Trout Worms In Jefferson Lake In Forest Park?

[trizkid]

i have never been fishing here and i am planning on going there tomorrow....i am just wondering is it just flies only or can you use rooster tails, trout worms, ect.

[twosets]

I believe that any bait is ok.

[Gavin]

You can only use artificial baits w/o scent...An unscented worm should be OK..Heres a link to the regs.

http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Documents/548.pdf

[bikehikefish]

...and it is catch and release. Put this number in your cell phone: Operation Game Thief 1-800-392-1111.

Call it if you see poaching (it is a good bet that you will).

[twosets]

Thanks for correcting my error, Gavin. I did not realize it was catch and release in some lakes. It would be interesting to track how many of those trout survive until Jan 31. Not very many, I would guess.

[BredMan]

You would be surprised how many trout make it though the winter. I fish other catch-n-release lakes and after Jan-31 there are plenty to go around. One thing for sure, fishing these lakes are a heck of a lot tougher than many give credit. Fishing on Taney is a breeze compared to catching trout in these stocked lakes. I was at one yesterday and nobody---I mean nobody---caught jack squat. A couple folks I talked to have been fishing these lakes since being stocked early last week and haven't done well at all. It's like this every year. You just never know what day they decide to get hungry

Ultra small jigs with 2lb test around the rocks and structure on the banks did best for me and I was one of the few that caught anything. Just enjoy the time out and being close to home.

[FLYFISHINMAN]

I go to Jefferson Lake most of the time. I also go to Tilles occasionally. I agree, the small jigs work best for me. I usually bring an assortment of colors including black, black/yellow, brown, olive, chartruese, and white. Bass Pro shops 1/100th oz. I occasionally try other things, but I hate losing my tied flys on these little stockers.

The fish that are not poached make it to atleast Feb. 1st before half the city comes out for catch and keep. Last year Jefferson lake froze over and once it unthawed, about 1500 fish were floating dead. Maybe this is why they stocked the piss ants this year.

[BredMan]

I guess the nature of some winters and the size of some lakes will always have some adverse affect on the winter stocking. Although it's still nice to have a place to go and waste some good quality time during the winter. I asked an agent a couple years ago about problems at any of the area stocked lakes. He mention a couple in the St Louis area that gets pretty crazy but as a whole most are pretty well under control. For some real good stories talk to the fish truck driver if you ever get a chance sometime. He can really tell you some pretty crazy stories!! Of course I expect that somewhat just because of the way some people react to getting something for nothing.

On the fishing side of it all, I have a friend that uses jigs religiously at these lakes and always catches fish. Very seldom does he use anything else. Yellow - black - chartreuse - olive - brown are his favorites in the small sizes, 1/00, 1/80. 1/32. I've done OK throwing a gold Lil Cleo and Little Jake and an assortment of small spoons and rooster tails. Just never know what they are hitting on. Stick with the jigs to always catch something!

[trizkid]

stopped by the lake today for about a hour and a half.....ended up being a good hour and a half....caught 9-10 and they were hitting just about everyting you could drop in the water ....some guys around me where getting them on every cast.....on the hot line....it says they put in 3600 trout.....is that correct...sounds like alot of trout compared to what they put in carondlet