Fishing at Spur Pond in Kirksville

Spur Pond is a small in-town fishing pond at 601 N. Osteopathy St., beside wooded Patryla Park.

The pond is owned and maintained by the City of Kirksville, while the Missouri Department of Conservation manages the fishery.

Its most distinctive feature is the winter trout program.

The trout rules change on November 1

MDC currently lists November 1 through January 31 as catch-and-release-only season for trout at Spur Pond.

During that period:

• trout must be released;
• only flies, artificial lures and unscented soft plastic baits may be used for trout.

Natural or scented bait should not be treated as acceptable during that winter catch-and-release period.

Catch-and-keep begins February 1

MDC's current Spur Pond information says the catch-and-keep trout season begins February 1.

Outside the November-through-January special period, trout may be taken under statewide limits.

A trout permit is required to keep trout.

That trout permit rule is not a complete summary of Missouri fishing-license requirements. Angler age, residency and other exemptions can affect which general fishing permits are required, so check MDC's current permit rules for the individual angler.

Trout are stocked for winter fishing

MDC identifies Spur Pond as one of Missouri's winter trout fisheries and says trout are stocked near November 1.

Stocking makes trout a seasonal focus, but it does not mean the same number of fish remains in the pond throughout winter.

The pond also lists sunfish, catfish, crappie and black bass.

Boats are not allowed

MDC's current area regulations prohibit boats on Spur Pond.

This is a shore-and-dock fishery rather than a place to launch a kayak or small fishing boat.

Accessible parking and dock

The City lists an accessible parking lot and fishing dock at Spur Pond.

That makes it one of several documented lower-barrier fishing locations around Kirksville. See Accessible Fishing Options Around Kirksville for the comparison.

Check the seasonal rule before using bait

Spur Pond's fishing rules are easy to misunderstand because the pond is open to fishing year-round while the trout restrictions change with the calendar.

Before a winter trip, check the current MDC special-waterbody regulation for Spur Pond.

The short version is:

• November through January: catch-and-release trout with restricted lure types;
• beginning February 1: trout may be kept under current statewide rules and permit requirements.

That seasonal distinction matters more than the pond's small size might suggest.