Urban Trout Fishing Saint Louis

[mhall02]

Fished Busch #22 Friday from about 2 till 4, caught only one. They were nabbing some tiny sunfish near the shore and happed to get a black and yellow jig in the right spot at the right time. Only saw one other one caught, it was slow. Next trip will be to Lake 21 or 28 for some catch and release.

[flyfishmaster]

Here is the stocking numbers so far. Additional lakes may be stocked at a later date.

2007 Winter Trout - St. Louis

Busch Lake 21 - 1030

Busch Lake 22 - 375

Busch Lake 23 - 375

Busch Lake 24 - 288

Busch Lake 28 - 2400

Suson Park - 600

O'Fallon Park - 430

January-Wabash - 406

Tilles Park - 400

Wild Acres Park - 500

"Carondelet Park -

Boathouse" - 314

Koeneman Park - 1800

Walker Lake - 525

Jefferson Lake - 3600

[Trout God]

I'm new to this forum, but can see that I'll like it.

I've always been a fan of the UFP in St. Louis City. I recently moved to KC and come back to StL every other weekend. This past weekend, I had a chance to fish Walker Lake in Kirkwood with my two daughters and they ripped em up. The stocking hotline reported stocking something to the effect of 500 on November 6 and it blew my mind that they'd put so many fish into what can only be a 2.5 acre lake, at best.

Nonetheless, the fish are good size this year. All the rainbow we pulled out were at least 12 inches, (a couple were closer to 15) and weighed at least a few pounds. If these fish manage to grow for another month and a half til catch-n-keep, they'll be monsters.

This was my first time to Walker. I generally fish number 28 at Busch, Souson, or Boat House Lake, but I really like this particular public lake. It's very clear, easy to find, and has very little snags to speak of. My kids raked in all of their fish (8 to speak of) on a Taneycomo drift rig with a 1/4 ounce weight, number 6 hook, and two white salmon eggs. I caught mine on a spoon.

I'd recommend this lake to anyone who participates in the UFP.

I look forward to posting here more.

[flyfishmaster]

TG,

Happy to hear your report. I will be making appearances at Walker Lake during my lunch hour. Which part of the lake was hold fish. On Friday the only active I saw was by the water pump. How deep were you fishing as well?

FFM

[Gavin]

TG, sounds like you had a great time, but might want to check the regs the next time you visit. I think bait fishing isnt legal until the catch and keep season starts Feb 1st. Cheers.

[patfish]

I just hit Wild Acres at lunch again today. I started talking to a guy that was already there (a cop, so you know it was absolute truth) and he told me that the "fish truck" had just left and the guy was going to all STL waters and putting in lunkers(5+ pounders), numbers depending on size of the water. As information...

Oh, almost forgot, I had two hits and one landed, a largemouth that went about 12 inches on an olive BH woolie. Back to work.

[flyfshn]

I work at 270/Manchester and would like to do some fishing at lunch....can anyone tell me where Walker is?

[MoMuskies]

Patfish - have you fished Suson? I also live in Oakville and was wondering how's fishing over there..

[patfish]

Walker lake is behind the Kirkwood Community Center....

KCC

111 S Geyer Rd

Kirkwood, MO 63122

Get Directions

(314) 822-5855

MoMuskies, I haven't fished Suson this year, yet. I know it gets a lot of pressure, even during the week, lots of old timers/retired guys, man I envy them..... probably try and get there over the weekend sometime. PM me if you wanna join.

[Trout God]

TG, sounds like you had a great time, but might want to check the regs the next time you visit. I think bait fishing isnt legal until the catch and keep season starts Feb 1st. Cheers.

Actually, as long as they're not scented, any artificial bait can be used. I use a homemade, non-toxic imitation salmon egg that's harmless to the fish and falls within the regs (as far as I know. If I'm wrong, I would feel pretty horrible, but I've checked with the Cons. Department and they've verified this with me).

Which part of the lake was hold fish. On Friday the only active I saw was by the water pump. How deep were you fishing as well?

FFM, Walker is a GEM of a little trout pond! On the south side of the lake there is a little island with a small walk bridge. It has a couple of benches and sculptures. I was casting directly north of it, towards the dock, and almost halfway between the dock and the island and they were just banging away at my spoon, one right after another. I would imagine that at that point, the water is probably only a few feet deep. The water pump, which is just to the left of the island, is another good spot. I was casting just beyond the pump and reeling it back past it and got a lot of good hits.

I've never fly fished, so I couldn't tell you if these areas would be good to do so. I would imagine not with the depth of the water and the movement from the pump, but again, I'm not versed on it. I'll swear by my Ugly Stik ultralights til' my last breath. I use a 5 1/2 foot Stik with moss green spider wire 3lb braided line and a chrome spoon called a "Little Cleo". I've attached a small, white rooster tail to the treble hook which conceals it quite well. I've had nothing but good luck at Walker and other local lakes with this setup.

I've been taking advantage of the UFP for about the last 8 years and here's what I've learned...

Souson is just how it was described earlier. There are a LOT of retirees that live within a few miles of the lake and it gets fished out QUICKLY. Generally speaking, within eight days of stocking, you're not going to have much luck. If you DO decide to fish there, the best chances are at Lake 2, on the East side of the bridge and right about dead center in the lake. About six years ago the lake was drained and a 3 foot deep channel was dug dead center running north/south and filled in with discarded Christmas trees. They fish FLOCK to this cover and it's the best place to cast. I will hit Souson about 2 days after stocking after the fish have acclimated.

Boathouse Lake at Carondolet is another spot that gets fished out quickly, but generally gets stocked with more fish. Best place to fish is right off the wooden dock, directly in front of it, about 20 yards out.

At Busch, I prefer 28 over all the other lakes. There is a peninsula just west of the parking lot at 28 that goes out about 100 yards into the lake's center which I have good luck at. Just to the left of that peninsula is a HUGE submerged oak that provides good cover and gets a lot of action. 22 is a good backup if they're not hitting at 28, but I can't think of any one particular area that hits better than any other there. I HAVE pulled browns out of there though.

I've only fished Koeneman Park Lake once, and didn't catch a fish to speak of.

I've never fished at Tilles because I always thought that only people over the age of 65 and under the age of 16 could fish there. If I'm wrong, someone please correct me because I've been DYING to get my hook wet there.

Jefferson Lake is a lost cause because they're lining up in swarms the day of the stocking to get at the trout. I've actually seen people stick their hands in after the truck left and pull fish out by hand. That, combined with the fact that you have to drive through the equivalent of South Central L.A. to get there, and you're better off going somewhere else.

Wabash is a fun lake. I've had luck all over, and it's such a big lake that there's never a lot of people fishing there. I've had a lot of luck fishing there after Feb 1 with white powerbait. I know it's cheap, so everyone feel free to take shots at me, but MMMM MMMM it tastes good! The East Side of the lake near the maintenance building and about 20 - 30 yards out is where I've had the best luck.

I've yet to fish Vlasis or O'Fallon Park Lakes, so if anyone has some feedback, let me know!

I hope this helps you guys. Have fun. They're dropping some LUNKERS out there this year. I haven't caught a single rainbow this year in any of the UFP lakes that was less than 12 inches, so imagine how they're gonna look come February when they're nice and plump!