah Creek

Restrictions

Mainstem and its tributaries:

Length limit: Spotted bass—none
Daily limit: 12 fish and including no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.

From Willhite Road in Crawford County to the Meramec River:

Length limit: Goggle-eye—minimum 8”

Meramec River

Restrictions

Black bass: Daily and possession limit is 12 fish and may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.

Spotted bass: no minimum length limit

In Crawford and Phelps counties:

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.

From Highway 8 bridge to Scott's Ford and in Dry Fork Creek from the elevated cable crossing to its confluence with the Meramec River - 8.2 miles:

Red Ribbon Trout Area, see restrictions below.

From Highway 8 bridge to the railroad crossing at Bird’s Nest:

Length limit: Smallmouth bass: 15 inch minimum.

Daily and possession limit: 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.

From Highway 19 bridge in Dent County to Pacific Palisades Conservation Area:
Length limit: Goggle-eye: 8 inch minimum

Area Type

Name
Red Ribbon Trout Area (Artificial Lures)

Name
Red Ribbon Trout Area (Artificial Lures)
Fish Image
Red Ribbon Trout Area
Area Information

They provide catch-and-release fishing and a chance to harvest quality-size trout.

Area Restrictions

Length Limit: At least 15"
Daily Limit: 2
Authorized Lures: Artificial lures and flies

Mississippi River (middle)

Restrictions

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.

Mississippi River (upper)

Restrictions

This area encompasses the Mississippi River, including

  • Pools 20-26,

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

Niangua River

Restrictions

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.

From Bennett Spring Branch to Prosperine Access - 11.5 miles of stocked stream: 

White Ribbon Trout Area, see restrictions below.

Area Type

Name
White Ribbon Trout Area

Name
White Ribbon Trout Area
Fish Image
White Ribbon Trout Area
Area Information

Coldwater streams capable of supporting trout populations year-round. All receive periodic stockings of rainbow trout, and some also receive brown trout. They provide great opportunities for catching and harvesting trout and the occasional chance to harvest a large trout.

Area Restrictions

Length Limit: Rainbows -- none; Browns -- at least 15"
Daily Limit: 4
Authorized Lures: All

Sac River

Restrictions

From below Stockton Dam to Highway 32:

Allowed methods: Pole and line fishing only

Stockton Lake

Restrictions

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

Daily limit:
Crappie: 15

Table Rock Lake

Restrictions

Lakewide:

Daily limit:

Do not continue to snag, snare or grab for any species after taking a daily limit of 2 paddlefish.
Catfish (channel, blue and flathead): 10, combined total of these species
Crappie: 15

Size limit:
Black bass: minimum 15"
Crappie: minimum 10"
Walleye and sauger: minimum 18"

On the lake and its tributaries:

Size limit: Paddlefish: 34" minimum body length, measured from eye to fork of tail