Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Missouri (Complete Guide)

Missouri offers some of the best fishing in the United States. Understanding the best seasons and times to fish can greatly impact your success.

The best times to fish in Missouri are early morning and late evening. Summer and fall are the best months for most species in MO.

Month	Missouri Fishing Location
January	Lake Taneycomo for rainbow and brown trout
February	Table Rock Lake for largemouth and smallmouth bass
March	Current River for rainbow trout and smallmouth bass
April	Lake of the Ozarks for crappie and catfish
May	Lake Wappapello for bluegill and redear sunfish
June	Missouri River for catfish and bluegill
July	Lake Jacomo for largemouth bass and catfish
August	Bull Shoals Lake for largemouth and smallmouth bass
September	Stockton Lake for walleye and crappie
October	Lake of the Ozarks for catfish and crappie
November	Truman Reservoir for crappie and blue catfish
December	Table Rock Lake for spotted and largemouth bass

In this article, we will discuss the best times and seasons to fish in Missouri. We will also talk about where some of the best fishing in the state is on a month-by-month basis.

Best Sections of Creeks/Rivers to Fly Fish in Missouri

North Fork of the White River – March to May for rainbow and brown trout.

Meramec River – May to October for smallmouth bass and goggle-eye.

Eleven Point River – March to June for rainbow and brown trout.

Current River – March to June for rainbow and brown trout.

Niangua River – March to June for rainbow and brown trout.

Little Piney Creek – March to May for rainbow and brown trout.

Big Piney Creek – March to May for rainbow and brown trout.

Bennett Spring Branch – March to June for rainbow and brown trout.

Roaring River – March to May for rainbow and brown trout.

Little Red River – March to June for rainbow and brown trout.

Mill Creek – May to October for rainbow and brown trout.

Blue Spring Creek – March to May for rainbow and brown trout.

Barren Fork Creek – March to May for rainbow and brown trout.

Crane Creek – March to June for rainbow and brown trout.

Dry Fork Creek – March to May for rainbow and brown trout.

Best Sections of Lakes to Fish in Missouri

Lake of the Ozarks – March to May for crappie and catfish, June to September for bass, and October to December for catfish.

Table Rock Lake – March to May for bass, June to August for walleye and crappie, and September to November for bass.

Bull Shoals Lake – March to May for bass, June to August for walleye and crappie, and September to November for bass.

Truman Lake – March to May for crappie and catfish, June to August for bass and catfish, and September to November for crappie.

Stockton Lake – March to May for crappie and catfish, June to August for bass, and September to November for crappie.

Pomme de Terre Lake – March to May for crappie and catfish, June to August for bass, and September to November for crappie.

Lake Taneycomo – March to May for trout, June to August for bass, and September to November for trout.

Lake Jacomo – March to May for bass and catfish, June to August for crappie, and September to November for bass.

Mark Twain Lake – March to May for crappie and catfish, June to August for bass, and September to November for crappie.

Thomas Hill Reservoir – March to May for crappie and catfish, June to August for bass, and September to November for crappie.

Lake Springfield – March to May for bass and catfish, June to August for crappie, and September to November for bass.

Smithville Lake – March to May for crappie and catfish, June to August for bass and catfish, and September to November for crappie.

Longview Lake – March to May for bass and catfish, June to August for crappie, and September to November for bass.

Lake of the Three Fires – March to May for bass and catfish, June to August for crappie, and September to November for bass.

Fellows Lake – March to May for bass and catfish, June to August for crappie, and September to November for bass.

Recommended Fishing Guides in Missouri

These MO-based charters are some of the best at putting you on great fishing action. The captains are knowledgeable and professional and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Recommended Fishing Charters	Location
Real Deal Guide Service	Branson, MO
Eric’s Elite Guide Service–Branson	Branson, MO
Dave’s Guide Service	Branson, MO
Dodson Guide Service	Branson, MO
Payable Guide Service	Branson, MO
Chartered Waters	Branson, MO
Catch Mo Fish Guide Service	Branson, MO

Species Seasonal Breakdown

Striped Bass

The best time to fish for striped bass in Missouri is during the summer months, from June to August. Striped bass are most active during the early morning and late evening. Some good locations to catch striped bass in Missouri are the Lake of the Ozarks, the Osage River, and the Missouri River.

Brown Trout

The best months to fly fish for brown trout in Missouri are March through May and September to November. Brown trout are most active in the early morning and late afternoon. The Current River, North Fork of the White River, Roaring River, and Little Piney Creek are good locations to catch brown trout.

