Busch Wildlife (St. Louis)

[jaskoh]

Does anyone fish here at all?  I work 10 minutes away and I am to poor to own a boat.  So I get out there with my trolling motor once or twice a week.  I catch plenty of 12-13 inch bass every outing.  I was wondering if anyone knew of any particular lake that produced bigger fish than that.  I practice catch and release so if there are some lakes that produce better fish they will be returned immediatly.  

Jason  

[Needemp]

Unfortunately, BW is a very pressured area. I have been out there a couple of times this year, but not to catch fish, just play with some lures and techniques. I would say that if you are gonna catch any nice bass that you have to work pretty hard. First off I would try to find a lake that doesn't look like it gets fished all that much in a boat. Second, I would fish the shorelines where there is no access to bank fisherman. Third, I would use a depth finder to find structure and cover(some lakes are full of cover and structure) that is away from the shore. Fourth, remember that if a spot looks good to you from above the water, then it looks good to everyone else as well and gets hit hard. Finally, I would pick a lake or two and get to know them real well, as opposed to jumpin around. Hope this helps.

[jaskoh]

I actually jumped around early this year but have been going to the same two lakes the past month.  Amazingly I had the lake all to myself on weds.  

On a side note.  I contacted the president of Hawg Hunters of St. Charles a week ago.  I really interested in joining some type of fishing club around the St. Louis area.  I just need to find time to get to one of your meetings.  I should of went last weds but I really wanted to fish.  How does it work, do I just show up or do I need to let Gary know I'm comming?  

[Needemp]

You just show up. We have a tourny at Mark Twain next weekend. I think there is a meeting in 2 1/2 weeks from now on a Wednesday. So for it has been fun.

[[[J4cks0n.Shr3dd3r]]]

I was just looking to post the same thread to see if anyone has fished in BW on here. I live in Maplewood which is just outside of St Louis and can't seem to find a good lake or pond near by that has nice fish. I have not tried Busch yet, but looking to tomorrow. From the looks of the map, lake 33 is nice and big, and has all typed of fish. Altho, there might be alot of people there, it being the biggest lake and all. I am fairly new to Bass Fishing. I have spent all my life trying to catch bluegill and crappie more than Bass. I just moved to Missouri about a month ago from Battle Creek, Michiga, where they make cereal lol. They had nice lakes up there. I just cant seem to find a nice lake nearby that has nice fish. Any suggestions? Thanks!

-James

[Needemp]

Welcome JamesMc, unfortunately you moved to one of the worst cities when it comes to good fishing. The closest lake that has big bass and numbers of small ones is in Waterloo. It's about a half an hour from St. Louis depending where you live. But if you are going to drive to BW, then you might as well drive a little extra to Waterloo. Other than that, you have to drive more than an hour to get to a descent lake.

[jaskoh]

Where do you fish in waterloo? Before my dad moved (when I was in highschool) he was a member of the waterloo sportsman club? This was a club with 3 small lakes. Is this the same place you fish?

Edit:  I just google earthed waterloo and I had no idea how many lakes are there.  To bad you can't tell which ones are public and the off limit private lakes.  Is there any websites that list the public lakes?  

[Daniel My Brother]

I've never fished Busch, but here's what I read about it in the 2007 MDC fishing prospects guide:

The best lake for big largemouth bass is Lake 33 where 52% of the bass were larger than 15" and 14% were larger than 18" from a sample of 109 bass caught this spring. Lakes 5, 6, 7, 12, 24, 30, 35, 38, and will also have 25-55% of the bass population larger than 15" and 10% larger than 18 inches.

I picked up the guide from our coservation office, but you can read the whole report online at http://mdc.mo.gov/fish/prospects/lakes.htm

[jaskoh]

A lot of those lakes are considered catfish lakes on their map of the property.  I guess I just assumed they only stocked catfish in those lakes and didn't even think about fishing them.  Thanks for the info.  

