Restricted Zones

PURPOSE: This rule establishes zones, primarily below certain dams, where fishing and fishing methods are restricted. (1) The following zones are closed to all fishing: (A) Black River within the wing walls of Clearwater Dam; (B) Clarence Cannon Reregulation Pool within four hundred feet (400') below Clarence Cannon Dam (the no-boating zone); (C) Greer Spring Branch upstream from its confluence with the Eleven Point River; (D) Lake Taneycomo within seven hundred sixty feet (760') below Table Rock Dam; (E) Osage River within two hundred twenty-five feet (225') below Bagnell Dam, except that live bait may be taken only by dip net and throw net; (F) Osage River/Lake of the Ozarks within a boundary beginning from the face of Truman Dam downstream along the left descending bank to the no-fishing zone sign at East Bledsoe Ferry Park (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), across the water in a straight line to the no-fishing zone sign at West Bledsoe Ferry Park (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), upstream along the right descending bank to the face of the Truman Dam, and returning to the point of origin along the face of the Truman Dam in the U.S Army Corps of Engineers’ restricted zone; and (G) St. Francis River within two hundred twenty-five feet (225') below Wappapello Dam. (2) Fish may be taken only by pole and line from— (A) Blue Springs Lake, except that shad also may be taken by dip net and throw net; (B) Clarence Cannon Reregulation Pool from the posted powerline crossing upstream to the no-boating zone four hundred feet (400') below Clarence Cannon Dam; (C) Little Platte River between Smithville Dam and U.S. Highway 169; (D) Longview Lake, except that shad also may be taken by dip net and throw net; (E) Sac River from below Stockton Dam to Highway 32; (F) Salt River from below Clarence Cannon Reregulation Pool Dam to Route A except that fish may also be taken by bow as prescribed in 3 CSR 10-6.550 from all adjoining backwaters and from the main channel beginning one thousand feet (1,000') below the Reregulation Dam; and (G) Lake Taneycomo between the closed zone seven hundred sixty feet (760') below Table Rock Dam to the mouth of Fall Creek. (3) Fish may be taken by all prescribed methods except trotlines, throwlines, and limb lines from— (A) Bull Shoals Lake from below Powersite Dam to Highway 76; (B) Osage River from the no-fishing zone below Bagnell Dam to U.S. Highway 54. Snagging, snaring, and grabbing are also excluded in this zone; (C) Osage River/Lake of the Ozarks from the no-fishing zone below Truman Dam to U.S. Highway 65. Snagging, snaring, grabbing, and use of jug lines are also excluded in this zone; (D) Black River within seven hundred feet (700') below the spillway walls of Clearwater Dam. Bowfishing, gigging, and use of atlatl are also excluded in this zone; and (E) St. Francis River within seven hundred feet (700') below the spillway walls of Wappapello Dam. Bowfishing, gigging, and use of atlatl are also excluded in this zone. (4) Live bait, as defined in 3 CSR 10-6.605, may be taken only by pole and line from— (A) Black River from below the zone closed to all fishing within the wing walls of Clearwater Dam to the Highway 34 bridge; (B) St. Francis River from below the zone closed to all fishing two hundred twenty-five feet (225') below Wappapello Dam to Wayne County Road 517; and (C) Clarence Cannon Reregulation Pool, from below the zone closed to all fishing four hundred feet (400') below Clarence Cannon Dam to the Reregulation Dam. (5) Fish may be taken by all prescribed methods except gig, atlatl, crossbow, and bow on the following waters and as further restricted in subsections (6)(A), (B), (C), (D), (F), (H), (J), (K), and (M) of this rule. Fish taken by gig, atlatl, crossbow, and bow may not be possessed on these waters or the banks thereof. (A) Barren Fork Creek in Shannon County from County Road A-D to its confluence with Sinking Creek. (B) Blue Springs Creek in Crawford County from Blue Springs to its confluence with Meramec River. (C) Crane Creek in Stone and Lawrence counties upstream from Quail Spur Crossing on Stone County Road 13-195. (D) Current River from Montauk State Park to the river crossing on Dent County Road 6510/Shannon County Big Creek Road at Cedargrove. (E) Eleven Point River from its confluence with Greer Spring Branch to Turner Mill. (F) Little Piney Creek from the Phelps County line in Sections 9 and 16 of T35N, R8W, including Piney Spring Branch and Lane Spring Branch, to Milldam