Fishing Missouri Conservation Areas

Missouri conservation areas offer some of the best fishing in the state as well as access to good fishing.  Many people think of conservation areas as great places to hunt, which is true enough and a subject of our next blogs on CA's, but it is just an incomplete picture.

When I think about the conservation areas near to where we live in Warren County, two of the three offer some pretty darn good fishing, and it seems that this feature is often overlooked.  So, with a very little bit of research, you might find some outstanding opportunities you'd not considered.

A lake in Busch Memorial
Conservation Area

One conservation area that does get a ton of use in the STL region, is Busch Memorial Conservation Area.  I love this area because there is a little something there for anyone.  There is a ton of panfishing that can be fast and furious which is awesome for initiating kids into fishing.  During the winter, some of the lakes are stocked with trout.  There are so many species that can be caught out at Busch you could probably catch a different gamefish species everyday for a whole month. You can even rent fishing equipment and a small boat to go out on one of the dozens of lakes/ponds in the area.

It's pretty likely that if you are an avid Missouri fisherperson, you have looked up fishing on various bodies of water around the state and researched how to fish them.  That is awesome, and I do the same thing.

First results of web search for Hariison County, Missouri Fishing.  

But if you want to find some new places, try searching for fishing options in a geographical area, and almost certainly conservation areas will be featured prominently.  As a case-in-point, I searched for fishing in a county where I have probably done some deer hunting, but for sure had never fished.  The top two results are in the graphic to the left.

So when you get the results, for conservation areas (which are not always labeled as conservation areas...like Harrison Lake), often, there will be a "Fishing Reports" page for one or more of the areas in the county, and there will be pages for each of the conservation areas.  Both are helpful.

List of fish species available in area from MDC site.
Note also the camping and canoeing listing.

The individual conservation area pages list species and activities available in that CA (see right).  You can decide, based on what is there, whether or not you want to fish the area. You can also decide what gear and tackle to bring with you.  Many of these fishing spots - not all - are hidden gems that do not get much attention.  That is a good thing to know for a fisherman looking for a new spot. In most, if not all, Missouri counties, you will be able to locate such gems.

Sometimes, a conservation area is just an access to a body of water, such as river access points.  Often these are places to launch a boat or canoe, but they also can make very good fishing spots.  Rivers like the Missouri and Osage, just to name a couple, are dotted with MDC access.

There certainly are MDC areas that are without fishing opportunities, or where they are limited, so do your research before going. But if you are looking for someplace to fish, or just somewhere new, give MDC conservation areas a try. You will be glad you did!

NEXT IN SERIES ON HUNTING MISSOURI CONSERVATION AREAS ON 6/17/2016

Related articles

• MDC offers free Discover Nature - Fishing programs
• South Dakota GFP Commission Proposes Deer Hunting Season Changes
• New Great Missouri Birding Trail website takes flight
• MDC joins birding enthusiasts at Wings Over Weston
• Florida ranchers keep adding acres to conservation easements

MDC and local mid-Missouri libraries offer fishing rod and reel loaner program

Two young children enjoying the outdoors by fishing. Conservation make Missouri a great place to fish.

Seven mid-Missouri libraries now have fishing equipment available for public use.

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Do you like to fish, but don’t own a pole? Don’t worry, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has you covered. As part of the Discover Nature: Fishing Rod and Reel loaner program, seven libraries in mid-Missouri now have fishing equipment available for use by the public. They include Boonslick Public Library (Boonville), Mexico Audrain Public Library (Mexico), Marshall Public Library (Marshall), Centralia Public Library (Centralia), Sweet Springs Library (Sweet Springs), Woodplace Library (California), and Price James Library (Tipton).

According to MDC Angler Education Assistant Don Rahm, the rod and reel loaner program provides an opportunity for youth, novice anglers, or anyone who doesn’t own fishing equipment to get outside and enjoy the outdoors.

