ST. LOUIS · LOCAL FISHING GUIDE
Spend less time guessing.
Spend more time fishing.
Pick a local lake or river, see what to target, and get a simple starting setup before you leave home.
FISHING SPOT FINDER
18 local guides.
Filter the noise.
Explore 6 original destinations, 6 additional metro parks and lakes, and 6 dedicated winter-trout lake guides. Filter by bank access, beginner-friendly water, species or boat options.
FOR THE KIDS
Small fish.
Big memories.
A first fishing trip should feel like an adventure, not a test of patience. Start with easy bank water, a bobber and worm, a short session, and a plan that gives kids a real chance to stay interested.
DISCOVER ST. LOUIS FISHING SPOTS
Local waters, less guesswork.
Choose a spot from the list or click the map. Every guide is built to answer the practical questions: where, what fish, what line, and what to throw first.
Busch Wildlife
Many numbered lakes, broad species mix, and plenty of bank access.
Creve Coeur Lake
Easy-access urban water with room to explore from shore.
Meramec River
Moving-water options for bass, catfish and seasonal variety.
Pere Marquette
A scenic option when you want a different kind of local trip.
Riverlands
Big-river habitat, backwater areas and multiple ways to fish.
Simpson Lake
A straightforward lake trip with good bank-fishing potential.
Pick your water
WHERE SHOULD I FISH TODAY?
Build a quick game plan.
Pick the water and the fish. Cast STL will give you a simple line, leader and lure starting point.
This weekend: choose your water before your lure.
Three honest, practical starting points for a short bank trip, a family outing, or a lake-by-lake day at Busch. This is a dated plan—not live bite, stocking, or weather information.
FISHING BRIEF ARCHIVE · OCT. 12–18, 2026
Your next trip.
A clearer starting point.
The October 12–18 issue is archived, not a current conditions report. Its six-water trip planner and official source links are still useful starting points; always verify access, weather and regulations.
Pick a trip in 60 seconds
Have an hour or a half day? Fishing with kids, chasing bass or considering a river? Get a sensible starting plan.
Choose a trip → ARCHIVE · OCT. 12–18Six waters, six approaches
Simpson, Suson, Creve Coeur, Busch, Willmore and the Meramec — what to try and when to change course.
Read the archived brief → LIVE COMMUNITY FEEDRecent angler reports
See moderated submissions separately from plans. A server-rendered board is available even with JavaScript off.
Open reports →Latest published fishing brief: Oct. 12–18, 2026 (archived). No new weekly edition is claimed. Seasonal guidance is not a same-day catch, weather or stocking report.
OCTOBER TRIP PLAN · EDITED OCT. 14, 2026
Fall water.
Better decisions.
Fall fishing around St. Louis is a choice between smaller park lakes, broad banks and rivers that can change fast. Start with access and conditions rather than last week's rumor.
Four autumn trip options
Compare Simpson, Creve Coeur, Busch and the Meramec based on time, bank access and your target species.
Compare trips →ON-THE-WATER SYSTEMYour first 30 minutes
Observe, make deliberate casts, change one variable, and decide whether to move.
See the process →COMING SEASONTrout rule comparison
Compare artificial-only catch-and-release lakes with locations using different harvest and tackle rules.
Check winter rules →SEASONAL GUIDE
Winter trout.
Right here in STL.
Six more urban lakes join Cast STL with winter-trout rules, maps and simple cold-weather setups.
MORE STL WATER
Six more metro places.
Beyond the original six.
These six park and lake guides join our six original destinations and six dedicated winter-trout lake guides, for 18 local guides in the Spot Finder.
Suson Park
Two public fishing lakes, summer urban-program fish and winter trout make Suson one of the most useful year-round additions to Cast STL.
Open guide →NEW GUIDECarondelet Park
Boathouse and Horseshoe give city anglers two different small-water options, including winter trout at Boathouse and strong bass potential at Horseshoe.
Open guide →NEW GUIDESpanish Lake Park
Spanish Lake Park gives north-county anglers bass, crappie, catfish and sunfish opportunities with both bank and legal electric-motor boat access.
Open guide →NEW GUIDEFountain Lakes
A cluster of St. Charles waters that works best when you choose the individual lake first instead of treating Fountain Lakes as one generic spot.
Open guide →NEW GUIDEWillmore Park
North and South lakes are compact urban-program waters where simple catfish, sunfish and bass presentations make more sense than hauling a huge tackle box.
Open guide →NEW GUIDEBee Tree Park Lake
A South County park lake that MDC highlights for largemouth bass potential, with special cooperative-management limits worth checking before you keep fish.
Open guide →SEASONAL FISHING OUTLOOK
A starting point.
Not fake catch reports.
Updated planning notes are labeled PLAN, not catches. User-submitted reports are dated and moderated; verify current regulations and conditions before heading out.
The cards below are editorial plans, not verified catches. View the live approved-report count and entries (works without JavaScript).
Busch Wildlife
Choose the numbered lake first, then match a simple setup to its species and current rules.
PLANCreve Coeur Lake
Start with wind, shade and shoreline access before changing presentations.
PLANMeramec River
Check level and current, then focus on reachable seams, eddies and current breaks.
KEEP LEARNING
Useful before your next cast.
Lures, line & leaders
Match your line strength, leader and lure to the fish you're targeting.
Open guide → 02Beginner guide
Simple gear, rigging and fishing basics without the jargon overload.
Start here → 03Fishing reports
Separate moderated angler catches from transparent seasonal planning notes.
View reports →