Jason  

[spinhead]

I fish the Bush Wildlife area frequently. In fact I have been fishing the area for over 35 years. It wasn't always free, there was a time you had to pay a dollar to register and that required having a license.

The lakes are pressured, mostly by Catfishermen. People who visit there are very messy and you can witness this by visiting the special or popular catfish lakes. I have seen a little improvement over the last few years, not much, just a little. Overall it's a disgrace that human beings would treat the outdoors like this. Trash, driving out on the dams, around the lakes, out of state fishermen, length limit violations, catch limit violations....if the place were patrolled adequately it would be a gold mine for revenue!

I urge you as sportsmen, fishermen, conservationist, or as human beings...take a digital camera and record what you see. Report it to a higher authority, it's out of control and the Agents are having a severe case of apathy. Report it to a State Rep, Private Conservation groups or whatever... when apathy controls the enforcement it's time to take control of the controllers. BTW, it's not a race issue, a class issue, it is across the board rape of the land and water, dog groups, hunters, upper middle class Lexus driving, all types are abusing this place. Report the rapers.

Now about the fishing. Lake 33 is excellent for bass and I guarantee there are hogs. I have caught two 8+ pounders this year and they are alive and well back in the lake. There is a misconception about the lakes species designations. There are these so-called catfish only lakes... Lake 7 is one. It was filled with large bass last year and the last 2 years before that. This year I have struggled although I saw one large at least 7lb + on the nest near the rocks off the dam ( I dread what is typical for BW). Catfishing people sort of make me mad to be polite about it. I watched a guy bungle into catching about a 5 lb female full of eggs last year, he bragged about how nice his dinner would be that night. (I said is it wrong to hope he chokes on it?) My point is that too many catfishing people/freaks of nature bungle into hooking bass and keeping them. I'm 100% "0 Limit" but if someone actually thinks bass are good to eat for some reason I can't understand (then so Mikey D's is probably good food too) , then why not keep the 12" where it's legal to keep them? Just one or two maybe? Lake 31 (catch and release only no live bait allowed) is also excellent for all sizes, large and small. You will find bass in virtually any lake there, mostly you will find 10-15" lengths. Trust me the over 18" lengths are there and I'll argue anyone over this. I have a lake that I prefer not to mention that is filled with an abudance of bass, clean, healthy, well marked and colored... no one will be fishing it much this summer and with good reason (because it's sides are filled with cover no one will want to cast over and through).

If anyone thinks Bass are good to eat raise your hand, I'd like to know you and then avoid any restaraunt, recipe, or dish you'd recommend in the future. I hear about this all the time (bass are good) and for a time I did laugh, I don't laugh anymore because I hear it way too much. I don't know what people here think, but I thought bass were a sports fish, you hunt sports fish for the thrill and not as food. My whole point on top of the tips for BW fishing is that too little enforcement, not enough sportsmanship, not even close enough catch and release principles in regards to fishing styles are being applied or emphasized at the Bush Wildlife Area. Sometimes we have to take actions, apathy in this day and age is out of control across the board and this area is a prime example, you must report things, document them, record them, and do something with the information and MOST IMPORTANTLY BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING WILL RESULT ... thinking that it doesn't matter or nothing will result is apathy...when you do it and others do it, it will add up ... that accumulation will eventually get attention. This guy or that guy won't get busted, that's not what it is about, it's about stepping up the pressure and the big picture...forcing the enforcement.

Our apathy only helps fuel continued apathy, break the cycle, kick the pattern, believe what you are doing is going to matter...and it will, believe that you don't matter and sure enough...you won't.

[cart7t]

How do you really feel spinhead?   ;D

I haven't fished BW in years.  The last time was as an adult advisor when my sons gradeschool went out there a number of years ago on a day long fishing outing.  The kids caught tons of bluegill and greenies.  I basically unhooked fish and baited hooks for the girls.

It wouldn't surprise me that most of those lakes have some decent sized but hard to catch LM in them.  It would also be nice if they went back to a pay system and make the entrance fee enough to keep the riff raff out.  Make the lakes catch and release or at least have some of them designated as trophy lakes.  

