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Missouri Stream Fisheries
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Missouri Trout Management Areas
Blue Ribbon Trout Areas include parts of large, cold rivers with excellent trout habitat and smaller streams that support naturally reproducing rainbow trout populations. Harvest is limited to maintain the maximum density of adult trout, create excellent catch-n-release fishing and provide the occasional chance to harvest a trophy. Blue Ribbon Trout Areas on the Current and North Fork of the White rivers are stocked with brown trout. The Blue Ribbon Area on the Eleven Point River is stocked with rainbow trout.
Red Ribbon Trout Areas have high-quality trout habitat stocked primarily with brown trout. They provide good catch-n-release fishing and a chance to harvest quality-size trout.
White Ribbon Trout Areas are coldwater streams capable of supporting trout populations year' round. All receive periodic stockings of rainbow trout, and some also receive brown trout. They provide great opportunities for catching and harvesting trout and the occasional chance to harvest a large trout.
Missouri Fishing Regulations
Special thanks to Matt Tucker for allowing the Ozark Fly Fishers to link to his web site Ozark Chronicles. Matt's descriptions of the managed streams in Missouri is outstanding.
Blue Ribbon
Streams
Blue Ribbon Streams are the jewels of Missouri. These streams range from small creeks to large rivers and are less crowded than trout parks and winter trout areas. These streams are open year round and only artificial lures and flies may be used. Natural, soft plastic and scented baits are prohibited. The small streams rely on self-sustaining populations of rainbow trout while larger rivers - North Fork, Eleven Point and Current Rivers - are stocked periodically. A Missouri fishing permit is required; and if keeping fish, a trout permit is needed. The daily limit is one trout of 18 inches or greater in length.
White Ribbon
Streams
White Ribbon Streams are put-n-take fisheries, but are less crowded than trout parks and winter trout areas. These areas are fished year-round and are heavily stocked - about ten (10) times between February and September. The daily limit is four trout with no length limits on rainbows. Brown trout must be 15 inches or greater. A Missouri fishing permit is required; and if keeping fish, a trout permit is needed.
Red Ribbons Streams
These waters primarily hold stocked brown trout, but lesser numbers of rainbows also are present. The streams included are the Meramec River, the North Fork of the White river below Patrick Bridge, and the lower 2-1/4 miles of Roubidoux Creek. Two fish 15 inches or longer can go in the creel. Tackle is limited to flies and artificial lures in the Meramec River and Roubidoux Creek, but also includes natural baits in the North Fork. A trout permit is required only for creeling fish, not for catching and releasing.