Missouri Public Fishing Locations
In most streams south of the Missouri River, black bass season will open
May 26, 2012, until that date all black bass in those streams must be
returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught. For
details see Chapter 6 of the Wildlife Code.
PLEASE CHECK REGULATIONS CAREFULLY: Special regulations may apply to
designated portions of water bodies; some baits and lures may not be
legal for all portions.
CENTRAL REGION
(573) 882-8388
LAKES
Binder Lake: 66 degrees, normal, dingy; crappie good on jigs and
minnows; channel catfish good on nightcrawlers and stinkbaits; bluegill
fair on worms and crickets; largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and
plastic worms.
(Report made on 4/18/2012)
Blind Pony Lake: 61 degrees, normal, dingy; largemouth bass good on soft
plastics; sunfish and channel catfish fair on nightcrawlers; all other
species slow; the lake is closed to private boats, and bait held or
transported in containers with water is prohibited. (Report made on
4/19/2012)
Lake of the Ozarks (Bagnell Tailwater): 57 degrees, normal, dingy;
crappie slow, try minnows and crappie jigs; black bass season closed;
white bass slow, try light colored soft plastics and crappie jigs;
catfish fair on cut shad, stinkbaits, chicken livers and worms.
(Report made on 4/18/2012)
Lake of the Ozarks (Glaize): 63 degrees, dingy; crappie fair on minnows
and crappie jigs; black bass fair, try dark colored soft plastic worms
and buzzbaits; white bass slow, try light colored soft plastics; catfish
fair on stinkbaits and cut baits.
(Report made on 4/18/2012)
Lake of the Ozarks (Gravois): 63 degrees, muddy; crappie good on
minnows; black bass good; white bass slow; catfish fair on cut bait.
(Report made on 4/18/2012)
Lake of the Ozarks (Niangua): 63 degrees, muddy; crappie fair on minnows
and jigs; black bass good on spinnerbaits and soft plastics; catfish
good on liver and cut bait; white bass slow, try light colored soft
plastics.
(Report made on 4/18/2012)
Lake of the Ozarks (Osage): 63 degrees, muddy; crappie fair on minnows
and jigs, fish beds around docks; black bass fair on soft plastics and
crankbaits; catfish good on cut baits; white bass slow, try using light
colored soft plastics.
(Report made on 4/19/2012)
Little Dixie Lake: 65 degrees, high, dingy; crappie good on live minnows
and jigs; largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits and plastic worms;
bluegill fair on earthworms; channel catfish fair on stinkbaits and
chicken liver.
Area is closed to all activity including fishing from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
RIVERS
Lamine River: falling, muddy; all species slow. (Report made on 4/19/2012)
Missouri River (middle): high, muddy; channel catfish fair on stinkbaits
and cut baits; blue catfish fair on stinkbaits and cut baits; flathead
catfish fair on stinkbaits and cut baits; all other species slow.
(Report made on 4/19/2012)
Osage (lower, at Tuscumbia): 57 degrees, normal, dingy; crappie slow, try minnows and crappie jigs; black bass season closed;
white bass slow, try light colored soft plastics and crappie jigs;
catfish fair on cut shad, stinkbaits, chicken livers and worms.
(Report made on 4/18/2012)
----------------------
KANSAS CITY REGION
(816) 655-6254
LAKES
Atkinson Lake (Schell-Osage CA): 65 degrees, normal, clear; crappie
slow; catfish good; all other species slow; fishing pressure light.
(Report made on 4/18/2012)
James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area: 65 degrees, clear; full pool;
channel catfish, crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish fair; largemouth bass
good; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
Montrose Lake: 67 degrees, normal, dingy; catfish fair; black bass slow;
crappie slow; fishing pressure light. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
Schell Lake (Schell-Osage CA): 63 degrees, normal, dingy; crappie slow;
catfish good; all other species slow; fishing pressure light. (Report
made on 4/18/2012)
Truman Lake: 62 degrees, high, muddy; crappie fair using jigs or minnows
in the creeks in 10' of water; catfish good on fresh cut bait in 10 -
30' of water at 8' deep; black bass good on spinnerbaits in 1 - 5' of
water in pockets and creeks. (Report made on 4/19/2012)
Truman Lake Tailwaters: 62 degrees, falling, clear; crappie good below
the dam; catfish fair; white bass and hybrid bass good; paddlefish good;
fishing pressure moderate. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
RIVERS
Missouri River (Kansas City area): falling, muddy; all species slow. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
----------------------
NORTHEAST REGION
(660) 785-2420
LAKES
Hunnewell Lake: 61 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish fair using
stinkbaits and nightcrawlers; largemouth bass fair using crankbaits;
crappie fair using marabou jigs; all other species slow.
