Fishing, General Provisions and Seasons

PURPOSE: This rule establishes where and when fishing is allowed on areas under management agreement with the department. (1) Fishing, under statewide permits, seasons, methods, and limits, is permitted except as further restricted in this chapter. (2) Fishing is prohibited where designated by signs. (3) Fishing is permitted only by reservation by educational groups, and fish must be returned to the water unharmed immediately after being caught except as provided by special use permit on the following areas or individually named lakes: (A) Chillicothe R-2 School District (Litton Center Pond); (B) Jackson County (Fleming Park ponds); (C) North Central Missouri College (Barton Campus Pond); (D) St. Louis County (Suson Rearing Pond); and (E) St. Louis (Forest Park–Bullfrog Lake, Catfish Cove, Cypress Lake, Fish Tail Lake). (4) Fishing is restricted to persons fifteen (15) years of age or younger on the following areas or individually named lakes: (A) Liberty (Capitol Federal® Sports Complex Pond No. 8). (5) Fishing is prohibited on Mark Twain National Forest (Carmen Spring Management Area). (6) All fishing on Smithville Lake Waterfowl Refuge is closed from October 15 through January 31 in units designated by posting. (7) On St. Joseph (Krug Park Lagoon), fishing is permitted from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to one-half (1/2) hour after sunset. AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV, Mo. Const., and section 252.040, RSMo 2016.* This rule previously filed as 3 CSR 10-4.116. Original rule filed April 30, 2001, effective Sept. 30, 2001. Amended: Filed June 4, 2004, effective Nov. 30, 2004. Amended: Filed May 23, 2006, effective June 15, 2006. Amended: Filed Oct. 2, 2006, effective Feb. 28, 2007. Amended: Filed Aug. 14, 2007, effective Jan. 30, 2008. Amended: Filed Sept. 27, 2007, effective Feb. 29, 2008. Amended: Filed Sept. 25, 2009, effective March 1, 2010. Amended: Filed March 12, 2010, effective Aug. 30, 2010. Amended: Filed Sept. 12, 2011, effective March 1, 2012. Amended: Filed March 14, 2016, effective July 30, 2016. Amended: Filed March 1, 2017, effective Aug. 30, 2017. Amended: Filed Sept. 4, 2020, effective Feb. 28, 2021. Amended: Filed Nov. 20, 2024, effective April 30, 2025. Amended: Filed Feb. 4, 2026, effective Aug. 30, 2026. *Original authority: 252.040, RSMo 1945, amended 1989.