What special fishing regulations apply at Mississippi River?

Mississippi River carries 5 special-regulation overlays that override Missouri's statewide 2026 rules, covering Walleye, Channel catfish, Blue catfish, and Flathead catfish. One of them reads: "Boundary water — MO licence covers MO bank; black bass year-round harvest, 6 / day combined; sauger + walleye 15 in min, 4 / day combined; trophy flathead + blue catfish (20 channel + blue in aggregate); paddlefish snagging March 15 – April 30 with permit, 34 in min eye-to-fork." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Mississippi River?

Yes. Mississippi River is in Missouri, so a valid Missouri fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Missouri Department of Conservation. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Mississippi River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Missouri rules.

Do Mississippi River's special rules replace Missouri's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Missouri's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Mississippi River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Mississippi River?

Walleye, Channel catfish, Blue catfish, and Flathead catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Mississippi River, each linking to its full Missouri regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Missouri limits.

2026 regulation year

Mississippi River 2026 — Missouri Fishing Regulations

Missouri statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 8, 2026

Mississippi River carries 5 special-regulation overlays on top of Missouri's 2026 fishing rules — covering Walleye, Channel catfish, Blue catfish, Flathead catfish. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

Boundary water — MO licence covers MO bank; black bass year-round harvest, 6 / day combined; sauger + walleye 15 in min, 4 / day combined; trophy flathead + blue catfish (20 channel + blue in aggregate); paddlefish snagging March 15 – April 30 with permit, 34 in min eye-to-fork
Source: Missouri special-water list

Per-species rules on Mississippi River

Walleye regulations →
15 in min, 4 / day combined walleye + sauger
Channel catfish regulations →
20 channel + blue catfish in aggregate (daily + possession); boundary water, MO permit covers the MO bank
Blue catfish regulations →
20 channel + blue catfish in aggregate (daily + possession); trophy blue catfish boundary water
Flathead catfish regulations →
10 flathead catfish per day (daily + possession); trophy flathead boundary water

Official source

Missouri Department of Conservation publishes the authoritative 2026 Missouri fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Missouri fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

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

Other special-regulation waters in Missouri

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Mississippi River?: Mississippi River carries 5 special-regulation overlays that override Missouri's statewide 2026 rules, covering Walleye, Channel catfish, Blue catfish, and Flathead catfish. One of them reads: "Boundary water — MO licence covers MO bank; black bass year-round harvest, 6 / day combined; sauger + walleye 15 in min, 4 / day combined; trophy flathead + blue catfish (20 channel + blue in aggregate); paddlefish snagging March 15 – April 30 with permit, 34 in min eye-to-fork." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Mississippi River?: Yes. Mississippi River is in Missouri, so a valid Missouri fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Missouri Department of Conservation. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Mississippi River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Missouri rules.
Do Mississippi River's special rules replace Missouri's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Missouri's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Mississippi River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Mississippi River?: Walleye, Channel catfish, Blue catfish, and Flathead catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Mississippi River, each linking to its full Missouri regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Missouri limits.

← Back to Missouri regulations overview