Matt Tucker on the North Fork of the White River.

Missouri has over 377 miles of suitable trout water offering anglers a little bit of everything in terms of the types of water one is able to fish. From clear cool spring fed ozark streams, to the state’s four trout parks, to tailwater fishing, there is something for everyone.

From big fish to little fish, there is something for you in our waters. The trophy fish hunters will be glad to hear that the State Record Rainbow Trout weighed in excess of 18lbs and the State Record Brown Trout weighed in at over 20lbs; and many of the local fisherman from Lake Taneycomo believe that the next world record could come thier home waters. If you are an angler that has a species list, Missouri is one of the few places in the world where you can catch a genetically pure McCloud Strain Rainbow trout as well as offers some streams that have not been stocked since the late 1800’s and have self-sustaining wild trout swimming in its waters.

Before packing up your rig and hitting the water, make sure you have purchased the proper fishing license and know all the rules and regulations of the waters which you are fishing. Oh, and trout fishing isn’t the only thing that the Ozarks are famous for — we have a healthy population of Smallmouth Bass as well. So there is no time like the present to hit the water.