Discover Fishing in Missouri with MDC Free Fishing Days June 8-9
OutdoorHub 05.17.13
Discover the lure of Missouri outdoors with the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Free Fishing Days June 8 and 9. During Free Fishing Days, anyone can fish in the Show-Me-State without having to buy a fishing permit, trout stamp or trout park daily tag. Normal regulations, such as limits on size and number of fish an angler can keep, remain in effect. Some private fishing areas may still require permits, and trespass laws remain in effect on private property.
Conservation makes Missouri a great place to fish, and Free Fishing Days encourages people to sample the state’s abundant fishing opportunities. Missouri is blessed with more than a million acres of surface water, and most of it provides great fishing. According to MDC, more than 200 different fish species are found in Missouri, with 40 of them being game fish for the state’s more than 1.1 million anglers.
Conservation also enriches Missouri’s economy and Missourians’ quality of life. Fishing in the state generates more than a billion dollars for local communities and the state’s economy, and supports thousands of jobs.
Public fishing areas are available in every county in Missouri. Many state-owned fishing areas also have special facilities for anglers with disabilities. Contact your local MDC office for Free Fishing Days near you, or go online to mdc.mo.gov/node/3675.
For information on Missouri fishing regulations, permit requirements, fish identification and more, get a copy of MDC’s “2013 Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations” where permits are sold, at MDC offices and online at mdc.mo.gov/node/11414.
MDC also offers a weekly fishing report from the first Thursday in April through September that provides general fishing conditions at selected lakes, rivers, and trout parks across Missouri. Get the report online at fishing.mdc.mo.gov and sign up to have it emailed to you each week. Use this link to also see MDC’s Fishing Prospects. This annual information is based on fish population sampling, creel surveys and other research conducted on numerous lakes, rivers and trout parks.
“Find MOFish” with a free mobile app from MDC. Find MO Fish shows locations of public boat ramps to major lakes, rivers and streams of Missouri, along with locations of underwater fish structures MDC has created as habitat for fish. The geo-location feature lets anglers guide their boats right up to these fish attractors. Download the free app at mdc.mo.gov/node/15421.