“This equipment is available to the public to borrow and is as simple as checking out a book,” Rahm said. “We are working with these libraries, specifically, because of the availability of close public access waters that are managed and stocked by the Conservation Department.”

In addition to receiving a rod, a small tackle box with terminal tackle is also provided, according to Rahm. Terminal tackle includes essential hooks, split-shot sinkers, bobbers, and a stringer to hold the catch.

For more than a million anglers, conservation makes Missouri a great place to fish. Across Missouri, fishing generates $665 million dollars in local economic benefit each year.

“Fishing is a great way to spend family time, relieve stress, and enjoy the outdoors,” Rahm said. “This program allows someone to try fishing first before making an investment in equipment.”

For more information on fishing opportunities in Missouri, visit mdc.mo.gov/node/89 . For a list of all the rod-and-reel loaner locations in Missouri, visit mdc.mo.gov/node/28592.

Related articles

• Wis. Anglers Rescue Deer In Lake (minnesota.cbslocal.com)
• Woman Just Unexpectedly Shattered a World Record When She Reeled in Monster From the Deep (ijreview.com)

MDC to host volunteer training for Discover Nature Fishing

Clinton, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Discover Nature Fishing Program connects families with the outdoors. MDC is seeking volunteers in the Clinton and Warsaw areas to help teach the program. A training session for volunteers will be held 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, at the MDC Clinton Office, 2010 South Second Street.

   Discover Nature Fishing is free and designed to make participants confident and successful anglers. The program is presented in a series of four classes. The two-hour sessions cover all aspects of fishing such as gear, knot tying, lures, bait, regulations and conservation. MDC provides fishing gear for participant use.

   Volunteers are needed to assist with the training sessions. Also, volunteers are needed to help maintain the rods, reels and tackle boxes provided for use by participants.

   To learn more about the volunteer training in Clinton, call Deanna Rittel at 816-525-0300, ext. 1245. The MDC Clinton Office can be reached at 660-885-6981.

   For information about Discover Nature Fishing volunteers, visit http://mdc.mo.gov/about-us/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities/discover-nature-fishing-volunteers.

Related articles

• Wet a line with MDC at kid's fishing clinic in Jefferson City on June 27 (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Bite Me Baits celebrates Kids Fishing Days (fox2now.com)
• Motorists Cautioned: Box Turtles on the Move (stlouis.cbslocal.com)

Discover Nature Fishing sessions offered in KC area

Kansas City, Mo.  ̶- Fishing is a great way for people to enjoy nature, especially children. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is offering a new program to help kids and

families gain angling skills and confidence. MDC’s Discover Nature Fishing Program is free and teaches participants about fishing tackle, methods and where to go.

   Discover Nature Fishing will be offered in the Kansas City area as a series of four classes. The two-hour class sessions will cover all aspects of fishing. They include:

·        Session one: equipment, casting and proper fish handling.

·        Session two: how to rig a pole with tackle such as hooks, sinkers and bobbers, and how to bait a hook and what bait works for which fish species.

·        Session three: aquatic biology, ecology and conservation.

·        Session four: how and when to use various types of artificial lures to catch fish.

    Sessions one and two will be presented 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, June 21, at the Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center in Blue Springs. These sessions are limited to the first 25 people to register. Participants may register by calling 816-622-0900.

   Discover Nature Fishing will be an ongoing program statewide, so watch for notices of future sessions.  MDC also welcomes volunteer instructors to teach fishing skills to others. Those interested in volunteering may also call MDC’s Kansas City Regional Office at 816-622-0900.

   Fishable waters are often found close to home, even in urban areas. Time and expense need not be barriers to going fishing. Tackle choices and methods can be simple and effective for catching fish. MDC’s Discover Nature Fishing Program is open to anyone who wishes to learn about the sport. Fishing is fun and gets people outdoors in fresh air and nature.

   One advantage, Missouri is a great place to fish. For more information on fishing and conservation see http://www.mdc.mo.gov.