Fishing in the MNRR

There are various fishing opportunities along the Missouri Naitonal Recreational River corridor including bowfishing for silverfin. Fishing Catfish, walleye, sauger, paddlefish, and many more game species await your angling skills along the two reaches of the Missouri River, 20 miles of the lower Niobrara River, and 8 miles of the lower Verdigre Creek. Regulations Most of the Missouri National Recreational River is on the state boundary between Nebraska and South Dakota. As the river here is considered "border waters," please be aware of license information and regulations for both Nebraska and South Dakota. Waters of the Missouri River are defined to include all flowing portions and backwaters, sloughs and chutes that draw water from the Missouri River. Mouths of tributaries may only be fished in the state that the angler is licensed. Live bait: Please use caution when using live bait. Follow all existing regulations. Due to the presence of asian carp, South Dakota prohibits seining of bait from the rivers below Gavins Point Dam. Empty all bait buckets in the water they were filled from or on land. Threatened and Endangered Species: The Pallid Sturgeon, a fish native to the Missouri River, is listed on the federal Threatened and Endangered Species List. It is difficult to differentiate the pallid sturgeon from the more common shovelnose sturgeon and the lake sturgeon, and the season is therefore closed year-round on all sturgeon species. Wild & Scenic River regulations: Hook and line fishing may be done only with a single attended pole. Chumming (bating) is not allowed. Please visit our fishing page for more information.