| Winter Trout Fishing
in Missouri |
Here's some information for
those of you wanting to find someplace to do some winter trout
fishing in Missouri. These places to fish for trout in the winter
are courtesy of the State of Missouri.
CENTRAL REGION:
McKay Park Lake, Jefferson City
- Beat the winter blues and land a lunker rainbow from McKay
Park Lake. The park is located in Jefferson City, Missouri. To
get there, go 0.4 miles northwest of Highway 54 on Southwest
Boulevard, then turn right on Sunrise Lane and go 0.1 miles,
and then turn left on Sunset Lake Road and go 0.1 miles to the
lake. McKay Park Lake is six acres. The park also offers a fitness
trail, playground, basketball court, and small picnic pavilions.
Cosmo Bethel Park Lake, Columbia
- Columbians don't have to travel a long distance to enjoy Missouri's
fine trout fishing. Cosmo Bethel Park is located 0.4 miles east
of Providence Road on Nifong Boulevard, then left (south) on
Bethel Drive, and then 0.2 miles to the park. The six-acre lake
is just past the large picnic pavilions south of the parking
lot.
Kiwanis Lake, Plunkett Park,
Mexico - This beautiful park lake was stocked with trout for
the first time last winter. Get some sunshine and keep your casting
skills sharp by angling for a beautiful rainbow trout. From the
intersection of Monroe and Wade, go 0.5 miles north on Wade to
Hendricks, turn left, and then go 0.2 miles to the park. Kiwanis
Lake is three acres.
SOUTHEAST REGION:
Rotary Lake, Jackson - This
3.2 acre lake is located in the city park of Jackson in Cape
Girardeau County. First stocked with trout in 2003, it has grown
in popularity with the local anglers each year. Winter trout
fishing is an excellent way for families suffering from "cabin
fever" to get out and enjoy an exciting family outing that
will beat those winter blues.
ST. LOUIS AREA WINTER TROUT
PROGRAM:
Since 1989, the Missouri Department
of Conservation has stocked rainbow trout as part of the Urban
Fishing Program in St. Louis City, later expanding to Ballwin,
Ferguson, Kirkwood, Jennings, Overland, and the August A. Busch
Conservation Area.
This year, MDC will stock over
38,000 brown and rainbow trout in twelve St. Louis City and County
lakes and five lakes on the August A. Busch Conservation Area.
These fish will average 10-12" (with some over 18")
and were raised at MDC hatcheries.
Trout stocking begins in November
and runs through February. Many lakes receive two stockings per
month, while catch and release lakes get stocked less. Stocking
dates are not announced ahead of time, but are quickly reported
to the Fish Stocking Hot Line: (636)300-9651.
Anglers practicing catch and
release at trout harvest lakes should consider using artificial
lures or flies. Studies have shown that trout caught and released
on natural or prepared baits are 5 times more likely to die after
release than those caught with artificial lures or flies. In
addition, anglers must stop fishing for the day after having
four trout in their possession. When fewer released trout survive,
fishing quality for all will suffer.
For more information about the
St. Louis Winter Trout Program, please call the St. Louis Region
Office (636/300-1953) and ask for the St. Louis Winter Trout
Program brochure.
KANSAS CITY REGION:
Rainbow and Brown trout (3/4-pound
average) will be stocked four times during winter months (November
thru March) at several Kansas City Area lakes. Three lakes at
the James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area will be stocked with
trout. Coot and Plover lakes and Honker Pond (Only children under
the age of 16 can fish in Honker Pond) will all be stocked with
trout this year. Coot Lake will no longer be catch and release
for the first part of the season so trout can be harvested immediately
after stocking. Both Coot and Plover lakes are ADA accessible
and provide excellent trout fishing from the fishing jetties
and floating dock. Alex George Lake (Jackson County) and Chaumiere
Lake (Clay County) will be stocked with trout again. Rainbow
and Brown trout can be caught on live and artificial baits. Rainbow
trout are often caught on prepared dough baits, worms, minnows,
small jigs, spinners, and flies. Brown trout are frequently caught
on worms, minnows, jigs, and spinners. Maps showing the locations
of stocked lakes are available at the Kansas City Regional Office
(816/655-6250).
Liberty Park Pond:
Urban winter trout fishing has
been so successful in other cities that the program has been
expanded to include Sedalia in 2006. Under a cooperative agreement,
the Missouri Department of Conservation and Sedalia Parks and
Recreation Department are stocking rainbow trout into Liberty
Park Pond to create an urban winter trout fishery. Rainbow trout
averaging 3/4-pound average, with some large fish up to 6-pounds
will be stocked in 2006.
For more information on the
Sedalia Winter Trout Program contact the Sedalia Office (660/530-5500).
SOUTHWEST REGION:
Winter trout fishing opportunities
abound in southwest Missouri, and colder weather should not deter
anglers looking for the chance to hook into a quality rainbow
or brown trout. Mild winters over the last several years have
provided numerous days when a light sweater will suffice, but
even the coldest days will find a few anglers on the water. So
dress warm, pack a thermos full of your favorite hot beverage
and get after those winter trout!
STREAMS:
A number of spring-fed streams
are stocked less frequently than the trout parks and offer much
less crowded fishing and a more natural trout fishing experience.
Because these streams are fed by springs that maintain fairly
consistent water temperatures year-round, anglers can find trout
actively feeding throughout the winter, and even the occasional
insect hatch. Fishing in these waters is often better on a warm
winter day than it is during the peak of summer's warmer temperatures.
