Fishing near Springfield, Missouri
Greene County, population 169,176.
- 5 milesto nearest lake
- 3ramps nearby
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Jo Naylor, CC BY 2.0
What a Springfield stay puts in reach
Census takers counted 169,176 people in the city of Springfield, part of Greene County, in 2020. No paged lake sits nearer than Valley Water Mill Lake, around 5 miles toward the northeast. Fellows Lake covers 800 acres, the most of any lake in the table. A 6 miles tow reaches Joe Crighton Access on James River, the closest ramp.
Bennett Spring State Park, a Missouri trout park, is about 44 miles away. Bank anglers head about 5 miles to Fishing docks at Valley Water Mill Lake.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Springfield; distances are straight lines.
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| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Motor note | Fish MDC names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Water Mill Lake | 5 miles northeast | 14 | 0 | largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill | |
| Fellows Lake | 9 miles northeast | 800 | 1 | 40 hp limit | largemouth bass, spotted bass, crappie |
Before towing a large outboard, 1 nearby lakes have notes, Fellows Lake with 40 hp limit.
MDC Managed Public Waterbody outlines, MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects species and boating notes; retrieved October 2026.
Gravel-bar streams to wade near Springfield
- James River11 miles, smallmouth management water, 6 MDC ramps, 5 access areas, 98 mi in Missouri
USGS gauges near Springfield
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Wilson Creek At Springfield, Mo | 2 cfs, 2.36 ft gage height | Oct 28 6:30 pm |
| Wilson Creek Near Springfield, Mo | 0 cfs, 0.40 ft gage height | Oct 28 7:00 pm |
| South Creek Near Springfield, Mo | 0 cfs, -1.12 ft gage height | Oct 28 6:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 28, 2026 7:34 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
MDC stream access areas and trout and smallmouth layers; USGS NHD lengths and USGS gauges. Retrieved October 2026.
Pins for the water around Springfield
- Joe Crighton Access on James RiverJames River, 6 miles
- Fellows Lake (Springfield City Utilities)Fellows Lake, 10 miles
- Delaware Town Access on James RiverJames River, 11 miles
No-boat spots close to Springfield
- Fishing docks at Valley Water Mill Lake5 miles
- Fishing docks at Fellows Lake10 miles
MDC boat ramp/access and dock layers, USACE ramp layers; retrieved October 2026.
Stocked trout within reach of Springfield
| Water | Program | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Bennett Spring State Park | trout park, daily tag March 1 to Oct. 31 | 44 miles |
| Roaring River State Park | trout park, daily tag March 1 to Oct. 31 | 51 miles |
| Crane Creek | Blue Ribbon trout area | 25 miles |
| Lake Taneycomo | Lake Taneycomo trout area | 35 miles |
Keeping trout takes a Missouri trout permit on top of the fishing permit: $12 for residents and $24 for nonresidents 16 and older.
MDC trout program statements (2026 regulations booklet, MDC news releases and area pages); MDC publishes no per-water stocking table; trout parks, trout areas and winter trout lakes as printed in the 2026 regulations booklet.
Tackle and guided trips near Springfield
Where Springfield anglers stock the live well
- Bass Pro Shops Springfieldsporting goods store, Springfield, 1 mile
- Bass Pro Shops Catalog Outlet Springfieldsporting goods store, Springfield, 1 mile
- The Outdoor Xperiencedbait and tackle shop, Springfield, 1 mile
- Water N Woods Outdoorsmarina, Springfield, 1 mile
- Plateau Fly Shopfly shop, Springfield, 2 miles
- Razr Rodsbait and tackle shop, Springfield, 3 miles
- Bait-WRXbait and tackle shop, Springfield, 4 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Springfieldsporting goods store, Springfield, 4 miles
Yellow Pages and chain store listings, guide listings; retrieved October 2026.
Big-fish records a drive from Springfield
| Species | Weight | Water | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | 7 lbs. 2 oz. | Stockton Lake | Dec. 18, 1994 | MDC record list |
| Black Buffalo | 55 lbs. 9 oz. | Stockton Lake | Oct. 13, 2024 | MDC news release |
| Redear Sunfish | 2 lbs. 3 oz. | Lake Taneycomo | April 18, 2025 | MDC news release |
MDC State Record Fish list and MDC news releases, retrieved October 2026; waters within 40 miles.
Missouri limits for trips out of Springfield
Plan on $14 as a resident, $57 from out of state, or $9 for a day permit; residents 65 and older and anglers under 16 are exempt. Keeping trout adds a $12 trout permit for residents.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky) | 6 a day | All year |
| Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky) (Ozark streams) | 6 a day; 12" minimum | May 23, 2026–Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Channel catfish | 10 a day | All year |
| Blue catfish | 5 a day | All year |
| Flathead catfish | 5 a day | All year |
| Crappie (black and white) | 30 a day | All year |
| Goggle-eye (Ozark, rock, and shadow bass) and warmouth | 15 a day; 7" minimum | All year |
| Muskellunge | 1 (daily limit is 1 muskellunge or 1 northern pike); 36" minimum | All year |
| Northern pike | 1 (daily limit is 1 muskellunge or 1 northern pike) | All year |
| Paddlefish (spoonbill) | 2 a day; 32" minimum (eye to fork of tail) | March 15–April 30 |
| Pickerel (chain and grass) | 6 a day | All year |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | 10 a day; 30" maximum (snout to fork of tail) | All year |
| Trout (rainbow and brown) | 4 a day; Rainbow: none; Brown: 15" minimum in streams | All year |
| Walleye and sauger | 4 a day; 15" minimum | All year |
| White, yellow, and striped bass and their hybrids | 15 a day; No more than 4 longer than 18" | 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. Lake and river pages print any special-regulation bullet.
Neighbouring Springfield
Neighbouring towns of Springfield
- Battlefield7 miles
- Republic7 miles
- Fremont Hills9 miles
- Willard10 miles
- Nixa10 miles
The county around Springfield
- Greene Countyseat: Springfield
Reels from Piscifun worth bringing to Springfield
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Photo guide to fish at Springfield
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Photo: -Rorey-, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Fishing out of Springfield: what people ask
Which MDC lake is closest to Springfield?
Valley Water Mill Lake, 5 miles northeast.
Which ramp do Springfield anglers use?
Joe Crighton Access on James River, some 6 miles off.
What dock or jetty sits closest to Springfield?
Try Fishing docks at Valley Water Mill Lake, 5 miles.
Which tackle shop is the quickest stop from Springfield?
Bass Pro Shops Springfield, 1 mile from town.
Which Missouri county takes in Springfield?
It is in Greene County.
What does MDC charge a nonresident who stays in Springfield?
A nonresident annual permit is $57; the daily permit is $9.
Which big reservoir lies within reach of Springfield?
Fellows Lake, 800 acres, 9 miles away.
Which Missouri town is next to Springfield?
Neighbours by distance: Battlefield (7 miles), Republic (7 miles) and Fremont Hills (9 miles).
Can Springfield anglers reach stocked trout?
Bennett Spring State Park, a trout park, about 44 miles away.
Did a lake near Springfield produce a state record?
Smallmouth Bass, 7 lbs. 2 oz., from Stockton Lake.
Base a Missouri fishing trip in Springfield
River pages list accesses and gauges.