Missouri
Fishing
A resident fishing license in Missouri costs $12 a year and a non-resident license $42, as of May 2026. This guide lists 5 top species (Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Rainbow trout, Catfish, Walleye) and 4 notable waters, led by Lake of the Ozarks and Table Rock Lake. Missouri has no saltwater coast and a notable wild trout fishery; it earns a B- grade here, shared with 6 other states.
Top Species
Resident License
Non-Resident License
Saltwater Access
Trout Streams
Wildlife Agency
Missouri fishing centers on the Ozarks. Table Rock Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, and Bull Shoals Lake along the Arkansas border hold largemouth bass, white bass, and crappie. The Current River, Eleven Point River, and Jack's Fork run clear and cold through the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, producing smallmouth bass fishing on float trips that are a Missouri institution. The Missouri River holds catfish, including massive flatheads and blue catfish.
The trout fishing is specific and good in pockets. Taneycomo Lake below Branson is a cold-water tailwater that holds rainbow and brown trout. Bennett Spring, Montauk, and Maramec Spring state parks are designated trout fishing areas stocked through the warmer months.
Resident licenses cost $12, among the least expensive in the country. Missouri fishing is a float-trip culture. Renting canoes and floating the Current River for smallmouth bass is how generations of Missourians spend summer weekends, and the experience is genuinely excellent. The state delivers consistent quality at minimal cost.
Missouri has one of the cheapest resident fishing licenses in the country ($12). The Ozark streams — Current River, Jack's Fork — produce excellent smallmouth bass and float trip fishing. Roaring River State Park is famous for stocked rainbow trout.
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Also on Missouri: the full Missouri profile covers taxes, cost of living, crime and schools, and the county map lets you compare every county in the state. For related rules, read the Missouri country music guide and the Missouri gambling laws guide.
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Sources: State wildlife agencies, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Bassmaster, Field & Stream, In-Fisherman, Fly Fisherman magazine. License costs reflect annual resident/non-resident fishing license only; additional stamps (trout, salmon) may apply. Updated May 2026.