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Notice: The Winter Trout Fishing Program has been RESTORED!!!
We are pleased to announce that the Mid-Missouri Chapter of Trout Unlimited has agreed to sponsor the 2008-2009 Winter Trout Fishing Program at Cosmo-Bethel Lake. Once board members of the local Trout Unlimited Chapter heard about the cancellation of the program due to the City's budget constraints, they agreed to pick-up the City's portion through the use of Chapter funds and private donations. The Missouri Department of Conservation agreed to continue their sponsorship of 50% of the program and together, the 2008-2009 winter trout program will proceed as originally planned. Total cost of this program ranges from $5,000-$6,000 depending on the number and size of the trout stocked. If you would like to help contribute to the program, please contact the Mid-Missouri Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Funding for the 2009-2010 winter trout season is uncertain at this time. Your support could help continue this program.

Under a cooperative agreement, the Missouri Department
of Conservatio
n, Columbia Parks & Recreation,
and the Mid-Missouri Chapter of Trout Unlimited
stocks trout into Cosmo-Bethel Lake to create an urban
winter fishery in central Missouri. The program was initiated in 2003 and has continued each year since. Note: City funding is not included in the 2008-2009 program.
One of the goals of the Missouri Department of conservation’s Urban Fishing Program is to increase fishing opportunities and species diversity in urban lakes. Since 1989, the Missouri Department of Conservation has stocked rainbow trout in St. Louis and Kansas City area lakes to provide close-to-home fishing opportunities. Urban winter trout fishing has been so successful in these cities that the program was expanded to include Columbia.
About 2,400 trout are stocked into Cosmo-Bethel Lake during the first week in November. Most of the trout stocked are 10 to 12 inches long; however, some larger fish are also released.
All trout must be released, unharmed from November 1-January 31. Only artificial baits (no natural or scented baits) can be used from November 1-January 31. After January 31, anglers can harvest trout under statewide regulations (see below).
Columbia’s Winter Trout Program is sponsored
by Columbia Parks & Recreation, Missouri Department
of Conservation, and Mid-Missouri Chapter of Trout
Unlimited. Call the Missouri Department of Conservation,
573-884-6861, for more information.
Columbia's Winter Trout Fishing Brochure (PDF)
Columbia Area CAP Lakes Brochure (PDF)
Missouri Trout Fishing - MO Dept. of Conservation website
Know Missouri's Trout Brochure (MDC Website, PDF- 2.3 mb)
A Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations Booklet (MDC Website, PDF - 3.9 mb)