St Louis 2024

Needemp reply :

So who's all fishing this year from Stl? When is your first trip out and where will ya go? Any goals for the year?

cart7t reply :

Weather permitting, I'm hitting a new lake for me next weekend. It's down in the bootheel area with big bass potential. Washington County tournaments on March the 15th and the 29th. KY lake for the BassResource.com get together. I really like my odds on a new PB this year. The lake I'm going to has the potential for a 10lb fish.

srv1990 reply :

Once the weather gets better - and the kids soccer and basketball comes to an end - I'll start hitting some ponds near Nashville, IL on property my brother in law owns. My one big trip is to Table Rock the 2nd week of May. Would love to hit other good bass lakes that are close to St. Louis (that is, less than an hour from the city) simply because my time available to fish is so limited... but don't know of many. But I'm all "ears"...

cart7t reply :

Quote
Once the weather gets better - and the kids soccer and basketball comes to an end - I'll start hitting some ponds near Nashville, IL on property my brother in law owns. My one big trip is to Table Rock the 2nd week of May. Would love to hit other good bass lakes that are close to St. Louis (that is, less than an hour from the city) simply because my time available to fish is so limited... but don't know of many. But I'm all "ears"...

Give Washington county a try. Just about 2-3 miles south of Nashville. Around 300 acre lake, 10hp motor limit. It's a lake that is normally has some sort of power bait bite going on it as the lake has a bunch of cover in it just under the surface along the banks. Good fish up to 8lbs in the lake.

Fishing Doug reply :

I actually had my first trip out on Wednesday. I fished a pond on our family farm in Mid-MO. There was still snow on the ground and a bit of ice on the upper end of the pond but we had to try it out anyway. We were out for crappie but we ended up catching more bass (on crappie jigs) than crappie with the biggest going 3lbs even. I will take that for the first week of March!

We get the boat out of storage tomorrow and are planning on the first trip out with the boat next Saturday-schedules and weather permitting. Plan on heading to Coffeen.

Two things we are going to focus on this year:

1. We are going to limit ourselves to 2-3 lakes in order to learn the lakes better. We jumped around so much last year that we didn't really get feel for each lake.

2. Personally, I am going to limit myself to 5-6 techniques this year. In 2007, I was that guy that would throw the same bait all day long. In 2008, I went the opposite direction and wouldn't give a bait much of a chance. I think this will make me a better fisherman.

Fishing Doug reply :

Quote

Quote
Once the weather gets better - and the kids soccer and basketball comes to an end - I'll start hitting some ponds near Nashville, IL on property my brother in law owns. My one big trip is to Table Rock the 2nd week of May. Would love to hit other good bass lakes that are close to St. Louis (that is, less than an hour from the city) simply because my time available to fish is so limited... but don't know of many. But I'm all "ears"...

Give Washington county a try. Just about 2-3 miles south of Nashville. Around 300 acre lake, 10hp motor limit. It's a lake that is normally has some sort of power bait bite going on it as the lake has a bunch of cover in it just under the surface along the banks. Good fish up to 8lbs in the lake.

Agreed on Washington County.

Coffeen and Baldwin are bit further than an hour, but not by much. Might give those a try. Coffeen gets a ton of pressure from tourney's, but we have had some great fishing days out there.

Valascus reply :

I'll be finally hitting the water sometime this weekend. Probably just start out slow at the public pond in the area to knock the rust off, then scoot off to some nice farmponds I found in Jonesburg with some 7 lbs+ feesh.

cart7t reply :

Hey stranger!

Did you ever get that boat?

Dink has been trying to call you. There are a couple Washco tourneys this month. 15th and 29th.

8-)

Needemp reply :

Quote
Two things we are going to focus on this year:
1. We are going to limit ourselves to 2-3 lakes in order to learn the lakes better. We jumped around so much last year that we didn't really get feel for each lake.

2. Personally, I am going to limit myself to 5-6 techniques this year. In 2007, I was that guy that would throw the same bait all day long. In 2008, I went the opposite direction and wouldn't give a bait much of a chance. I think this will make me a better fisherman.

That sounds like a good plan. What 5 or 6 techniques are you going to limit yourself with?

Fishing Doug reply :

Quote

Quote
Two things we are going to focus on this year:
1. We are going to limit ourselves to 2-3 lakes in order to learn the lakes better. We jumped around so much last year that we didn't really get feel for each lake.

