Tips for Busch

Hey darodecap,

You may know all that I am going to say and it is NOT from experience at Busch. I have never fished the area in the winter. But for those that are not familiar, each year the MDC stocks many lakes in the STL area with trout. It is catch and release until February and then after you can keep. They stock when the water is cold and then when it warms the trout will die so they allow unlimited keep. Also, only certain lakes in the Busch Wildlife area are stocked. You need to check the MDC website to know which ones are stocked with trout.

With all that said, I have heard from others that fishing at Busch has been tough so far.  First, make sure the MDC has stocked your particular lake you are fishing. Maybe, just maybe, they have held back on stocking because the temperatures have been “too warm” so far this Fall. But if the trout were stocked AND because of warmer surface temperatures in the lakes, I would guess that the trout are down deep. So if you are not getting your fly down deep you may be nowhere near where the trout are feeding.

So. I would fish deep by 1) stripping buggers with weight or a sinking tip line or sinking leader, 2) if using an indicator make sure your leader/tippet is long and weighted.  Sorry, but since I usually do not fish this area that’s the best I got for you.

Hi Dave

Go figure hatchery fish. ? Like Kenny said reports on fishing at Busch has been challenging. I haven’t made it yet to fish Busch. But, I had success last year with a light brown mohair leech with a orange bead drifted under a indicator stripping in every 3 minutes. It depends on the wind causing a ripple/waves on the lake water on how often to strip.  Possibly, fish are getting spooked with a Indy/bobber maybe try a yarn type indicator.
I plan to schedule on our FATC trip calendar another FATC Urban fly fishing trip to Busch sometime in January. We had a blast fishing Busch last year with great fellowship. Hope you can make it and possibly we can figure it out.

Tightlines,

Mike

Have not fished Busch but have been active at Jefferson lake in Forest Park.  Wind is ur friend here as it puts chop on the water n gives ur flies under an indicator movement.  Have had success with the orange beaded  dark brown leeches.  Also a Big Hirt has shown promise.
I take a fast 6 wt. or even a 7 as casts are long to get to deeper water and try to cut the wind.  Heavier rods also help launch weighted streamers with more ease.

keep moving around as u are lake fishing and trying to find where the fish are hanging out.  The fish have to move to find food.  Some areas will be more advantageous than others. It’s a treasure hunt!