Hollow Access. (G) Mill Creek in Phelps County from Yelton Spring to its confluence with Little Piney Creek including Wilkins Spring and Spring Branch. (H) North Fork of White River in Ozark County from the upper outlet of Rainbow Spring to Patrick Bridge. (I) Spring Creek in Phelps County from Relfe Spring to its confluence with Big Piney River. (6) Fish may be taken by all prescribed methods except that only flies and artificial lures may be used when fishing and soft plastic baits and natural and scented baits are specifically prohibited in— (A) Barren Fork Creek in Shannon County from County Road A-D to its confluence with Sinking Creek; (B) Blue Springs Creek in Crawford County from Blue Springs to its confluence with Meramec River; (C) Crane Creek in Stone and Lawrence counties upstream from Quail Spur Crossing on Stone County Road 13-195; (D) Current River from Montauk State Park to the river crossing on Dent County Road 6510/Shannon County Big Creek Road at Cedargrove; (E) Dry Fork Creek in Crawford and Phelps counties from the elevated cable crossing to its confluence with the Meramec River; (F) Eleven Point River in Oregon County from its confluence with Greer Spring Branch to Turner Mill; (G) Hickory Creek in Newton County from the Highway 86 bridge to its confluence with Shoal Creek from November 1 through the last day of February; (H) Lake Taneycomo in Taney County from the closed zone seven hundred sixty feet (760') below Table Rock Dam to the mouth of Fall Creek; (I) Little Piney Creek from the Phelps County line in Sections 9 and 16 of T35N, R8W, including Piney Spring Branch and Lane Spring Branch, to Milldam Hollow Access; (J) Meramec River in Crawford and Phelps counties from Highway 8 bridge to Scott’s Ford; (K) Mill Creek in Phelps County from Yelton Spring to its confluence with Little Piney Creek including Wilkins Spring and Spring Branch; (L) North Fork of White River in Ozark County from the upper outlet of Rainbow Spring to Patrick Bridge; and (M) Spring Creek in Phelps County from Relfe Spring to its confluence with Big Piney River. (7) The use of shoes, boots, or waders with porous soles incorporating or having felt, matted, or woven fibrous materials is prohibited on the following areas: (A) Barren Fork Creek in Shannon County; (B) Blue Springs Creek in Crawford County; (C) Capps Creek in Barry and Newton counties; (D) Crane Creek in Stone and Lawrence counties; (E) Current River in Dent, Texas, and Shannon counties; (F) Dry Fork Creek in Crawford and Phelps counties; (G) Eleven Point River in Oregon County; (H) Hickory Creek in Newton County; (I) Lake Taneycomo in Taney County; (J) Little Piney Creek in Phelps County; (K) Meramec River in Crawford and Phelps counties; (L) Mill Creek in Phelps County; (M) North Fork of White River in Ozark County; (N) Niangua River in Dallas and Laclede counties; (O) Roaring River in Barry County; (P) Roubidoux Creek in Pulaski County; (Q) Spring Creek in Phelps County; and (R) Stone Mill Spring Branch in Pulaski County. AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV, Mo. Const., and section 252.040, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed June 13, 1994, effective Jan. 1, 1995. Amended: Filed May 30, 1995, effective Jan. 1, 1996. Amended: Filed Oct. 25, 1995, effective Nov. 7, 1995. Amended: Filed June 5, 1996, effective March 1, 1997. Amended: Filed June 11, 1997, effective March 1, 1998. Amended: Filed May 6, 1998, effective March 1, 1999. Amended: Filed May 10, 1999, effective March 1, 2000. Amended: Filed April 24, 2000, effective March 1, 2001. Amended: Filed May 9, 2002, effective March 1, 2003. Amended: Filed Oct. 9, 2003, effective March 30, 2004. Amended: Filed Sept. 29, 2004, effective Feb. 28, 2005. Amended: Filed April 20, 2005, effective Sept. 30, 2005. Amended: Filed Sept. 14, 2005, effective Feb. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed Aug. 14, 2007, effective Jan. 30, 2008. Amended: Filed Oct. 10, 2008, effective April 30, 2009. Amended: Filed Sept. 12, 2011, effective March 1, 2012. Amended: Filed March 13, 2012, effective Aug. 30, 2012. Amended: Filed Sept. 19, 2012, effective March 1, 2013. Amended: Filed Dec. 8, 2014, effective March 1, 2015. Amended: Filed March 1, 2017, effective Aug. 30, 2017. Amended: Filed Aug. 28, 2018, effective March 1, 2019. Amended: Filed March 2, 2020, effective Aug. 30, 2020. Amended: Filed Feb. 23, 2024, effective Aug. 30, 2024. Amended: Filed Sept. 6, 2024, effective Feb. 28, 2025. *Original authority: 252.040, RSMo 1945, amended 1989.