(Report made on 4/18/2012)
Long Branch Lake: 57 degrees, high, muddy; channel catfish fair on liver, nightcrawlers and cut shad; all other species slow.
(Report made on 4/18/2012)
Mark Twain: 63 degrees, normal, dingy; crappie fair on assorted jigs and
minnows; channel catfish good on nightcrawlers; white bass fair; all
other species slow. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
Sever: 61 degrees, normal, clear; crappie good on jigs and minnows near
points, brush, stumps and riprap; bluegill fair on Rooster Tails and
jigs; black bass good on 1/8 ounce spinnerbaits; channel catfish fair on
nightcrawlers; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/19/2012)
Thomas Hill Reservoir: 64 degrees, high, muddy; largemouth bass fair on
lures; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
RIVERS
Mississippi River (upper): 57 degrees, high, muddy; channel catfish fair
on nightcrawlers; flathead catfish fair on nightcrawlers; drum fair on
nightcrawlers; shovelnose sturgeon fair on nightcrawlers; all other
species slow.
(Report made on 4/18/2012)
Salt (below Mark Twain): 60 degrees, normal, muddy; channel catfish and
flathead catfish good using shad, stinkbaits and live baits on rod and
reel and bank poles left over night; all other species slow. (Report
made on 4/18/2012)
----------------------
NORTHWEST REGION
(816) 271-3100
LAKES
Bilby Ranch Lake: 62 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish good using
cut bait or liver; black bass good; all other species fair. (Report made
on 4/19/2012)
Lake Paho: 60 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish fair using natural
baits; largemouth bass fair using soft plastics in back of coves; all
other species slow. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
Mozingo Lake: 63 degrees, high, dingy; black bass and crappie good;
bluegill, walleye and catfish fair. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
Pony Express Lake: 58 degrees, normal, dingy; all species fair. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
Smithville Lake: 62 degrees, normal, clear; crappie good minnows near
brush piles; black bass good near the jetties on jigs or in shallow
water with woody cover on jigs, spinners and square-billed crankbaits;
catfish good in coves using nightcrawlers or liver; white bass and
walleye fair. (Report made on 4/19/2012)
RIVERS
Grand River: 66 degrees, falling, dingy; channel catfish good; blue
catfish fair; flathead catfish slow; all other species good. (Report
made on 4/18/2012)
Missouri River (upper): 58 degrees, rising, muddy; all species slow. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
----------------------
OZARK REGION
(417) 255-9561
LAKES
Bull Shoals Lake (East): 72 degrees, high, dingy; all species slow. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
Norfork Lake: 68 degrees, high, dingy; all species slow. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
RIVERS
Big Piney River (lower, Pulaski Co.): 62 degrees, falling, dingy;
goggle-eye fair on crankbaits and Beetle Spins; channel catfish fair on
live bait. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
Big Piney River (upper, Texas Co.): 62 degrees, falling, dingy;
goggle-eye and black bass (catch and release only) fair on plastics.
(Report made on 4/19/2012)
Bryant Creek: 63 degrees, normal, dingy; all species slow. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
Current River: 69 degrees, normal, clear; goggle-eye good on worms and jigs. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
Eleven Point River: 60 degrees, normal, dingy; rainbow trout good on
corn and minnows; all other species fair. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
Gasconade River (middle): 62 degrees, falling, muddy; all species slow. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
Gasconade River (upper): 59 degrees, normal, dingy; goggle-eye and
sunfish fair on live bait; all other species slow. (Report made on
4/18/2012)
Jacks Fork: 62 degrees, normal, clear; smallmouth bass and goggle-eye
good on soft plastics (black bass are catch and release only). (Report
made on 4/18/2012)
North Fork of the White River: 60 degrees, normal, clear; all species slow.
(Report made on 4/18/2012)
----------------------
SOUTHEAST REGION (573) 290-5858
LAKES
Clearwater Lake: 73 degrees, normal, clear; crappie fair in shallow
water on jigs; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
Council Bluff Lake: 62 degrees, normal, clear; largemouth bass good on
dark colored soft plastics; crappie fair on jigs and minnows; all other
species slow. (Report made on 4/19/2012)
Cypress Lake: 63 degrees, normal, dingy; crappie fair on minnows and
jigs in 1 - 2' depths, mostly smaller fish being caught right now;
bluegill fair on jigs and crickets in 2 - 3' depths; largemouth bass
slow on minnows and jigs incidental to crappie fishing, and plastic
worms in 2 - 3' depths; channel catfish fair on worms and stinkbait in 2
- 3' depths. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
Duck Creek CA Pool 1: 64 degrees, high, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
Lake Girardeau: No report available.
