Missouri considering huge increase for nonresident trout fishing permit

These two anglers on upper Lake Taneycomo are paying a Trout Fishing Permit fee of $24 this year, whether they are residents or not. If the proposed MDC rates for nonresidents go into effect, they will be paying $80.00 after January 1, 2026. (Photo by Gary J. Groman)

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is considering changes to its fishing permit prices for 2026. They are:

1.      Resident Fishing Permits would go from $13 to $14.

2.      Nonresident Annual Fishing Permits would increase from $53.50 to $57.

3.      Nonresident Daily Fishing Permits would stay at $9.

4.      Resident Trout Permits for resident anglers aged 16 or older would remain at $12.

5.      Youth Trout Permits (age 15 or younger) would also stay at $6.

6.      A new "Nonresident Trout Permit" (NRTP) for nonresident anglers aged 16 or older at $40.

While most increases are small, one proposal has caused a lot of concern: the new $40 permit for nonresident trout anglers could affect one of Branson's main outdoor "attractions," the spectacular, even "world class," trout fishing on Lake Taneycomo. It's a new permit, the "Nonresident Trout Permit," which will raise the current $12.00 Trout Permit cost for both residents and nonresidents to $40.00 for nonresidents, a 233.33 % increase. There will be no increase for Missouri residents.

Wes Pfeifer, the owner of Trout Hollow Resort on upper Lake Taneycomo, calls the 233% increase "ridiculous." He estimates that this increase will affect 50% of his clientele. "They might still come but will think twice about it."

Phil Lilley, the owner of Lilley's Landing Resort & Marina on upper Lake Taneycomo, classifies the jump from the current $12.00 per year cost for a Nonresident Trout Permit (NRP) to $40.00 as "extreme." He believes that the high $40 price will discourage visitors from trout fishing in Missouri, especially those who come for brief trips or only one or two days. He said families will hesitate to pay $40 per person for a brief fishing excursion.

Both Wes and Phil favor a more gradual, tiered approach. Instead of the flat $40 fee for the NRTP, make the fee $20.00, which is the same as in Arkansas. Another suggestion was to keep the $40.00 NRP for an annual permit but offer a three (3) day NRTP for $20.00. The Arkansas NRTP is $20.00.

In his column "Missouri reels in nonresident anglers with steep trout permit hike?" elsewhere in this edition, this writer suggests that they "raise the daily rate for a 'Daily Fishing Permit'" ^#1 $1.00 per day from $9.00 to $10.00, the "Nonresident Fishing Permit" to $60.00 ^#1 rather than the proposed $57.00 and charge $24.00 for the new annual Nonresident Trout Permit. While there is still a 100% increase, it keeps the cost of trout fishing on Lake Taneycomo and other Missouri fishing competitive with that on the White River and Arkansas.

This writer talked with six local anglers, all of whom adamantly say that nonresident anglers should pay more because that's what "we" have to when we go to other states. Not one of them knew Missouri is one of the very few states that has a Conservation Sales Tax serving as a primary funding mechanism for the Department of Conservation. In contrast, most other states rely on permit fees, etc., to fund their efforts.

The state sales tax rate in Missouri is 4.225%, of which 0.125% (1/8%) is the Conservation Sales Tax. Nonresident trout anglers and their families pay that tax on just about everything that they do in Branson and Missouri — retail sales, hotel bills, show and attraction tickets, etc. After this, none of them remained as firm about the rate increase as they were initially, and all concurred that the 233% increase in the cost of a Trout Permit for nonresidents was excessive.

The Missouri Conservation Commission initially approved the proposed permit changes at its May 16, 2025, meeting. They want public comments on these proposals, but the deadline for comments is July 31, 2025. After evaluating the public input and other information, the Commission will make a final decision at its September 12, 2025, meeting. If approved, the new prices would start on January 1, 2026. The MDC encourages anyone interested to share their feedback on its website at https://mdc.mo.gov/form/proposed-regulations-comments?regulation=251324.

^#1 This permit is required to fish in Missouri and is in addition to the appropriate Trout Permit.