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Catch-and-keep trout fishing begins Feb. 1 in Sedalia and St. Joseph
Kansas City, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) stocked rainbow trout last autumn in community lakes at Sedalia and St. Joseph. Starting Saturday, Feb. 1, anglers with proper permits can catch and keep up to four trout.
Sedalia’s Liberty Park Pond offered catch-and-release fishing for trout with unscented artificial lures only after the fish were stocked. But the catch-and-keep portion of winter trout fishing begins Feb. 1. Scented lures and natural baits may be used as well as unscented artificial lures starting on that date. Trout were stocked in the pond under MDC’s partnership with Sedalia Parks and Recreation Department.
At St. Joseph, the Krug Park Lagoon and Everyday Pond have offered catch-and-release trout fishing since autumn. Anglers may begin keeping trout caught in those lakes starting Feb. 1, and they may use scented lures and natural baits as well as unscented artificial lures, such as flies or spinners. Those trout were stocked under MDC’s partnership with Missouri Western State University, where Everyday Pond is located, and the St. Joseph Parks, Recreation, and Civic Facilities Department.
Anglers are reminded that fishing for all species of fish is catch-and-release year-round at Krug Park Lagoon and Everyday Pond. But trout may be kept after Feb. 1 for those anglers with proper permits. Anglers should always review the signage at waters where they are fishing for specific regulations.
MDC stocks trout in some community lakes in winter to give anglers a chance to catch a cold-water species close to home. The pan-sized trout are raised at MDC’s Bennett Spring and Chesapeake fish hatcheries.
Starting Feb. 1, anglers with valid fishing permits and a Missouri trout permit may keep up to four trout at these lakes in Sedalia and St. Joseph. All Missouri residents over age 15 and under 65 must have a valid fishing permit, and all non-residents over age 15 must have a Missouri fishing permit.
Information about fishing at Liberty Park Pond is available by calling MDC’s Sedalia Office, 660-530-5500. For information about winter trout fishing at Krug Park Lagoon and Everyday Pond, call MDC’s St. Joseph office at 816-271-3100.
For more information on trout fishing throughout Missouri, visit http://mdc.mo.gov.