• 26248 Hwy 64A, Lebanon, MO
  • 417-532-4307
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Trout Fishing

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Trout Fishing at Bennett Spring State Park
Trout Fishing at Bennett Spring State Park
Stocked Regularly

Premier Trout Fishing

Fishing enthusiasts will be found casting their lines along the spring branch, while others visit the exhibits interpreting Missouri's springs and natural environment at the nature center. Now, at 3,338 acres, the state park that arose around Peter Bennett's spring continues to delight all comers.


Here inside the park we stock the stream nightly with rainbow trout raised locally in our hatchery. The number of fish stocked changes from night to night depending on the number of people fishing the previous day.

Trout School
Three Zones to Choose From

Trout Fishing Regulations

Zone areas are marked in the park and maps are also available.

Zone 1

From the hatchery dam upstream to the end of the area. Only flies are permitted.

Zone 2

From the hatchery dam to the whistle bridge. Only flies and artificial lures are permitted.

Zone 3

From the whistle bridge to the Niangua River. Only soft plastic bait (unscented), natural and scented bait are permitted. All flies and artificial lures are prohibited, even if natural bait or scent has been added.

Bennett Spring Trout Park Zones

Trout Fishing Hours

Beginning Time

Ending Time

March

6:30 a.m.*/7:30 a.m.**

6 p.m.*/7 p.m.**

April

7 a.m.

7:30 p.m.

May

6:30 a.m.

8:15 p.m.

June and July

6:30 a.m.

8:30 p.m.

August

7 a.m.

8 p.m.

September

7:30 a.m.

7:15 p.m.

October

7:30 a.m.

6:30 p.m.

* Central Standard Time
** Central Daylight Time

Catch-and-Release Season

Beginning Time

Ending Time

2nd Friday in Nov. through the 2nd Monday in February (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday only)

8 a.m.

4 p.m.

For additional information, please call 417-532-4418 or 417-532-7612.

Trout Fishing Rules and Regulations

  • Trout fishing is permitted in accordance with the state wildlife code and posted restrictions daily from March 1 through Oct. 31, and during the winter catch-and-release season from the second Friday in November to the second Monday in February on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday only.
  • Each angler shall display a daily trout tag purchased on the area and bearing his or her signature.
  • Each angler shall have a state fishing permit except those 15 years and younger or Missouri residents 65 years and older.
  • Each angler shall keep their trout separate at all times and identified with their name and address.
  • The statewide daily limit is 4 trout, regardless of the number of daily tags purchased or waters fished. No person shall continue to fish for any species in these trout waters after having harvested a daily limit of 4 trout anywhere in Missouri.
  • Only a single pole or rod may be used. Gigging, snaring or snagging is not permitted.
  • Statewide daily limit 4 trout, possession limit 10 trout. All brown trout less then 15 inches must be released unharmed immediately after capture. There is no length limit on rainbow trout.
  • The use of game fish or parts thereof for bait is prohibited; chumming is not permitted.
  • No trout may be possessed in the catch-and-release area.
The Hatchery

Stream Stocked Daily

Managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation, the hatchery at Roaring River State Park is one of Missouri's oldest hatcheries, producing and stocking over 250,000 trout each year in the 1.6 miles of stream located in the park. Over 100,000 adults and children come to fish and enjoy the beauty of the daily stocked stream each year.


The Conservation Department stocks trout every evening from the day before the March 1 opener through Oct. 30. Tag sale estimates determine a daily stocking rate average of 2.25 fish per expected angler. Except on opening day, three fish are stocked for every expected angler. From March 1 to Oct. 31, the parks will collectively sell more than 400,000 tags and stock more than 900,000 fish. These fish will average about 12 inches long over the season, but some variation occurs. Dozens of lunkers weighing upwards of 3 pounds are stocked each year. A few tip the scales at more than 10 pounds!

Tipping the Scales

Lunker Board & Fishing Videos

These are only a few of the beautiful fish weighing in at 3lbs or more at Roaring River State Park!
Bennett Spring State Park