Also winter trout program
Local fishing provides year-round fun
St. Louis-area kids and their families have
some great fishing opportunities close to home during the
winter months. There are beginner lessons, improved lakes
and even a chance to fish for rainbow and brown trout.
These
opportunities are part of a continuing program by the Missouri
Department of Conservation. The idea is to let city residents
fish without traveling out of the metro area.
The enhanced opportunities get a big boost
this month when the MDC's Winter Trout Program gets started.
During November, 17 lakes in metro St. Louis will be stocked
with both rainbow and brown trout for winter fishing.
From November through January, over 36,000 catchable-sized
trout are put into the local lakes. Rules in seven of the
lakes call for "catch and release" while 10 lakes allow the
anglers of keep up to 4 fish per day.
(For
names and locations of the "winter trout" lakes, see sidebar
below.)
Another important part of the winter fishing
program is the chance for kids to get up to seven free lessons
on how to fish. The "Go Fish" lessons are given at four different
locations in the metro area.
There's even a chance for beginning anglers
to borrow fishing gear. That way, you don't have to spend
a lot of money getting ready to fish before you decide whether
fishing is something you want to do.
Included
in the local fishing chances is a continuing program of upgrading
the local lakes so they can handle an increasing variety of
fish for your entertainment and fun.
Kevin Meneau is the MDC's fisheries management
biologist for the St. Louis region. He's stationed at the
Busch Conservation Area headquarters in St. Charles County.
He was involved in the start of the winter
trout stocking program in 1989. At that time, stocking was
done only in St. Louis City. It's been expanded throughout
the metro area to include 17 different lakes.
"The goal of the Fish St. Louis program is
to let residents fish close to their homes," Meneau said.
A
large "Fish St. Louis" brochure includes not only lake locations
but also recommended fishing sites on area streams and rivers.
(You can get a complete rundown of opportunities
for urban fishing by going to the Fish St. Louis website at
www.mdc.mo.gov/areas/stlouis/fish.
Or you can pick up a color brochure at an MDC office. For
information, call (636) 441-4554.)
Winter Trout Program
Meneau
said the winter trout restocking program has been very popular
over the years. Since starting in 1989 in St. Louis, stocking
schedules have been set up in eight other Missouri cities.
Most of the trout stocked in St. Louis lakes
are in the 9"-11" length range. However, Meneau said some
get up to 18" and over.
This year, about 20% of the fish will be brown
trout and the rest rainbow trout.
Meneau said the brown trout were needed because
the number of rainbow trout grown was reduced when spring
floods cleared out one of the breeding raceways.
Anglers seeking to fish for trout in "catch
and release" lakes don't need state trout stamps. However,
if you fish in lakes that allow you to harvest fish, a stamp
is needed. They cost $7.
To check the restocking schedule, call the Fish
Stocking Hot Line at (636) 300-9651.
"Go Fish" Angler Lessons
If
you're just getting started with fishing, you might like to
take some lessons.
"Go Fish" lessons are offered at four locations
in the St. Louis area. They are at the Bellefontaine Conservation
Area in north St. Louis County, at Forest Park in the city,
at Suson Park in south St. Louis County and at the Busch Conservation
Area in St. Charles County.
There are seven "hooks" or lessons in the series.
They range from the basics of fishing, specialized fishing
techniques and even the cleaning and cooking of fish.
Meneau said at least half of each lesson is
taken up with actual fishing. "We want the kids taking the
lessons to be actually fishing, catching fish and having fun,"
he said.
(For information on "Go Fish," call (636)
441-4554.)
Equipment Loan Program
Kids don't have to own their own fishing equipment
to get started. Fishing rods and reels are available for loan
at three different locations in the St. Louis area.
The loan sites are at the Busch Conservation
Area, the Powder Valley Nature Center and the Forest Park
office. To reserve equipment either call (636) 441-4554
or (314) 877-1309.
There is no charge for getting loaned equipment.
Special equipment for the handicapped is also available.
Upgraded Local Lakes
One of the things that has helped improving
fishing opportunities was the MDC program for upgrading and
improving local lakes.
Among the lakes improved in recent years are
Jefferson Lake in Forest Park, Boathouse Lake in Carondelet
Park, Fairgrounds Park Lake and January-Wabash Lake in the
City of Ferguson.
Meneau said much of the improvement is in adding
to the depth of the lakes. Some local lakes had been only
four feet deep and that limits the variety of fish that can
survive. When lakes are increased in depth to up to 15 feet,
it means the MDC can stock additional types of fish, such
as bass, sunfish and bluegills.
