Fishing in Washington, MO

Special Season for Ozark Streams:

May 27, 2023 - February 29, 2024 State limits apply on all Ozark streams, except those with more specific regulations. View map of streams.

For more details please see https://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/species/black-bass

Big Piney River

From Slabtown Access to the Gasconade River:

Daily limit: 6 black bass including only 1 smallmouth bass.

Length limit: Smallmouth bass: minimum 15"

Big Piney River Special Management Area map

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Big River

Mainstem and its tributaries, except as noted below: 

Daily and possession limit: Black bass: 12 fish including no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.

Size limit: Spotted bass: None

From the Council Bluff Lake Dam to the Meramec River: 

Daily and possession limit: 12 black bass including no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species, may include only 1 smallmouth bass

Size limit: Smallmouth bass: minimum 15 inches

Big River Special Management Area map

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Blue Springs Creek

Black bass: The daily and possession limit is 12 fish and may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.

Spotted bass: No minimum length limit.

In Crawford County

The use of porous-soled waders is prohibited.

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Blue Springs Lake

Length limit: Black bass: minimum 15"

Allowed methods: Pole and line fishing only, except that shad may be taken by dip net or throw net.

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Bourbeuse River

Mainstem and its tributaries:

Spotted bass: No length limits

Black bass: The daily and possession limit is 12 fish and may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Blue Shoals Lake

Lakewide: Ozark and Taney

Length limit: Black bass: minimum 15" on largemouth and smallmouth bass; minimum 12" on spotted bass

On the lake and its tributaries: Ozark, Taney, Christian, and Douglas

Daily limit: Striped bass: only 3 striped bass may be included in the aggregate

Length limit: Striped bass: minimum 20"

There are no length limits for white bass, yellow bass, or their hybrids.

From Powersite Dam to Highway 76: Taney 

Prohibited Methods: Trotlines, throwlines and limb lines

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Curtois Creek

Mainstem and its tributaries:

Daily limit: Black bass: 12 fish, including no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species

Length limit: Spotted bass: None

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Eleven Point River

In Oregon County: The use of porous-soled waders is prohibited.

From Thomasville Access to the Arkansas line:

Smallmouth bass—15 inch minimum length limit. The daily limit of 6 black bass may include only 1 smallmouth bass.

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Elk River

Length limits: Smallmouth bass—minimum 15"

Daily limit: Black bass—6, may include only 1 smallmouth bass.

Elk River Special Management Area map 

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Gasconade River

From Highway Y in Pulaski County to Highway D in Phelps County

Length limits: Smallmouth bass—minimum 15"

Daily limit: 6 black bass may include only 1 smallmouth bass.

Gasconade River Special Management Area map

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Huzzah Creek

Mainstem and its tributaries:

Length limit: Spotted bass—none

Daily limit: 12 fish and including no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Jacks Fork River

From Highway 17 to the Current River:

Length Limits: Smallmouth bass—minimum 15"

Daily Limit: 6 black bass including only 1 smallmouth bass.

Jacks Fork River Special Management Area map

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

James River

From Hooten Town bridge (the Loop Road at Route O) to the Highway 413/Highway 265 bridge at Galena

Length Limits:

Smallmouth bass—minimum 15"

Daily Limit: 6 black bass including only 1 smallmouth bass.

James River Special Management Area map 

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Joachim Creek

From Jefferson County Highway V bridge to Highway A bridge:

Length limits: Smallmouth bass— minimum 15"

Daily limit: 6 black bass, including only 1 smallmouth bass

Joachim Creek Special Management Area map

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Lake of the Ozarks

Lakewide:

Length limit: Black bass: minimum 15" for largemouth and smallmouth bass; minimum 12" for spotted bass

On the lake and its tributaries:

Daily limit: Do not continue to snag, snare or grab for any species after taking a daily limit of 2 paddlefish.

Within 525 feet on the left descending bank and 977 feet on the right descending bank below Truman Dam in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' restricted zone:

Area note: No fishing is allowed.

