Where to find...?

[FishnDave]

As I've written elsewhere on OA, 2020 is going to be a busy year of moving and getting re-situated into the St. Louis area.  I won't be fishing nearly as much as I've grown accustomed to, but still hope to start learning the area.  I sure could use some help!

I flyfish for anything and everything.  Coming from Iowa, I figured it would be fun to catch some species I haven't caught before, like Longear Sunfish and Kentucky Spotted Bass. What would be some good places to try for them, close to STL?

I hope to find some places to catch Redear  Sunfish, I think @JUNGLE JIM 1 has some good ideas on that.

I caught a couple Warmouth years ago in Illinois...its been a long time.  Are there any of those around the STL area?

Down in Duck Creek CA Pool #1, there are Chain Pickerel, Warmouth, and even Fliers (?).  I've never caught pickerel or fliers, so that could be interesting.  Anybody have any experience fishing there?

[snagged in outlet 3]

@jdmidwest has fished Duck creek I believe.  @Al Agnew also has I think.

 

[FishnDave]

2 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

@jdmidwest has fished Duck creek I believe.  @Al Agnew also has I think.

 

I did a quick search here....was suprised nothing turned up.  I've read its horribly weedy, so maybe its pretty difficult to fish?

[snagged in outlet 3]

33 minutes ago, FishnDave said:

I did a quick search here....was suprised nothing turned up.  I've read its horribly weedy, so maybe its pretty difficult to fish?

I’ve only duck hunted there.  Search mingo on here too.  

[jdmidwest]

I have caught nice chain pickerel there.  January after they open it back up for fishing after duck season was a good time.  They like to hang under the old lily pads.

They have changed the lake over the years.  They used to use herbicide to kill back the coontail and keep some of it open.  Some water weed has invaded with small white flowers and burn your eyes if you transfer it from hands to eyes, we call it pepper grass.  Boat lanes are usually choked out in the summer time now.  Then water management has been poor due to the reconstruction.  Most of the cypress has finally died and its a big open weed choked pool.

[top_dollar]

All of the small ponds around saint louis have decent panfish populations.  Depending on your skill level it might be best to fish at busch wildlife.  That's where I do best for crappie and bluegill.  The lakes there are pretty well managed and you can fish several to see what lakes have the best bluegill fishing.  Idk about longear sunfish in any of the ponds, but you can def catch them in the creeks and streams around here.  I catch several on the upper big river around leadwood.  For spotted bass around stl fish the lower meremac.  Wait til its warmer.  Find some current and throw top water baits and jerkbaits.  Other stuff probably works, but those have been my best lures.  Also the #1 rule is to lower your expectations.