Fishing near St. Charles, Missouri
St. Charles County, population 70,493.
- 6 milesto nearest lake
- 5ramps nearby
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What a St. Charles stay puts in reach
Census takers counted 70,493 people in the city of St. Charles, part of St. Charles County, in 2020. No paged lake sits nearer than Creve Coeur Park Lake, around 6 miles toward the south. A 2 miles tow reaches Blanchette Landing Access on Missouri River, the closest ramp.
A winter trout lake, Lake Gendron, sits about 8 miles away. About 14 miles away, Mill Creek, St. Louis County holds MDC trout water. Bank anglers head about 9 miles to Fishing dock at Wild Acres Park Lake.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for St. Charles; distances are straight lines.
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| Lake | Distance | Acres | Ramps | Motor note | Fish MDC names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creve Coeur Park Lake | 6 miles south | 303 | 3 | ||
| January-Wabash Park Lake | 11 miles east | 5 | 0 | rainbow trout | |
| Lake 24, August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area | 13 miles southwest | 3 | 0 | ||
| Lake 22, August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area | 13 miles southwest | 4 | 0 | rainbow trout | |
| Lake 23, August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area | 13 miles west | 4 | 0 | rainbow trout | |
| Lake 3, August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area | 13 miles southwest | 4 | 0 | rainbow trout |
MDC Managed Public Waterbody outlines, MDC 2026 Fishing Prospects species and boating notes; retrieved October 2026.
Gravel-bar streams to wade near St. Charles
- Cuivre Slough12 miles, 1 access area, 6 mi in Missouri
- Mill Creek, St. Louis County14 miles, 1 access area, 4 mi in Missouri
USGS gauges near St. Charles
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri River At St. Charles, Mo | 58,400 cfs, 11.06 ft gage height | Oct 28 8:00 pm |
| Cowmire Creek At Bridgeton, Mo | 1 cfs, 1.89 ft gage height | Oct 28 8:25 pm |
| Fee Fee Creek Near Bridgeton, Mo | 19 cfs, 4.04 ft gage height | Oct 28 8:10 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 28, 2026 8:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
MDC stream access areas and trout and smallmouth layers; USGS NHD lengths and USGS gauges. Retrieved October 2026.
Pins for the water around St. Charles
- Blanchette Landing Access on Missouri RiverMissouri River, 2 miles
- Creve Coeur Park Lake (St. Louis County) (north ramp)Creve Coeur Park Lake, 5 miles
- Creve Coeur Park Lake (St. Louis County)Creve Coeur Park Lake, 6 miles
- Creve Coeur Park Lake (St. Louis County) (south ramp)Creve Coeur Park Lake, 6 miles
- Cuivre Island Conservation Areaboat ramp, parking, 12 miles
No-boat spots close to St. Charles
- Fishing dock at Wild Acres Park Lake9 miles
- Fishing dock at January-Wabash Park Lake11 miles
- Fishing dock at Jarville Lake13 miles
- Fishing jetty at Vlasis Park Lake14 miles
- Fishing docks at Blackjack Lake14 miles
- Fishing dock at Tilles Park Lake15 miles
MDC boat ramp/access and dock layers, USACE ramp layers; retrieved October 2026.
Stocked trout within reach of St. Charles
| Water | Program | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Gendron | winter trout lake, stocked in November | 8 miles |
| January-Wabash Park Lake | winter trout lake, stocked in November | 11 miles |
| Lake 22, August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area | winter trout lake, stocked in November | 13 miles |
| Mill Creek, St. Louis County | MDC trout water | 14 miles |
Keeping trout takes a Missouri trout permit on top of the fishing permit: $12 for residents and $24 for nonresidents 16 and older.
MDC trout program statements (2026 regulations booklet, MDC news releases and area pages); MDC publishes no per-water stocking table; trout parks, trout areas and winter trout lakes as printed in the 2026 regulations booklet.
