23 public waters in the Southwest region — 1 lakes/reservoirs and 22 rivers. Every one is public water fishable on a Missouri licence.
See every public fishing venue in Missouri on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
James River Lake (74 acres) sits in Stone, Webster, Greene and 1 more county in Missouri, managed by Missouri Department of Conservation (managed public waterbody). A lake on a Missouri Department of Conservation area — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Crappie and Channel Catfish, managed for quality with length limits on many. Boat access is usually electric-motor-only or car-top; a few allow small outboards.
The James River above Table Rock Lake near Springfield — a strong smallmouth-bass float (a Special Management Area with a 15-18 inch protected slot), plus spotted and Largemouth Bass, Goggle-Eye, and Catfish. The lower river backs up into the James River Arm of Table Rock.
In Christian, Webster and Stone Counties, Missouri, Finley Creek is a 78 km river or creek. An Ozark smallmouth stream (the upper Gasconade, Big Piney, the Meramec headwaters, Big Sugar and Elk River, the upper Osage Fork, Bryant Creek) — clear, gravel-and-bluff water with wild Smallmouth Bass ('brown bass'), spotted and Largemouth Bass, Rock Bass ('Goggle-Eye'), and Longear Sunfish. Missouri has designated Smallmouth Bass Special Management Areas on many.
Swan Creek runs 48 km through Christian, Taney and Douglas Counties, Missouri: An Ozark smallmouth stream (the upper Gasconade, Big Piney, the Meramec headwaters, Big Sugar and Elk River, the upper Osage Fork, Bryant Creek) — clear, gravel-and-bluff water with wild Smallmouth Bass ('brown bass'), spotted and Largemouth Bass, Rock Bass ('Goggle-Eye'), and Longear Sunfish. Missouri has designated Smallmouth Bass Special Management Areas on many.
Turnback Creek (31 km) flows through Lawrence, Dade, Christian and 1 more county in Missouri. A warmwater Missouri river or large creek — largemouth, smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Rock Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, and White Bass on the bigger ones. Wade or float; access at MDC river accesses and bridges.
Bull Creek runs 36 km through Christian and Taney Counties, Missouri: An Ozark smallmouth stream (the upper Gasconade, Big Piney, the Meramec headwaters, Big Sugar and Elk River, the upper Osage Fork, Bryant Creek) — clear, gravel-and-bluff water with wild Smallmouth Bass ('brown bass'), spotted and Largemouth Bass, Rock Bass ('Goggle-Eye'), and Longear Sunfish. Missouri has designated Smallmouth Bass Special Management Areas on many.
Little Beaver Creek (10 km) flows through Douglas, Taney and Christian Counties, Missouri. An Ozark smallmouth stream (the upper Gasconade, Big Piney, the Meramec headwaters, Big Sugar and Elk River, the upper Osage Fork, Bryant Creek) — clear, gravel-and-bluff water with wild Smallmouth Bass ('brown bass'), spotted and Largemouth Bass, Rock Bass ('Goggle-Eye'), and Longear Sunfish. Missouri has designated Smallmouth Bass Special Management Areas on many.
Stone and Christian Counties, Missouri — Dry Crane Creek is a 16 km stream: An Ozark smallmouth stream (the upper Gasconade, Big Piney, the Meramec headwaters, Big Sugar and Elk River, the upper Osage Fork, Bryant Creek) — clear, gravel-and-bluff water with wild Smallmouth Bass ('brown bass'), spotted and Largemouth Bass, Rock Bass ('Goggle-Eye'), and Longear Sunfish. Missouri has designated Smallmouth Bass Special Management Areas on many.
Pickerel Creek runs 18 km through Greene and Christian Counties, Missouri: A warmwater Missouri river or large creek — largemouth, smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Rock Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, and White Bass on the bigger ones. Wade or float; access at MDC river accesses and bridges.
Wilsons Creek runs 5 km through Greene and Christian Counties, Missouri: A warmwater Missouri river or large creek — largemouth, smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Rock Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, and White Bass on the bigger ones. Wade or float; access at MDC river accesses and bridges.