In Southwest Region these White Ribbon Trout Areas include Capps
Creek, the Niangua River and Roaring River below Roaring River
State Park. In addition, trout are now stocked regularly in Hickory
Creek in Neosho. On Hickory Creek from November 1 through the
last day of February all trout must be released unharmed immediately
and only flies and artificial lures may be used from the Highway
86 Bridge to its confluence with Shoal Creek.
Even more special, at least
to some anglers, are the Blue Ribbon Trout Areas. These are high
quality trout streams that are stocked with either brown or rainbow
trout. Some, like Crane Creek in Southwest Region, are not stocked
at all but contain wild, naturally-reproducing rainbow trout
that can provide good winter fishing action.
Lake Taneycomo is one of the
premier tailwater trout fisheries in the United States and winter
fishing can be very good. Rainbow trout are stocked in the lower
portions of the lake throughout the winter season. Upper portions
of the lake above Fall Creek support an excellent population
of rainbow trout, with many fish over 16 inches and the occasional
fish exceeding 20 inches. With brown trout added to the mix,
lunker-sized fish can be found throughout the lake.
Table Rock Dam to Fall Creek:
Here, anglers are required to
immediately release all rainbow trout between 12" and 20".
Only artificial lures and flies may be used in the upper 3 miles
from Table Rock Dam to the mouth of Fall Creek. Soft plastic
and natural and scented baits are prohibited in this area. No
trout are stocked within this reach; however, densities remain
high due to low harvest and fish immigration. Fly fishing has
become the most popular form of angling in this area, but small
crankbaits on light to medium spinning outfits also produce some
nice catches. Scuds, sow bugs and soft hackles are popular fly
patterns. The current state record brown trout comes from Lake
Taneycomo and was caught in October 2005, weighing 27 pounds,
10 ounces.
Below Fall Creek:
Due to increased harvest and
shorter retention time, the size structure within this area reflects
a put-and-take fishery. There is no length limit for rainbow
trout in this area, and natural and scented baits may be used
in addition to artificial lures and flies.
Remember, all anglers fishing
in Lake Taneycomo upstream from the Highway 65 Bridge near Branson
are required to have a trout permit. The daily limit of trout
is four (4) with a possession limit of eight (8). Of these, only
one (1) fish in the daily limit and two (2) fish in the possession
limit may be brown trout, and the minimum length limit for brown
trout throughout the lake.
WINTER FISHING AT THE TROUT
PARKS:
Maramec Spring Park, Bennett
Spring State Park, Montauk State Park, and Roaring River State
Park will provide catch-and-release fishing from November 10,
2006 through February 12, 2007. Maramec Spring Park (owned by
The James Foundation) will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The three state parks will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays,
Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays. A fishing permit and a trout
permit are required. Only flies may be used. A fly is defined
as an artificial lure constructed on a single-point hook, using
any material except soft plastic bait and natural and scented
bait that is tied, glued or otherwise permanently attached.
An exciting change is happening
at the state parks this year. Up until the winter of 2005-'06,
all the trout parks were open only Friday through Sunday during
the winter catch-and-release season. However, in the winter of
2005-'06, Maramec Spring Park was opened seven days per week.
For the 2006-'07 season the usual three-day season will increase
to four days (i.e., Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday) at
Bennett Spring State Park, Montauk State Park, and Roaring River
State Park. Increasing the number of days trout anglers interested
in winter catch-and-release angling may enjoy the sport. The
hatcheries at each of the four trout parks will periodically
release trout to maintain trout densities at the levels necessary
for good quality winter fishing.
Anglers are encouraged to obtain
park-specific regulation pamphlets upon arrival at each trout
park. The stream zones where angling is permitted will be noted
in the pamphlets and will also be indicated by area signs. Not
all facilities will have the services available during the winter
season that are available during the regular season, so anglers
contemplating a trip should plan accordingly.
For anglers unfamiliar with
winter fishing at the trout parks the following tips may make
your trip more of a success. Anglers with fly rods are advised
to use a 6X or 7X leader or a tippet of 2 or 3 pounds. Fly selection
can be made by matching naturally occurring food items in the
stream, visiting with fellow anglers, checking at local tackle
shops, or reading a some of the variety of fishing reports available
on the internet. Unless there is a dry fly hatch in progress,
nymphs are a good bet. Hook sizes of 14 or smaller are usually
productive. Presentation of the fly is at least as important
as fly selection. Many times trout get zoned into feeding at
a certain level-surface, bottom, or mid-depth. Try to observe
what the trout are doing and drift a fly to them at their level.
Anglers with spinning tackle
frequently enjoy success with small marabou jigs in a variety
of colors. The smallest jig that can be cast is best (usually
1/16 or 1/32 ounce). Another spinning tackle technique is to
use a casting bubble (a clear plastic bobber that can be filled
with a little water to add weight for casting). A casting bubble
makes it possible to fish with flies that are otherwise too light
to cast.
Information regarding winter
catch-and-release trout fishing at the individual trout parks
can be obtained at the following numbers:
Bennett Spring Fish Hatchery,
417-532-4418
Maramec Spring Fish Hatchery,
573-265-7801
Montauk Fish Hatchery, 573-548-2585
Roaring River Fish Hatchery,
417-847-2430.
MONTAUK STATE PARK:
Saturday and Sunday, October
7th and 8th is the 42nd Annual Rose Holland Trout Derby. Everyone
is invited to attend this event. While you are encouraged to
fish while there, it is certainly not required. There are many
activities and attractions to entertain non-anglers.
If you have an interest in winter
trout fishing and none of these waters are in your locality we
ask that you be patient. There are more lakes already planned
for the future and as the program increases in popularity even
more will be added to our list of available fisheries. If you
have an interest in the winter trout areas and would like to
learn more about trout fishing in Missouri you may contact your
local fisheries biologist or Contact Randy Noyes by phone (573)
522 4115 x 3593, by E-mail Randy.Noyes@mdc.mo.gov or write to:
Fisheries Division, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City MO 65109
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