Game fishing is a great pastime which is sure to be enjoyed by people of all ages and if you are planning a trip to Missouri this summer, you need to become educated about the many different types of fish to be found in the lakes and rivers. Whether you are a fly fisherman looking for a trout or prefer a more traditional fish, Missouri rivers and reservoirs are sure to have something you would love to catch.
In the Missouri lakes and rivers, it is common to see many species of bass with an attention on large mouth because they are plentiful. Along with largemouth bass, there are also smallmouth bass, Kentucky bass, spotted bass and black bass. It is important to learn about the three black bass species, because if you intend on fishing for these types, there are length requirements and other regulations which must be observed.
Perhaps, the most favorite fish for children and youngsters to fish for is Bluegill. These fish are plentiful and will strike on almost any types of bait available whether it is worms, insects or plastic lures. The bluegill is an ideal species for a novice fisherman and because they are plentiful, you are sure to catch a mess big enough for a meal. Other names for bluegills include; sunfish, perch, sunperch, coppernose, copperbelly, pond perch, bream, plumb granny, baldface and yellowbelly.
Nothing is better than hooking into a catfish and fried catfish is a dinner enjoyed by many people fishing in the Missouri rivers. If a person is new to catfishing, it is a good idea to review the regulations, find prosperous waters and use safe, reliable methods in order to catch a big one. Missouri rivers are an excellent place to catch record sized catfish and it is not uncommon to pull out a 50 lb. specimen or larger.
Besides bass, crappies are the next most popular fish found in Missouri. Crappies are easy to fish for and will bite on the most simple of lures such as minnows, worms or jigs. The fish are found abundantly throughout Missouri and white crappie is the most common, though there are black crappies, these tend to be found more commonly in clear streams and lower reaches of larger reservoirs of water.
Rock bass, or google eye fish, are one of the most coveted game fish in the Ozarks streams and is second only in popularity to the smallmouth bass. Google eyes are also known by the names rock perch and redeye and belong to the same family as spotted bass, white crappie, warmouth, orange spotted sunfish, dollar sunfish, black crappie and pumpkinseed. The Missouri record for a google eye is 2 lbs. 12 oz., and was caught in 1968 at the Big Piney River.
