St. Louis Winter Trout Areas This page was updated 1/20/08
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 five
fishing destinations totaling 40 surface acres, and while numerous smaller cities and
towns have city park lakes stocked as well, the St. Louis area boasts 17 ponds and lakes
that are stocked each year with nearly 76 acres of water.
Seven of the 17 locations have a catch and release season during which only flies and
lures may be used, and all 17 locations are only open to bank fishing. Catching wintertime
trout in lakes can be tricky. Oxygen is good, so they're able to chase lures like spinners,
crankbaits, jigs, streamers, etc. However, the colder the water is, the lower their
metabolism is, and the less hungry they are. For this reason, the fishing tends to be
best in November. As spring approaches, they'll get hungry again. Anytime you get a
few days of unseasonably warm weather, though, go give it a shot.
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 part of the area. Visit our Maps Page to download
a map of the area.
Lakes #21 &a 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.
Carondelet Park Boathouse Lake
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.
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.
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.
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.
No matter how you get there, you'll find there are no bait restrictions, and the daily limit is
4 trout.
Suson Park Lakes 1, 2 and 3
Suson Park is down south out in the County, across the street from the Wayne C. Kennedy Park and
Recreation Complex. The lakes are all on the smaller side, ranging from 1-1/2 acres to 3-1/2 acres.
The easiest way to get there is to exit I-270 at exit #2, and turn Southwest on Tesson Ferry Rd.
In about 2-1/2 miles, turn left onto Wells Rd. A bit more than a mile later, you'll see the
Wayne C. Kennedy Park on your left. Suson Park will be on your right. There are no bait restrictions,
and the daily limit is 4 trout.
Tilles Park Lake
This is a 2-acre lake just Southwest of I-64 and I-170. From I-64, take exit #30 and
head South on McKnight Road. McKnight runs right next to the park -- you'll set it on
your right. The main entrance is at the corner of McKnight and Litzsinger Rd. 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.
Vlasis Park Lake
This is a 1/2-acre located right off Manchester in Ballwin. From I-270, take exit #9
(near the West County Center) and head West on Manchester for about 5 miles or so.
Turn right on Seven Trails Dr., and you'll see the park on your left. There are no bait
restrictions, and the daily limit is 4.
Walker Lake
This is a 2-acre lake found in the Kirkwood City Park. The most direct route to the
park is to take Manchester to the Des Peres area. Find North Geyer Rd. and head South
for a bit more than a mile. You'll see the park on your left. 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.
Wild Acres Lake
This is a 2-1/2 acre lake in Wild Acres Park in Overland. At the time of publication,
we had not had the opportunity to actually visit the park, and therefore we will refrain
from giving specific directions -- wouldn't want to get you lost. However, our research
indicates that the property is heavily wooded and large -- approximately 25 acres. Prior
to being purchased by the city Overland, the parkland was the home of the Congregation
of the Missionaries of the Holy Family. The Park is located in Overland just Southeast
of the intersection of Ashby and Midland. This lake has 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.
Koeneman Park Lake
This is the newest addition to the St. Louis winter trout program, and, sadly, we don't
know much about it yet. Perhaps one of you readers will enlighten us(???). What we do
know is that it's in St. Louis County on the north side of town, it's 6 acres in size, and it has a November 1
through January 31 catch-and-release season during which only flies and lures may be
used. After January 31, there are no bait restrictions, and the daily limit is 4.
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