Osage River

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Osage River

Town(s): Lake Ozark MO, Osage Beach MO, Kaiser MO
County:
Local Name: Osage River

Size: acres
Average Depth: feet
Maximum Depth: feet

Boating Allowed: Kayaks, Canoes, Electric Motor Boats, Power Boats, Jet-skis, State & Local Rules & Regulations Apply
Swimming: Unknown

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Fishing Information

Fishing regulations on the Osage River are divided into two types of fish.  Game fish and nongame fish.  The Osage River is a large fishery area and we always advise you to check with the Missouri Department of Conservation for rules to the specific area your fishing.  These are general species and rules for the river only, and not for Lake of the Ozarks or Truman Lake.  See our separate pages for those two fisheries.

 

Game Fish Species

Game Fish may be taken by pole and line, trotline, throwline, limb line, bank line, and jug line.

 

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass - Open all year with a daily limit of 6, possession limit of 12, and a 12" minimum length.

 

Catfish - Open all year with no length limit on all species

 

Channel - daily limit of 10 and possession limit of 20

 

Flathead - daily limit of 5 and possession limit of 10

 

Blue - daily limit of 5 and possession limit of 10

 

Crappie - Open all year with a daily limit of 30 and possession limit of 60

 

Trout - Open all year with a daily limit of 4 and possession limit of 8.  Rainbow trout have no minimum length.  Brown trout have a length limit of 15" in streams.  A trout tag is required to possess trout.  Special rules apply for trout parks.  Again, check regulations for the specific area of the river your fishing. 

 

Walleye - Open all year with a daily limit of 4, possession limit of 8 and a 15" minimum length except in areas with special regulations..

 

Nongame Fish

Nongame fish In Missouri include bluegill, green sunfish, carp, carpsuckers, suckers, buffalo, drum, gar and all other species other than those defined as game fish or listed as endangered. Nongame fish may be taken as described in the list below.  There is no limit on goldfish and bighead, common, grass and silver carp.

Bighead carp, common carp, grass carp and silver carp can be taken by hand net. Those that jump from the water into a boat or on land may also be taken and possessed in any number.

Bowfin must remain whole and intact while on state waters or adjacent banks.

 

Bowfishing - Open all year with harvest hours of sunrise to midnight.  Daily limit is 20 with a possession limit of 40.

 

Gigging - Primary season is from Septembr 15 through January 31 with harvest hours of sunrise to sunset.  Daily limit is 20 with a possession limit of 40.  On Lake of the Ozarks and its tributaries, Osage River below U.S. Highway 54 and Truman Lake and its tributaries, gigging, snaring and snagging for any species is not allowed after taking and possessing the daily limit of 2 paddlefish.

 

Snagging - In the Osage River downstream from U.S. Highway 54 to the Missouri River and in the Lake of the Ozarks and Truman Lake, nongame fish may be taken by snagging, snaring and grabbing from March 15 through April 30.  On Lake of the Ozarks and its tributaries, Osage River below U.S. Highway 54 and Truman Lake and its tributaries, gigging, snaring and snagging for any species is not allowed after taking and possessing the daily limit of 2 paddlefish.

 

Special Note

Within 225 feet below Bagnell Dam:

 

No fishing is allowed, except live bait may be taken by dip net and throw net only.

From the no-fishing zone below Bagnell Dam to U.S. Highway 54:

Trotlines, throwlines, limb lines, snagging, snaring and grabbing are prohibited.

From U.S. Highway 54 to the Missouri River:

 

Nongame fish—Snagging, snaring and grabbing are allowed from March 15 through April 30 only.

No person shall continue to snag, snare or grab for any species after taking a daily limit of 2 paddlefish. 

 

 https://www.missourigreatoutdoors.com/osage_river_info.php

Water Quality: No Known Issues
Vegetation Growth: Unknown
Non-native Species:

Fishing Comments: RESTRICTIONS: Within 225 feet below Bagnell Dam: No fishing is allowed, except live bait may be taken by dip net and throw net only. From the no-fishing zone below Bagnell Dam to U.S. Highway 54: Trotlines, throwlines, limb lines, snagging, snaring and grabbing are prohibited. From U.S. Highway 54 to the Missouri River: Snagging, snaring and grabbing for nongame fish are allowed from March 15 through April 30 only. No person shall continue to snag, snare or grab for any species after taking a daily limit of 2 paddlefish. Counties: Camden, Cole, Miller
Fish Species: Flathead Catfish, White Bass, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Carp, Channel Catfish, Sunfish, Bluegill, Walleye

Boat Access: Access for Power and Non-power Boats
Parking Spaces: Unknown

Shoreline Development: Unknown