Opening of trout season in Missouri draws anglers from all over
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There are some things you truly have to see to believe. Opening day of trout season at Missouri’s trout parks is among them.
“I’ve met people who have been at every opening Trout Day for the past 50 years and families who pass down the tradition of fishing on opening [day] for generations,” says pro fisherman Scott Pauley, the
Missouri Division of Tourism’s outdoors expert.
Pauley has experienced opening day at several of Missouri’s trout-laden waterways, with Roaring River State Park in Cassville being one of the more memorable stops.
Trout Day is so significant in that community that school stands in recess, a tradition dating to the 1980s. Before that, students who fished on opening day could submit their trout tag as an excuse for being tardy.
If you’d like to join the fun, the Missouri Division of Tourism’s website, VisitMO.com, can help you plan your next fishing getaway. The site offers information about lodging, dining and recreational options to enjoy while you’re in the Show-Me State.
The season runs from March 1-Oct. 31 at Missouri trout parks. Generally, those parks are teeming with anglers on opening day, while other trout-fishing spots are wide open.
Among them is Lake Taneycomo, one of Missouri’s top fishing destinations. The lake, located in the Branson area, is stocked annually with nearly 750,000 rainbows and browns and the water temperature averages 58
degrees year-round.
“The bite is good any time of year,” says Brett Rader who operate Chartered Waters Trout Shop and Guide Service in nearby Hollister.
Although he’s partial to trout fishing on Taneycomo and nearby Crane Creek, Rader has been to Trout Day at the state parks and he understands why it’s a significant happening.
“It’s as much about getting together and having fun as it is fishing,” Rader says.
Angling for trout is just one way to have a memorable fishing experience in Missouri. Year-round, Missouri offers excellent bass and crappie fishing and is home to waterways where a variety of fish, including walleye and muskie, are abundant.
Make fishing part of your next vacation to Missouri, and start planning your getaway today at VisitMO.com.
For more information about fishing in Missouri, contact Stephen Foutes, communications manager at the Missouri Division of Tourism. Reach him at stephen.foutes@ded.mo.gov or 573-751-3208.
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