Perry County Lake: 70 degrees, clear; crappie good on jigs; sunfish good
on red wigglers; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/19/2012)
Robert DeLaney Lake: 62 degrees, normal, crappie fair on jigs and
minnows; channel catfish fair on stinkbaits; all other species slow.
(Report made on 4/18/2012)
Wappapello Lake: low, black bass fair on crankbaits and plastic worms;
crappie fair on minnows and jigs; channel catfish fair on trotlines and
jug lines using live bait at night; all other species slow.
Anglers should note the 9" minimum length limit regulation for crappie
on Wappapello Lake. Call the Wappapello Lake Recreation Hotline for
updates at 573-222-8139. (Report made on 4/19/2012)
RIVERS
Black River (above Clearwater Lake): 62 degrees, normal, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
Black River (below Clearwater Lake): 70 degrees, normal, dingy; channel
catfish good on live bait; crappie fair on jigs and minnows; white bass
fair on tube jigs; black bass season closed (catch and release only)
fair on minnows; all other species slow.
(Report made on 4/19/2012)
Castor River (above Zalma): normal, clear; all species fair. (Report made on 4/19/2012)
Mississippi River (middle): No report available.
Mississippi River (Ohio River to Arkansas): normal, muddy; channel
catfish fair on liver and cut baits; all other species slow. (Report
made on 4/18/2012)
St. Francis River (above Wappapello): normal, dingy; channel catfish
good on live bait; black bass (season closed until May 26th) fair on
minnows and jigs; bluegill fair on crickets; all other species slow.
(Report made on 4/19/2012)
St. Francis River (below Wappapello): 64 degrees, normal, dingy; channel
catfish fair on liver, nightcrawlers and stinkbaits; black bass fair on
plastic worms and spinnerbaits; crappie fair using chartreuse tube jigs
and minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
----------------------
SOUTHWEST REGION (417) 895-6881
LAKES
Bull Shoals Lake (West): 63-66 degrees, high, clear; white bass good on
white, purple, smoke, and chartreuse swimming minnows; black bass good
on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, soft plastics and jigs; walleye fair on
jerkbaits and nightcrawlers; crappie fair on minnows and crappie jigs;
all other species slow. (Report made on 4/19/2012)
Lake Taneycomo: 50 degrees, high, clear; trout good on scuds and San
Juan worms, white and black marabou jigs, Rooster Tails and Rogues in
upper portion of the lake, orange, pink, and white Power Baits, corn,
and live nightcrawlers are working well in lower portion of the lake.
(Report made on 4/19/2012)
Pomme de Terre Reservoir: 61 degrees, high, clear; crappie good on
minnows and tube jigs in 5 - 12' of water; black bass fair on Texas
rigs, tube jigs, and spinnerbaits in 12' of water; walleye fair on
bottom bouncers and jig and minnows or worms off of points and near the
mouth of rivers; white bass fair using Twister Tails in the rivers;
catfish fair on cut baits; all other species fair. (Report made on
4/19/2012)
Stockton Lake: 62 degrees, high, dingy; crappie good on minnows in 8' of
water; catfish good on liver from the bank in coves and around points;
black bass fair on jerkbaits of various colors, mainly chartreuse on
flats and off of points in 6 - 15' of water; walleye slow, best on
plastic worms and minnows at the edge of bluffs and up into the lake
arms; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/19/2012)
Table Rock Lake (James River arm): 64 degrees, high, muddy; black bass
good on soft plastic crayfish, Wiggle Warts, and modified Alabama Rigs
(3 hooks only), pearl or shad colored baits working well; crappie good
on jigs and live minnows in 10' of water or less; white bass fair on
white or bright yellow Vibric spinners, small diving crankbaits and
pearl swimming minnows, trolling is also working well. (Report made on
4/19/2012)
Table Rock Lake (main lake): 65 degrees, normal, clear; black bass good
on soft plastic crayfish, Wiggle Warts, pearl or shad colored baits are
also working well; crappie good on jigs and live minnows in 15' of water
or less; white bass fair on white or bright colored Vibric spinners,
small diving crankbaits and pearl swimming minnows, trolling is also
working well. (Report made on 4/19/2012)
RIVERS
James River: 63 degrees, normal, clear; black bass good on Texas rigs,
flukes, Wiggle Warts with chartreuse colors (catch and release only);
white bass good on white Road Runners or white and chartreuse jigs;
crappie good on minnows and jigs near the banks. (Report made on
4/19/2012)
Niangua River: 58 degrees, high, dingy; black bass slow, best on soft
plastics and natural baits (catch and release only); goggle-eye slow,
best on natural baits and jigs; trout slow, best on natural baits and
Power Baits below Bennett Spring; all other species slow. (Report made
on 4/19/2012)
----------------------
ST. LOUIS REGION (636) 300-1953
LAKES
Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lake 33: 60 degrees, normal, dingy;
channel catfish good on livers; black bass good on spinners, plastic
worms and crankbaits; crappie fair on minnows and jigs; bluegill fair on
worms and crickets; please remove litter.
