(Rules and Regs are accurate to the best of our knowledge. Verify all of these prior to fishing at the MDC Website)

This is just a quick look at the notable trout streams in this state, just to give you an idea what to expect in other articles. This is far from a full guide, but it just is intended to give you a few places to look, and a few methods with which to catch them. I hope you find it helpful.

Trout Park

The Missouri trout parks are all large spring creeks that receive daily stockings of rainbow trout. Their regulations vary by zones, but except for in special catch and release areas, you can take home four trout. There is no length limit on rainbows (the species that is most heavily stocked), but browns must be 15" to keep, and you can only creel one per day. Generally, you will find three different zones in Missouri trout parks. There is usually a fly fishing only zone, an artificials only zone, and a bait fishing zone. Missouri does this to accommodate all sorts of fisherman.

White Ribbon

White Ribbon areas are spread throughout the Missouri Ozarks. These are our more normal catch and keep rainbow trout streams. Several of them also receive stockings of brown trout.

These are not generally great places to look for a trophy, but generally provide easy fishing for gullible trout. You can keep four trout, and there is no length limit on rainbows. Only one of these trout may be a brown, and all brown trout must be 15" to creel.

Red Ribbon

Missouri's Red Ribbon Trout areas are managed with the intent to produce trophy brown trout. They receive stockings once or twice a year, and fishing is easy for these smaller stocked brown trout. However, all Red Ribbon areas have healthy populations of holdover trout which tend to be difficult to catch. All areas also hold decent populations of rainbow trout as well. You can creel two trout, and all must 15", regardless of whether they are rainbow or brown. Tackle restrictions vary by stream.

Blue Ribbon

Missouri trout streams with the best habitat are managed as Blue Ribbon management areas. Every stream has a significant population of wild rainbow trout, and some also receive yearly plantings of hatchery trout to boost the wild populations. The size of these streams range from tiny brooks to large rivers. You can only keep one trout per day, and it must be 18". Artificial lures and flies only are permitted.

Current River

Short description:
The Current River is an excellent trout river, beginning as a trout park, transforming into a Blue Ribbon Trout Area, and finally a White Ribbon Trout Area. This is a stream that has something to offer for everyone, and the fishing is great all year long.

Trout Species:

• Rainbow
• Brown

Popular Baits (Not allowed in the Blue Ribbon Trout Area):

• Powerbait
• Corn
• Nightcrawlers
• Trout Worms
• Prepared Baits

Popular Lures:

• small spinners and spoons
• white marabou jigs
• crawfish crankbaits
• minnow crankbaits

Popular Flies:

• Glo-bugs
• mini-jigs
• prince nymph
• pheasant tail nymph
• woolly bugger
• elk hair caddis
• adams

Length of Managed Trout Water

• 20 miles

Trout Water Management Types

• Trout Park
• Blue Ribbon
• White Ribbon

Best Season

• Year-round

Overall Fishing Quality:

• Good to excellent

Floatable:

Yes. It's a world class float and fish stream.

Eleven Point River

Short description:
Beginning at Greer Spring, the Eleven Point provides anglers with twenty miles of excellent rainbow trout fishing, with excellent opportunities to catch both stocked and wild trout. It's a national wild and scenic river, which protects its banks from any commercialization or development. It's the ultimate wilderness float and fish stream.

Trout Species:

• Rainbow

Popular Baits (Not allowed in Blue Ribbon Area)

• Minnows
• nightcrawlers
• red worms
• mealworms

Popular Lures

• Crawfish crankbaits
• small spinners
• minnow crankbaits

Popular Flies:

• Don's Crawdad
• woolly bugger
• pheasant tail nymph
• elk hair caddis
• Mother of All Tungsten

Length of Managed Trout Water

• 20 miles

Management Types:

• Blue Ribbon
• White Ribbon

Best Season:

• Year-round

Overall Fishing Quality:

• Good

Floatable:

• Yes

North Fork of the White River

Short description:
The excellent trout water of the North Fork of the White River begins at Rainbow Spring, and extends to Dawt Mill Dam. Throughout this area, excellent fishing can be had for wild rainbow trout and trophy brown trout.

Trout Species:

• Rainbow
• Brown

Popular Trout Baits (allowed in Red Ribbon Area only):

• Sculpin
• minnows
• nightcrawlers
• crayfish

Popular Lures:

• Small spinners
• crankbaits

Popular Flies:

• Stonefly
• Dons Crawdad
• Crackleback
• Elk Hair Caddis
• Pheasant Tail
• Prince
• Nymph
• Hare's ear nymph

Length of Managed Trout Water

• 17 miles

Management Types:

• Blue Ribbon
• Red Ribbon

Best Season:

• Year-round

Overall Fishing Quality:

• World Class

Floatable:

• Yes

Meramec River/Spring Park

Short Description:
This is the closest big trout stream to St. Louis, but fishing pressure is really pretty light, although floaters are pretty thick on summer weekends. The best trout fishing begins at the river's confluence with Maramec Spring Park, and extends for seven miles to the Scotts Ford Access. In the main river, fishing is mostly for brown trout, some of which reach trophy size. The Spring Park is very different. It is daily stocked with rainbow trout, and receives very high fishing pressure. Many of these Rainbow trout escape into the main river, which creates quality rainbow trout fishing in the Red Ribbon area.

Trout Species:

• Rainbow
• Brown

Popular Trout Baits (allowed in Maramec Spring Branch only, not allowed in Red Ribbon Area):

• Powerbait
• canned corn
• nightcrawlers
• various dough baits

Popular Lures:

• Small spinners
• marabou jigs
• crankbaits

Popular Flies:

• Glo-bugs
• scud
• Pheasant Tail
• Elk hair caddis

Length of Managed Trout Water:

• 8 miles (including spring branch)

Best Season:

Year-round (fishing can be difficult in the Red Ribbon area during July and August, but fish can always be found)

Management Types:

• Trout Park
• Red Ribbon

Public Access:

Accessible at Maramec Spring Park, several gravel roads, and Scotts Ford Bridge

Overall Fishing Quality:

• Fair to excellent

Floatable: