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Bear Creek

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Missouri, United States

2 catches

Top fish species at Bear Creek

Rock bass
Rock bass
Longear sunfish
Longear sunfish
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Bear Creek fishing reports

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Longear sunfish

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Rock bass

length · weight

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General info

Bear Creek is a stream located in Taney County, Missouri, United States. It is also intersecting with Christian County, Missouri. It is most popular for fishing Rock bass and Longear sunfish.

Location

36°47′25.3″N 93°16′18.4″W
Directions

Fishing regulations at Bear Creek, MO

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Missouri can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Regulations for top species

Season open: year-round
Rock bass

Rock bass

Regulation boundaryMissouri State Waters
Bag limit15

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Min size7" (Total Length)

No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.

Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.

Aggregate limit15

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Restrictions & requirements

Gigging

Harvest by gigging prohibited.

Snagging

Harvest of this species by snagging (snatch hooking) is prohibited.

Spears

Harvest of this species by "spearing" is prohibited. Spearing includes the catching or taking of a fish by bow hunting, gigging, spearfishing, or by any device used to capture a fish by piercing the body.

MO Explosives Chemicals Poison Electricity

No one may use any explosive, poison, chemical or electrical equipment to kill or stupefy fish. Such material or equipment may not be possessed on waters of the state or adjacent banks.

MO Hand Fishing

It also is illegal to attempt to take fish by hand, with or without a hook, and to intentionally leave or abandon any commonly edible portion of any fish.

MO Spearguns

Spearguns may not be possessed on unimpounded waters or adjacent banks, and spears may not be propelled by explosives.

Additional information
Big Piney RiverFrom Highway 17 to the Gasconade River:Length limit: Goggle-eye: minimum 8"For more information please see Rock bass/goggle-eye/warmouth special area restrictions Courtois CreekFrom Highway 8 bridge in Crawford County to Huzzah Creek:Length limit: Goggle-eye: minimum 8"For more information please see Rock bass/goggle-eye/warmouth special area restrictions Eleven Point RiverIn Oregon County: The use of porous-soled waders is prohibited.From Thomasville Access to the Arkansas line:Goggle-eye—8 inch minimum length limit.For more information please see Rock bass/goggle-eye/warmouth special area restrictions Huzzah CreekFrom Willhite Road in Crawford County to the Meramec River:Length limit: Goggle-eye—minimum 8"For more information please see Rock bass/goggle-eye/warmouth special area restrictions Meramec RiverIn Crawford and Phelps counties:The use of porous-soled waders is prohibited.From Highway 19 bridge in Dent County to Pacific Palisades Conservation Area:Length limit: Goggle-eye: 8 inch minimumFor more information please see Rock bass/goggle-eye/warmouth special area restrictions
Edibility
Good
Synonyms
Ambloplites rupestris
Season open: year-round
Longear sunfish

Longear sunfish

Regulation boundaryMissouri State Waters
Bag limit50

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Aggregate limit50

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Special gear

MO Gear

Seasonal Harvest Method Restrictions and Limits: Nongame Fish: Gig/Atlatl: Impounded WatersFebruary 16, 2023 - September 14, 2023Hours: Sunrise to sunsetDaily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons Nongame Fish: Bowfishing: Impounded WatersApril 1, 2023 - January 31, 2024February 1, 2024 - March 31, 2024 Hours: Sunrise to midnight from February 1 to March 31.Applies to bowfishing in impounded waters.Daily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.Applies to bowfishing in impounded waters.For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons Nongame Fish: Snagging/Grabbing: Streams and Impounded WatersMarch 15, 2024 - May 15, 2024September 15, 2023 - February 15, 2024Hours: 24 HoursDaily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.In the Osage River downstream from U.S. Highway 54 to the Missouri River and in the Lake of the Ozarks and Harry S. Truman Reservoir, nongame fish may be taken by snagging, snaring, and grabbing from March 15 through April 30.On the Mississippi River, nongame fish may be taken by snagging, snaring, and grabbing from March 15 through May 15 and Sept. 15through Dec. 15.For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons Nongame Fish:Snaring:Streams and Impounded WatersMarch 15, 2024 - May 15, 2024September 15, 2023 - February 15, 2024Hours: 24 HoursDaily limit: 20Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.In the Osage River downstream from U.S. Highway 54 to the Missouri River and in the Lake of the Ozarks and Harry S. Truman Reservoir,nongame fish may be taken by snagging, snaring, and grabbing from March 15 through April 30.On the Mississippi River, nongame fish may be taken by snagging, snaring, and grabbing from March 15 through May 15 and Sept. 15 through Dec. 15.For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons Nongame Fish: Gig/Atlatl:Streams and Impounded WatersSeptember 15, 2023 - February 15, 2024Hours: Sunrise to midnightDaily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons Nongame Fish: Crossbow: Impounded Waters and Temporary OverflowJanuary 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024Hours: Sunrise to sunsetDaily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.Applies to crossbow fishing in impounded waters and bodies of water produced by the temporary overflow of a river or ditch.For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasonsNongame Fish: Bowfishing: Mississippi, Missouri, St. Francis RiversJanuary 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024Hours: 24 HoursDaily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.Applies to bowfishing in portions of the Missouri, Mississippi, and St Francis rivers.For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons Nongame Fish: Snagging/Grabbing:Temporary OverflowJanuary 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024Hours: Sunrise to sunsetDaily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.Applies to snagging/grabbing in bodies of water produced by the temporary overflow of a river or ditch.For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons Nongame Fish: Gig/Atlatl: Temporary OverflowJanuary 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024Hours: Sunrise to sunsetDaily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.Applies to gigging in bodies of water produced by the temporary overflow of a river or ditch.For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons Nongame Fish: Line MethodsJanuary 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024Hours: 24 hoursDaily limit: 50, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100Possession limit: 100Applies to fishing in streams and impounded watersFor more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons

Restrictions & requirements

MO Explosives Chemicals Poison Electricity

No one may use any explosive, poison, chemical or electrical equipment to kill or stupefy fish. Such material or equipment may not be possessed on waters of the state or adjacent banks.

MO Hand Fishing

It also is illegal to attempt to take fish by hand, with or without a hook, and to intentionally leave or abandon any commonly edible portion of any fish.

MO Spearguns

Spearguns may not be possessed on unimpounded waters or adjacent banks, and spears may not be propelled by explosives.

