Is Lake St. Louis Stocked with Fish?

The Short Answer: Yes, Lake St. Louis is Stocked

Both Lake St. Louis (the Big Lake, ~600 acres) and Lake Sainte Louise (the Small Lake, ~85 acres) are regularly stocked with fish by the Lake St. Louis Community Association (LSLCA). Since 1966, over 250,000 fish have been stocked across the two lakes, including largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, crappie, walleye, and hybrid striped bass.

If you're considering a waterfront home on the big lake or Lake Sainte Louise, this page documents what the LSLCA has built over 58 years, because the quality of the fishery directly affects the value of waterfront living here.

Fish stocking is entirely funded and managed by the LSLCA, not the Missouri Department of Conservation. The association partners with licensed private fish hatcheries to purchase and transport fish, then releases them directly into the lakes. The result is one of the best-maintained private fishing lakes in the St. Louis metro area.

The History of Fish Stocking at Lake St. Louis

The lakes were first stocked in 1966, the year the Lake St. Louis Community Association was established. The initial stocking focused on establishing largemouth bass and channel catfish populations to make the lakes viable for sport fishing.

Over the decades, the LSLCA refined its stocking strategy based on population surveys, angler feedback, and water quality assessments. Electrofishing surveys helped the association identify gaps in fish populations and adjust quantities accordingly.

The most notable expansion came in the 1990s, when the LSLCA introduced walleye to the Big Lake. Walleye are a challenging species to establish in Missouri lakes because they prefer clear, cool water with rocky substrate, conditions that aren't naturally ideal in Lake St. Louis. The LSLCA stocked walleye fingerlings several times over the years, with mixed results. While they do persist in the lake, they are not the dominant species they are in northern lakes.

The 2010s saw a shift toward supplemental stocking of existing species rather than introducing new ones. The LSLCA worked with fisheries consultants to establish target population densities and create a sustainable stocking schedule.

The lake had gone from a newly engineered reservoir to an actively managed fishery over the course of decades. What the Anglers Club built over the next 50-plus years is even more impressive.

What Fish Are in Lake St. Louis?

Most community lakes in the area carry two or three species. Lake St. Louis carries more than 15 across both lakes, a direct result of decades of targeted stocking and habitat management. Both lakes support healthy populations of the following:

• Largemouth Bass: The primary sport fish in both lakes. Sizes up to 8+ lbs have been reported by anglers.
• Channel Catfish: Heavily stocked over the years. Popular for bottom fishing, especially at night.
• Bluegill: Abundant in both lakes.
• Black Crappie: Stocked periodically. Found near structure and docks.
• Walleye: Less common; periodically stocked in the Big Lake.
• Hybrid Striped Bass: A consistent stocking priority in both lakes since the 1990s, and one of the reasons serious anglers pay attention to Lake St. Louis.
• Flathead Catfish: Present in the Big Lake.
• Carp: Present in the Small Lake. Not stocked intentionally, but naturally present.

Fishing Rules on the Lakes

Fishing on Lake St. Louis and Lake Sainte Louise is a member benefit of the LSLCA. To fish from the community areas (beaches, docks, and designated fishing zones), you need to be an LSLCA member in good standing.

If you own a waterfront home, you can also fish from your private dock. CA members are not required to have a Missouri fishing license to fish on the lakes because the lakes are private.

There are size and bag limits set by the LSLCA that differ slightly from state regulations. These are posted at community fishing areas and can be requested from the CA office.

Fish Stocking and Waterfront Home Ownership

If you own a waterfront home in Lake St. Louis, fishing is one of the everyday perks. Many homeowners fish from their private docks year-round; catfish are active even in winter. Kids can catch bluegill off the dock without ever leaving home.

The presence of an actively managed, stocked fishery is one of the underappreciated aspects of waterfront living in Lake St. Louis. You're not fishing in a wild Missouri lake. You're fishing in a privately maintained, well-stocked suburban lake.

If you have questions about waterfront homes in Lake St. Louis, our team is happy to help. We specialize in waterfront properties and can connect you with off-market listings that don't appear on Zillow.