Rainbow Trout

The best times to fly fish for rainbow trout in Missouri are spring and fall, from March through May and October through November. Rainbow trout are most active during the early morning and late afternoon hours. Some of Missouri’s best locations to catch rainbow trout are the Current River, the Meramec River, the Little Red River, and Montauk State Park.

Largemouth Bass

The best time to fish for largemouth bass in Missouri is spring and summer, from March to August. Largemouth bass are most active during the early morning and late afternoon. Some good locations to catch largemouth bass in Missouri are the Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake, Truman Reservoir, and the Missouri River.

Smallmouth Bass

The best time to fish for smallmouth bass in Missouri is spring and summer, from March to August. Smallmouth bass are most active during the early morning and late afternoon. Some good locations to catch smallmouth bass in Missouri are the Current River, the Meramec River, the Gasconade River, and the Niangua River.

Carp

The best time to fish for carp in Missouri is during the summer months, from June to August. Carp are most active during early morning and late evening. Some good locations to catch carp in Missouri are the Missouri River, Lake of the Ozarks, and the Meramec River.

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch fishing in Missouri is best during the winter months, from December to February, as they are more active in colder waters. Yellow perch are most active during the early morning and late afternoon. Some good locations to catch yellow perch in Missouri are the Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake, and the Missouri River.

Catfish

The best time to fish for catfish in Missouri is during the summer months, from June to August. Catfish are most active at night but can also be caught during the day. Some good locations to catch catfish in Missouri are the Missouri River, Lake of the Ozarks, and Truman Reservoir.

Crappie

The best time to fish for crappie in Missouri is spring and fall, from March to May and September to November. Crappie are most active during the early morning and late afternoon when the water is cooler. Some good locations to catch crappie in Missouri are Lake of the Ozarks, Mark Twain Lake, and Table Rock Lake.

Walleye

Walleye fishing in Missouri is best in spring and fall when the water temperatures are cool. The best months to fish for walleye in Missouri are March, April, May, October, and November. Walleye are usually most active at dawn and dusk, so fishing during these times can increase your chances of catching them. The best locations for walleye fishing in Missouri are Lake of the Ozarks, Truman Lake, and Bull Shoals Lake.

Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Louisiana. Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Texas. Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of the best times to catch Texas bass. Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Arkansas. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Lake of the Ozarks, check out this guide.

Best Fishing in Missouri on a Seasonal Basis

Winter

Lake of the Ozarks – This lake is known for its excellent winter fishing, especially for crappie and largemouth bass. The key is to fish slowly and use live bait, such as minnows or worms.
Truman Reservoir – Another great spot for winter fishing, Truman Reservoir offers anglers the chance to catch various fish species, including crappie, walleye, and white bass.
Table Rock Lake – Although known primarily for its warm-water species like bass and catfish, Table Rock Lake is also a good spot for winter fishing. Crappie and white bass can be caught by fishing near the dam or other deep structures.
Meramec River – This river is a popular destination for trout fishing in the winter months, as it is one of the few Missouri streams stocked with trout during the colder season.

Spring

Lake Taneycomo: This lake near Branson has rainbow and brown trout, making it an excellent spot for spring trout fishing.
Lake of the Ozarks: This large reservoir offers excellent bass fishing in the spring, with both largemouth and smallmouth bass in abundance.
Bennett Spring State Park: This park is another excellent location for spring trout fishing, with rainbow and brown trout stocked in the spring-fed stream.
Mark Twain Lake: This lake in northeast Missouri offers excellent crappie fishing in the spring, with the crappie moving into shallow water to spawn.

Summer

Lake of the Ozarks – best for largemouth and spotted bass, especially in early morning and late evening.
Table Rock Lake – best for smallmouth and largemouth bass and crappie- in early morning and late evening.
Truman Reservoir – best for crappie and catfish, especially at night in summer.
Meramec River – best for smallmouth bass and catfish, especially in the deeper pools and runs during early morning and late evening.

Fall

Lake Taneycomo – This lake is located near Branson and is a great place to catch rainbow and brown trout in the fall. You can fish from the shore or from a boat.
Montauk State Park – This state park is located in Salem and is known for its excellent trout fishing. In the fall, you can catch rainbow and brown trout here.
Table Rock Lake is located in the Ozarks and is a great place to catch largemouth and smallmouth bass in the fall. You can fish from the shore or from a boat.
Mark Twain Lake is located in northeast Missouri and is a great place to catch crappie in the fall. You can fish from the shore or from a boat.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Oklahoma, please check out this helpful article I wrote. Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Tennessee. Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Kentucky.