Anyone Ever Get A Muskie Here?

[stlfisher]

I fish Busch a lot and have had good success at almost every lake. I won't give away any secrets that can't be found on the MDC site, but I believe I can answer some of the questions posed. Muskie's are only in 35 and they are big. No one really fishes for them. Trout are in 21(C/R), 28 (C/R), 24, 22, and 23. Lakes 16, 31, and 32 are catch and release only and artificial lures only. I belevieve that 31 had smallmouth in it for awhile...they couldn't spawn successfully... and I haven't heard anyone catching any in years. There are a lot of small bass and large Bluegill in 16 and 31(very pretty lake). 32 is off colored and not a very pretty a lake to fish, but there are big fish in it. They have Catfish only lakes which are 3,4,5, and 7. They are stocked twice per month, but get fished heavily...use large shiner's for best results. Ther are a few Hybrids in 36 and 34. There are Flathead in 35 and I believe 33. There are some large bass to be found, but I have to keep some secrets.

I could go on, but I have fished every lake and pond in that place. You can fish 6am-9pm all year around, but it is not a place you want to get stranded (they close the gate at 10 and tow trucks can't really find you.) Bring a friend if you are going to stay after dark. You can rent boats at some of the lakes from April - October.

Clean up your trash if you go and follow the regulations. It can be challeging to fish, but if you are on your A game you can catch fish. As another poster said you need to get away from the parking lot's.

[BredMan]

As another poster said you need to get away from the parking lot's.

That's funny. I see that all the time at Busch. In my 'guesstimate' the water closest to the parking lots is usually the starting and ending point for 50% or better of the people who fish at Busch. You see a vehicle pull up, person gets out with both hands loaded with rods, lawn chair, cooler, tackle box, 5-gal bucket, etc and walks directly to the closest water from the parking lot. Slings a cannon ball weight with a big glob of night crawlers into the lake. Repeats the routine for about 15-20 minutes, gets no bites, then loads everything up and leaves. It can be very entertaining to watch at times!

[stlfisher]

That's funny. I see that all the time at Busch. In my 'guesstimate' the water closest to the parking lots is usually the starting and ending point for 50% or better of the people who fish at Busch. You see a vehicle pull up, person gets out with both hands loaded with rods, lawn chair, cooler, tackle box, 5-gal bucket, etc and walks directly to the closest water from the parking lot. Slings a cannon ball weight with a big glob of night crawlers into the lake. Repeats the routine for about 15-20 minutes, gets no bites, then loads everything up and leaves. It can be very entertaining to watch at times!

Yep that is so true...I get a kick out of that as well! Those areas by the parking lot's get hammered so much. I really think that standard baits just don't work very well at those lakes. When I was in high school (before I switched to artifical's and now fly fishing) I always did really well with 4-6 inch shiners. Not the small ones the bait shop claims are large. I used to stop at the bait shop up by 94 and 40 to get the largest ones I could find. Interesting little shop to say the least...you will see what I mean if you go there...I always though they had an odd combination of products.

[mhall02]

Bring a friend if you are going to stay after dark.

Care to elaborate on that one? Just wondering, been out there a few times alone till around 9:p.m, no problems, but maybe I should be more careful?

[fishgypsy]

Care to elaborate on that one? Just wondering, been out there a few times alone till around 9:p.m, no problems, but maybe I should be more careful?

Nah, it's just that some of those old bunkers put off an awfully creepy glow once it gets dark

[stlfisher]

Care to elaborate on that one? Just wondering, been out there a few times alone till around 9:p.m, no problems, but maybe I should be more careful?

I only meant that it may not be fun to spend the night out there alone if your car breaks down. I have never had any problems either. I do remember the Angie Housman story in the early 90's and there are rumors of others like those, but you know how that goes and that happens almost everywhere these days. I fish until dark and often times after dark, but I usually I head to lakes toward the front of the area...just in case. I am tough like that!

[esox niger]

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?!?!

im in dog!

every once in a while i think about going out there. I think i will dedicate some of 2010 to the missouri musky. just got hooked up with a trolling motor for christmas so no more renting a boat and getting to the lake and finding all the paddles gone or broken and having to row like im in a cannoe. anyone know what im talkin about ?

those flatheads were rad! i hear theyre hard to hook with a fly, but it has been done

[Gavin]

Stlfisher, whats the main musky forage in Lake 35 and how big are they? Blue Gill, Small Bass, Shad? Think I want to give it a go this year.

[Geoff]

it was posted a while back the sizes.... "dozen or so 12-20 inch range. 40 of them in the 30-45" range" I would assume forage is bluegill and baby fishes. i would guess there is shad in there too since there are bass and cats in it as well.

[stlfisher]

Gavin,

I mostly fish for bass at Busch and don't specifically target Musky. Like you I am intrested in trying for those musky this year. There are pictures of some nice musky caught at the park office. I think all three species you mentioned would be the main Musky Forage in 35. There are not Trout stocked in 35 so I am not sure if that would work. From what I hear early spring and late fall tend to be the best times to fish for them. I think summer it is hard to find them as the water warms and they go deep. I rarely see anyone fishing for them so I imagine an accomplished angler with the correct gear could do pretty well.