Boathouse Lake
MDC lists Boathouse Lake at 4.4 acres. It is part of the metro winter-trout program in addition to warm-season urban fishing, and boats are prohibited.
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.
CARONDELET PARK · VERIFIED LOCAL DETAILS
Two lakes. Two different reasons to fish them.
Official sources checked September 25, 2026
Carondelet is more useful when Boathouse and Horseshoe are treated as separate fisheries instead of one generic park stop. The official MDC pages list different acreage, species emphasis and seasonal opportunity for each lake.
Horseshoe Lake
MDC lists Horseshoe Lake at 2.4 acres. It is not a winter-trout lake; the annual prospect report instead calls out its spring largemouth bass potential, including fish up to about 20 inches.
Warm-season stocking
The St. Louis Urban Fishing Program stocks channel catfish through the warm season and hybrid sunfish at participating urban lakes. That makes simple bank rigs useful even when trout are not in season.
Why the distinction matters
If the goal is winter trout, start at Boathouse. If the goal is spring bass, Horseshoe deserves the first look. That single choice changes line, lure size and where you spend the first hour.
A practical first-hour plan at Carondelet
- For a winter Boathouse trip, confirm the current trout period and tackle restrictions before rigging. Carry a light spinning setup and do not assume rules are identical to a warm-season visit.
- For Horseshoe bass, make one bank lap with a small moving bait or finesse plastic before repeatedly changing lures. The lake is compact enough that covering water is usually more useful than hauling multiple rods.
- For catfish or sunfish, start with the urban-program basics: a bottom rig for catfish or a small hook and float for sunfish. Let the current stocking season guide expectations rather than treating every month the same.
Cast STL planning note: These are source-backed trip-planning recommendations, not a claim that Cast STL visited the water or caught fish there on the verification date.
Official sources used for this guide
Rules, stocking details and access can change. Use these links and posted signs as the final authority.
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