OCTOBER
Lake Taneycomo Brown Trout
By October, fall is in full career, and the brown trout are in full spawn in Missouri's special trout management areas. If you want to fish over the largest concentration of spawning browns in the Midwest, fish upper Lake Taneycomo. By October mature browns concentrate in the lake's upper end near Table Rock Dam to spawn. The run is so large that Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery workers net hatchery outlets for brood fish for next year's brown trout release in Missouri's Blue Ribbon and Red Ribbon trout management areas.

This annual brown trout spawn also has the potential to produce a new state-record or world-record fish. Brown trout exceeding the current world-record length have been handled and returned to the water by MDC management biologists.

Access this great fishery by boat during generation periods or by wade-fishing from MDC facilities at Shepherd of the Hills hatchery.

Other Options
While we're discussing spawning brown trout, the upper Current River downstream from Montauk State Park, the North Fork of the White River from Rainbow Springs to Dawt Mill, and the Meramec River from Maramec Spring to Scott's Ford access also support great fall fishing for brown trout.

Shallow, stump-filled Lake Wappapello hosts some marvelous largemouth fishing. Biologists report that this southeast Missouri venue is lightly fished in the fall, with lots of 2- to 5-pound bigmouths caught.

NOVEMBER
Catch-And-Release
Trout Fishing Season
November signals the beginning of Missouri's winter trout fishing opportunities. All four trout parks officially close Oct. 31 and reopen on the second Friday of November for catch-and-release trout fishing with artificial lures only. This past year the MDC expanded trout park catch-and-release season to four days, including both Friday and Monday at Bennett Spring, Montauk and Roaring River state parks. Maramec Spring Trout Park, privately owned, is open seven days a week. Trout catch rates during this special season are outstanding. Anglers report catching 15 to 20 trout per day; some report 100-trout days.

Other Options
In addition to the winter catch-and-release trout fishery of the trout parks, MDC also stocks special lakes in Columbia, Jefferson City, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Jackson for winter urban trout fishing. Lakes in the program include: Bethel Park Lake in Columbia; Alex George Park Lake, Bowlin Road Lake, Coot Lake, Chaumeire Lake, and others in Kansas City; Busch Lakes, Jefferson Park Lake, O'Fallon Park Lake, Walker Lake, and others in St. Louis; and Rotary Lake in Jackson. Be aware that other lakes are being considered this year for this unique urban trout program.

Sauger and walleye fishing picks up behind all five locks and dams on the Mississippi River north of St. Louis. Jigs tipped with minnows or night crawlers produce good fall catches.

DECEMBER
Southern Lakes' Winter Crappie
In December, as northern waters harden, look to the Ozarks for some great late-year fishing. All large lakes including Truman, Lake of the Ozarks, Pomme de Terre, and Table Rock Lake provide great winter crappie fishing. Fish hard, deep structure such as bridge piers or large brushpiles with minnows to get results.

Other Options
For the anglers who enjoy smallmouth fishing, I also recommend a winter float. Fish any of Missouri's south flowing streams. In winter, although streams don't freeze, smallmouth bass relocate to deep holes with lots of hard cover including boulders and sunken timber, especially deep pools with warm spring inflows. The warm spring flow attracts smallmouth and other stream fish in the winter.

The spotted bass population of Table Rock Lake has been growing steadily for the past 15 years or longer, reaching a level that rivals or exceeds the venue's complement of largemouths. In December, management biologists recommend, anglers using jigging spoons, deep-running crankbaits and jigs should try targeting spotted bass schools along cliff faces with deep dropoffs, over drowned timber in some areas exceeding 30 feet in depth, and off deep points near Cape Fair.

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We've completed our fishing journey. Enjoy Missouri's great fishing resource in 2007 -- and please: Let us know about your successes!

Find more about Missouri fishing and hunting at: MissouriGameandFish.com