Niangua River Fishing at Bennett Spring Trout Park
Year-round 55
degrees F. water from Bennett Spring provides habitat for trout in
1.5 miles of Bennett Spring Branch and in approximately 12 miles of the
NR downstream of Bennett Spring Branch. Flow from Bennett Spring
averages approximately 100 million gallons per day, and the branch
doubles the flow of the NR. The spring and the branch below it are
owned by the MDNR and managed as a state park.
The MDC owns and operates a trout hatchery within the
park, and rainbow and brown trout are stocked annually in the park and
the NR (see the Introduced and Exotic Species section). From March
through October, the trout park is open daily and the trout fishery is
managed on a put-and-take basis. There is no length limit on rainbow
trout, 15" length limit on brown trout and the daily limit is four. The
spring branch is separated into three zones, each with different lure
restrictions (flies, artificials without soft plastic or synthetic
substances, and bait or soft plastic/synthetic substance lures).
Winter
Catch-and-Release Season is the 2nd Friday in Nov. through the 2nd
Monday in February (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday only) 8 am to 4
pm. The MDNR reported that in
1997 approximately 188,000 trout tags were sold including 2,200 during
the fall/winter season.
Trout Fishing Regulations
Zone 1
From the hatchery dam upstream to the end of the area. Only flies are
permitted.
Zone 2
From the hatchery dam to the whistle bridge. Only flies and artificial
lures are permitted.
Zone 3
From the whistle bridge to the Niangua River. Only soft plastic bait
(unscented), natural and scented bait are permitted. All flies and
artificial lures are prohibited, even if natural bait or scent has been
added.
Zone areas are marked in the park and maps are also available.
Trout Fishing Hours
|
Beginning
Time
|
Ending
Time
|
March |
6:30
a.m.*/7:30a.m.** |
6 p.m.*/7
p.m.** |
April |
7 a.m. |
7:30 p.m. |
May |
6:30 a.m. |
8:15 p.m. |
June and
July |
6:30 a.m. |
8:30 p.m. |
August |
7 a.m. |
8 p.m. |
September |
7:30 a.m. |
7:15 p.m. |
October |
7:30 a.m. |
6:30 p.m. |
* Central Standard Time ** Central
Daylight Time
Catch-and-Release
Season
|
Beginning
Time
|
Ending
Time
|
2nd
Friday in Nov. through the 2nd Monday in February
(Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday only) |
8 a.m.
|
4 p.m.
|
For additional information, please call (417) 532-4418 or
(417) 532-7612.
Regulations
- Trout fishing is permitted in accordance with
the state wildlife code and posted restrictions daily from March 1
through Oct. 31, and during the winter catch-and-release season from
the second Friday in November to the second Monday in February on
Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday only.
- Each angler shall display a daily trout tag
purchased on the area and bearing his or her signature.
- Each angler shall have a state fishing permit
except those 15 years and younger or Missouri residents 65 years and
older.
- Each angler shall keep their trout separate at
all times and identified with their name and address.
- Daily limit is four, only one of which may be a
brown trout must be equal to or greater than 15". No length limit on
rainbow trout. Possession limit is eight trout.
- Only a single pole or rod may be used. Gigging,
snaring or snagging is NOT permitted.
- No person shall continue to fish for any
species in these trout waters after having four trout in possession.
- The use of game fish or parts thereof for bait
is prohibited; chumming is not permitted.
- No trout may be possessed in the
catch-and-release area.
|