2026 regulation year
Missouri Walleye 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
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Last updated
Missouri's walleye fishery centers on the Ozark reservoir tier — Bull Shoals Lake (MO/AR boundary, premier trophy walleye), Table Rock Lake, Norfork Lake, and Lake Wappapello all post an 18-inch minimum to grow a true trophy class. Lake of the Ozarks and Stockton Lake hold strong walleye populations under the statewide 15-inch rule. The Gasconade + Big Piney + Niangua + Meramec rivers also hold stream walleye. The statewide minimum is 15 inches with a 4-fish daily aggregate across walleye + sauger; the Mississippi + Missouri River boundary waters also carry the 15-inch + 4-fish aggregate. The pre-spawn February-through-April pattern at the major reservoirs draws the trophy class.
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Season
Open year-round Open year-round on all public waters.
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 4 / day combined walleye + sauger
- Possession
- 8 in possession
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 15 in min statewide; 18 in min Bull Shoals + Table Rock + Norfork + Lake Wappapello
- Trophy rule
- Bull Shoals + Table Rock + Norfork + Lake Wappapello carry an 18 in min trophy walleye rule; Lake of the Ozarks + Stockton follow the statewide 15 in min
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited for walleye + sauger
- Jigging + trolling permitted; live-bait minnows widely used
- Mississippi + Missouri River: paddlefish snagging season with separate permit
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Missouri waters:
Bull Shoals Lake (MO/AR boundary, White River)
18 in min, 4 / day combined walleye + sauger
Table Rock Lake
18 in min, 4 / day combined walleye + sauger
Norfork Lake (MO/AR boundary, North Fork White River)
18 in min, 4 / day combined walleye + sauger
Lake Wappapello (Wayne County)
18 in min on the lake + St. Francis River above the dam, 4 / day combined
Mississippi River
15 in min, 4 / day combined walleye + sauger
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 walleye rules on this page are sourced from Missouri Department of Conservation's official walleye regulation page.
Visit official Missouri fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Walleye 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 walleye season in Missouri?
- Missouri keeps walleye 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 walleye?
- The Missouri daily bag limit for walleye is 4 / day combined walleye + sauger. The possession limit is 8 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size walleye can you keep in Missouri?
- The Missouri size rule for walleye is 15 in min statewide; 18 in min Bull Shoals + Table Rock + Norfork + Lake Wappapello. Trophy rule: Bull Shoals + Table Rock + Norfork + Lake Wappapello carry an 18 in min trophy walleye rule; Lake of the Ozarks + Stockton follow the statewide 15 in min.
- Do you need a license to fish for walleye in Missouri?
- Yes. Missouri requires a valid fishing license to fish for walleye, 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 walleye in Missouri?
- Yes. In Missouri, walleye fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited for walleye + sauger; Jigging + trolling permitted; live-bait minnows widely used; Mississippi + Missouri River: paddlefish snagging season with separate permit.
- Do specific Missouri waters have different walleye rules?
- Yes. 5 named Missouri waters carry rules that override the statewide walleye regulation, including Bull Shoals Lake (MO/AR boundary, White River), Table Rock Lake, Norfork Lake (MO/AR boundary, North Fork White River), and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.