People frequently ask me about good places to go fishing in Jefferson County. While there are a lot of great spots hidden in the hills and hollers, they are all on private property. There are several public access opportunities, but judging them as good is subject to interpretation.
Big River on the county’s western edge offers a half-dozen access points open to the public, but those areas are generally more popular for activities other than fishing. Anyone with a kayak, canoe or other watercraft can navigate away from the crowds and find fish to catch, but the bank-bound pole-and-line angler will experience some challenges.
Because it is managed with special black bass fishing regulations, Big River can provide some excellent action. Anglers may keep only one smallmouth bass, and it must be at least 15 inches long. There is no length limit on spotted bass, and 12 is the daily limit. With a 12-inch minimum for largemouth bass, you have to be able to tell the difference among the three species.
Fishing from the shoreline at the Big River accesses is probably not going to produce many of those big smallmouth bass. There are just too many people and too much other water in the quieter sections where those big fish will go to hide.
The late Richard Ford of Cedar Hill was always an advocate for crappie catching on Big River at the access in his hometown. He also liked to tout Rockford Beach for its walleye fishing action in the spring. But those who find public riverbanks to cast from along the Big, Meramec and Mississippi rivers in Jefferson County are more likely to catch catfish, carp, suckers, drum, gars or other “rough fish.”
Again, those with a boat, who can head up or downstream, are going to encounter better action.
Some public accessibility is available on the Joachim Creek at city parks in De Soto, Festus and Herculaneum, and that Mississippi River feeder provides some good options, but its smallmouth bass special management area is all through private property.
City park lakes in Arnold and Festus can be bonanzas when the lakes are stocked ahead of public fishing events, but that hot action is short-lived. The big crowds and bustling activities that the parks are better known for are usually not conducive to quality catching opportunities.
The story is a little different in St. Louis city and county. While the parks there have just as many or more non-fishing attractions, their lakes and ponds are specifically managed for better fishing. The challenge for anglers may come down to figuring out which one is best. There are more than 80 public lakes and 1,200 acres of water within a one-hour drive of the Gateway Arch.
A special state Department of Conservation program to talk about the best places among all those options will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, March 22, at Powder Valley Nature Center in Kirkwood.
Kevin Meneau, fisheries management biologist with the department, will identify the locations and regulations.
He will talk about which species you can catch and some of the best ways to catch them. He’ll also share insights from department fish surveys and what they tell us about fishing opportunities in those lakes and ponds.
The St. Louis Lake Fishing Hotspots program is free, but advanced online registration is required at bit.ly/2XGVREh. Anyone who already registered for the original Feb. 22 date must re-register for the March 22 program. Call Powder Valley for information at 314-301-1500.
John J. Winkelman is community engagement manager at Mercy Hospital Jefferson. If you have news for the Leader’s Outdoor News page, e-mail ogmjohnw@aol.com and you can follow John on Twitter at @johnjwink99.