St. Louis is a great place to call home if you enjoy being outdoors, and going fishing is one of the best ways to spend a day in our city's parks. From the mighty Mississippi River to dozens of lakes and ponds all over St. Louis, there are plenty of opportunities in our neck of the woods to catch bass, catfish, panfish—even trout. Summer is prime time to take advantage of urban fishing in St. Louis and the surrounding areas.

• Jefferson Lake - Clayton Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110
  A popular 9-acre fishing lake within the wooded landscape of Forest Park, Jefferson Lake is one of several lakes stocked regularly by the Missouri Department of Conservation as part of the St. Louis Urban Fishing Program. The department stocks rainbow trout during the colder months and channel catfish in summer, and the lake also harbors resident populations of largemouth bass, crappie, and sunfish. Just minutes from many St. Louis homes for sale, Jefferson Lake offers easy bank access, including an accessible fishing platform.
  
  
• Cliff Cave Park - 806 Cliff Cave Road, St. Louis, MO 63129
  Overlooking the Mississippi River on the south side of St. Louis, Cliff Cave Park is named for its historic riverside cave, which French fur trappers used to stow beer and supplies during the 18th century. Today, the park offers some of the best Mississippi River fishing access in the St. Louis area. Accessible alongside an extensive stretch of the Mississippi Greenway Trail, the river is productive for flathead catfish and channel cats, and backwaters often harbor crappie and bass. 
  
  
• Spanish Lake Park - 12500 Spanish Pond Road, St. Louis, MO 63138
  Home to 34-acre Spanish Lake and the somewhat smaller Sunfish Lake, Spanish Lake Park is a hidden gem for fishing in St. Louis. The park is crisscrossed with hiking trails that provide access to both lakes. Expect a mixed catch of channel catfish, bass, and panfish. Many of the easiest access spots are over-fished, so consider exploring lesser-known parts of Spanish Lake by kayak. A boat launch is provided in the park, and boats are restricted to electric motors and non-powered craft only. 
  
  
• Columbia Bottom Conservation Area - 801 Strodtman Road, St. Louis, MO 63138
  Located at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, Columbia Bottom Conservation Area is a wild landscape of riverside woods, meadows, and wetlands. Several hiking trails lead to bank fishing access spots along a 6-mile stretch of frontage on both rivers. Anglers commonly catch catfish and drum from the bank, and white bass and striped bass are often caught in fall. There is also a boat launch in the conservation area. 
  
  
• Meramec River (Castlewood State Park) - 1401 Kiefer Creek Road, Ballwin, MO 63021
  One of the longest free-flowing rivers in Missouri, the Meramec River stretches 218 miles from its headwaters to its confluence with the Mississippi River in St. Louis. Bass fishing is very good in some sections of the river. Faster stretches offer smallmouth bass, while largemouth and spotted bass inhabit slack waters. Sunfish, catfish, and freshwater drum are also available. Numerous access points provide opportunities to fish the Meramec River west of the city, with Castlewood State Park being one of the best places near Ballwin homes for sale. The fishing continues to get better the farther upriver you go.

From its picturesque parks and lakes to its many miles of Mississippi River frontage, St. Louis is a great city for fishing and other outdoor pursuits. Get in touch with our real estate agents today to learn more about life in St. Louis.