Urban Trout Fishing Saint Louis

[MOFishwater]

Tried out Jefferson yesterday after work and didnt get to spend too much time as I was freezing and had to run and get the bambino from daycare. Was there long enough to watch one guy pull 5 or 6 out, worked my way over and inquired what his secret lure was:

"Chartruese Power Bait maggots"

Couple that w/ my 1/2hr of fishing on Sunday where I watched a guy pull about 10 out, walked over and he was using night crawlers....I could be incorrect, but the paper I printed out from the MDC says only artificial lures and flies are allowed during this time period. I'm not one to get into anyone's business, but it sure is annoying watching folks break the rules. Probably would have cared more if they were not releasing them, at least they were following the rule on that one.

I got one hit on a san juan worm yesterday and missed it of course, still batting .000 on the winter trout, pretty sad.

I did notice quite a few fish rising during the short while I was there. Any idea what they could be hitting on? I would love to use dry flies but I have very little knowledge of

A- flies

B- trout fishing in general (I'm more of a bass/popper fly fisherman)

I had the s.j. worm about 4 ft. below an indicator. I have no idea how deep the water is where I was fishing. Would a bhpt nymph be something worthwhile to try? I don't know what excells in non moving water like these small lakes and ponds. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Wish I had a box full of food pellet imitations, I bet they'd slurp those up like crazy on the surface

[Kayser]

There is a lake here in So. IL that is stocked each fall. I use some #12 BH-HE 1-2' below a small indicator- no weight. Cast, count to 20, twitch, count to 10, twitch, 10, twitch... Repeat.

Stripping cracklebacks and wooly buggers works well too. Use the unweighted flies and you can "wake" thm right under the surface. Fish will crush the fly, so keep your rod parallel to the water, about 2-3' off the surface. The slack loop absobs the shock from the hit, and the line won't break as often.

I can usually outfish natural bait as long as I keep changing flies or locations.

Rob

[flyfishmaster]

Take a look at this article recently distributed throughout the St. Louis area Suburban Journal newspaper.

Titled: Cold fish: State's stocking program hooks anglers in the frigid months

http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/artic...trout_1.ii1.txt

The reporter spoke to two fishermen and both of them were fishing illegally with bait.

I sent an E-mail to the reporter with a copy of the regulations. Someone should call the local game warden out...

Later,

FFM

[snagged in outlet 3]

I read that article too. Funny thing is Brian, the reporter, is a long time member of Ozark Fly Fishers and an avid conservationist. He may not have been aware of the regs.

I saw an old guy with his grand kids at Busch just killin em. He was also using power grubs on jig heads. I showed him the sign which was right behind him. He didn't really care. It started pouring and he left.

SIO3

[troutenhausen]

When I first read the comments from Trout God back in November, I was eager to defend my neighborhood and try and set the story straight. After I thought about it, though, I thought that he was actually helping me out by lessening some of the fishing pressure on Jefferson. I am the one that caught the above trout pictured. I used a little cleo gold spoon with rainbow decal on one side. There is a lot of diversity in the city and that is why I love it! I invite everyone to come down to Forest Park. Where else in St. Louis can you go to the zoo, art museum, science center, play 27 holes of golf, ice skate, take a row boat out after dinner with live music, history museum, exercise with a six mile running and biking path, snow sled on "the hill", watch performances at the Muny, and above all else, catch TROUT! All this in one place. Doesn't seem too ghetto to me.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Well said my friend. Nice fish!!!

SIO3

[drew03cmc]

Chris, I drooled over that fish last winter when I saw the picture up on Walt's website. I contributed from the KC side of the state, and now live in Lawrence, KS where there are all kinds of stupic regulations on trout lakes here, have to have a special permit for this lake, or for that lake, as well as your trout stamp, and license, effective from this date to this date...too darn confusing for me!

[Trout God]

I meant no disrespect to your neighborhood. In fact, I'm quite fond of the area. But someone from say, the heart of central Missouri might not see the diversity and beauty, but rather the negatives that come along with the area (i.e.; criminal activity, ect.).

I was simply stating my opinion, and based on my results at the other lakes, my opinion is that it makes more sense to utilize them versus Jefferson. And honestly, January Wabash is in a MUCH rougher area, by far.

Nice fish btw. I love those Little Cleo's. February 1st for the win! Only one month to go!

[porter57]

troutenhausen

i lived on the 4400 block of vista till about 15 years ago and while i respect

your opinion of the nieghborhood,i dont totally agree. granted you probably live in one of the better blocks,but its not totally safe around there.

one would most likely be safe in the park as would thier vehicle,but i wouldnt leave anything in plain sight or in an unlocked or unprotected

area of a vehicle. and while the diversity of the area is somewhat desirable to some(the park,central west end,and of course the proximity to the HILL)

persons visiting the area do need some street smarts and be aware of whats around em. sure you could get mugged anywhere but a little awareness goes a long way towards preventing that. ive lived in this town 50 years and

i used to walk anywhere i wanted to go. i dont think id want to do that anymore even if i could. i understand the area has gone thru a bit of a rebirth,but i would still advise if nothing else ,a bit of caution.

[MOFishwater]

Went back to Jefferson on Monday to enjoy the absolutely ridiculous weather that afternoon and to try my luck w/ the stockers in the wind. Apparently I wasnt the only person with that idea.

However, I was pretty much the lone soul, aside from one other fly fisherman, who was not using bait. I found this amusing as there are bright yellow signs posted ALL over with the regulations. I sat and watched the guy next to me using worms ,"tightlining" on the southern side of the lake near the concrete abutment. On the east side of the lake, 2 fellas were pulling fish out every minute or so, then they'd dig into whatever bait it was they were using and rebait their hooks. Then I noticed that the guy sitting down was keeping a fish every now and then and dropping it into a cooler. Not only is it not live bait time, its catch and release only currently. I was about to go inquire if they were literate, they were sitting next to one of the yellow signs with the regulations, but thought better of it and just decided to go on my way. I emailed the Fisheries wing of the MDC and was given the usual Operation Game Thief phone number, which I had in my cellphone at the time but didnt know if it was the right # to call. Yesterday I got another email from a Conservation Agent:

"Thanks for you help. The best and quickest way to have an agent respond to violations is to call Powder Valley Nature Center at (314) 301-1500 and inform them that you need an agent to respond to an ongoing violation.

We have made several arrest for these violation so far this year and since we are spread very thin with man power any help we can get from the public is appreciated. Thank you!"

Anyways, I'm sick of seeing nothing but violations and poaching every time I hit the local park. I suggest that anyone else who enjoys the winter trout fishing around here put the number in your phone as well. I'll be gleefully reporting all bait fisherman/poachers for the rest of the month. Consider it fair warning:)