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Five Regions of family Fishing Fun.
In the northwest region, within Kansas City, visitors will discover a revitalized downtown as well as urban gems such as Country Club Plaza, Union Station and Westport. Families can head to the Worlds of Fun amusement park for a great day of thrill-seeking adventure, tour the historic town of Kearney, home of the Jesse James Farm and Museum, or visit Walt Disney’s hometown of Marceline, the inspiration for Disneyland’s Main Street. For anglers, the region’s largemouth bass fishing is quite popular in both Mozingo and Jacomo Lakes, while bass, crappie, walleye and catfish teem at the impressive Smithville Reservoir. Winter trout fishing is also popular at the Chaumiere Park Lake and at the James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area. In the northeast, St. Louis offers much to see and do. Ride to the top of the Gateway Arch and explore the museum beneath. Tour historic Union Station, ride the roller coasters of Six Flags, or visit Forest Park’s many attractions including the St. Louis Science Center and Zoo. Take a scenic drive to nearby Hermann, a town of German heritage, or travel along the Great River Road for stunning views of the mighty Mississippi. The surrounding towns are also filled with lots of history, including Daniel Boone’s limestone mansion, where the legendary frontiersman died in 1820, Meramec Caverns, Jesse James’ hideout, and Hannibal, the town Mark Twain called home. In this region, local fishermen flock to the immense Mark Twain Lake, 30-miles west of Hannibal for trophy largemouth bass, flathead catfish, white bass, crappie, bluegill and walleye. Anglers can also pursue various catfish species in both the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Boasting more shoreline than the coast of California, The Lake of the Ozarks within Missouri’s central region is a paradise for shopping, golf and a variety of water sports. For hikers, Katy Trail State Park has a 225-mile trail that winds through the river town of Rocheport, historic Boonville, the ragtime music town of Sedalia, and the state capital of Jefferson City. Anglers will find great largemouth bass and catfish numbers in the Lake of the Ozarks and in Truman Lake, while smallmouth bass are plentiful and large in southerly streams including, the Big Piney, Gasconade and Niangua Rivers. The Missouri River is a trophy catfish destination, Bennett Spring State Park is home to rainbow trout and in the winter, Cosmo-Bethel Lake in Columbia and McKay Park Lake in Jefferson City are fully stocked with thousands of trout. In the southwest, perhaps the most familiar spot in the state’s Ozark Mountains is Branson, known far and wide for family entertainment, over-the-top theme parks and alluring outdoor recreation. A few miles away, the town of Springfield is the home of the original Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and the American National Fish and Wildlife Museum.
Noteworthy natural sites within this region include Prairie State Park, Missouri’s largest remnant of tall-grass prairie with free-roaming bison and the famous Fantastic Caverns, America’s only ride-thru cave. Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, Harry S. Truman’s birthplace, the George Washington Carver National Monument, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum are also great historical sites that shouldn’t be missed. In the southeast’s French-settled St. Genevieve, gently rolling landscapes are dotted with farms, vineyards and historic structures. The fishing is also pretty good there, too. In this region, bass occupy many local streams, including the Current, Eleven Point and St. Francis. Lake Wappapello contains white bass, crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass and catfish. Smallmouth bass are plentiful in the Gasconade, Big Piney and in the upper Meramec River. There’s also an abundance of natural areas within the region. Elephant Rocks State Park contains billion-year-old granite boulders standing end-to-end. Grand Gulf State Park resembles a mini-Grand Canyon. Taum Sauk Mountain State Park is Missouri’s highest point at 1,772-feet above sea level. And the sparkling waters of the spring-fed Current and Jacks Fork Rivers, designated as the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, are simply perfect for float trips. With five regions of spectacular fishing, colorful sights and breathtaking adventure, it’s no wonder why they call Missouri “The Show Me State.” MISSOURI - Fishing ResourcesMissouri Fishing Guide This illustrated guide to fishing in Missouri includes available fish, popular lakes, lures, tackle, and tips. The Osage Guide Service Osage Guide Service offers year-round, day or night fishing on the beautiful Osage River, Lake of the Ozarks and Lake Truman. With over a decade of guiding experience, specializing in blue catfish along with hybrids, the guide service provides modern, top of the line fishing tackle and equipment using both live and artificial baits. Eric’s Elite Guide Service Learn fishing techniques from award-winning fisherman Eric Olliverson who will guide anglers to the best fishing spots in Lake Taneycomo, Table Rock Lake, and Bull Shoals Lake for each season of the year. Ride in style in a fully rigged 20-foot 2006 Champion bass boat while using top-of-the-line equipment, live bait and effective lures. Big Cedar Lodge As a member of the Bass Pro Shops family, Big Cedar offers lodging accommodations steeped in the tradition of quality that is the hallmark of its founder. Guests may choose from a variety of rooms in three distinctly different lodges, a cozy knotty pine cottage, or a beautifully crafted log cabin. For anglers, there’s nothing better than jumping in a high performance Nitro bass boat, and catching the “Big One.” Their guides have years of experience fishing Table Rock Lake and the surrounding waterways. Additional ResourcesMissouri Division of Tourism Missouri Department of Conservation Lake of the Ozarks Tourism Website Branson Tourism Website Explore St. Louis
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