Busch Wildlife In St. Louis

[Ads7633]

I am planning on going to try it out tomorrow for the first time in years. It is so hard to find good public fishing near St. Louis! Anyway, I haven't exactly heard good things about the fishing, but I was wondering if anyone had any tips, specifically for lake 33? Or suggestions about other lakes that may be able to produce decent bass? (I am strictly catch and release)

[AndyNegus94]

i haven't fished Busch in quite awhile but I used to do good with minnows on lake 19. About the only lake I've ever had continuous luck on.

[Bankbeater]

Lake 33 is shallow. Maybe an average of 4 to 6 feet deep, and very murky due to the lack of vegetation in the lake.  There are a couple of spots up toward the dam that are about 12 feet deep, but you have to look for them. 

Your best bet would be using plastics.  There are areas in that lake that have a lot of wood under the surface, and a crankbait will get hung up quick.

[Wes Strickland]

Lake 35 - fish the bank closest to the highway, NE; The wind and current kind of push you in that direction. We ended up pretty much docking on the rocks and fished all along that outer bank. Caught 4-5 smallys and 1 or two LMB (large mouth) about a foot long or so, catch and release

 

South part of lake sucked - too much hydrilla.

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/uploads/gallery/album_1798/tn_gallery_56217_1798_787069.jpg

 

It was a hot day; fish were lazy. Top water didn't work at all neither did crank baits or chompers. We ended up just using these red plastic small worms designed for trout, and a splitshot. Cast...let it sink..as soon as it hits bottom...give it a jerk...right after that jerk, we were getting multiple strikes like clockwork.

 

But before that, it was 4 hours of 1-2 small blue gill. Excuse my terminology - fishing is still very new to me. I attached a little useful map.The hydrilla on the south part of the lake was too much...the only way I would fish that is if I had a topwater frog crankbait, and it would have to be considerably cooler temperatures.

 

I am going again this weekend...I may try another lake and try to share my experience here on the forum.

[MO_LMB]

Caught 4-5 smallys and 1 or two LMB (large mouth) about a foot long or so, catch and release

 

 

You caught smallmouth bass at Busch Wildlife?

[Greg456us]

Smallmouth at Busch? Been fishing there many years and have never seen a smallmouth at Busch. Lake 35 is one of the best lakes here. The hydrilla is the place to fish. Although it is shallow you can throw a fluke on the edge and catch them all day. Also do well throwing a fluke on the points. Chatter baits are another awesome bait to throw. Black and Blue seems to work best. If you want the larger fish you have to fish the hydrilla. It is not uncommon to catch 15 to 20 bass in a few hours in the morning or the evenings. Although fished today and only caught 4. Two on a fluke and two on a Pop-R but it was extremely windy and a cold front. Busch Wildlife can be Awesome once you figure it out. Each lake is a little different.