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St. Louis The
Department of Conservation has been working overtime trying to bring winter
fishing opportunities into metropolitan areas, and most will agree that the
Urban Winter Trout Areas are a great success. While Kansas City's trout
program is doing well with four fishing destinations totaling 39 surface
acres, the St. Louis area boasts 16 ponds and lakes that are stocked each
year with a total surface acreage of nearly 70. Six of
the 16 locations have a catch and release season during which only flies and
lures may be used. All 16 locations are only open to bank fishing. The most
popular method of fishing these lakes is the sit-and-wait bait method. The
most successful method, however, is fishing lures like in-line spinners,
small spoons, rubber shad, rubber trout worms, and fly casting small colorful
streamers. At times, dry flies can also work, but this is hit and miss. Busch Lakes 21, 22, 23, 24 & 28 These
five lakes are all located in the Busch Memorial Conservation area in St.
Charles. The area is just West of the intersection of 40 and 94, and Highway
D runs through the South park of the area. Visit our Even More page
to download a map of the area. For information about these lakes, call (636)
441-4554 Lakes
#21 & 28 Take
Highway D West from Highway 94. In a bit less than 4 miles, you'll drive
right past lake #21 on your right. If you're attentive, you'll notice and
turn right on the access road just before you reach the lake. Lake #21 is
about 6 acres in size. If you were to continue on Highway 94, it will begin
to turn South, and it will take you right alongside Lake #28 on your right.
Lake #28 is 12 acres in size. Both lakes have a catch-and-release season.
From November 1 through January 31, all trout must be released unharmed
immediately after being caught, and only artificial flies and lures may be
used. After January 31, there are no bait restrictions, and the daily limit is
4. Lakes
#22 & 23 Take
Highway D West from Highway 94. Turn right into the area at the main
entrance. When you come to the "T", turn right and follow the auto
tour route for almost 9/10 of a mile. Then, when the auto tour veers left,
you keep heading straight. In about 1/4 mile, the road will turn sharply
left. At that point (before you turn left), you should be able to see lake
#22 on your right a couple hundred feet away. Lake #22 is a 4-acre lake. If
you continue onward, the road will turn sharply right again, and you'll drive
right past lake #23 on your left, which is also a 4-acre lake. There are no
bait restrictions on these two lakes, and the daily limit is 4 fish. Lake
#24 Finding
your way to lake #24 is a bit trickier than the other lakes. Again, take
Highway D West from Highway 94. Again, turn right into the main entrance, and
again turn right to follow the auto tour route. However, you won't be on this
road for long. The auto tour route will turn you left, and you'll drive past
the area headquarters on your right. Then take the second right after the
headquarters. This road will start out heading East and will gradually turn
you northward. At the first opportunity, turn right. Continue North for a
1/4-mile or so. You should see lake #24 on your left, and you'll find a road
that will take you to the water's edge. Lake #24 is a 3-acre lake. There are
no bait restrictions, and the daily limit is 4 fish.
This is
a 5-acre lake just north of Interstate 55, about halfway between I-44 on the
North and I-270 on the South. From I-55, take exit 202-C, which is Loughborough
Ave. Turn northwest on Loughborough to drive alongside the park. Now,
Carondelet Park is a good size, but it's certainly not what you'd call huge
or sprawling. Since there are only two lakes in the park, and since one of
them is called the "Boathouse Lake", you should be able figure the
rest out on your own. If you can't, then you need more help than this website
can provide. There are no bait restrictions, and the daily limit is 4 trout.
For more information, call (314) 535-0100.
January-Wabash Park Lake This is
a 5-acre lake on the North side of town at the intersection of Florissant and
January in Ferguson, just a bit East of the airport. From I-270, take exit
#27 to North Florrisant Rd. and head South for a bit more than a mile. The
park will be on your right side. From I-70, take exit #240 to South
Florissant Rd. and head North for about 3 miles. In this case, the park will
be on your left. There are no bait restrictions, and the daily limit is 4
trout. For more information, call (314) 521-4661. Jefferson Park Lake This is
a 9-acre lake located in Forest Park right off I-64. From I-64, take exit
#36-B to go North on Kingshighway. Take a left on Clayton Dr., and you'll
drive right by the lake, which will be on your right. From November 1 through
January 31, all trout must be released unharmed immediately after being
caught, and only artificial flies and lures may be used. After January 31,
there are no bait restrictions, and the daily limit is 4 For more
information, call (314) 535-0100
O'Fallon Park Lake This is
a 5-acre lake north of downtown, just across I-70 from the Bellefontaine
Cemetery. With the park being in the city right near I-70, the exits and
interchanges can be tricky. Here are a few options to get you to the park. If
you're traveling East on I-70, there are two fairly easy ways to enter the
park. First, you can take exit #245-B down Bircher Blvd. The turn right on
West Florissant. The park is on your left, and you should be able to see the
lake from the road. Or, take exit #246-A and immediately veer right into the
park. If
you're traveling West on I-70, there are also two fairly easy ways to enter
the park. The first option is to take exit #246-B, and turn left on Adelaide.
In about a half-mile or so, turn right on West Florissant. In a couple of
blocks, you'll see the park and the lake on your right. Or, take exit #246-A,
turning left on North Broadway, and then a sharp left on East Carrie Avenue
to enter the park. There
are no bait restrictions, and the daily limit is 4 trout. For more
information, call (314) 535-0100. |
