Public lakes and trout parks make fishing easy

Every Missourian has a good fishing hole not far from home.

JEFFERSON CITY-"I've got one! I've got one!"

Everyone within 100 yards of the diminutive angler in a floppy hat and oversized rain pants knew that a feisty rainbow trout had grabbed her bait and was headed for the frying pan. The ragamuffin's mom grinned broadly as she netted the thrashing fish and held it aloft for her daughter to admire. Out came the family camera, and the fishing duo proudly posed for photos.

Although this scene unfolded at Montauk State Park on a recent weekend, the location could just as easily have been any of Missouri's other three trout parks or one of the Show-Me State's thousands of small farm ponds and community lakes. Safe and convenient, these waters require no expensive, specialized equipment.

Three trout parks are clustered in the area that harbors Missouri's largest springs. Montauk, southeast of Licking, and Bennett Spring State Park, west of Lebanon, are owned and operated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Maramec Spring Park, southeast of St. James, is operated by the James Foundation. Another DNR area, Roaring River State Park, is south of Cassville in southwest Missouri.

These parks have large springs that create ideal conditions for trout growth and fishing. The Missouri Department of Conservation operates a trout hatchery at each park. It stocks trout there daily to ensure good fishing. The settings are serene, and food, lodging and other amenities are provided on-site. Anglers with mobility impairments will find special facilities to meet their needs.

The rest of the state has a different but even more extensive network of public fishing opportunities. Dozens of community lakes dot the landscape, ensuring that no one has to drive more than a few miles to reach a good fishing spot. Such lakes are particularly abundant in northern Missouri.

Some of these lakes are owned by the Conservation Department. Examples include Pony Express Lake in DeKalb County, Lake Paho in Mercer County, Hunnewell Lake in Shelby County and numerous ponds and lakes at August A. Busch Memorial Conservation area in St. Charles County and James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area in Jackson County.

In addition to its own lakes, the Conservation Department stocks and manages fish populations in dozens of municipal water-supply lakes and other public reservoirs. Hundreds more ponds and small lakes in private ownership are stocked with bass, bluegill and channel catfish from Conservation Department hatcheries. They make northern Missouri as rich in fishing as it is for agriculture.

The weekend of June 11 and 12 is a perfect opportunity for Missourians to enjoy these close-to-home fishing spots. The weekend after the first Monday in June each year is Free Fishing Days, when anyone can fish without a permit. Other fishing regulations remain in effect, and Free Fishing Days does not give anglers permission to trespass. It does allow anyone to sample Show-Me State fishing without charge, however.

For more information about trout parks, visit the following web sites or call 800/334-6946. Persons with hearing and speech impairments can call toll free at 800/379-2419 with a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD), or you can contact the Department of Natural Resources via e-mail at moparks@dnr.mo.gov.  --www.missouritrout.com/roaringriverlinks.html   -- www.mostateparks.com/bennett.htm  --www.mostateparks.com/montauk/geninfo.htm  --members.socket.net/~tjf/maramec.html

To find a conservation area or community fishing lake near you, call any Conservation Department regional office or use the online Conservation Atlas, www.missouriconservation.org/atlas. 

-Jim Low -

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