2. Personally, I am going to limit myself to 5-6 techniques this year. In 2007, I was that guy that would throw the same bait all day long. In 2008, I went the opposite direction and wouldn't give a bait much of a chance. I think this will make me a better fisherman.

That sounds like a good plan. What 5 or 6 techniques are you going to limit yourself with?

This list may change, but it is looking like this:

Cranks:lipless and lipped

Jerkbaits:hard and soft

shakey head: worm and specifically Powerbait Power Hawg

T-rig: curly tail worm

jig

split shot:specifically w/Trick Worm

I know that is a fairly 'plain vanilla' list, but, these are the techniques that I have the most confidence in and are my favorite to throw.

Valascus reply :

Quote
Hey stranger!
Did you ever get that boat?

Dink has been trying to call you. There are a couple Washco tourneys this month. 15th and 29th.

8-)

I did get the boat. It needs a bit of work, but nothing too serious. New decking and carpet, maybe some paint and other minor cosmetic things. All things boat have been put on hold until things at work settle down. Company I work for got bought out and we are in the midst of a massive computer and operations conversion. No one is really sure how any of this affexts us yet, so gotta be careful with the money.

I probably won't be able to fish either tourney. Work has me tied up for the weekend of the 15th and my daughters birthday is the 29th.

Next time I see ya, I'll have to show you the picture of the 6lbs 1 oz. fish I caught out of the "smaller fish" farm pond.

cart7t reply :

It's about time you broke that 5lb mark. 8-)

Needemp reply :

Quote

This list may change, but it is looking like this:

Cranks:lipless and lipped

Jerkbaits:hard and soft

shakey head: worm and specifically Powerbait Power Hawg

T-rig: curly tail worm

jig

split shot:specifically w/Trick Worm

I know that is a fairly 'plain vanilla' list, but, these are the techniques that I have the most confidence in and are my favorite to throw.

FD

Doesn't sound too plain vanilla to me. In fact seems like it might be overwhelming. Here is what I learned from Mike Iaconelli three years ago and hopefully this will help. I limited myself to learning one lure per year. I started with the jig and fished it about 90% of the time in 2007. I got real comfortable and familiar with it. I now have my selection down to a few colors and I am familiar with when to use what head and which trailer to use. I had a lot of success with the jig and I now have a ton of confidence in it. I caught my 8.3#er with a jig and won several tournament with it.

In '08 I wanted to get familiar with crankbaits so I used them most of the time. Since I limited myself to CB's, I now know which CBs deflect off of wood best, off of the bottom the best, and which ones go through rip-rap the best. I also know how deep they usually run on various line diameters. I also know the wiggles and wobbles of them as well. I have about 3 or 4 brands I use and 3 or 4 colors I use. I again had a lot of success with them and I have confidence in them.

This year I am going to learn swimbaits. I have big plastic Castaics, Sebiles, hollow bellies, Mattlures Bluegill, Storms and some others. They range in size from 3" to 8". I am also going to learn finesse tactics and I am going to learn how to catch the suspended bass as well. I figure there will be times when the swimbait will work, finesse will work and there will be times where I will have to go after the suspenders.

Following Ikes plan has really helped me. I had never really had success with the jig until 07. I never had any confidence with CBs till last year. And I don't have a lot of confidence that I will be successful with swimbaits, finesse or catching suspenders. But since I forced myself to fish jigs and CBs, I learned how to have success with them. In 07 when I determined that a jig was non-effective, I switched to something else. The same last year with the CB. There were times last year where I tried to force a CB bite, but couldn't do it. So i went to the jig and caught fish. Hope this gives you some ideas.

Fishing Doug reply :

Quote

Quote

This list may change, but it is looking like this:

Cranks:lipless and lipped

Jerkbaits:hard and soft

shakey head: worm and specifically Powerbait Power Hawg

T-rig: curly tail worm

jig

split shot:specifically w/Trick Worm

I know that is a fairly 'plain vanilla' list, but, these are the techniques that I have the most confidence in and are my favorite to throw.

FD

Doesn't sound too plain vanilla to me. In fact seems like it might be overwhelming. Here is what I learned from Mike Iaconelli three years ago and hopefully this will help. I limited myself to learning one lure per year. I started with the jig and fished it about 90% of the time in 2007. I got real comfortable and familiar with it. I now have my selection down to a few colors and I am familiar with when to use what head and which trailer to use. I had a lot of success with the jig and I now have a ton of confidence in it. I caught my 8.3#er with a jig and won several tournament with it.