[bleise]

i fish busch quite often. i work on new technics, also there isnt much else close to st. louis. lake 33 and 35 are the best bets for big fish except if you catch and release.

To spinhead no disrespect but bass taste great it is all about control and balance. Fishing and hunting was made for thining the herd so that they dont over populate. Thats why there are seasons for certaint species. You are right about busch being over fished by people keeping them.

[Bass XL]

does anyone know if you can rent boats their (row boats) me and a couple buddies are going up sunday. I ask b/c i always see boats just laying out...is their an age limit to rent them? a price? Thanks!

Craig

[jaskoh]

Craig, you can't rent boats right now but they are there.  I don't think they start renting boats until March.  I know there is one on lake 35 that is unlocked due to it being down so much.  So there might be others on different lakes but not sure how they would take it if you got caught.  I fished Lake 35 close to 20 times this summer and I have a depth finder.  There is some really nice structure 5 feet from shore on that lake (Don't know now with the water being down).  Still should be pretty deep still.  PM me if your interested.  

PS   I like the idea of your website.  I was thinking about doing something similiar.  Good luck in 08

[Bass XL]

Thanks J...We might hit up #35. That cover might be a nice spot for these winter bass...Would you reccomend it for this time of year? I was actually planning on fishing the catch and release lake...but i'm not sure yet. Thanks for the comment on my website...It was VERY simple...I actually have to update it.

[Bankbeater]

In 06, Lake 35 had a fish kill.  Before that there were some hogs in there.  That lake is down due to the lack of rain and also because it has a leak in it somewhere along the old creek bed.  IMO, I wouldn't fish that lake with light tackle, because the lake has muskie and they will hit anything from jigs to plastic worms if they're in the mood.

[jaskoh]

In 06, Lake 35 had a fish kill. Before that there were some hogs in there. That lake is down due to the lack of rain and also because it has a leak in it somewhere along the old creek bed. IMO, I wouldn't fish that lake with light tackle, because the lake has muskie and they will hit anything from jigs to plastic worms if they're in the mood.

Do you know what the cause of the fish kill was?  Also, do you know much about Lake 33?  I only fished it twice and both times was without my portable depth finder.  

[Bankbeater]

In 35 the kill was caused by hot weather and the lake being to shallow.  On lake 33 the water around the dam is about 20' deep, but the back 3/4 of the lake is only about 6 to 8 feet deep.  Lake 33 is also loaded with small crappie and huge carp.

[jaskoh]

In 35 the kill was caused by hot weather and the lake being to shallow. On lake 33 the water around the dam is about 20' deep, but the back 3/4 of the lake is only about 6 to 8 feet deep. Lake 33 is also loaded with small crappie and huge carp.

Yeah, I might have to start fishing Lake 33 or maybe 34 when you can start renting boats.  Its a shame because I got to know 35 real well over this past summer.  

[Bankbeater]

I'd stick with 33.  Lake 34 is over populated with dinks.

[jaskoh]

Is Lake 33 murky year round? The two times I fished it was pretty stained but I was fishing the upper half of the lake. I typically struggle in muddy water but it will be good practice.

Thanks for the info btw!

[Needemp]

Yeah Jaskoh, there's only three types of water you can't catch fish in... Muddy, stained and clear, other than that you do pretty good.

[jaskoh]

Yeah Jaskoh, there's only three types of water you can't catch fish in... Muddy, stained and clear, other than that you do pretty good.

I've killed men for less!  8-)

[Bankbeater]

33 is muddy from the spring to fall. I don't know about this time of year.  I hate the cold wind blowing across it.

[bigdawg1960]

Has anyone been there recently? My son and I have been fishing 34 the last 3 weekends.  Looks great with all the lilly pads and there is a lot of activity in the early mornings.  But  we never catch Bass bigger than 6 inches.  

We catch more keeper panfish than anything.

Russ