Missouri Department of Conservation

St. Louis Lakes

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St. Louis Lakes

From the St. Louis Urban Fishing Program to August A. Busch Conservation Area, St. Louis is loaded with good lake fishing opportunities. Pursue bluegill, catfish, crappie, largemouth bass and winter trout fishing at a lake near you.

Busch Area Lakes

Lake #30 at August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles was recent
The August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area (Busch CA) is a great place for year-round fishing. A variety of catfish, crappie, largemouth bass and sunfish opportunities await you. Throw in kids fishing opportunities, winter trout, the occasional hybrid striped bass and even muskie, and it’s easy to see the Busch CA has something for almost everyone. More

St. Louis Bass Lakes

Image of a largemouth bass
The middle of a major metro-plex doesn’t sound like a great place to find largemouth bass, but the Department manages 68 lakes in St. Charles County, St. Louis City and St. Louis County to provide great bass fishing. More

St. Louis Catfish Lakes

Image of a channel catfish
Although the world- and state-catfish records hauled from the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers around St. Louis get much of the notoriety, catfishing in lakes is pretty good within an hour of the Arch, too. More

St. Louis Winter Trout Areas

Find winter trout fishing at 11 St. Louis-area locations. More

St. Louis Urban Fishing Program

The Urban Fishing Program encompasses 27 park lakes in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Ferguson and Ballwin and provides quality, close-to-home fishing opportunities for St. Louis anglers. Find an Urban Fishing Program lake near your St. Louis neighborhood. More

MDC Applications

  • MDC Atlas

    Browse more than 1,000 conservation areas, including stream accesses, natural areas and wildlife management areas. You'll find lots of places to camp, hunt, fish, float, hike, ride your horse, bird, gather mushrooms, photograph wildlife, picnic and discover nature with your family. Each entry includes recreation info, regulations, map and brochure.

Related Information

  • Kids Fishing Days ProgramFishing helps kids discover nature and conserve it, too. Help the special kids in your life get hooked on the thrill of fishing. Bring them to a Kids Fishing Days program scheduled at a conservation area or participating location near you.
  • St. Louis Region Lakes Special Fishing Regulations

    Download and print these special regulations for August A. Busch Conservation Area Lakes, St. Louis Urban Fishing Program Lakes and MDC and Community Assistance Program (CAP) Lakes.

  • St. Louis Region Recreation Areas Map

    This map shows St. Louis-area public lakes and stream accesses.

Public Fishing Areas

Search conservation fishing areas by county.

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