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St. CHARLES, Mo.—From one of Missouri’s four outstanding trout parks, to the Show-Me-State’s many cool-flowing Blue Ribbon Trout Streams, to Urban Fishing lakes in winter, Missouri offers many outstanding opportunities to pursue rainbow and brown trout. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is offering the opportunity for young anglers new to trout fishing to get a solid start.
MDC is hosting an Introduction to Trout Fishing class for youths Saturday, March 26, from 9 a.m.—noon at the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles. The event is designed as a primer to help beginning trout anglers learn the basics of catching these popular sportfish. It’s free and open to participants ages 7-17.
Young anglers will join MDC staff to learn more about trout fishing in Missouri and to get some hands-on fishing experience. The program will include a half hour of angler education that will cover some fishing basics. This will be followed by practical hands-on fishing experience guided by trained MDC staff. All fishing equipment and supplies will be provided, but participants may also bring your own if they wish.
Anyone 16 and older planning to fish at the program must have a current Missouri fishing permit. This event will also allow catch-and-keep for anyone with a valid trout stamp; statewide limits of four trout per day, per person will apply. Those planning to harvest trout should bring a cooler.
MDC recommends all participants and attendees bring water and snacks, or a lunch, and be prepared to be outside for several hours in potentially cold weather.
The Introduction to Trout Fishing class for youths is a free program, however advanced online registration is required at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4Jc.
Program registrants should note that families now have the option to link their children’s accounts to their own which will streamline the program registration process. Once a group account is set up, parents will be able to register their children to an event without having to logoff and login for each person. This allows parents to register an entire family or select family members to an event at the same time.
The August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area is located at 2360 Highway D, about two miles west of Highway 94. Participants should meet at Lake 1, which can be reached by turning left after entering through the main gate off Highway D.
As this is an in-person activity, MDC asks all participants to observe any current local social distancing and masking guidelines.
Stay informed of MDC latest programs by going to the MDC St. Louis regional events page at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZP6.
