When is flathead catfish season in Missouri?

Missouri keeps flathead catfish open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What is the Missouri bag limit for flathead catfish?

The Missouri daily bag limit for flathead catfish is 5 / day statewide. Mississippi River: 10 / day. Lake of the Ozarks / Truman / Table Rock / Bull Shoals / Norfork: 10 catfish combined (channel + blue + flathead).. The possession limit is 10 in possession (twice the daily limit). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size flathead catfish can you keep in Missouri?

The Missouri size rule for flathead catfish is No statewide length limit; 26 in min on Mark Twain Lake. Trophy rule: Mark Twain Lake: flathead catfish less than 26 inches must be released immediately. The Missouri + Mississippi rivers and their large tributaries produce trophy flatheads over 50 lb..

Do you need a license to fish for flathead catfish in Missouri?

Yes. Missouri requires a valid fishing license to fish for flathead catfish, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Missouri license — compare resident and non-resident Missouri fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for flathead catfish in Missouri?

Yes. In Missouri, flathead catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, throwlines, limb lines, bank lines, and jug lines permitted with proper labeling — live bait is the traditional flathead method; Mississippi River: 10 flathead catfish per day (daily + possession); Mark Twain Lake: release all flathead catfish under 26 in; Missouri Fishing Permit required ages 16–64 (resident annual $13 / non-resident annual $51).

Do specific Missouri waters have different flathead catfish rules?

Yes. 5 named Missouri waters carry rules that override the statewide flathead catfish regulation, including Missouri River, Mississippi River, Mark Twain Lake (Monroe / Ralls Counties), and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Missouri Flathead catfish 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

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Last updated June 8, 2026

Flathead catfish — known locally as yellow cat or mud cat — are Missouri's live-bait trophy catfish, holding in log jams and deep river holes across the Missouri, Mississippi, Osage, and Gasconade systems and the big reservoirs (Truman, Lake of the Ozarks, Lake Wappapello). Unlike channel and blue cats, flatheads prefer live prey, so limb-lining and trotlining with live bait are the traditional methods. The Wildlife Code sets a 5-fish daily limit on flathead catfish with no statewide length limit. The Mississippi River allows 10 flathead per day, the big reservoirs cap all catfish at 10 combined, and Mark Twain Lake protects flatheads under 26 inches. Flathead fishing is open year-round.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide. 5 / day with no length limit on most waters; 10 / day on the Mississippi River; 26-inch minimum on Mark Twain Lake.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 5 / day statewide. Mississippi River: 10 / day. Lake of the Ozarks / Truman / Table Rock / Bull Shoals / Norfork: 10 catfish combined (channel + blue + flathead).
Possession: 10 in possession (twice the daily limit)

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide length limit; 26 in min on Mark Twain Lake
Trophy rule: Mark Twain Lake: flathead catfish less than 26 inches must be released immediately. The Missouri + Mississippi rivers and their large tributaries produce trophy flatheads over 50 lb.

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trotlines, throwlines, limb lines, bank lines, and jug lines permitted with proper labeling — live bait is the traditional flathead method
Mississippi River: 10 flathead catfish per day (daily + possession)
Mark Twain Lake: release all flathead catfish under 26 in
Missouri Fishing Permit required ages 16–64 (resident annual $13 / non-resident annual $51)

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Missouri waters:

Missouri River
Statewide 5 / day; trophy flathead river (fish over 50 lb); pallid sturgeon protected (release)
Mississippi River
10 flathead catfish per day (daily + possession); trophy flathead boundary water
Mark Twain Lake (Monroe / Ralls Counties)
Flathead catfish under 26 in must be released
Truman Lake
10 catfish combined per day (channel + blue + flathead); trophy flathead reservoir
Lake Wappapello (Wayne County)
Statewide 5 / day; St. Francis River impoundment flathead + channel catfish

Official source

Missouri Department of Conservation publishes the authoritative 2026 Missourifishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The flathead catfish rules on this page are sourced from Missouri Department of Conservation's official flathead catfish regulation page.

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Emergency-order channel

Flathead catfish closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Missouri Department of Conservation's emergency-order feed — check it before any Missouri trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is flathead catfish season in Missouri?: Missouri keeps flathead catfish open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the Missouri bag limit for flathead catfish?: The Missouri daily bag limit for flathead catfish is 5 / day statewide. Mississippi River: 10 / day. Lake of the Ozarks / Truman / Table Rock / Bull Shoals / Norfork: 10 catfish combined (channel + blue + flathead).. The possession limit is 10 in possession (twice the daily limit). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size flathead catfish can you keep in Missouri?: The Missouri size rule for flathead catfish is No statewide length limit; 26 in min on Mark Twain Lake. Trophy rule: Mark Twain Lake: flathead catfish less than 26 inches must be released immediately. The Missouri + Mississippi rivers and their large tributaries produce trophy flatheads over 50 lb..
Do you need a license to fish for flathead catfish in Missouri?: Yes. Missouri requires a valid fishing license to fish for flathead catfish, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Missouri license — compare resident and non-resident Missouri fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for flathead catfish in Missouri?: Yes. In Missouri, flathead catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, throwlines, limb lines, bank lines, and jug lines permitted with proper labeling — live bait is the traditional flathead method; Mississippi River: 10 flathead catfish per day (daily + possession); Mark Twain Lake: release all flathead catfish under 26 in; Missouri Fishing Permit required ages 16–64 (resident annual $13 / non-resident annual $51).
Do specific Missouri waters have different flathead catfish rules?: Yes. 5 named Missouri waters carry rules that override the statewide flathead catfish regulation, including Missouri River, Mississippi River, Mark Twain Lake (Monroe / Ralls Counties), and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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