From the downstream end of the no-fishing zone below Truman Dam to U.S. Highway 65:

Prohibited methods: Trotlines, throwlines, limb lines, jug lines, snagging, snaring and grabbing are prohibited.

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Long Branch Lake

Length Limits: Black bass: minimum 15"

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Longview Lake

Length limit: Black bass: minimum 15"

Allowed methods: Pole and line fishing only, except that shad may be taken by dip net or throw net.

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Mark Twain Lake

Length limits: Black bass: minimum 15"

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Meramec River

Black bass: Daily and possession limit is 12 fish and may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.

Spotted bass: no minimum length limit

In Crawford and Phelps counties:

The use of porous-soled waders is prohibited.

From Highway 8 bridge to the railroad crossing at Bird's Nest:

Length limit: Smallmouth bass: 15 inch minimum.

Daily and possession limit: 12 black bass, which may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species, may include only 1 smallmouth bass.

Meramec River Special Management Area map

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Mineral Fork

Mainstem and its tributaries, except as noted below:

Daily limit: Black bass—The daily and possession limit is 12 fish and may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.

Length limit: Spotted bass—No minimum length limit

From Highway F in Washington County to the Big River:

Length limit: Smallmouth bass—minimum 15"

Daily limit: Daily and possession limit of 12 black bass, which may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species, may include only 1 smallmouth bass

Mineral Fork Special Management Area map

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Mississippi River

This area encompasses the Mississippi River, including Pools 20-26, the temporary overflow waters east of the Missouri Pacific Railroad between Cape Girardeau and Scott City, and the temporary overflow waters east of the mainline and setback levees between Commerce and the Arkansas state line.

Mississippi River, including Pools 20-26

Length limits: Black bass: minimum 12"

Allowed methods: Limit of 2 poles per licensed angler. Limit of 50 hooks on a trotline

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Montrose Lake

Daily Limit: Black bass: 2

Length limit: Black bass: minimum 18"

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Norfork Lake

Lakewide:

Length limit: Black bass: minimum 15" on largemouth and smallmouth bass; minimum 12" on spotted bass

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Osage Fork of the Gasconade River

From Skyline Drive bridge near Orla in Laclede County to the Gasconade River:

Daily limit: 6 black bass including only 1 smallmouth bass

Length limit: Smallmouth bass—minimum 15"

Osage Fork Special Management Area map

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Pomme de Terre Lake

Length limits: Black bass: minimum 13"

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Salt River

On the Clarence Cannon Reregulation Pool within 400 feet below Clarence Cannon Dam in the no-boating zone:

No fishing is allowed.

From the downstream end of the no-fishing zone below Clarence Cannon Dam to the posted power line crossing on the Clarence Cannon Reregulation Pool:

Allowed methods: Pole and line fishing only.

From the Clarence Cannon Reregulation Pool below Mark Twain Lake dam

Length limit: Black bass—minimum 12"

From all adjoining backwaters and from the main channel beginning 1,000 feet below the Clarence Cannon Reregulation Pool Dam to Route A: 

Allowed methods: Fishing by pole and line and bow only

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Smithville Lake

Length limits: Black bass: minimum 15"

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Stockton Lake

Length limits: Black bass: minimum 15" length limit on largemouth and smallmouth bass; minimum 12" length limit on spotted bass.

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Table Rock Lake

Lakewide:

Daily limit: Do not continue to snag, snare or grab for any species after taking a daily limit of 2 paddlefish.

Size limit: Black bass: minimum 15"

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Ten Mile Creek

From Highway B in Carter County to Cane Creek

Length limits: Smallmouth bass—minimum 15"

Daily limit: 6 black bass including only 1 smallmouth bass.

Tenmile Creek Special Management Area map

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Thomas Hill Lake

Length limits: Black bass: minimum 15"

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions

Truman Lake

Lakewide

Size limit: Black bass: minimum 15" length limit on largemouth and smallmouth bass; minimum 12" length limit on spotted bass.

On the lake and its tributaries

Daily limit: Prohibited Methods: No person shall continue to snag, snare or grab for any species after taking a daily limit of 2 paddlefish.

For more information see Black Bass special area restrictions