Spring Creek (2 km) flows through Stone and Christian Counties, Missouri. A Missouri blue-ribbon or trophy Trout stream (Crane Creek — a wild McCloud-strain rainbow population, the upper North Fork of the White, the Current above Montauk, Blue Springs Creek, Little Piney, Mill Creek, Barren Fork) — wild and stocked rainbow and Brown Trout in cold, clear, spring-fed Ozark water. Special regulations (flies-only, artificial-only, reduced creel) apply.
Christian and Douglas Counties, Missouri — Stewart Creek is a 11 km stream: A warmwater Missouri river or large creek — largemouth, smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Rock Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, and White Bass on the bigger ones. Wade or float; access at MDC river accesses and bridges.
In Christian County, Missouri, Woods Fork is a 14 km river or creek. A warmwater Missouri river or large creek — largemouth, smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Rock Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, and White Bass on the bigger ones. Wade or float; access at MDC river accesses and bridges.
Christian County, Missouri — Terrell Creek is a 6 km stream: A warmwater Missouri river or large creek — largemouth, smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Rock Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, and White Bass on the bigger ones. Wade or float; access at MDC river accesses and bridges.
Pedelo Creek runs 11 km through Christian and Webster Counties, Missouri: A warmwater Missouri river or large creek — largemouth, smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Rock Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, and White Bass on the bigger ones. Wade or float; access at MDC river accesses and bridges.
Christian County, Missouri — Hog Creek is a 8 km stream: A warmwater Missouri river or large creek — largemouth, smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Rock Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, and White Bass on the bigger ones. Wade or float; access at MDC river accesses and bridges.
Barbers Creek (10 km) flows through Christian County, Missouri. A warmwater Missouri river or large creek — largemouth, smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Rock Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, and White Bass on the bigger ones. Wade or float; access at MDC river accesses and bridges.
Greene and Christian Counties, Missouri — Farmer Branch is a 7 km stream: A warmwater Missouri river or large creek — largemouth, smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Rock Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, and White Bass on the bigger ones. Wade or float; access at MDC river accesses and bridges.
West Fork Bull Creek (9 km) flows through Christian County, Missouri. An Ozark smallmouth stream (the upper Gasconade, Big Piney, the Meramec headwaters, Big Sugar and Elk River, the upper Osage Fork, Bryant Creek) — clear, gravel-and-bluff water with wild Smallmouth Bass ('brown bass'), spotted and Largemouth Bass, Rock Bass ('Goggle-Eye'), and Longear Sunfish. Missouri has designated Smallmouth Bass Special Management Areas on many.
Green Valley Creek (8 km) flows through Christian County, Missouri. A warmwater Missouri river or large creek — largemouth, smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Rock Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, and White Bass on the bigger ones. Wade or float; access at MDC river accesses and bridges.
Guffy Creek (8 km) flows through Christian and Douglas Counties, Missouri. A warmwater Missouri river or large creek — largemouth, smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Rock Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, and White Bass on the bigger ones. Wade or float; access at MDC river accesses and bridges.
In Christian County, Missouri, Camp Creek is a 8 km river or creek. A warmwater Missouri river or large creek — largemouth, smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Rock Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, and White Bass on the bigger ones. Wade or float; access at MDC river accesses and bridges.
Christian and Webster Counties, Missouri — Martins Branch is a 7 km stream: A warmwater Missouri river or large creek — largemouth, smallmouth and Spotted Bass, Rock Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, and White Bass on the bigger ones. Wade or float; access at MDC river accesses and bridges.
Across its mapped waters, Christian County holds 14 species on PiscaMaps, including Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Rock Bass, Longear Sunfish, Flathead Catfish and Bluegill.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the Missouri map Join PiscaMapsOne Missouri Department of Conservation fishing permit covers every public water in the state, the Corps and MDC reservoirs included — the resident annual is about $13, the non-resident annual about $52, with 1-day and 3-day permits sold. A ~$10 trout permit is required to fish for or keep trout in addition to the fishing permit (a 1-day permit alone is enough for that day), and the four trout parks charge a separate daily trout tag. Missouri residents 65 and older, and anyone 15 or under, need no fishing permit. Buy at mdc.mo.gov.