Walleye in Missouri
MDC limits, the record and Missouri water for walleye.
- 4 a daylimit
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Missouri walleye, summed up
In the 2026 MDC rules, walleye fall under 1 limit row. Its main row sets 4 a day; 15″ minimum, with the season given as all year.
Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake and Harry S Truman Lake lead the 17 pages that mention it. Bull Shoals Lake, Current River and Eleven Point River are among the 10 waters where MDC changes the rule.
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| Booklet row | Waters | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | Statewide | 4 a day; 15" minimum | All year |
Limits and seasons as printed in A Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations 2026 (MDC, effective March 1, 2026), page 20 (booklet PDF); retrieved October 27, 2026.
Where MDC changes the walleye limit
| Water | Where | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Bull Shoals Lake | On the lake and its tributaries | Walleye and sauger — 18" minimum length limit |
| Bull Shoals Lake | In the Swan Creek Arm above U.S. Highway 160 | From Feb. 20 through April 14, walleye and sauger may be taken and possessed only between 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. Changes to this rule for walleye and sauger were pending at the time of this boo |
| Long Branch Lake | Whole water | Walleye and sauger — 18" minimum length limit |
| Norfork Lake | On the lake and its tributaries | Walleye and sauger — 18" minimum length limit |
| Table Rock Lake | Lakewide | Walleye and sauger — 18" minimum length limit |
| Wappapello Lake | On the lake and its tributaries including the St. Francis River and its tributaries above Wappapello Dam | Walleye and sauger — 18" minimum length limit |
| Current River | Mainstem and its tributaries | Walleye and sauger — 18" minimum length limit |
| Eleven Point River | Mainstem and its tributaries | Walleye and sauger — 18" minimum length limit |
| Mississippi River, including pools 20–26 | Whole water | Walleye and sauger — No minimum length limit. The daily and possession limit is 8, combined total of both species. No seasonal restrictions on the hours for take and possession. |
| Missouri River | Whole water | Walleye and sauger — No seasonal restrictions on the hours for take and possession |
| St. Francis River | Above Wappapello Dam, from the lake and its tributaries including the St. Francis River and its tributaries | Walleye and sauger — 18" minimum length limit |
Rules as printed in A Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations 2026 (MDC, effective March 1, 2026) (booklet PDF, Special Regulations on Large Lakes and on Rivers and Streams); checked against the current Wildlife Code October 27, 2026.
Show-Me lakes and creeks with walleye
Still water with walleye
- Lake of the Ozarks51,132 acres
- Table Rock Lake49,720 acres
- Harry S Truman Lake49,330 acres
- Stockton Lake24,945 acres
- Norfork Lake18,798 acres
- Mark Twain Lake18,353 acres
- Pomme de Terre Lake7,662 acres
- Smithville Lake6,994 acres
- Lake Taneycomo2,131 acres
- Lake Jacomo1,002 acres
- Mozingo Lake998 acres
- Longview Lake954 acres
- Fellows Lake800 acres
- Forest Lake580 acres
- Harrison County Lake302 acres
- Lake Showme253 acres
- Lawson City Lake23 acres
MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects text, state records, ribbon trout areas, trout parks, winter trout lakes and MDC management areas; biggest waters first.
Fish sharing a row with walleye
Show-Me water around Walleye, photographed
Photo: Inklein, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Charlie Llewellin, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Semipaw, CC BY 3.0
Photo: 16porkchops, CC BY-SA 4.0
Missouri walleye, the frequent questions
Which Missouri length rule covers walleye?
The booklet gives 4 a day; 15" minimum, season all year.
What does the Missouri walleye record weigh?
Not among the record rows read so far; MDC keeps the full list.
Which Missouri lakes hold walleye?
17 water pages list it, led by Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake and Harry S Truman Lake.
Do MDC stocking notes mention walleye?
No MDC stocking statement names it.
Does any lake or stream have a walleye exception?
It differs on 10 waters, for example Bull Shoals Lake, Current River and Eleven Point River.
Which stretch of the calendar lets anglers keep walleye?
Its main season is All year.
What does a Missouri permit for walleye cost?
Missouri anglers 16 through 64 carry a fishing permit: $14 a year for residents, $57 for nonresidents, or $9 for a daily permit.
Which methods may take walleye?
MDC limits game fish to pole and line except in listed seasons.
Head out for Missouri walleye
Open a water above for its ramps and MDC limits.