Missouri reels in nonresident anglers with steep trout permit hike?

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is proposing an increase in the fee for nonresidents to fish for trout in 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.

Currently, the permit fees for a three-day trout fishing trip on Lake Taneycomo cost a nonresident $39.00; a Daily Fishing permit at $9.00 per day; and a Trout Permit at $12.00^#1. That works out to $13.00 per day. That same trip on the White River in Arkansas would cost a nonresident $50.00. A three-day fishing permit at $30.00 and a Nonresident Trout Permit at $20.00^#1. That works out to $16.67 per day.

Things for a nonresident trout angler in Missouri will change drastically in 2026 if the proposed rate changes are adopted. While Arkansas remains the same, the cost for nonresidents to take the same three-day trout fishing trip in Missouri increases to $67.00, a significant 72% rise. It gets even worse when you factor in that a lot of the trout fishing on Lake Taneycomo is for one day or less, as people try out trout fishing for the first time or fish from a boat while the rest of the family enjoys a boat ride on Lake Taneycomo.

Currently, a nonresident can trout fish for one (1) day for $21.00 per person, a Daily Fishing Permit at $9.00, and a Trout Permit at $12.00. In 2026, that cost will rise to $49.00 per person, a Daily Fishing Permit at $9.00, and a Nonresident Trout Permit at $40.00 for a whopping 133% price increase!

“But Seagull, shouldn’t nonresidents pay more? Don’t the surrounding states charge more for nonresidents to fish?” “In order, ‘Maybe so’ and ‘Yes, they do, but none appear to be as ill-advised as Missouri’s proposed change, and most do not have a state Conservation Sales Tax as Missouri does.’”

“But Arkansas has such a tax and still charges more for a Nonresident Trout Permit.” “True, but it’s only 100% above the resident rate at $20.00 versus the 233% above the resident rate that the $40.00 proposed 2026 Missouri Nonresident Trout permit will be.”

While many other states from which nonresident anglers come do charge higher rates for fishing licenses, they do not have a 1/8% Conservation Sales Tax, like Missouri, which serves as a primary funding mechanism for the Department of Conservation. The state sales tax rate in Missouri is 4.225%, of which 0.125% (1/8%) is allocated for Conservation. Nonresident trout anglers and their families pay that tax on just about everything that they do in Branson — retail sales, hotel bills, show and attraction tickets, etc.

To the Ole Seagull, the nonresident trout fishers, and all those who make a living off of trout fishing on Lake Taneycomo, deserve a better hand than they are going to be dealt in 2026.

Here’s a suggestion, assuming the quality of trout fishing is the same on the White River in Arkansas as it is in Lake Taneycomo: raise the daily rate for a fishing permit $1.00 per day from $9.00 to $10.00, the Nonresident Fishing Permit to $60.00 rather than the proposed $57.00 and charge $24.00 for the new Nonresident Trout Permit. That seems reasonable and keeps trout fishing on Lake Taneycomo, and other Missouri fishing, competitive with that on the White River and Arkansas.

“Seagull, do you think the quality of the trout fishing experience on Lake Taneycomo is the same as on the White River in Arkansas?” “Surely that’s a rhetorical question!”

^#1 The Trout Permit is an annual permit.