August A. Busch Memorial CA · St. Charles County

Lake-by-Lake
Fishing Sheet

Species, best lakes, and what to throw — in plain English, from MDC's annual biologist report. Tap any dotted word for a plain-English explanation.
Permit check: MO fishing permit required ages 16–64 (even catch-and-release). Trout permit only if keeping trout.

I'm at lake…

Tap your lake number to see what's in it and what to tie on.

Total Newbie? Start Here

The can't-fail setup: a light spinning rod, 6 lb line, a small hook, a bobber, and a container of nightcrawlers from the on-site bait shop. Cast near any brush or weeds and you will catch bluegill. Everything else on this page is a bonus.

Species Guide

Rules to Remember

Closed lakes: 1, 2, and 15 — education program only.

Kids' lake: Lake 12 is managed for family fishing.

15" bass rule: on lakes 3, 5, 9, 10, 16, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 27, 30, 31, 34, 35, 37 (and Fire Lake at Weldon Spring), any bass under 15 inches goes back in the water. Doesn't matter for you if you're releasing everything anyway.

Winter trout (Nov–Jan): Lakes 7 & 21 are catch-and-release with artificial lures only, then open to keeping fish Feb 1. Lakes 3, 22, 23 allow keeping trout as soon as they're stocked.

Hybrid stripers: if keeping, limit is 4 per day, each at least 20 inches.