Additional information
Daily limit: 50, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100Possession limit: 100The daily limit is the combined total of all nongame species taken by all nongame methods. If you have taken 50 nongame species using a pole and line, then you cannot take 20 nongame species using another nongame fishing method. If you have taken 20 nongame species via another nongame fishing method, then you can only take an additional 30 nongame species using a pole and line, or other line method.On the Current River from Cedar Grove downstream to the Arkansas line, only 5 hogsuckers may be included in a daily limit.Goldfish, bighead carp, common carp, grass carp, and silver carp may be possessed in any number and do not count in the daily or possession limit.Bighead carp, common carp, grass carp, and silver carp ;that jump from the water into a boat or onto land may also be taken and possessed in any number.For more information please refer to Fishing Regulations Missouri Department of Conservation Additional Seasonal Harvesting Restrictions and Limits:Nongame Fish: Gig/Atlatl: Impounded WatersFebruary 16, 2023 - September 14, 2023Hours: Sunrise to sunsetDaily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons Nongame Fish: Bowfishing: Impounded WatersApril 1, 2023 - January 31, 2024February 1, 2024 - March 31, 2024 Hours: Sunrise to midnight from February 1 to March 31.Applies to bowfishing in impounded waters.Daily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.Applies to bowfishing in impounded waters.For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons Nongame Fish: Snagging/Grabbing: Streams and Impounded WatersMarch 15, 2024 - May 15, 2024September 15, 2023 - February 15, 2024Hours: 24 HoursDaily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.In the Osage River downstream from U.S. Highway 54 to the Missouri River and in the Lake of the Ozarks and Harry S. Truman Reservoir, nongame fish may be taken by snagging, snaring, and grabbing from March 15 through April 30.On the Mississippi River, nongame fish may be taken by snagging, snaring, and grabbing from March 15 through May 15 and Sept. 15through Dec. 15.For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons Nongame Fish:Snaring:Streams and Impounded WatersMarch 15, 2024 - May 15, 2024September 15, 2023 - February 15, 2024Hours: 24 HoursDaily limit: 20Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.In the Osage River downstream from U.S. Highway 54 to the Missouri River and in the Lake of the Ozarks and Harry S. Truman Reservoir,nongame fish may be taken by snagging, snaring, and grabbing from March 15 through April 30.On the Mississippi River, nongame fish may be taken by snagging, snaring, and grabbing from March 15 through May 15 and Sept. 15 through Dec. 15.For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons Nongame Fish: Gig/Atlatl:Streams and Impounded WatersSeptember 15, 2023 - February 15, 2024Hours: Sunrise to midnightDaily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons Nongame Fish: Crossbow: Impounded Waters and Temporary OverflowJanuary 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024Hours: Sunrise to sunsetDaily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.Applies to crossbow fishing in impounded waters and bodies of water produced by the temporary overflow of a river or ditch.For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasonsNongame Fish: Bowfishing: Mississippi, Missouri, St. Francis RiversJanuary 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024Hours: 24 HoursDaily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.Applies to bowfishing in portions of the Missouri, Mississippi, and St Francis rivers.For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons Nongame Fish: Snagging/Grabbing:Temporary OverflowJanuary 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024Hours: Sunrise to sunsetDaily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.Applies to snagging/grabbing in bodies of water produced by the temporary overflow of a river or ditch.For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons Nongame Fish: Gig/Atlatl: Temporary OverflowJanuary 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024Hours: Sunrise to sunsetDaily limit: 20, Possession limit: 40, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100.Applies to gigging in bodies of water produced by the temporary overflow of a river or ditch.For more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons Nongame Fish: Line MethodsJanuary 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024Hours: 24 hoursDaily limit: 50, except on the Mississippi River which has a daily and possession limit of 100Possession limit: 100Applies to fishing in streams and impounded watersFor more information please see Nongame fish: additional gear and area specific seasons
Edibility
Good
Synonyms
Lepomis megalotis
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Local laws and licenses

Missouri fishing license

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Cities nearby

Saddlebrooke

4.6 miles away

Spokane

5.4 miles away

Reeds Spring

6.9 miles away

Merriam Woods

7.5 miles away

Branson West

8.5 miles away

Branson

9.6 miles away

Highlandville

10.5 miles away

Galena

11.1 miles away

McCord Bend

12.8 miles away

Taneyville

13.6 miles away

Kissee Mills

15.0 miles away

Coney Island

15.3 miles away

Hurley

15.9 miles away

Ozark

17.3 miles away

Nixa

17.7 miles away

Sparta

17.9 miles away

Crane

18.3 miles away

Blue Eye

20.0 miles away

Clever

20.1 miles away

Blue Eye

21.5 miles away

Omaha

23.4 miles away

Rogersville

24.9 miles away

Republic

26.3 miles away

Springfield

27.9 miles away

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FAQ about Bear Creek fishing

📍 Where is the Bear Creek located?
the Bear Creek is a stream located in Taney County, Missouri, United States. It is also intersecting with Christian County, Missouri. Its coordinates are:
36°47′25.3″N 93°16′18.4″W
.
🎣 Where on the Bear Creek is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on the Bear Creek by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in the Bear Creek?
The most common species in the Bear Creek are:
📢 What are the latest Bear Creek fishing reports?
The latest Bear Creek fishing reports are:
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at the Bear Creek?

Fishing in Missouri requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Resident and non-resident annual and short-term licenses are available online or from licensed vendors.

In Missouri, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16 or residents 65 and older. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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