Winter Trout Areas - Carondelet Park, St. Louis

[mic]

I live in IL, but work in St. Louis. I just realized that one of MDC's winter trout areas is right down the road. Has anyone fished Carondelet Park Boathouse Lake before. If yes, anyone one side or structure better then the others?

[stlfisher]

I would target the dock area or the little gazebo's around the edges. There is some brush on the far side, but casting is difficult in that strech. Boathouse lake is certianly an urban lake in which it is surrounded by a concrete sidewalk..so not alot of structure besides the dock and a few brush piles. Access is easy, but it can be crowded and since it is not C/R it can get cleaned out pretty quick. I live 10 minutes from Boathouse lake, but usually drive the extra few minutes to Jefferson Lake in Forest park which is C/R until February 1st. Both Lakes will be crowded, but it is a friendly crowd.

[FishinCricket]

Fishing in the C&R area also affords you the unique opportunity of scolding the family of immigrants who inevitably aren't familiar with the rules and/or can't/won't read the posted signs... If you're into that kinda thing..

[stlfisher]

Fishing in the C&R area also affords you the unique opportunity of scolding the family of immigrants who inevitably aren't familiar with the rules and/or can't/won't read the posted signs... If you're into that kinda thing..

So very true indeed....

[MOsmallies]

I live close to Carondolet Park as well and have trout fished Boathouse Lake a few times for trout. Definitely not a beautiful or peaceful place to fish, but sometimes you just need a quick fix. I would drive the extra little bit to either Tilles, Suson, or Jefferson Lake as well.

The fish get cleaned out of Boathouse Lake pretty quickly and you do have a lot of uneducated people fishing there all day every day trying to catch a limit any way possible. Last year I only went for about 30 minutes and I kinda caught one 14" trout... I actually snagged someones line who had broken off, and when I reeled it in, it had the trout on the end. At least I gave that trout an extra day to live

Paul

MOsmallies

[mic]

Thanks all...I'll stick to the C&R lakes.