ST. LOUIS — Every winter, lakes across Missouri see the return of rainbow trout to their waters.
The fish, however, don't make their way back to these lakes by swimming through streams or creeks. Instead, they're often chucked from or shot out of Missouri Department of Conservation trucks.
MDC's winter trout program offers anglers fishing opportunities from November through February. The department plans to stock nearly 40,000 trout in numerous lakes around the state, including multiple spots in the St. Louis area:
- August A. Busch Conservation Area (lakes 21 and 7)
- August A. Busch Conservation Area (lakes 3, 22, and 23)
- Boathouse Lake Carondelet Park (St. Louis City)
- January-Wabash Lake (City of Ferguson)
- Koeneman Park Lake (City of Jennings)
- O’Fallon Park Lake (St. Louis City)
- Suson Park Carp Lake (St. Louis County)
- Suson Park Island Lake (St. Louis Country)
- Tilles Park Lake (St. Louis County)
- Union City Lake (City of Union)
- Vlasis Park Lake (City of Ballwin)
- Walker Lake (City of Kirkwood)
The department will not be restocking trout in Gendron Lake in St. Ann, Jefferson Lake in Forest Park or Wild Acres Park Lake in Overland this season due to each of the lakes undergoing renovations.
Many of the lakes are catch-and-release only from November to Jan. 31 and do not allow trout harvesting. Click here to get more information on specific lake regulations. Anglers between the ages of 16 and 64 must have a valid fishing permit to participate.
The fish are not native to Missouri but are a very popular sportfish among anglers, according to MDC representative Dan Zarlenga. They also cannot survive past February in Missouri do to the area's temperature.
"As they are cold-water fish, trout can only survive in lakes during the colder months, from November through February," Zarlenga said. "The trout come from MDC hatcheries, including Montauk, Bennet Springs, and Shepherd of the Hills."
Want specific numbers of trout stocking around the St. Louis area? MDC offers a Fish Stocking Hotline at (636) 200-9651 to let anglers know which areas have been restocked most recently.
Top St. Louis headlines
Get the latest news and details throughout the St. Louis area from 5 On Your Side broadcasts here.