In '08 I wanted to get familiar with crankbaits so I used them most of the time. Since I limited myself to CB's, I now know which CBs deflect off of wood best, off of the bottom the best, and which ones go through rip-rap the best. I also know how deep they usually run on various line diameters. I also know the wiggles and wobbles of them as well. I have about 3 or 4 brands I use and 3 or 4 colors I use. I again had a lot of success with them and I have confidence in them.

This year I am going to learn swimbaits. I have big plastic Castaics, Sebiles, hollow bellies, Mattlures Bluegill, Storms and some others. They range in size from 3" to 8". I am also going to learn finesse tactics and I am going to learn how to catch the suspended bass as well. I figure there will be times when the swimbait will work, finesse will work and there will be times where I will have to go after the suspenders.

Following Ikes plan has really helped me. I had never really had success with the jig until 07. I never had any confidence with CBs till last year. And I don't have a lot of confidence that I will be successful with swimbaits, finesse or catching suspenders. But since I forced myself to fish jigs and CBs, I learned how to have success with them. In 07 when I determined that a jig was non-effective, I switched to something else. The same last year with the CB. There were times last year where I tried to force a CB bite, but couldn't do it. So i went to the jig and caught fish. Hope this gives you some ideas.

Needemp,

I like your plan and I actually do something similar. My first post only described my fishing I do from St. Louis and on the boat(I should have clarified that). We have a family farm in Mid MO with a few ponds/lakes. When I fish these (head back to the farm about once a month) I focus on one technique. Last year I fished the trick worm on a split shot rig. Now, I have a ton of confidence in that rig. Haven't decided what my 'technique to master' will be this year. So, on the boat, I am limiting myself to 5-6, from the bank, 1 technique. Yeah, I know, sounds a bit crazy but that makes it the most fun for me and that is my main concern when fishing.

I am curious to hear how you do with the swimbaits. What finesse techniques are you going to focus on?

dink reply :

Hey stangers. Yeah, I'm having a couple tournies out at WashCo this year. As far as goals, don't fall out of the boat, always unhook charger BEFORE leaving house, and go potty before tournament starts.

Seriously, I'm focusing on the elusive double digit sow this year. Thus locations and techiques shall be be quite varied this year, with quite a bit of "blind" fishing offshore. Something to try fro a while.

I don't want to rain on anyone's "Coffeen parade", but that lake has been alot tougher this year. 13 lbs. got you a check if not a win most of the winter. Something happened out there because there is a slot limit going into effect April 1. Each person allowed to keep one over 15" and two between 12" and 15". The state doesn't just do something like that for kicks. I imagine recent creel surveys enlightened the DNR to population changes for a number of species.

Needemp reply :

Quote
I don't want to rain on anyone's "Coffeen parade", but that lake has been alot tougher this year. 13 lbs. got you a check if not a win most of the winter. Something happened out there because there is a slot limit going into effect April 1. Each person allowed to keep one over 15" and two between 12" and 15". The state doesn't just do something like that for kicks. I imagine recent creel surveys enlightened the DNR to population changes for a number of species.

Hey Dink, What will that do for tournaments next year? Has there been any discussion about that?

Fishing Doug reply :

Quote
Hey stangers. Yeah, I'm having a couple tournies out at WashCo this year. As far as goals, don't fall out of the boat, always unhook charger BEFORE leaving house, and go potty before tournament starts.
Seriously, I'm focusing on the elusive double digit sow this year. Thus locations and techiques shall be be quite varied this year, with quite a bit of "blind" fishing offshore. Something to try fro a while.

I don't want to rain on anyone's "Coffeen parade", but that lake has been alot tougher this year. 13 lbs. got you a check if not a win most of the winter. Something happened out there because there is a slot limit going into effect April 1. Each person allowed to keep one over 15" and two between 12" and 15". The state doesn't just do something like that for kicks. I imagine recent creel surveys enlightened the DNR to population changes for a number of species.

Dink,

Really?! You disappear and then come back and tell me that my favorite lake is a lot tougher?? That is just mean!

Have you been out to Baldwin recently or know anyone who has? Just wondering how it is fishing...

