Photo : Forest Service - Northern Region, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Missouri
State, United States. Authority : Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC).
2026 rules, checked on 23 September 2026.
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- Licence
- US$57Nonresident Fishing Permit
- Next opening
- —
- Minimum sizes
- 38.1 cmWalleye and sauger
Useful gear for this area
Chosen from the species and size limits regulated in this area.
Responsible gearBacklit Digital Hanging Scale 50 kgTo check the minimum size: Walleye 38.1 cm here.
€32.90£28.90Not shipped to the United States
Floating weight-forward fly line, 30 mFor : brown trout, rainbow trout, grayling · fly fishing (dry fly and nymph)
€27.90£13.90Not shipped to the United States
Responsible gearFolding Triangle Landing Net, 47 cm FoldedFor : brown trout, rainbow trout, european perch · fly fishing (dry fly and nymph)
€37.90£18.90Not shipped to the United States
Where to fish
© OpenStreetMap
2026 season calendar
daily trout tag required; winter catch-and-release season Nov. 13, 2026 - Feb. 8, 2027
open year-round
open year-round
open year-round
Solid bars: fishing allowed. Yellow line: today.
Minimum sizes
| Species | Minimum size | 0–60 cm |
|---|---|---|
| Black bass - Ozark and non-Ozark streams4 statewide stream limit | 30.5 cm | |
| Black bass - impoundments3 No statewide size limit; many areas have specific limits | not published | |
| Walleye and sauger5 except areas with special regulations | 38.1 cm | |
| Brown trout (streams)7 no size limit on rainbow trout | 38.1 cm |
To check the minimum size: Walleye 38.1 cm here. Backlit Digital Hanging Scale 50 kg €32.90£28.90Not shipped to the United States
Bag limits
| Species | Fish you may keep |
|---|---|
| Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted combined)3 possession 12 | 6 per day |
| Walleye and sauger5 possession 8 | 4 per day |
| Trout7 possession 8 | 4 per day |
| Crappie10 possession 60, no statewide size limit | 30 per day |
Licence
| Licence | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Fishing Permit1 | annual | US$14 |
| Nonresident Fishing Permit1 | annual | US$57 |
| Daily Fishing Permit (resident)1 may be purchased for multiple days | 1-day | US$9 |
| Daily Fishing Permit (nonresident)1 may be purchased for multiple days | 1-day | US$9 |
| Trout Permit (resident)1 required to possess trout outside trout parks and for Lake Taneycomo above US 65 | annual | US$12 |
| Trout Permit (nonresident)1 | annual | US$24 |
| Daily trout tag - trout parks (16 and older)8 $3 for anglers 15 and younger | 1-day | US$5 |
Buy the licence on mdc-web.s3licensing.com
- Ages and exemptions2
- Anyone age 15 and younger (resident or nonresident) may fish without permit. Missouri residents 65 or older may fish without permit (except trout permit or daily tags where required).
Good to know
Very cheap resident permit ($14). Black bass rules differ between impoundments (no statewide size limit, open all year) and Ozark streams (12 in minimum, harvest May 23 - Feb 28). Four trout parks require a daily trout tag; trout permit needed to keep trout elsewhere. MDC notes its season pages are not a legal document (Wildlife Code of Missouri prevails).
What the authority does not publish
Points we could not find in the official texts: check with the authority.
- page MDC brochet (northern pike) affiche encore les dates 2025
- Wildlife Code of Missouri (sos.mo.gov, 3 CSR 10) en 403 : lien règlement = page Regulations de MDC
- pas de permis 3 ou 7 jours (le permis journalier à 9 $ s'achète pour plusieurs jours)
Rules change every year and can be amended during the season. Before fishing, check the text in force with the authority listed.
Where to fish
Fishing places listed in the official sources.
- Lake of the Ozarks reservoir View on the map
- Harry S Truman Lake reservoir View on the map
- Table Rock Lake reservoir View on the map
- Stockton Lake reservoir View on the map
- Mark Twain Lake reservoir View on the map
- Lake Taneycomo reservoir View on the map
- Pomme de Terre Lake reservoir View on the map
- Smithville Lake reservoir View on the map
- Barren Fork Creek river View on the map
- Bennett Spring Trout Park river View on the map
- Blue Springs Creek river View on the map
- Montauk Trout Park river View on the map
- Meramec Spring Park river View on the map
- Roaring River Trout Park river View on the map
- Eleven Point River (Smallmouth Bass Special Management Area) river
Smallmouth bass View on the map - Gasconade River (Smallmouth Bass Special Management Area) river
Smallmouth bass View on the map - Meramec River South (Smallmouth Bass Special Management Area) river
Smallmouth bass View on the map - Big Piney River (Smallmouth Bass Special Management Area) river
Smallmouth bass View on the map - Jacks Fork River (Smallmouth Bass Special Management Area) river
Smallmouth bass View on the map
Frequently asked questions
How much is a fishing licence in Missouri in 2026?
The “Nonresident Fishing Permit” licence costs US$57 (annual). Other options and prices are in the table above, with the official source.
What is the minimum size for walleye in Missouri?
Walleye: 38.1 cm. Any smaller fish must be released immediately.
Official sources
- MDC - Fishing Permits (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- MDC - Permit Exemptions (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- MDC - Black Bass: From Impoundments (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- MDC - Black Bass: Ozark Streams (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- MDC - Walleye and Sauger (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- MDC - Northern Pike (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- MDC - Trout Areas (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- MDC - Trout Parks (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- mdc.mo.gov/fishing/regulations
- mdc.mo.gov/fishing/seasons
Last checked : 23 September 2026.