Fishing
A group favorite—easy bank fishing for the kids, quiet mornings for the grown-ups.
Table of Contents
- What’s Biting
- Permits (adults, do this before the trip)
- Easiest Win: Bank Fishing with Kids
- For the Grown-Ups
- Gear Checklist
- Good Manners & Safety
What’s Biting
Lake Lincoln and the park’s creeks hold a friendly mix of warm-water fish:
- Bluegill & sunfish — the kids’ best friend. Plentiful, eager, and easy to catch off the bank with a worm and a bobber.
- Largemouth bass — fun on light tackle; early and late are best.
- Channel catfish — bottom-fished bait, great in the evening.
- Crappie — around structure in the lake.
- Plus the usual creek cast of carp, suckers, and small sunfish in Big Sugar Creek and the Cuivre River.
Permits (adults, do this before the trip)
- Anglers 16–64 need a Missouri fishing permit. Buy at mdc.mo.gov/buy-permits, the MO Fishing app, or Walmart in Troy.
- Kids under 16 fish free.
- A short-term permit is cheap if you’ll only fish a day or two; annual if you fish often.
- Check current length/creel limits on the MDC site.
Easiest Win: Bank Fishing with Kids
Bluegill make heroes out of beginners.
- Rig simple: small hook, split shot, bobber 1–2 feet up the line.
- Bait: a piece of nightcrawler (or a kernel of corn). Pick up worms locally.
- Cast near cover: docks, downed trees, weed edges, shade lines.
- Watch the bobber—when it goes under, lift the rod tip. That’s it.
- Bring a small net, pliers for hooks, and a bucket to show off the catch before releasing.
Keep sessions short and snacky for little ones. Lots of small fish > waiting for a big one.
For the Grown-Ups
- Dawn and dusk are prime—glassy water, active fish, cool air.
- Bass: soft plastics, small spinnerbaits, or a topwater at first light along the shoreline and weed edges.
- Catfish: bottom rig with cut bait or stinkbait in the evening; set a rod and enjoy the fire.
- From a kayak: drift the shoreline casting—see Kayaking.
Gear Checklist
- Rods & reels (one per angler; short kid rods for the little ones)
- Hooks, split shot, bobbers, a few small jigs/spinners/soft plastics
- Bait (nightcrawlers; corn for panfish)
- Pliers/hook-out, line clippers, small landing net
- Bucket/stringer; small cooler if keeping any
- Pliers, towel, and a bag for trash and old line (never leave line behind)
- Permits + photo ID
- Polarized sunglasses, hat, SPF, bug spray
Good Manners & Safety
- PFDs for kids any time you fish from a boat or steep bank.
- Mind your backcast around crowds and kids.
- Pack out all line and hooks—they’re deadly to wildlife.
- Follow limits and handle released fish gently (wet hands, quick release).
- Clean keepers away from the swim beach and dispose of remains properly.