Needemp reply :

Quote
I like your plan and I actually do something similar. My first post only described my fishing I do from St. Louis and on the boat(I should have clarified that). We have a family farm in Mid MO with a few ponds/lakes. When I fish these (head back to the farm about once a month) I focus on one technique. Last year I fished the trick worm on a split shot rig. Now, I have a ton of confidence in that rig. Haven't decided what my 'technique to master' will be this year. So, on the boat, I am limiting myself to 5-6, from the bank, 1 technique. Yeah, I know, sounds a bit crazy but that makes it the most fun for me and that is my main concern when fishing.
I am curious to hear how you do with the swimbaits. What finesse techniques are you going to focus on?

FD

The finessing I plan on doing is drop-shotting and doodling. For the most part it will be with my depth-finder. In tough conditions or on deeper structure I am going to use the bait fish, find the bass on my graph and then go vertical for them. I have done a little of this, but I didn't fully understand how to read my electronics. But at the end of last year, things really began to click. I will use this technique for suspended bass as well. I also might trying other finesse tactics, but not sure yet. I like to keep it simple. I also incorporate the Senko's at times and have done fairly well with them.

Valascus reply :

Quote
It's about time you broke that 5lb mark. 8-)

Now I gotta try to break 7.

cart7t reply :

Quote
...
Seriously, I'm focusing on the elusive double digit sow this year. Thus locations and techiques shall be be quite varied this year, with quite a bit of "blind" fishing offshore. Something to try fro a while.

.

I've got a lake. Double digit possibility. We'll talk at the tournament Sunday.

Goggle Eyes reply :

You guys have any favorite holes you feel like letting another local guy in on?

cart7t reply :

Quote
You guys have any favorite holes you feel like letting another local guy in on?

St Louis is not particularly blessed with many decent lakes within 100 miles of the city.

In missouri

Perry county lake, just off 55 in Perryville.

Simpson lake just east of Valley Park. Not sure how the bass fishing has been since last years March floods. The boat ramp sucks.

Illinois

Washington County

Goggle Eyes reply :

We have access to a couple of farm ponds, two are about an acre and one is two acres. These are very nice, not really farm ponds but they tend to get monotanuse after awhile.

We hit Kincaid and Goosecreek pretty frequently but I havent done very well at either. I will have to check out Perryville.

Siebert Outdoors reply :

I plan on fishing a few new places around this year. Goal is still 8+ mark.

srv1990 reply :

Quote

Quote
Once the weather gets better - and the kids soccer and basketball comes to an end - I'll start hitting some ponds near Nashville, IL on property my brother in law owns. My one big trip is to Table Rock the 2nd week of May. Would love to hit other good bass lakes that are close to St. Louis (that is, less than an hour from the city) simply because my time available to fish is so limited... but don't know of many. But I'm all "ears"...

Give Washington county a try. Just about 2-3 miles south of Nashville. Around 300 acre lake, 10hp motor limit. It's a lake that is normally has some sort of power bait bite going on it as the lake has a bunch of cover in it just under the surface along the banks. Good fish up to 8lbs in the lake.

Thanks cart, appreciate the input. Every time we go to the ponds in Nashville we pass the entrance to WA county lake. One of us usually says something like: "We gotta fish that lake sometime." : Also, I work in Tree Court Industrial, off Marshall Road, which is a stones throw from Simpson. I should give that a try, too!

Goggle Eyes reply :

What's Simpson? Is that a park in Fenton?

srv1990 reply :

Quote
What's Simpson? Is that a park in Fenton?

I believe it's in Valley Park... here's a link with some info:

http://www.stlouisco.com/parks/simpson.html

cart7t reply :

If you're fishing simpson be prepared, the ramp is very shallow. There is no courtesy dock and the water around the ramp is very shallow as well. It's difficult to find a place to tie off to after launching and get into the boat without grounding on rocks.

The lake is a pair of old quarries. The banks in most places drop off steeply. I've had my best success fishing any flats type areas. There is an 18" size limit. I've regularly caught fish there from 2-4 pounds but I haven't really fished that lake since the flood inundated it last March. I have no idea if that effected the fishing there or not.

srv1990 reply :

Cart, I don't own a boat, so I'm limited to bank fishing. Can you suggest any parts of Simpson which are better than others for fishing from the bank? Also, how is the population at Simpson for bluegill, sunfish, etc?

