Missouri species

Freshwater Drum in Missouri

Limits, record and lakes for freshwater drum.

  • 50 a daylimit
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Photo of the species, not a Missouri water: Prof. emerit. Dr. Hans Schneider ( Geyersberg ), CC BY-SA 3.0

Missouri fish

Where freshwater drum sit in Missouri rules

Conservation Department rules for freshwater drum run to 14 limit rows this year. As one of the nongame fish, it falls in the shared 50 a day pole-and-line bag, alongside 6 rows for other methods.

It turns up on 1 water pages, Lake of the Ozarks among them.

50 a daylead limit row
none readMissouri record
14limit rows
0water exceptions
Limits

MDC limits and seasons for freshwater drum

MethodWatersLimitSeason
Pole and line, trotline, throwline, limb line, bank line, jug line50 a dayAll year
Bow20 a dayApril 1–Jan. 31
Bow20 a dayFeb. 1–March 31
Bow20 a dayAll year
Bow20 a dayAll year
Bow20 a dayAll year
Crossbow20 a dayAll year
Gig, atlatl20 a daySept. 15–Feb. 15
Gig, atlatl20 a dayFeb. 16–Sept. 14
Gig, atlatl20 a dayAll year
Snagging, grabbing20 a dayMarch 15–May 15 and Sept. 15–Feb. 15
Snagging, grabbing20 a dayAll year
Snaring20 a dayMarch 15–May 15 and Sept. 15–Feb. 15
Underwater spear20 a dayAll year

Limits and seasons as printed in A Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations 2026 (MDC, effective March 1, 2026), page 21 (booklet PDF); retrieved October 27, 2026.

More MDC rules

Where to look

Finding freshwater drum across Missouri

Lake pages naming freshwater drum

MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects text, state records, ribbon trout areas, trout parks, winter trout lakes and MDC management areas; biggest waters first.

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Photos

What the water near Freshwater Drum looks like

Jacks Fork, Missouri
Jacks Fork
Photo: Drowzy, CC BY-SA 3.0
Meramec Spring Park, Missouri
Meramec Spring Park
Photo: Kbh3rd, CC BY 4.0
Pigeon Creek, Missouri
Pigeon Creek
Photo: mostateparks, Public domain
Roaring River, Missouri
Roaring River
Photo: mostateparks, Public domain
Answers

What anglers want to know about Missouri freshwater drum

How many freshwater drum go home from Missouri water?

Under the main row, 50 a day, pooled across nongame fish by pole and line; season all year.

Who holds the Missouri freshwater drum record?

This page has no record row for it yet; MDC publishes the list.

Which Missouri waters list freshwater drum?

Try Lake of the Ozarks; 1 pages carry it.

Are freshwater drum stocked in Missouri?

The stocking statements read here leave it out.

Do any Missouri waters set their own freshwater drum rule?

Its rule is the same on every water.

What dates apply to Missouri freshwater drum?

Read the season as All year.

Do nonresidents need a permit for Missouri freshwater drum?

Missouri anglers 16 through 64 carry a fishing permit: $14 a year for residents, $57 for nonresidents, or $9 for a daily permit.

What gear may be used for freshwater drum?

It may be taken by bow, crossbow, gig, atlatl, pole and line, trotline, throwline, limb line, bank line, jug line, snagging, grabbing and snaring.

Go after Missouri freshwater drum

Begin with a water listed above.