Missouri trout parks today
Closed today No trout fishing right now. Winter catch-and-release opens Friday, Nov 13, 2026.
The four trout parks
Flow is in cubic feet per second, from the USGS gauge on each spring branch. "Typical" is the median flow for this date across each gauge's record.
Seasons at a glance
| Catch-and-keep | Winter catch-and-release | |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | March 1 to Oct. 31 | Second Friday in November to second Monday in February (this winter: Nov 13 to Feb 8, 2027) |
| Days | Every day | Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday only (Maramec Spring: daily) |
| Hours | Vary by month; posted at each park | 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| What you need | Daily trout tag, plus a fishing permit unless exempt | Annual trout permit plus a fishing permit |
| Tag price | $5 for 16 and older, $3 for 15 and younger | No daily tag |
| Limit | 4 trout a day, 8 in possession | None kept; every fish is released |
| Lures | Set by zone at each park | Flies only |
Between Nov. 1 and the second Friday in November, and again from the day after the second Monday in February through the end of the month, the parks are closed to trout fishing.
Before you go
- Daily tags are sold only at the parks, so bring cash. Opening day on March 1 draws thousands of anglers; in 2026 the four parks sold nearly 8,000 tags that day.
- Each park splits its stream into zones with different lure rules. Ask for the zone map when you buy your tag.
- Kids 15 and younger don't need a fishing permit, only the $3 youth tag.
- Missouri's free fishing days, the first Saturday and Sunday after the first Monday in June, waive the daily tag and permit at the trout parks. Limits still apply.
Questions
When is trout season at the Missouri trout parks?
Catch-and-keep season runs every day from March 1 through Oct. 31. Winter catch-and-release season runs from the second Friday in November through the second Monday in February, Friday through Monday only, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Bennett Spring, Montauk and Roaring River. Between those seasons, trout fishing at the parks is closed.
How much is a daily trout tag?
$5 for anglers 16 and older and $3 for anglers 15 and younger, at all four trout parks. Tags are sold only at the parks, and the Missouri Department of Conservation suggests bringing the correct cash if you can.
Do I need a fishing permit too?
Yes, unless you are exempt. Missouri residents 16 through 64 and nonresidents 16 and older need a fishing permit in addition to the daily trout tag. Kids 15 and younger and Missouri residents 65 and older are exempt from the fishing permit.
What do I need for winter catch-and-release?
A fishing permit and an annual trout permit, which replaces the daily tag in winter. Only flies may be used, and every fish goes back in the water.
What is the daily limit?
Four trout a day during catch-and-keep season, with a possession limit of eight. Brown trout must be at least 15 inches to keep; there is no length limit on rainbows.
Sources
- Missouri Department of Conservation: Trout Parks season, checked Nov 10, 2026
- MDC: Special Waterbody Regulations (winter dates and hours), checked Nov 10, 2026
- Missouri Wildlife Code, 3 CSR 10-12.150: Fishing, Trout Parks
- Missouri State Parks: Fishing at Bennett Spring (permit exemptions), checked Nov 10, 2026
- Missouri DNR: Catch-and-keep trout season opens March 1 (Feb. 17, 2026)
- Missourinet: 2026 opening day tag sales
- USGS gauges 06923500, 07050152 and 07064440, read hourly, and USGS daily flow statistics
Regulations change. The Missouri Department of Conservation's current Wildlife Code is the final word.