2026 regulation year
Missouri River main stem 2026 — Kansas Fishing Regulations
Kansas statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Missouri River main stem carries 4 special-regulation overlays on top of Kansas's 2026 fishing rules — covering Channel catfish, Flathead catfish, Blue 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
Reciprocal rules with MO + NE on main stem; smallmouth + spotted + largemouth 15 in min + 5 / day combined; channel catfish 10 / day, flathead 5 / day, blue catfish 5 / day no length limit — premier KS trophy blue + flathead water near Atchison + Leavenworth (KS state-record blue 102.8 lb came off the Missouri main stem, 2012); paddlefish (Free Permit + KDWP snag-fishing season March 15 – May 15)
Source: Kansas special-water list
Per-species rules on Missouri River main stem
10 / day, no length limit; reciprocal rules with MO + NE
Flathead catfish regulations →
5 / day, no length limit; reciprocal rules with MO + NE
5 / day, no length limit; KS state-record blue catfish 102.8 lb came off the Missouri (2012)
Official source
Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks (KDWP) publishes the authoritative 2026 Kansas fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.
Visit official Kansas fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks's emergency-order feed — check it before any Kansas trip during the active season.
Other special-regulation waters in Kansas
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Missouri River main stem?
- Missouri River main stem carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Kansas' statewide 2026 rules, covering Channel catfish, Flathead catfish, and Blue catfish. One of them reads: "Reciprocal rules with MO + NE on main stem; smallmouth + spotted + largemouth 15 in min + 5 / day combined; channel catfish 10 / day, flathead 5 / day, blue catfish 5 / day no length limit — premier KS trophy blue + flathead water near Atchison + Leavenworth (KS state-record blue 102.8 lb came off the Missouri main stem, 2012); paddlefish (Free Permit + KDWP snag-fishing season March 15 – May 15)." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Missouri River main stem?
- Yes. Missouri River main stem is in Kansas, so a valid Kansas fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks (KDWP). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Missouri River main stem; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Kansas rules.
- Do Missouri River main stem's special rules replace Kansas' statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Kansas' statewide 2026 regulations apply on Missouri River main stem 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 Missouri River main stem?
- Channel catfish, Flathead catfish, and Blue catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Missouri River main stem, each linking to its full Kansas regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Kansas limits.