Yet Another New Guy... St. Louis

[Thrasher]

Joined today. Have gone fishing on and off through the years, but nothing too serious. My little boy just turned 4 this weekend and I got him his first fishing pole / tackle box and we're going out tonight for the first time. Just looking for some good places to take a little guy to fish around St. Louis. I grew up in southern Illinois, so not really familiar with some of the city parks / lakes / ponds here. Thinking of maybe trying Des Peres park or Tilles park. Any suggestions?

[jpb2187]

What part of Saint Louis are you in?

If you are north/west, I would try out Queeny Park, or Busch Wildlife depending on how far out you are.

South, I would try the Fabick Park in Fenton- Preslar Lake is decent for a public pond.

My personal favorite would be Forest Park's Jefferson Lake - There are some decent sized bass in there for you, and you can get your son on some panfish that can be pretty easily seen from shore.

Tilles is ok, but I think Forest Park is much better. - - caught these on Saturday

Welcome to the forum.

[Thrasher]

I live in Glendale. Busch Wildlife is fine for a weekend, but after work would be a pain to get out there, especially with traffic. I've rented boats out there before and have had a little luck. I'm just looking for a good place where my son can have some fun and maybe catch a few blue gill, crappie, stuff like that. I took my oldest son out to Des Peres park a few years back and were nailing small blue gill like crazy. Didn't know if it was still the same.

[jpb2187]

Cool,

I'm in Crestwood. I went out to Des Peres in March maybe, but haven't been back since. I didn't really see anyhting then, but it was also still pretty cold.

[Guest Brian B.]

Thrasher- I currently live in Waterloo Illinois. We have lived all over Greater St.Louis. The problem with fishing St.Louis..... Too many fisherman... And... Too few spots.

Honestly- for a weeknight- now this said- I don't know where you are coming from.. But Waterloo City Lakes here by me.. 45 minutes from you is fantastic- I could either tell you where/ what to use- or meet you out there with my oldest daughter (she likes reeling them in if I hook them)... -or-

If that is too far... I pulled up your location, there isn't an abundance of truly good spots.

I would suggest Simpson's Park in Valley Park- years ago when we lived in Ballwin it was quite good, - but we did have a boat- which I would suggest. (Killer crappie lake, bass are -good- as well)

I am racking my brain- but- fishing in St.Louis County- mmmm, not going to lie- -not good-...

Bush Wildlife- we used to fish it years ago- and did pretty darned good- later in life as I bacame more a big bass purist, I really liked Lake #16 (but- with the kiddo- no) Dardenne Creek -can- be good- from what I recall it is hit/miss, mosquitos will up and carry you away.

There was one lake in there, I want to recall it as lake #32- (for sure thirty ? Something)- it was one of the largest lakes in there, had an island immediately after you would push off with your rental boat. If I recall Dardenne Creek ran along side the noth east edge of it... I apologize, I'm going back years now..

But it was almost always good fishing.

It would be helpful to know if you intend on boat, or bank fishing. I have some weekend spots to be certain- but the drive would not fit your weeknight paramaters.

? Southern Illinois- you hear of Pyramid S.P. In your years in So.Ill?

(There is a marginal creek called Keifer Creek I grew up on- nothing to write home about, but it was my teeth cutting on creek/ river fishing (spot)- as well as my first goggle eye, and first kentucky bass place... "Castlewood State Park"- really kind of a cool place, for a week night.. (Ahh who am I kidding- I have good memories of that place)

[Guest Brian B.]

Just re-read your post, I think your kiddo would dig Keifer Creek, but he has to be willing to walk the winding creek bed, when in doubt on where to start (on this one)- start at the railroad bridge just where KC dumps into Meremac, and work up-creek, can't. Go wrong that way. To be honest, I have caught some nice fish in that stretch. (Normal pool, flood/ high water, -that's a different story)

Good luck man, get the bot catching brim, he'll be hooked for life.

[Guest Brian B.]

I am such a flipping Idiot... I have the perfect spot.. P_ss on all that other crapola..

I have a great aunt that has a farm in Columbia Illinois, really close to JB Bridge, two nice ponds, crappie, bluegill, nice bass.. Pay lake. I believe it is honor system, $3 per car..

PM me if you want details. No- I don't need a friend, yes I am rude to folks at times... Heck yes- a kid wants to catch fish- I'm there...

I could meet you there, guide you, heck I don't know why I don't fish it.. We go there for a party every year, July 4, and we all sit around cussing ourselves for not going regular. Fishing is quite good.

[Gatorjet]

Suson Park on Wells Rd. just off Hwy 21 (Tesson Ferry) in South county. MDC just did it's stocking of channel cat on Wednesday, July 3.

A great place to take your son after work. They also have an animal farm, play ground, and picnic areas.

You can find the stocking reports ofother lakes in the MDC urban fish stocking program at. 636 300 9651

And information on the program here: http://fishing.mdc.mo.gov/reports/st-louis-urban-fishing-program-lakes

Also a downloadably pdf file brochure here: http://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/places-fish Scroll down to

Fish St. Louis Brochure to get the download.

[moguy1973]

Des Peres park is a great park to take a kid to catch a lot of blue gill...It's a catch and release pond so it's chocked full of small fish. Lots of small largemouth too, but I've caught a few 2-3lbers out of there too. Right now is a good time to go because there isn't much weeds and muck on the top of the water like there usually is. I guess the recent rains has knocked it down some.

Get some worms and a bobber and have fun with your kid. It's not hard to catch them there.