Bennett Spring State Park Trout Fishing
Bennett Spring State Park: tags, limits, winter catch and release and the water around it.
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What Bennett Spring State Park offers a trout angler
MDC stocks Bennett Spring State Park (Laclede County and Dallas County) daily through the catch-and-keep season of March 1 to Oct. 31, and a daily tag bought on site lets an angler keep 4 rainbow or brown trout in the aggregate.
Winter fishing runs Nov. 13, 2026–Feb. 8, 2027: flies only, release every trout, trout permit required, hours Friday-Monday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
From A Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations 2026 (MDC, effective March 1, 2026), p. 24; read October 27, 2026.
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| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Daily limit | 4 rainbow or brown trout in the aggregate |
| Length | None printed in the booklet (MDC trout-park season page: minimum 15 inches for brown trout, no limit for rainbow) |
| Catch and keep | March 1–Oct. 31, 2026 |
| Winter | Nov. 13, 2026–Feb. 8, 2027 (flies only; trout permit required) |
| Footwear | porous-soled waders and boots banned |
Limits and seasons as printed in A Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations 2026 (MDC, effective March 1, 2026), page 24 (booklet PDF); retrieved October 27, 2026.
What MDC releases at Bennett Spring State Park
approximately 400,000 rainbow trout to anglers each year: Stocked March through October in the park; a small number of brown trout also stocked; the Niangua River downstream receives monthly stockings year-round. A June 2024 release gives 325,000 stocked in park waters each yea
All receive periodic stockings of rainbow trout, and some also receive brown trout. (White Ribbon Trout Area)
MDC news releases and area pages, read October 27, 2026.
Lakes and streams around Bennett Spring State Park
Still water
- Pomme de Terre Lake27 miles
- Lake of the Ozarks31 miles
- Osage Beach City Park Lake31 miles
- Fellows Lake35 miles
- Valley Water Mill Lake39 miles
- Rinquelin Trail Lake46 miles
Rivers
- Bennett Spring Branchthe park water
- Niangua Riverunder a mile
- Osage Fork Gasconade River21 miles
- Gasconade River30 miles
- Pomme de Terre River30 miles
- Roubidoux Creek34 miles
- Woods Fork Gasconade River35 miles
Tackle stores on the way to Bennett Spring State Park
- Larry's Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Lebanon, under a mile
- Weaver's Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Lebanon, 1 mile
- Reading's Fly Shopfly shop, Lebanon, 2 miles
- Vanhook's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Camdenton, 21 miles
- G & G Marinamarina, Roach, 22 miles
- Jack's Sporting Goods and Hardwarebait and tackle shop, Camdenton, 22 miles
Nearest towns: Lebanon, Buffalo, Camdenton, Richland and Marshfield.
Three more trout parks to try
- Maramec Spring ParkPhelps County
- Montauk State ParkDent County
- Roaring River State ParkBarry County
- All trout parksseasons and tags side by side
Lakes and streams close to Bennett Spring State Park, pictured
Photo: public domain, Public domain
Photo: Kbh3rd, CC BY 4.0
Photo: mostateparks, Public domain
Photo: Richard Ricciardi, CC BY 2.0
Before a trip to Bennett Spring State Park, the common questions
What are the Bennett Spring State Park season dates?
Catch and keep runs March 1–Oct. 31, 2026.
How much is the daily tag at Bennett Spring State Park?
$5 for adults and $3 at 15 and under.
What is the limit at Bennett Spring State Park?
4 rainbow or brown trout in the aggregate.
What does Bennett Spring State Park allow between November and February?
Winter fishing runs Nov. 13, 2026–Feb. 8, 2027: flies only, release every trout, trout permit required, hours Friday-Monday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
In what corner of Missouri does Bennett Spring State Park lie?
In Laclede County and Dallas County.
Are felt-soled waders allowed at Bennett Spring State Park?
Not allowed; MDC bans porous-soled footwear at the parks.
Can I check the flow at Bennett Spring State Park?
This page has no linked gauge.
Which shops are near Bennett Spring State Park?
The nearest listing is Larry's Sporting Goods.