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Bennett Spring Fish Hatchery

Driving Directions

Inside Bennett Spring State Park 12 miles west of Lebanon on Hwy 64.

Highlights

The park contains a stretch of the Niangua River and Bennett Spring Branch. Facilities include hiking trails, picnic areas, a nature center, overnight lodging, a restaurant, primitive and improved camping areas, hatchery tours, and a bait-and-tackle shop.

About This Area

In 1924 and 1925, the Missouri State Park system purchased 573 acres of land, including Bennett Spring and the hatchery.

This area formed the nucleus of today's Bennett Spring State Park. The area had been known as Brice, Missouri and was a place where farmers could have their grain milled.

While waiting for the mill to grind their grain the families would enjoy the natural beauty of the spring and fish in the cold, clear stream.

Around 1900 the Neosho National Fish Hatchery stocked Bennett Spring with rainbow trout. This stocking proved to be so popular with customers that a hatchery was built to maintain the fishery.

The goal of providing a quality outdoor experience for customers was the driving force then, just as it is today. The hatchery now provides approximately 400,000 rainbow trout to anglers each year.

A small number of brown trout are also stocked. These fish are stocked from March through October on a nightly basis in Bennett Spring State Park.

Downstream, the Niangua River also receives monthly commitments of trout year-round. These two areas can be accessed by driving west on Highway 64 approximately 12 miles from Lebanon, Missouri.

Visitors can enjoy the natural beauty and many outdoor activities today just as they did at the turn of the last century.

General Information

Region: Southwest

Counties: Laclede,Dallas

For more information call: 417-532-4418

Status: Leased

Additional Information: Excellent trout fishing opportunities are available in Bennett Spring Branch. Bennett Spring State Park provides camping, cabins, trails, a nature center, restaurant, store, restrooms, picnic tables, playground, etc. within the state park. Call 417-532-4338 for more information.

Activities
Activity (Activity Explanations)	Comments (Population Definition)
Fishing - Trout	Good population. Nearby Bennett Spring Branch is stocked daily March - October. Catch and release November - February.
Other	Bennett Spring State Park provides camping, cabins, trails, a nature center, restaurant, store, restrooms, picnic tables, playground, etc. within the state park. Call 417-532-4338 for more information.
Tours	Hatchery tours are given. Call for scheduling (417-532-4418).

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Conservation Department Facilities
Facility Item	Count	Comments
Fish Hatcheryaccessible	1
Fishing Jetty/Platformaccessible	3	There are disabled fishing jetties several places in the Spring Branch. The park is ADA compliant.
Parking Lotaccessible	1
Staffed Office	1	Department of Conservation office and hatchery buildings are located on the area. Missouri Department of Natural Resources offices are located nearby.

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Features
Feature Item	Name	Count	Size	Comments
Spring	Bennett Spring	1	65000000.00 # gallons per day	Bennett Spring is one of Missouri's largest springs and provides adequate flows in Bennett Spring Branch to support an excellent trout fishery.
Stream - Permanent	Bennett Spring Branch	1	2.00 miles	Nearby Bennett Spring Branch is stocked daily March - October. Catch and release November - February.