By Daphne Kampinga
Special to GUIDON

Are you a fan of fishing? There are great opportunities right here on Fort Leonard Wood.

With nearly 95 collective pond acres (the combined acreage from 17 ponds and lakes on Fort Leonard Wood specially managed and designated for fishing), and approximately 20 combined river miles on the Big Piney River and Roubidoux Creek available for fishing, you are bound to find a spot that works well for you to take home the legal limit of your favorite species.

Approximately 75 species of fish can be found in waters on or adjacent to Fort Leonard Wood, ranging from the small rainbow darter to lunker longnose gar. The most sought-after sport fishes found on post include largemouth and smallmouth bass, black and white crappie, and of course, trout, bluegill and channel catfish.

Fishing is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, but there are some rules and regulations you should be aware of and follow.

The Big Piney River, as well as 13 of the designated fishing impoundments on post, are available for fishing 24/7, which allows you to fish there whenever you would like. There are areas, however, including most of Roubidoux Creek and the remaining four designated fishing impoundments, whose access is controlled by that day’s military training schedule at Range Control.

Similarly, availability and access to impoundments located outside the cantonment in Maneuver Areas (those not specifically designated or managed as one of the 17 fishing impoundments) are also controlled by Range Control. A person wishing to fish those areas must physically or via email register and be issued a Fort Leonard Wood Hunting Area Access Pass from Range Control. To register, or for more information, call 596.2525 or visit www.wood.army.mil/dptm/handf.htm.

The Hunting Area Access Pass is separate from the required fishing permits which can be purchased at the Outdoor Adventure Center (see contact and website information below). There are also impoundments (i.e. those near or within the boundary of Training Area 244) specifically marked with “No Fishing” signs, closing them to fishing at all times.

The 17 impoundments designated and managed as fishing ponds range from the 0.2-acre Littlewood Pond, specified as a children-only fishing pond, to the 40.6 acre Bloodland Lake with features such as a floating fishing dock, picnic pavilion, permanent privy and graveled access roads and parking areas. Bloodland Lake is also fully accessible to anglers with disabilities.

All of the fishing impoundments are accessible via surfaced roads and have parking lots nearby. Please keep in mind that heavy equipment and military vehicles sometimes travel these access roads as well. Therefore, depending on weather and time between scheduled maintenance, traveling these roads may require special care.

While most ponds are small enough to be fished easily from the shoreline, graveled or concrete boat launching sites are provided at a few of the larger lakes. Anglers may use their own boats (no gasoline powered motors are allowed) without additional permits or fees, or they can rent boats and canoes from the Outdoor Adventure Center.

For your convenience, all designated fishing impoundments have information signboards with posted fishing regulations, and most also have trash receptacles and fishing line collection bins, as well.

We do our best to keep these areas clean and managed for your enjoyment but please take an active role in reducing litter. If no trash can is provided or if it is full, take your trash to the nearest receptacle to dispose of it properly.

If trout is what you seek, try your hand at Stone Mill Spring Branch. This trout area is owned by the United States Forest Service and cooperatively managed by the forest service, the Missouri Department of Conservation, and the Fort Leonard Wood Natural Resources Branch. It is located past Piney Valley Golf Course off FLW 26 and can be reached from the parking lot by a one-third of a mile walking trail only. Stocking dates are posted on site and available online. Missouri Wildlife Code applies to this area (see contact and website information below).

Keep in mind that when you purchase and sign your fishing permit, you are accepting the responsibility of complying with all applicable codes and regulations. So please familiarize yourself with them before you go out into the great outdoors.

More information

A complete version of the Fort Leonard Wood Hunting and Fishing Regulation 210-21, Stone Mill Spring stocking dates as well as a Fort Leonard Wood fishing map can be picked up at the Outdoor Adventure Center (call 596.4223 or visit  www.fortleonardwoodmwr.com/outdoor.php) or found online at www.wood.army.mil/doimspt/FLW%20Publications/R210-21.pdf and at www.wood.army.mil/wood_cms/5556.shtml.

For questions related to fishing on post, you can call the Directorate of Public Works’ Natural Resources Branch at 596.2814.

A complete version of the Missouri Wildlife Code can be picked up at any Missouri Department of Conservation office (contact the Ozark Regional Office at 417.256.7161) or found online at mdc.mo.gov/about-us/regulations/wildlife-code-missouri.