Missouri is a great place when it comes to outdoor sports and recreation. But fishing is one of the bigger draws, both with residents and anglers from out of state—and even out of the country!

Favorite fishes

Missouri is one of the best places to catch a variety of gamefish species, and some rough fish, too. Panfishing is extremely popular, with great fishing for bluegills, plus red ear, green, long-ear, pumpkinseed and other sunfishes. It also offers excellent crappie fishing for both black and white specs. The rock bass fishing is some of the best anywhere as well. Missouri’s catfishing is truly world class, for all species, and “whisker fish” can be found in virtually every trickle or hole of water in the state. Incredible numbers of giant blues, flatheads and channels swim here, and the bullhead fishing is good, too.

Missouri also offers fishing for two of the most popular species in the northern United States and Canada: Toothy predators that do well here. Walleyes are considered by many to be the best-tasting fish in freshwaters, and the mighty muskie is among the biggest and hardest-fighting sportfish in the freshwater world. Temperate bass fishing is great for giant striped bass, a saltwater implant. White bass, a smaller cousin of the striper, are native to Missouri and offer great sport. And the Show Me State harbors some monster wipers—a hybrid cross between the white and striped bass. Trout fishing is popular in many lakes and streams, including for some big rainbows and browns alike.

Some anglers also choose to target rough fish here. Known for their immense size and fighting ability, common carp, buffalo, drum, and various species of gar make for great fun on the end of a line. There are even more gamefish and rough fish available.

Missouri is best known for one type of fish more than all others: bass; or more specifically, black bass. Hard-fighting smallmouth bass, scrappy spotted bass, and America’s most popular fish, largemouth bass, all call Missouri home, and produce some of the best bass fishing in the country

Top waters

The mighty Missouri and Mississippi Rivers are known for abundant giant cats of all species, as well as rough fish. But Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock and Clearwater Lakes produce hot fishing, too. And many small Missouri ponds hold big cats—especially channel cats.

Pomme De Terre and Hazel Creek Lakes are two of the better places to target muskies, while Stockton Lake and the Saint Francis River produce good walleyes.

Lake of the Ozarks, Wappapello, Truman, Bull Shoals, Blue Springs and Norfork Lakes, the Mississippi, Meramec, and Saint Francis Rivers, and Saline and Joachim Creeks offer some of the best fishing in the state for either white bass, stripers, wipers or a combination of the three.

Missouri’s stream trout parks are top places for trout; so are the upper Meramec, Current and Eleven Point Rivers, Little Piney and Spring Creeks, and Lake Taneycomo on the White River. Good winter fishing can also be had at various small lakes and ponds stocked with trout across the state.

Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock and Mark Twain Lakes are some of the best waters for crappies, bluegills and other panfish, but many Ozark streams such as the Black, Current, Meramec and Big Rivers can be fantastic, too. Table Rock and Lake of the Ozarks are excellent bass fisheries; both massive reservoirs have held many televised national level professional bass tournament circuit events over the years, drawing top pros and fans from across North America. Truman, Mark Twain, Pomme De Terre and Stockton are other good big-lake fisheries.

Many small lakes and ponds across the Show Me State also produce hot bass fishing, especially for big largemouth bass. Largemouth and spotted bass fishing can also be good in several big creeks, as well as small and midsized rivers across the state. Smallmouth bass fishing in many of Missouri’s flowing waters, like the Black, Current, Meramec and Saint Francis rivers, is excellent, too.

Get out there

Missouri and outdoor sports go hand-in-hand. The beauty and perfection of the natural world, and the joys and peace of the great sport of fishing, await anglers in the bountiful waters of the Show Me State. Spending time in the great outdoors is a priceless experience to be cherished. What are you waiting for?

Thinking of trying a new fishing destination this year? You’ll find plenty of suggestions in every issue of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website.