Tackle and guided trips near St. Charles
Where St. Charles anglers stock the live well
- Bass Pro Shops St. Charlessporting goods store, St. Charles, 2 miles
- High Adventure Outdoor Gearbait and tackle shop, Saint Charles, 2 miles
- Bass World Sportsbait and tackle shop, Saint Peters, 3 miles
- Riverside Harbormarina, Saint Charles, 5 miles
- Southshore Marinamarina, Saint Charles, 5 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors St Peterssporting goods store, St Peters, 5 miles
- DURHAMS TACKLEbait and tackle shop, Saint Peters, 5 miles
- Cabela's Hazelwoodsporting goods store, Hazelwood, 5 miles
Yellow Pages and chain store listings, guide listings; retrieved October 2026.
Missouri limits for trips out of St. Charles
Plan on $14 as a resident, $57 from out of state, or $9 for a day permit; residents 65 and older and anglers under 16 are exempt. Keeping trout adds a $12 trout permit for residents.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky) | 6 a day | All year |
| Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted/Kentucky) (Ozark streams) | 6 a day; 12" minimum | May 23, 2026–Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Channel catfish | 10 a day | All year |
| Blue catfish | 5 a day | All year |
| Flathead catfish | 5 a day | All year |
| Crappie (black and white) | 30 a day | All year |
| Goggle-eye (Ozark, rock, and shadow bass) and warmouth | 15 a day; 7" minimum | All year |
| Muskellunge | 1 (daily limit is 1 muskellunge or 1 northern pike); 36" minimum | All year |
| Northern pike | 1 (daily limit is 1 muskellunge or 1 northern pike) | All year |
| Paddlefish (spoonbill) | 2 a day; 32" minimum (eye to fork of tail) | March 15–April 30 |
| Pickerel (chain and grass) | 6 a day | All year |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | 10 a day; 30" maximum (snout to fork of tail) | All year |
| Trout (rainbow and brown) | 4 a day; Rainbow: none; Brown: 15" minimum in streams | All year |
| Walleye and sauger | 4 a day; 15" minimum | All year |
| White, yellow, and striped bass and their hybrids | 15 a day; No more than 4 longer than 18" | All year |
Limits and seasons as printed in A Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations 2026 (MDC, effective March 1, 2026), page 20 (booklet PDF); retrieved October 27, 2026. Lake and river pages print any special-regulation bullet.
Neighbouring St. Charles
Neighbouring towns of St. Charles
- St. Peters5 miles
- Bridgeton6 miles
- Maryland Heights6 miles
- Hazelwood6 miles
- Cottleville8 miles
The county around St. Charles
- St. Charles Countyseat: St. Charles
Reels from Piscifun worth bringing to St. Charles
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Photo guide to fish at St. Charles
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: -Rorey-, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Fishing out of St. Charles: what people ask
Which MDC lake is closest to St. Charles?
Creve Coeur Park Lake, 6 miles south.
Which ramp do St. Charles anglers use?
Blanchette Landing Access on Missouri River, some 2 miles off.
What dock or jetty sits closest to St. Charles?
Try Fishing dock at Wild Acres Park Lake, 9 miles.
Which tackle shop is the quickest stop from St. Charles?
Bass Pro Shops St. Charles, 2 miles from town.
Which Missouri county takes in St. Charles?
It is in St. Charles County.
What does MDC charge a nonresident who stays in St. Charles?
A nonresident annual permit is $57; the daily permit is $9.
Which big reservoir lies within reach of St. Charles?
Creve Coeur Park Lake, 303 acres, 6 miles away.
Which Missouri town is next to St. Charles?
Neighbours by distance: St. Peters (5 miles), Bridgeton (6 miles) and Maryland Heights (6 miles).
Can St. Charles anglers reach stocked trout?
Lake Gendron, a winter trout lake, about 8 miles away.
Base a Missouri fishing trip in St. Charles
River pages list accesses and gauges.