Waterbody · Missouri
Lake of the Ozarks Fishing Regulations 2026
Lake of the Ozarks fishing regulations as of 2026-05-08: 92 current rules from Conservation. Anglers target largemouth bass, crappie, catfish.
Species pages for Lake of the Ozarks
Dedicated rule pages for the most-targeted species at this water.
Rules (92)
Conservation regulates 92 rules across 14 species at this water.
Crappie
Lake Of The Ozarks Lakewide
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
All Waters Except Special Regulation Areas
- Possession
- 60 fish
August A. Busch Lake 35
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
Bull Shoals Lake Lakewide
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
- Min size
- 10"
Gendron Lake (St. Ann)
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
Harry S. Truman Reservoir Lakewide
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
Long Branch Lake
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
Mark Twain Lake
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
Montrose Lake
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
Norfork Lake Lakewide
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
- Min size
- 10"
Pomme De Terre Lake
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
- Min size
- 9"
Smithville Lake
- Daily bag
- 30 fish/day
Daily limit of 30 fish may include no more than 15 fish more than 9" in total length.
Stockton Lake
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
- Min size
- 10"
Table Rock Lake Lakewide
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
- Min size
- 10"
Thomas Hill Lake
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
Thomas Hill Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
Truman Lake
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
Wappapello Lake Lakewide
- Daily bag
- 30 fish/day
Daily limit of 30 fish may include no more than 15 fish more than 9" in total length.
Largemouth Bass
Lake Of The Ozarks Lakewide
- Min size
- 15"
All Ozark StreamsOut of season
- Season opens
- May 23
- Season closes
- Feb 28
- Possession
- 12 fish
- Min size
- 12"
Big River Mainstem And Its Tributaries, Except As Noted Below
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Blue Springs Creek
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Bourbeuse River Mainstem And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Bull Shoals Lake Lakewide
- Min size
- 15"
Courtois Creek Mainstem And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Dry Fork Creek Mainstem And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Harry S. Truman Reservoir Lakewide
- Min size
- 15"
Huzzah Creek Mainstem And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Meramec River Mainstem And Its Tributaries, Except As Noted Below
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Mineral Fork Mainstem And Its Tributaries, Except As Noted Below
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Non-Ozark Streams
- Possession
- 12 fish
Norfork Lake Lakewide
- Min size
- 15"
Stockton Lake
- Min size
- 15"
Streams
- Min size
- 12"
Missouri statewide
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Impoundments.
Blue Catfish
Lake Of The Ozarks
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
Lake Of The Ozarks On The Lake And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
- Possession
- 10 fish
- Slot min
- 26"
- Slot max
- 34"
the daily limit may not contain more than 2 blue catfish more than 34"
All Waters Except Special Regulation Areas
- Possession
- 10 fish
Harry S. Truman Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
Harry S. Truman Reservoir On The Lake And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
- Possession
- 10 fish
- Slot min
- 26"
- Slot max
- 34"
the daily limit may not contain more than 2 blue catfish more than 34"
Mark Twain Lake
- Min size
- 26"
Mississippi River, Including Pools 20–26
- Daily bag
- 20 fish
- Possession
- 20 fish
combined total of these species.
Truman Lake
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
Paddlefish
Lake Of The Ozarks
- Min size
- 34"
Lake Of The Ozarks On The Lake And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
- Min size
- 34"
No person shall continue to snag, snare, or grab for any species after taking a daily limit of 2 paddlefish. minimum body length, measured from eye to fork of tail
Lake Of The Ozarks From The Downstream End Of The No-Fishing Zone Below Truman Dam Throughout The No-Boating Zone (Look For Signs Andbuoys)Closed
- Status
- Prohibited
Paddlefish may not be possessed.
Lake Of The Ozarks And It Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
gigging, snaring, and snagging for any species is not allowed after taking and possessing the daily limit of 2 paddlefish
Lake Of The Ozarks, And Their Tributaries
- Min size
- 34"
Flathead Catfish
All Waters Except Special Regulation Areas
- Possession
- 10 fish
Mark Twain Lake
- Min size
- 26"
Mississippi River
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
Mississippi River - Pools 20-26
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
Mississippi River, Including Pools 20–26
- Daily bag
- 10 fish
- Possession
- 10 fish
Nongame Fish
Lake Of The OzarksOut of season
- Season opens
- Mar 15
- Season closes
- Apr 30
Lake Of The Ozarks LakewideOut of season
- Season opens
- Mar 15
- Season closes
- Apr 30
Snagging, snaring, and grabbing are allowed from March 15 through April 30 only.
All Species
Lake Of The OzarksOut of season
- Season opens
- Mar 15
- Season closes
- Apr 30
Lake Of The Ozarks Within A Boundary Beginning From The Face Of Truman Dam Downstream Along The Left Descending Bank To The No-Fishingzone Sign At The East Bledsoe Ferry Park, Across The Water In A Straight Line To The No-Fishing Zone Sign At West Bledsoe Ferry Park, Upstream Along The Right Descending Bank To The Face Of The Truman Dam, And Returning To The Point Of Origin Along The Face Of The Truman Dam In The U.s. Army Corps Of Engineers’ Restricted ZoneClosed
- Status
- Closed
Lake Of The Ozarks From The Downstream End Of The No-Fishing Zone Below Truman Dam To U.s. Highway 65
- Gear
- Prohibited
Trotlines, throwlines, limb lines, jug lines, snagging, snaring, and grabbing are prohibited.
Channel Catfish
All Waters Except Special Regulation Areas
- Possession
- 20 fish
Mississippi River, Including Pools 20–26
- Daily bag
- 20 fish
- Possession
- 20 fish
combined total of these species.
Catfish
Bull Shoals Lake Lakewide
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
combined total of blue, channel, and flathead catfish
Norfork Lake Lakewide
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
combined total of blue, channel, and flathead catfish
Table Rock Lake Lakewide
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
combined total of blue, channel, and flathead catfish
Alligator Gar
Lake Of The Ozarks And It TributariesClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
It is illegal to take and possess them.
Lake Of The OzarksClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
It is illegal to take and possess them.
Spotted Bass
Lake Of The Ozarks Lakewide
- Min size
- 12"
Smallmouth Bass
Lake Of The Ozarks Lakewide
- Min size
- 15"
Plus 2 more species. See the Missouri pillar page for the full list.
FAQ
Who regulates fishing on Lake of the Ozarks?
Conservation regulates fishing on Lake of the Ozarks.
What species can I target on Lake of the Ozarks?
Lake of the Ozarks is best known for largemouth bass, crappie, catfish. Other species are present and tracked in the rule tables below.
When was this last updated?
These rules were last verified against Conservation on 2026-05-08. Always confirm with the official source before keeping a catch.
Reference only. Regulations change mid-season. Always verify with the official source before keeping a catch. Last verified .