Winter Fishing

[FishnDave]

I think the lakes and ponds around StL have frozen over...right? They were freezing over a couple weeks back when I last fished.

I gifted all my icefishing gear to my buddy Jay in Iowa before we moved to MO.  Ice shack, electric ice auger, flasher, rods & reels, lures, jigs, plastics, ice scoops, spud bar, propane space heater...everything.  Didn't think it would get used much here, the ice probably doesn't get to a safe thickness very often.  Jay sent me some pictures of bass he caught thru the ice yesterday.  I need to get out and catch something!  

So, what do you guys do in the winter here around StL?  Do you fish moving water instead?  What does that look like?  I've never fished for Smallies in the Winter.  Back in Iowa, the smallies would mostly quit hitting once the water dropped below the 50-55 degree range (ok, I know they never completely stop feeding).  They also would disappear to their over-wintering holes, and we'd leave them alone.

What sort of fishing should I be doing this time of year?  Anything worthwhile within a couple hours or less of a drive from StL?

[Gavin]

Forest Park is usually the best urban trout lake and Busch is popular. Local ponds are ice free at the moment, but full of wintering Canada Geese.  Hop on I-44 and go fish around Rolla. Perfect time to float the blue ribbon trout streams and camp on the river. Might get snow on Thursday to make it MO better. Meramec Spring is popular day trip.

 

[FishnDave]

1 hour ago, Gavin said:

Forest Park is usually the best urban trout lake and Busch is popular. Local ponds are ice free at the moment, but full of wintering Canada Geese.  Hop on I-44 and go fish around Rolla. Perfect time to float the blue ribbon trout streams and camp on the river. Might get snow on Thursday to make it MO better. Meramec Spring is popular day trip.

 

My wife and I did drive thru Forest Park this past weekend.  Just sight-seeing to get out of the house for awhile.  I didn't stop at any of the lakes.

I haven't made it that far west yet...I don't know what is in that area.  Research time!

I waded that Huzzah one day this past Fall.  It was a good-looking stream...water was low at the time. Is that worth trying, or do most of the fish leave the stream and overwinter in the Meramec?

[FishnDave]

@Gavin Is your mailbox full?

[Johnsfolly]

6 hours ago, FishnDave said:

So, what do you guys do in the winter here around StL?  Do you fish moving water instead?  What does that look like?  I've never fished for Smallies in the Winter.  Back in Iowa, the smallies would mostly quit hitting once the water dropped below the 50-55 degree range (ok, I know they never completely stop feeding).  They also would disappear to their over-wintering holes, and we'd leave them alone.

What sort of fishing should I be doing this time of year?  Anything worthwhile within a couple hours or less of a drive from StL?

I usually stopped fishing for smallmouth by the end of Oct. But was bank fishing small rivers and large creeks. Oct to April was my standard trout season. This was always my time to hit the Current river to fish for brown trout. I would go on Weds and most times have 3 to 4 river miles to myself especially on colder days. Last few years I would take at least a couple of trips to Bennett Springs for the C&R season and would also fish the Niangua below the park.

[Gavin]

Mailbox is empty now.