Conservation department reminds anglers of trout season opener, preventing 'rock snot'
It's almost time for catch-and-keep trout fishing in Missouri, and conservation officials want folks to remember a few things.
March 1 is opening day at Missouri's four trout parks: Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon, Montauk State Park near Licking, Roaring River State Park near Cassville, and Maramec Spring Park near St. James. The season ends Oct. 31; when catch-and-release commences. Missouri Department of Conservation daily stocks rainbow trout throughout the season at each park.
What you need to know before casting for trout
Before you head out to fish, anglers are required to have a daily trout tag during catch-and-keep season. Daily trout tags can only be purchased at each of the four trout parks. MDC asks trout anglers to have the correct amount of cash, if possible.
Missouri residents ages 16-64 and nonresidents 16 and older need a fishing permit along with the daily trout tag.
The cost of a daily trout tag to fish at three of Missouri’s four trout parks ― Bennett Spring State Park, Montauk State Park, and Roaring River State Park ― is $4 for adults and $3 for those 15 years of age and younger. A daily fishing permit is $8. The daily limit is four trout.
At Maramec Spring Park, the daily limit is five trout, and the cost of a daily trout tag for adults is $5 and $3 for anglers 15 years of age and younger.
MDC staff annually stocks more than 800,000 trout at the four trout parks and about 1.5 million statewide. It's estimated that trout anglers spend more than $100 million each year in Missouri.
You can buy permits, find details about the trout parks, learn about trout waters and more on MDC's website https://mdc.mo.gov/.
Don't forget to do your part in preventing the spread of 'rock snot'
MDC urges anglers to do their part in preventing the spread of an invasive algae called didymo, nicknamed "rock snot."
Using shoes, boots or waders with porous soles of felt, matted or woven fibrous material is prohibited at all trout parks, in trout streams, Lake Taneycomo and buffer areas.
Didymo was present in Canada in the late 1800s, but did not begin to cause problems until the early 1990s, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It was first discovered east of the Mississippi River in 2005 in Tennessee. The invasive algae alters stream ecology by forming dense algal blooms that can cover up to 100 percent of stream bottoms.
"Stringy alga threads catch on all types of hooks, from dry flies to crankbaits, making fishing nearly impossible," MDC stated online regarding preventing the spread of didymo.
Remember to check and clean your gear:
Check all gear and equipment after use and remove any visible algae;
If you notice algae on your equipment at a later time, do not dispose of the algae by putting it down a drain. Dispose of it in the trash;
Clean all equipment with a 2% household bleach solution, 5% saltwater solution, or dishwashing detergent. Allow all equipment to stay in contact with the solution for at least 3 minutes;
Soak all soft items, such as felt-soled waders and life jackets, in the solution for at least 20 minutes;
Dry all equipment in sunlight for at least 48 hours;
Consider replacing felt-soled waders with a new, environmentally sensitive alternative.
Sara Karnes is an Outdoors Reporter with the Springfield News-Leader. Follow along with her adventures on Twitter and Instagram @Sara_Karnes. Got a story to tell? Email her at skarnes@springfi.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Catch-and-keep trout fishing in Missouri starts March 1