Thanks,

Tom

cart7t reply :

Quote
Cart, I don't own a boat, so I'm limited to bank fishing. Can you suggest any parts of Simpson which are better than others for fishing from the bank? Also, how is the population at Simpson for bluegill, sunfish, etc?
Thanks,

Tom

Bank fishing at Simpson is very limited. The vast majority of the banks are too overgrown and steep to even begin to fish them. The best options are at the boat ramp on the west side of the lake. Go to the left side of the ramp, there is some flatter land there that is accessible and actually has some good bass fishing. Go to the right and the bank is probably too steep though the area 50 yds in that direction from the ramp is also good. You last options are in Simpson park itself. You can fish from the outflow spillway all the way to the fishing dock and a little past that. Standing on the fishing dock, there is a bank to the left that's got lots of broken off stumps on it all the way out to a point. If you can get to it, that bank is another good spot.

Can't help you on the bluegills but I imagine around the fishing dock would be good.

Goggle Eyes reply :

Quote
Cart, I don't own a boat, so I'm limited to bank fishing. Can you suggest any parts of Simpson which are better than others for fishing from the bank? Also, how is the population at Simpson for bluegill, sunfish, etc?
Thanks,

Tom

Hey Tom, check out Unger if you dont have a boat. Its behind Busch Soccer Park on Yarnell. I was there today (afternoon) and there is ample beach for casting. Of course I didnt get a bite and I lost a $9 Terminator, but it was good to see that there is a local, quick option for me other than Tilles.

Needemp reply :

Caught this beauty 20 minutes from Stl on a crank bait. She weighed 7.4

srv1990 reply :

Hey Needemp, great fish... and definitely a pig!

Goggle Eyes, I took your advice and checked out Unger this afternoon with my 8-yr old son, my brother-in-law and his son. We fished for about 2 hours in a very light off and on drizzle. We caught a few bluegill, a couple decent sized crappie and a couple 6" bass.

However the best came from my son. He had moved about 50 yards down the bank and I hear him start to yell "Dad, I've got one!". Well, he hooked into a nice bass throwing a Husky Jerk on an ultralight rod. He was so excited, and I was even more excited for him! The bass was about 13"-14" and maybe 1 1/2 to 2 lbs. My brother in law took a couple pics on his cell phone, so I'll post one once he figures out how to download it. BTW, I think my son was just as excited to be the one to let the fish go, too!!

Thanks for the tip on Unger, we'll be back.

Tom

Goggle Eyes reply :

Where were you guys fishing at Unger? Glad you had a good time, its the best when the kids do well.

srv1990 reply :

Quote
Where were you guys fishing at Unger? Glad you had a good time, its the best when the kids do well.

We parked in the lot nearest to the lake (not the one near the pavilion) and took one of the trails right near where we parked. We bank fished very close to where the trails lead to the lake, there are quite a few small trees and stick-ups coming up out of the water from the bank out maybe 30 feet. Lost several lures to those buggers, but all worth it to see my son catch that fish!

Fishing Doug reply :

Quote
Caught this beauty 20 minutes from Stl on a crank bait. She weighed 7.4

Nice Hawg!

Goggle Eyes reply :

Quote

Quote
Where were you guys fishing at Unger? Glad you had a good time, its the best when the kids do well.

We parked in the lot nearest to the lake (not the one near the pavilion) and took one of the trails right near where we parked. We bank fished very close to where the trails lead to the lake, there are quite a few small trees and stick-ups coming up out of the water from the bank out maybe 30 feet. Lost several lures to those buggers, but all worth it to see my son catch that fish!

We did the same tonight. We walked up the bank and stopped where the bank turns, there are a couple of tree trunks cut for seats sitting there. My son caught a 14"er on a Mepps. Darn if I couldnt get a bite! Of course I was throwing big lures, spinners, Bagley, Wiggle Wart high risk, high reward. The bass was cold and its' color was real muted, so it appears they havent moved up much at least there.

Good times tho.

Needemp reply :

Hey Goggle eyes, was the water real muddy? I have never been to Unger, but I assume there is no boat ramp?

srv1990 reply :

That's great Goggle Eyes, glad your son pulled one in... maybe it was the one my son caught? LOL By the way, funny you should mention he used a Mepps. I got hung up and lost one on my very first cast of the day Saturday... not a good way to start off.

Needemp, the water was pretty stained, but I wouldn't say muddy... of course, that was before we had all that rain Sunday. I don't recall seeing a boat ramp anywhere. There was a guy cruising the lake in a float tube, though, it's a good size lake for that.

1394

St Louis 2024

related Central Bass Fishing topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed Central Bass Fishing topic