Anyone Ever Get A Muskie Here?

[Geoff]

So it is my understanding that one of the smaller lakes on the premis holds muskie. I kinda want to try and catch one. Has anyone ever caught one or tried to catch one there? I know its not going to be a monster,, but i think a 16-18" muskie would be pretty cool.

[Gavin]

I think lake 35 holds some...but I've never fished it...Numbers are probably pretty low because they stock less than 100 per year.

I do fish for chain pickeral on occassion though... McCormack Lake near the Greer Access on the 11pt, and Noblett Lake on the way to the NFoW have a bunch, plus any backwater slough on the 11pt usually holds some. Most are little hammer handles in the 12" range, but its not uncommon to hook up with some that are twice that size. They hit flies occassionally, but I've done better with bluegill colored crankbaits, spinners, and minnow cranks. They tend to hang near submerged vegetation. Cheers.

[Geoff]

I didnt know they stocked under 100 a year, but there have got to be a couple of them in there. i might try for some come spring time, seems that if there would be any in there now they are going to be in the deepest spots starting to winter over. come spring time i will try them i guess.

yeah i have seen the pickerals before, they would be fun too. gotta catch em on the fly though

[Troutfishn]

Lake 35 is the second biggest lake at busch. During the spring 09' we set 4 - 4'x4' trap nets for muskie. Checked the nets 3 consecutive days and had only a couple in the 12-20'' range and around 40 in the 30-45'' range. This of course represents only a small number of actual fish present. The lake only sees a handfull of muskie fishermen a year. The muskie have grown fast and are doing excellent. I like to use 12'' castaic baits made by rapala trolling around the darn area in circles around those deep brush piles. You also have a very good chance of hooking into a monster bass. Most big bass fisherman make reports of something goliath smashing their baits and breaking heavy line. I would rank lake 35 #2 on the most likely place in MO to catch a muskie. #1 being pomme de terre.

[Geoff]

well thats just awesome that they are doing well and that 12-20 inchers are in there. thats really all the bigger of one i want to catch.

And i know a big topwater or crank is the way to go, but im gonna fly fish for em

[Chris Barclay]

At the end of the summer I was fly fishing with a friend who hooked into something ENORMOUS that sawed through his furled leader after a brief fight. We can only guess that it was a muskie. It was really exciting for a brief moment.

I'm glad the muskies are doing so well.

That's one of my favorite lakes to fish at Busch.

[Geoff]

excellent. can you take their rental boats on that lake or is it bank fishing only?

[Chris Barclay]

They've got a full fleet of rentals on the bank waiting for you.

[Geoff]

might have to break down to get one then since they wont let me use my kayak there

So the next is...who wants to join in on my quest for muskie on the fly?!?!

[ekl-stl]

I went out and tried last April.. Could only fish on a couple of chilly days.. Had no luck.. Will be back at it again this spring.