| Trout fishing in the Spring in Missouri is for many a | | | | floating season begins in earnest, the waters below |
| Trout Park tradition. Trout Parks do indeed have | | | | Baptist Camp are less than serene on weekends. |
| much to offer. They are literally stocked with | | | | Consider, if possible, planning a weekday excursion. |
| thousands upon thousands of trout, mostly rainbow | | | | This advice is also true for the Meramec River. Closer |
| trout but also a few brown trout as well. If you | | | | to St. Louis, the Red Ribbon area is accessible from a |
| manage to hit them early, like in the week following | | | | variety of places, one of which is through Maramec |
| opening day, there is the opportunity for lunker trout | | | | Spring Park (another of the trout parks). Though not |
| to be caught. That window is about closed as I finish | | | | as highly regarded by some for the trout possibilities, |
| this article, but the stocker sized trout are definitely | | | | the trout fishing can be quite good. |
| good eating sized. But what are the alternatives to | | | | The Eleven Point River is quite a wilderness |
| the trout parks in Missouri? | | | | experience, but is exclusively a rainbow trout fishery |
| Throughout Missouri the trout fishing options are | | | | (there are also smallmouth and a few largemouth). |
| many. There are streams, rivers, and at least one | | | | Many folks put in at Greers Crossing and float from |
| major lake/tailwater where the trout fishing can be | | | | there to one of a number of takeout points. The |
| excellent. Expanding the zone to include the northern | | | | Riverton Access is to some the downstream |
| region of the Arkansas Ozarks opens even more | | | | terminus of the good trout fishing. The Eleven Point |
| possibilities. Besides the trout parks, the waters of | | | | is a mix of regulations and you should check on |
| Missouri and Arkansas can be divided into tailwater | | | | current rules before setting out. Also, if embarking on |
| fisheries, freestone rivers, and smaller creeks and | | | | a multi-day trip, there are several river access only |
| streams. I will touch on a few and a bit of further | | | | campgrounds. Camping on river sandbars is also |
| research can put you on some waters that you will | | | | permitted. |
| likely find to your liking. | | | | There are many smaller streams worth a look |
| The rivers that most people will think of first are the | | | | throughout Missouri and Arkansas. Some of them |
| Current River, the Meramec River, the North Fork of | | | | have wild trout fisheries for the purists out there. |
| the White River, the White River, and the Eleven | | | | Some of the more well known are Little Piney Creek, |
| Point River. In addition to being great trout fisheries, | | | | Capps Creek, Crane Creek, and Blue Springs Creek. |
| most of these streams have an added bonus of | | | | There are many other smaller streams and a bit of |
| being good or excellent smallmouth bass streams as | | | | research on Ozark Trout Fishing can pay big |
| well. In fact, while targeting trout (or vice versa), it is | | | | dividends. |
| likely you will pick up a bronzeback or two for your | | | | Of course, there are the tailwaters. Some of these |
| efforts. | | | | have produced world record fish and may do so |
| The upper stretches of the Current River are best | | | | once again. The White River below Bull Shoals Dam is |
| for trout fishing. Just below Montauk State Park (a | | | | an incredible fishery. So is the Taneycomo fishery as |
| trout park), the first major access is known as Tan | | | | well as the Norfork River, and the Little Red. These |
| Vat. It is named for a part of the region's fur | | | | fisheries are loaded with fish, fishing guides, and all |
| trapping heritage. There is a nice parking area and | | | | the amenities you could ask for. Large fish and large |
| plenty of room to spread out. Just down stream | | | | daily catches are the rule rather than the exception. |
| from there is an access named Baptist Camp. It also | | | | One word of caution for these waters is to be ever |
| has ample parking and plenty of room to spread out. | | | | careful of the sometimes quickly rising water levels. |
| These are "Blue Ribbon" areas and knowledge of | | | | When water is released from the dams the water |
| regulations are paramount. To possess fish, a trout | | | | level can rise at a dangerous rate. |
| stamp is required. The trout fishing remains quite | | | | So if you are a Midwestern fisherman, give these |
| good downstream from here for quite a few miles, | | | | waters a look. The fish might not be the only thing |
| but a word of caution is in order. As soon as the | | | | that get hooked. |