Fishing near Kansas City, MO

Straddling the Missouri–Kansas line in Jackson County, Kansas City sits along the Missouri River, an underutilized big-water fishery that produces channel, blue, and flathead catfish topping 50 pounds even downtown. Anglers also work reservoirs like Smithville Lake, Lake Jacomo, and Longview Lake across the four-county metro, plus 13 MDC-managed urban lakes within easy reach.

Top waters to fish near Kansas City

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are in Kansas City, Missouri and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

American Eel

Anguilla rostrata

American Paddlefish

Polyodon spathula

Arctic Grayling

Thymallus arcticus

Bighead Carp

Bigmouth Buffalo

Ictiobus cyprinellus

Black Buffalo

Ictiobus niger

Black Bullhead

Ameiurus melas

Black Crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Blue Catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

Bluegill

Lepomis macrochirus

Blue Sucker

Cycleptus elongatus

Brook Trout

Salvelinus fontinalis

Brown Trout

Salmo trutta

Burbot

Lota lota

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

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