ST. LOUIS CITY · TWO-LAKE GUIDE

Carondelet Park.
Pick the water first.

Boathouse and Horseshoe give city anglers two different small-water options, including winter trout at Boathouse and strong bass potential at Horseshoe.

Open the guide

WATER SELECTOR

Choose your water.
Then choose the setup.

Each lake gets its own map position and planning notes. Exact conditions change, so use the guide as a starting point.

Start here

  • Walk the bank before changing lures.
  • Prioritize shade, vegetation, cover and wind-blown edges.
  • Fish early or late during hot weather.
  • Keep exact honey holes private; learn repeatable patterns instead.

SIMPLE SETUPS

Three ways
to start fishing.

These cover most first-trip situations without turning the guide into a tackle catalog.

BASS

Finesse + moving bait

8–12 lb mono/fluoro or 15–20 lb braid with an 8–12 lb fluorocarbon leader. Start with a finesse worm, small jig or spinnerbait.

PANFISH / TROUT

Light spinning

4–6 lb mono/fluoro. Small jig, float rig, worm or trout presentation when the selected water and season allow it.

CATFISH

Simple bottom rig

12–20 lb main line with an abrasion-resistant leader. Use legal natural/prepared bait and match sinker weight to wind or current.

ACCESS + REGULATIONS

Check before you keep.

  • Boats are prohibited on these cooperative-management park waters.
  • Boathouse Lake has winter trout regulations that change seasonally.
  • Urban-program black bass, catfish and other-species limits apply; check current MDC tables.
  • Use posted City park hours and closures.

OFFICIAL SOURCE

Current rules win.

Cast STL is for trip planning. Missouri Department of Conservation regulations and posted park rules control on site.

Check official information