Public Nightfishing Places

[Haris122]

Wanted to see if you guys know of any parks, conservation accesses, or something around St. Louis where they let you fish overnight for free or cheap. I saw the county parks department had an event at Simpson park going on a few weeks back, where they were charging $10 for overnight, which isn't horrible (but free is still a lot better, haha), but on top of that it was just one particular weekend. I also heard Suson park let's people stay a bit late every 2nd Saturday of each month, but it's still well short of overnight. None of the Conservation Areas/Accesses, even those targeted for hunting purposes seem to allow overnight camping either, which is weird cause some even have designated camping areas going by legends on the maps. So I'm wondering if you guys know of any public places for fishing (and possibly hunting as well) that actually allow you to stay overnight on a frequent basis?

[Al Agnew]

The MDC areas around St. Louis may be different, but most of them I know of allow fishermen to stay all night and fish, not camp. They put closure times (usually 10 PM) to attempt to keep out the party doofuses, but they won't hassle you if you're actually fishing and not just sitting around drinking.

[Haris122]

Maybe I should call them, and see if that works out the same way around St. Louis.

[UnCivE]

I'd have to agree with Al... all the MDC accesses I know of say "closed at 10" and "No camping" , but I've never been kicked out night fishing.

[Haris122]

I've been out today exploring the accesses around Simpson Lake, before I went there. I saw a plaque in one mention that I'd have to call and get a permit if I wanted to stay past the official closing time. But that's owned by Valley Park and not the MDC directly, so yeah, I'm still going to call them and find out what the deal is with ones they actually own first hand.

[WHARFRAT]

I have heard of people getting tickets for fishing in the park at Simpson Lake after closing time.

[Bill B.]

Most of the MDC areas allow night fishing. The rules will read something like this (for the Columbia Bottom CA at the mouth of the MIssouri):

Area Hours

Columbia Bottom Conservation Area is closed from one half hour after sunset until one half hour before sunrise daily except for authorized hunting and fishing activities and launching and landing boats.

[gramps50]

I have heard of people getting tickets for fishing in the park at Simpson Lake after closing time.

I've been run out of Simpson at closing time, they close the gates so a person would have to park outside and walk in.

I was fishing the Meramec one night by the RC track and a Kirkwood park ranger came by and wanted to know what I was doing there that the area was closed. When I explained to him there were not signs, which he already knew. Finally told him I would pack up and leave and he says that it was okay, I was fishing, he hadn't made any calls so I didn't see him and he didn't see me. I guess we stayed maybe another hour and left, it was a slow night any way. This was not the 1st time we had fished there. If I recall there the areas close at 11 pm.

I was told by a Jeffco sheriff deputy that it was alright to fish the big river in House Springs that they would bother you, but you have better be fishing not just putting line in the water claiming your fishing.

[WHARFRAT]

The ones that I had heard that got tickets were fishing on Simpson Lake inside the park.