Pay lakes in Missouri
Missouri has 12 pay lakes; 2 stock catfish.
Find a pay lake in Missouri by name or town
Matches appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose, and Enter to open.
Do you need a fishing license at a pay lake in Missouri?
Usually not. No Missouri fishing permit is needed to fish privately stocked waters, and customers at licensed private trout fishing areas may fish for and keep trout without a permit (keep the operator's receipt).
Missouri licenses pay lakes through its Licensed Trout Fishing Area Permit (3 CSR 10-9.640 / 9.645), run by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). The license rule depends on the lake holding that state license, so ask the lake if you are unsure.
"Also, a fishing permit is not required to fish privately stocked waters. ... On private licensed trout fishing areas, customers and guests may fish for trout without a permit."
Source: MDC Fishing Permits, checked November 2026. Compare every state on our pay lake license rules page.
More pay lake states
Browse catfish pay lakes, trout pay ponds or see what pay lakes cost.