While most of the focus this time of year is on hunting, a popular fishing season has opened to provide opportunities for anglers close to home and in their favorite spring and summer streams around the state.
November 14 was opening day for catch and release fishing in Missouri’s four trout parks, and the hatchery raised fish have arrived at several parks in the St. Louis area and from southeast to northwest Missouri.
Closest to home for Jefferson County residents are the two lakes at Suson Park in south St. Louis County. Named Island Lake and Carp Lake, the two side-by-side ponds host many anglers all year long. Both have significant amounts of accessible shoreline.
The two lakes were stocked for the first time on Nov. 5, with 190 rainbow trout released in the smaller Carp Lake and 569 in Island Lake, according to the state Department of Conservation’s fish stocking hotline: 636-300-9651. The telephone service is updated immediately after each fish delivery. The recording includes the date and number of fish stocked at each lake.
Anglers are limited to using only one fishing pole and may use any type of bait or lure. They must have a valid fishing license, and an annual trout permit is required for those who choose to keep their catch. Anglers have to stop fishing as soon as they catch their daily limit of four fish.
Some special considerations for trout fishing tackle include using very light line and small hooks and weights. Since trout feed by both sight and smell, colored and scented baits are popular. Because the hatchery-raised fish have lived and grown on a diet of small brown pellets for their whole lives, locally produced dough baits are effective.
A hand-held dip net is an essential piece of equipment because the light line is prone to breakage as it nears the shore or is pulled out of the water. Ultralight spinning reels and rods are designed to handle the lightweight line that is recommended for trout fishing.
Other St. Louis area lakes that allow anglers to keep their catch throughout the winter season include Boathouse Lake in Carondelet Park, Gendron Lake in St. Ann, January-Wabash Park lake in Ferguson, O’Fallon Park lake in St. Louis city, Vlasis Park in Ballwin, and lakes 3, 22 and 23 at the August A. Busch Conservation Area in St. Charles County.
Seven other lakes in the program have been stocked for catch-and-release fishing only until January 31. Anglers are limited to one fishing pole and may only use flies, artificial lures and unscented, soft-plastic baits. After February 1 all types of lures and baits may be used by pole and line fishermen.
The catch-and-release lakes include Jefferson Lake in Forest Park, Koeneman Park Lake in Jennings, Tilles Park Lake in St. Louis County, Union City Lake in Franklin County, Walker Lake in Kirkwood, and lakes 7 and 21 at the Busch Conservation Area.
Missouri’s four trout parks also allow catch-and-release fishing through the winter months. From Nov. 14 through Feb. 9 anglers can fish at Meramac Springs near St. James, Bennett Springs at Lebanon, Montauk in Salem, and Roaring River State Park in Cassville. Anglers may only use artificial flies for bait and must have a fishing permit and trout tag.
The catch-and-release season at the trout parks closes in early February to allow time before the annual opening day celebration on March 1.
John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 30 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine. If you have story ideas for the Leader outdoor news page, e-mail ogmjohnw@aol.com, and you can find more outdoor news and updates at johnjwink.com.