Perry County received a delivery of 3,760 trout on Monday morning as part of the annual stocking efforts at Legion Lake The program is funded locally by Perry County, Perry County Sportsman Club and the City of Perryville.
Through the winter months, the Missouri Department of Conservation says fishing enthusiasts can participate on a catch-and-release basis for the trout and may harvest trout beginning Feb. 1, 2027.
“All trout must be immediately released unharmed Nov. 1 through Jan. 31, 2027. During this time, anglers may only use flies, artificial lures, and unscented plastic baits. Only one fishing rod may be used at a time, and chum is not permitted. Beginning Feb. 1, 2027, any bait may be used, and four trout may be kept regardless of size,” the MDC said in a release.
All anglers between the ages of 16 and 64 must retain a valid Missouri fishing permit and any angler harvesting trout must also possess a trout permit.
This is the ninth year Perry County has participated in the trout-stocking program.
Like other facilities in the Show-Me State, stocking of the Legion Lake was delayed this year due to unseasonably warm temps. Fisheries staff stock rainbow trout in urban-area lakes across Missouri typically begin the first week of November. However, warm water temperatures this year pushed stocking efforts to the second week according to a release from the MDC.
“Trout are a cold-water species and require water temperatures around 55 to 60 degrees,” said MDC Hatchery Systems Manager Clint Hale. “Entering waters warmer than what they’re accustomed to can be a shock to their system, ultimately resulting in their death.”
Each fall, MDC stocks more than 70,000 rainbow trout in more than 30 urban lakes. Many of these areas allow anglers to harvest trout as soon as they are stocked, while others are catch-and-release until Feb. 1.
Rainbow trout are raised at four of MDC’s state trout hatcheries. Around 70,000 trout are stocked in urban and conservation area lakes during MDC’s winter trout stocking program. The areas are stocked to provide close-to-home trout fishing opportunities.
“Our goal is to stock healthy trout that can thrive all winter to provide anglers as many fishing opportunities as possible,” Hale said in the release. “With cooler conditions forecasted in the coming week, water temperatures will drop enough that the fish can be stocked.”
Perry County Presiding Commissioner, Mike Sauer said there has been positive feedback on the fish-stocking program from the community.
“One of my favorite things about this program is that a kid can catch their first trout right here in Perry County. We appreciate the City of Perryville and the Perry County Sportsman Club helping us give families another reason to get outside and spend time together this winter.”