The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is stocking more than 70,000 rainbow trout in 31 urban-area lakes around the state for winter trout fishing beginning Nov. 1.
In addition to catch-and-release fishing through Jan. 31, 2016, many of these areas allow anglers to harvest trout as soon as they are stocked. Others allow catch-and-keep fishing as early as Feb. 1.
The daily limit for catch-and-keep at these locations is four trout with no length limit. 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. To keep trout, all anglers of all ages must have a Missouri trout permit.
“Trout are typically found in the cold, spring-fed, streams of southern Missouri,” MDC Fisheries Programs Specialist Andrew Branson said. “Stocking selected lakes and ponds around the state during the winter months provides close-to-home trout fishing opportunities in parts of Missouri that you normally won’t find trout.”
Urban-area lakes stocked for winter trout fishing include:
