Anyone Ever Get A Muskie Here?

[Troutfishn]

I was thinking the same thing, but with so many lakes i doubt a lil info will hurt. The Hybrids are getting big, definitely not many people go after them. In the early summer I see them crashing the surface for shiners around 9-10am at lake 36. If you are standing where the boats are straight out at the lake to the left of the island. Same with Lake 34 just drive by lakes in the mid-am, if no surface activity go catch crappie at 35. Seems white jigs under indicators work. The one pictured at the bait shop was caught with a chicken liver on the bottom.

[mhall02]

Kind of hard to understand sarcasm online SIO3 but it sounds like you were being serious. Look the key to busch is doing the opposite of every other angler out there. Meaning walk around and explore, don't just fish right there by the parking lot. People who say fishing is always bad are either new to fishing, lazy, or liars. What really makes busch VERY worth while is the fact that these fish are minutes from home. I have a nice pic with me at lake 35 holding 2 5lb bass at the bait shop at busch. Here is a pic of some big flatheads at lake 33. The muskie pics are on another workers camera.

Nice shock boat, they always give you an inside scoop on what is really there don't they? I remember shocking a pond at South Farm in Columbia when I was with MDC. Amazed at the size of the bass I netted, I don't know how many times I fished that lake and never caught anything like that.

[fishgypsy]

Kind of hard to understand sarcasm online SIO3 but it sounds like you were being serious. Look the key to busch is doing the opposite of every other angler out there. Meaning walk around and explore, don't just fish right there by the parking lot. People who say fishing is always bad are either new to fishing, lazy, or liars. What really makes busch VERY worth while is the fact that these fish are minutes from home. I have a nice pic with me at lake 35 holding 2 5lb bass at the bait shop at busch. Here is a pic of some big flatheads at lake 33. The muskie pics are on another workers camera.

Sweet flatheads- that's one of those fish that I think would be a blast on an 8 weight.

All this talk about Busch has my mind wandering, I may have to go tool around there during the holidays for muskies or hybrids. If nothing else I can go catch dumb stocker trout.

Is the area open till 9 year-round?

[Gatorjet]

Shouldn't that picture have the disclaimer "advertisement" above it like in the magazines? LOL

You have me sold, I'm definitely going to do some fishing up there now!

[snagged in outlet 3]

There's no fish at Busch!!!!!!

SIO3

[patfish]

There's no fish at Busch!!!!!!

SIO3

Yeah! What SIO3 said!!!

[ozark trout fisher]

Is the area open till 9 year-round?

Sunrise to sunset. This time of year I'd go after trout... I doubt if Muskies or hybrids would hit much of anything this time of year, but who knows.

I've also heard rumors of smallmouth in some of the lakes... I doubt there are any, but does anyone know for sure?

[snagged in outlet 3]

You might need an ice pick to get at them. The lakes around here are frozen and since it's only a few miles to Busch I would assume they are too. Maybe Troutfishn knows for sure.

Never heard of any smallmouth. That doesn't mean they aren't there. Check the lunker pictures, if one was ever caught it would be there.

SIO3

[Kayser]

I wonder if one of those rainbow trout swimbaits would trick a muskie this time of year. Or do they keep the muskie and muskie food trout in different lakes?

Rob

[snagged in outlet 3]

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.

And there is your answer.

SIO3

There are no fish at Busch I'm tellin ya!!!!!!