Question About Stream/creek Access.

[stlskyline]

There is a stream/ creek I'd like to fish in St. Louis County, but I don't want to trespass. There is access from the road. Could someone guide me towards the state regulations. It does go through some high priced area of the county.

[Addicted to Creeks]

I'm not from the area so I don't know but I would assume it would help someone who did know if you mentioned what creek it was

[Al Agnew]

When it comes to creeks too small to float, there is no formal rule. But as a "general rule", the landowners are within their rights to kick you off it or have you arrested. The public has the right to float (and wade, though some people question that) floatable streams, but not those too small to float. You will be advised to ask permission before getting on these creeks, but given the fact that most of them are owned by many different people, asking permission is usually impractical. What I do is check out the accesses. If there is an obvious place to park that has been used often, and there aren't any no trespassing signs or purple paint, you're probably okay to park there and wade the creek, at least until you run into those no trespassing signs and purple paint. But don't be too surprised if you end up getting run off.

[Gavin]

Not much public access in St. Louis county...Gravious creek has some...but its a sewer....look up Geoff...he brownlines down there a bit.

[moguy1973]

Yeah, not too many small creeks/streams in stlco worth fishing IMO. Wild horse creek in chesterfield/wildwood might be one but not sure what you'd find to catch in there.

[Midwest troutbum]

Ive looked at probably some of the same streches of wildhorse creek this past weekend in Chesterfield & WIldwood MO... knowing the personality of St. Louis County cops in our area, and how county laws, ordinances etc are interpreted by civil and criminal courts in the area, I would for sure get the landowners permission. Problem is figuring out who owns the land as its not obvious. In particular as it meanders from farm land to subdivisions and to horse owners property to sometimes state property. For landowners info try St Louis County property viewer accessed via Stlco's website. I would be absolutely shocked if someone has purple paint markers on any stream within St. Louis County limits. Most people living in this area do not mark their properties like our rural bretheren and would more likely kick you out or just call the cops if you become noticed. I am looking at a reclusive spring area spoken of near the area you speak of in St louis Co on another earlier post. But if it includes potential tresspassing I'm out as the fines and potential criminal charges are hefty in St louis Co. The cops from personal experience are not at all sympathetic to grown adults hiking or fishing in creeks in the areas you mention. You would have to park in a community parking lot and wear full navy seal field suit and fish extremely stealth like. Not to spook the fish, but to avoid being visibly seen from property owners. Police will likely ticket if parked along a roadside for more than a few hours. Seems like the odds are against the free spirited fisherman in the suburban world here in the Midwest.

I know several communities in Colorado and other western states that allow and encourage fishing opportunities of entire river & stream systems, including right through many downtown areas and cities. Were just not as a progressive a state as our western neighbors. Its a shame in many ways.

However, I'd love to fish a spring 10 min from my house though and if I gained written permission from the property owner on the stretch I wanted to fish, and stayed within that property owners legal land boundary survey and saw evidence of a particular fish species I'd be all for it. Let me know what you come up with. I'd be interested in trying a legal fish in that stream.