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MDC offers winter trout fishing in St. Joseph
St. Joseph, Mo. – Starting Feb. 1, anglers may keep trout caught at Everyday Pond in St. Joseph. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) stocked the trout last fall to give anglers an additional winter fishing opportunity. Only catch-and-release fishing is allowed in the opening months. But the catch-and-keep season opens Feb. 1.
MDC last autumn stocked 800 rainbow trout in Everyday Pond, which is on the north side of the Missouri Western State College Campus. Also stocked were 12 brood fish, lunker trout, from MDC's Bennett Spring Fish Hatchery.
Anglers with a valid Missouri fishing permit can fish for the trout on a catch-and-release basis. After, Feb. 1, anglers with valid fishing permits and a trout permit may keep up to four trout. 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 fishing permit.
Missouri is a great place to fish, and winter trout fishing can be a warmup for summer trips to the cold-water rivers and lakes in southern Missouri that support trout fisheries year round.
For information about rainbow trout in Missouri, visit mdc.mo.gov/node/975. Information about all MDC fishing programs is available at mdc.mo.gov.