How to Catch Trout in Missouri

The Missouri Ozark Mountains offer great trout fishing experiences ranging from conditions for beginner trout fisherman at the daily stocked State Trout Parks to catching wild trout on many of the Ozarks cold spring-fed rivers. This article will attempt to provide information on how to begin catching trout in Missouri, including locations and techniques, and provide information on how to increase your skill in order to catch wild trout.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Select your equipment. For beginner trout fisherman a spinning reel and ultra-lite rod is the easiest and most efficient tackle combination. You’ll want something that can use light line (less than 6lb. test, unless your fishing a dam tailwater).
   
   For lures, single spinners, such as Roostertails or Panther Martins, and soft plastics worms work well at the state parks. These worms aren’t your long, thick worms used for bass fishing, but rather only a couple of centimeters thick and a few inches in length. You’ll find them at the park’s store in a variety of colors, as they’re very popular for Ozark trout fishing.

2. Practice with your equipment. If you decide to go with a spinning reel you won’t need to practice that much. Casting and retrieving with this reel is pretty straight forward. However, if your going to fly fish you’ll want some backyard practice before heading to the river.

3. Catch some trout. Start fishing at a trout park or other regularly stocked area. Be at the park for the opening whistle. You’ll usually catch an inexperienced trout on the first cast. I prefer Roaring River in Southwest Missouri or Bennett Springs near Lebanon, MO. Roaring River has a fish cleaning station which provides for a cleaner environment than Bennett Springs, where fisherman clean the trout in the stream. There’s also Maramec Springs and Montauk State Park.

4. In Missouri’s trout parks you’ll definitely want to use very light line, preferably two pound test. There are a lot of fish in these streams but the water is very clear and the fish see a lot of lures. Also, be sure to talk to the locals in the park shop for tips and regulations.

5. Once you move to fishing the wild rivers such as the North Fork, Niangua, or Eleven Point you’ll have to decide to go on your own or use a guide. Trout guides can be a great way to catch fish, but are also significantly more expensive. If you go on your own take your canoe or rent one from a local outfitter, there’s plenty on every river and they’ll provide the canoe, paddles, and transportation. If you want to fish for trout from your canoe do a short float, 5 miles or less, and stop and wade the likely trout water.

6. Look for trout in the eddies around rocks or trees where they can rest in the slack water while waiting for food to drift down through the current. Be sure to cast upstream and drag a spinning lure down through the current past the eddies.

7. Stalk the fish. Trout are very leery and will be frightened by noise, the sight of humans above the water, or even shifting gravel beneath your fight. Walk softly and if casting in a small stream crouch down as you approach the creek.

8. Good luck and be sure to get a fishing license, trout tag, and a copy of the Missouri fishing regulations.

Resources

• For more information on outdoor fun in the Ozarks.

[MrBB]

on 11/4/2009 I don't live near there but this sounds like a fun activity.

[amylaine]

on 10/9/2009 Great tips.