(Report made on 4/19/2012)
Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lakes 3, 4, 5, 7, and 23: 60 degrees,
normal, dingy; channel catfish good on cut bait and blood bait; limit 4;
black bass good on spinners, plastic worms and crankbaits; crappie fair
on minnows and jigs; bluegill fair on worms and crickets; please remove
litter.
(Report made on 4/19/2012)
RIVERS
Big River: 63 degrees, high, muddy; channel catfish fair on blood bait
and livers; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/19/2012)
Bourbeuse River: 62 degrees, high, muddy; black bass are catch and release only; all species slow on natural baits.
(Report made on 4/19/2012)
Meramec River (Crawford Co.): 60 degrees, falling, muddy; all species slow. (Report made on 4/19/2012)
Meramec River (St. Louis Co.): 61 degrees, high, muddy; channel catfish
good on cut bait and livers; all other species slow. (Report made on
4/19/2012)
Missouri River (lower): 57 degrees, rising, muddy; channel catfish fair
on cut bait and livers; all other species slow. (Report made on
4/19/2012)
----------------------
TROUT PARKS
Bennett Spring State Park: 57 degrees, the spring level is still
slightly high and slightly off color; Zone 1 and 2 best lures: brown
colored and black colored roaches; bedspread colored, and white colored
mini-jigs; gray or white colored scuds; black or sulfur colored
Cracklebacks; ginger snap, red and white colored marabou jigs; bumblebee
colored and black sparkled colored Rooster Tails; orange colored and
peach colored glo balls; olive or brown colored wooly buggers with gold
spinner; Zone 3 best lures: white with sparkle, salmon peach, and yellow
colored Power Baits; brown colored Trout Nip. April fishing hours are
7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Our kids free fishing event is Saturday May 5;
fishing is free to kids 15 and younger, there will be many exhibits that
are open from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided for the kids.
Fishing hours for the event will be 6:30 a.m. until 8:15 p.m. (Report
made on 4/19/2012)
Maramec Spring Park: 56 degrees, falling, fishing is good; the water is
dingy; use very light weight line and tackle; throughout the spring
branch feather jigs and trout worms in black/yellow, orange/white,
green, white, and pink are producing good numbers of fish; dough and
putty baits are producing when fished free floating; fish are holding in
deep holes, below the waterfalls and around boulders, target these
areas for best success; Kid's Free Fishing Day is May 19th; fishing
hours for the month of April are 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Report made on
4/19/2012)
Montauk State Park: 57 degrees, the river level is normal; the water is
clear; fishing is good on most baits; brown, white, and yellow scented
dough and putty baits are working well in the bait zones; flies, Rooster
Tails and jigs in black and yellow, white, and olive colors are working
well. April fishing hours are 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Our Kid's Fishing
Day is Saturday May 5th.
For up-to-date stream conditions check
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?07064440 (Report made on 4/19/2012)
Roaring River State Park: 58 degrees, the water is normal and fairly
clear; dry flies have been good with lots of caddis and midge hatches;
beetles, ants and hoppers, Cracklebacks, pheasant tails and copper johns
are good; olive, black, and brown wooly buggers or worms are good;
orange, white, chartreuse, fluorescent yellow plastic eggs are working
well; cheese yellow, white, mint green, yellow/orange, pink, and the
orange, and orange/white plastic worms are good; spinners are good
early, black, brown, olive and black/yellow are good early; marabou
jigs in white, tan and pinks early and later in the day; use black,
black/yellow, brown, brown/yellow, and black/olive marabou jigs in
1/16th - 1/100 in size; in Zone 3 use nightcrawlers, corn, Power Bait
paste and nuggets. (Report made on 4/18/2012)
