Where To Find Them

[Corb90]

Where are you guys finding commons in or around west St. Louis county (ballwin/manchester area)? I know they are pretty hard to catch but I can't even seem to find them at local lakes and ponds. Any info of some good watersheds near by would be awesome!

[jpb2187]

Tons of them by Sherman Beach on the Meramec.

[fishinwrench]

The Sloughs and bays off the big rivers used to get some attention.

Check out missouriflies.com ! That boy knows where to find them and how to catch'em.

[moguy1973]

If you have a canoe or kayak you can go to Mallard lake behind Creve Couer park. It's loaded with them and a ton of gar. The time I was there the levee between Mallard and the channel coming from Creve Couer lake seemed to be where they congregated.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

There are a ton of them in the public pond in Festus. They come up at dusk, too many to count. Carondelet park in south St Louis used to have quite a few. One of the best baits we used was whole kernel corn, we dipped it in imitation vanilla. They give one heck of a hit, so don't lay your rod down, pole holders and drag are your friends. Don't yank them to hard to set the hook, you will rip it out of their mouths.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Learn to tie that hair rig, buy a bag of deer corn or field corn. boil some until they center is soft. Find some shallow water a scatter a quart of it, a sling shot works good, use 3 or 4 pieces of the corn on the hair and wait for them to come to you, they will even hook themselves.

To really make this effective try scattering the chum the evening before and hitting it early the next morning, morning and evening will also work.

This is pretty much sure fire.

[Gavin]

Lots of carp in the Butler lakes near Hwy 21 and the confluence of the Meramec. Creve Couer lake, and Suson Park have a bunch too.

[Haris122]

Been a couple months since I visited Butler Lake, but I can't say I ever saw any common carp there. I snagged a Silver or Bighead carp, and caught a channel catfish out of it to date.

I have caught and seen other dead ones around the two George Winter Parks before though.

[Haris122]

Went back to Butler Lake again a few days ago, and I still only saw Silver or Bigheads, and a turtle. No luck as far as any common ones go though. I have seen people catch some pretty good chunk common carps on 2 separate occasions at suson. ANd personally I think George Winter still holds some promise.

[Wayne SW/MO]

You just aren't fishing it right.