Where to Catch Catfish From the Bank Around St. Louis and St. Charles
I grew up in South Florida chasing snook off seawalls and bridges, so I'll always have a soft spot for bank fishing. When I moved up to the St. Louis area, I figured I'd have to trade the flats for something tamer. Man, was I wrong. St. Louis and St. Charles sit right where the Missouri and Mississippi rivers meet, and both of those rivers are loaded with big catfish.
Don't just take my word for it. The Missouri Department of Conservation reports high numbers of 25- to 35-inch blue catfish in the lower Missouri River, and anglers on the middle Mississippi keep reporting blues and flatheads in the 60- to 90-pound range. Those are tarpon-size numbers, and you can catch them from the bank a short walk from your truck.
A boat opens up more water, sure. A good bank spot, heavy tackle and fresh bait will still put plenty of fish on the ground. Here are the public spots I'd send a buddy to, plus a few notes on reading the water once you get there.
How to read big river water from the bank
Reading current is the same game whether you're in Islamorada or St. Charles. Fish sit where the water slows down and the food comes to them. On our rivers, look for the rock wing dikes that stick out from the bank. Fish the slower seam just downstream of the tip, or cast to a notch cut through the dike where the current funnels through. MDC also points anglers to revetted shorelines, which are banks armored with riprap, where the current runs fairly swift. Deep holes near structure hold fish too.
Channel catfish are the easygoing ones and will cruise almost any bank with food on it. Flatheads like slower side channels, cut banks and the water above and below dikes, and they feed best after dark.
Jeff's Quick Tip: If you can see a line where fast water meets slow water, put your bait right on the slow side of it. That seam is a catfish buffet line.
Missouri River spots on the St. Charles side
- Blanchette Landing Access, St. Charles. A 20-acre MDC access right in town with a boat ramp, parking, a pavilion and restrooms. It's an easy first stop and an easy place to meet me for a bait drop.
- Klondike Park, western St. Charles County. This county park on the Missouri River has a free boat ramp and plenty of shoreline. It used to be a silica sand quarry, and the county turned it into one of the prettiest stretches of river around.
- Weldon Spring Conservation Area. MDC lists Weldon Spring among the great bank fishing spots on the lower Missouri River. Bring a cart, because some of the better water takes a little hike.
Where the rivers meet
- Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, north St. Louis County. This 4,256-acre MDC area sits on the south side of the Missouri River where it runs into the Mississippi. You get both rivers, a fishing pier and a boat ramp. If I could only fish one spot in St. Louis County, this might be it.
- Confluence Point State Park, West Alton. Bank fishing is open on both rivers during normal park hours. One rule to know before you go: fishing isn't allowed within 300 feet of the confluence point itself.
Mississippi River spots
- Riverlands at West Alton. MDC names the Riverlands as a good bank fishing spot on the middle Mississippi near St. Louis.
- Riverside Landing and Hideaway Harbor. Two St. Charles County parks with public boat ramps onto the Mississippi. Hideaway Harbor also has a six-acre lake for days when the river is running too hard.
- Cliff Cave County Park, south St. Louis County. Another MDC pick for Mississippi bank fishing, with bluffs, trails and access to the river below.
Lakes for high water days
When the rivers blow out, head for a lake. Creve Coeur Lake in Maryland Heights is a local favorite for bank anglers. St. Charles County parks stock their lakes with bluegill, bass and catfish, and fishing in county parks is free as long as you follow state regulations. The City of St. Charles has lake fishing at parks like Fountain Lakes Park too. Shad work just as well on lake catfish as they do on river fish.
Before you go
- Missouri requires a fishing permit for anglers ages 16 to 64. Check current limits and rules with MDC before you keep any fish.
- Check river levels. Fast rising water brings floating logs and slick banks, and no fish is worth that risk.
- Pack heavy line, a sturdy rod holder and a headlamp. Big blues and night flatheads will test your gear, so come ready.
Bring bait worth the walk
319 Bait is a mobile bait delivery service, and I meet customers at public boat ramps, marinas and pick-up points across St. Charles and St. Louis counties. Fresh dead shad runs $3 each, and mooneye and skipjack run $6 each when they're in season. Call 314-600-8061 24 to 36 hours ahead to place an order. Orders have a $50 minimum, and orders of $100 or more get 10% off plus free delivery.
Wondering why fresh beats frozen on these rivers? Here's why I choose fresh dead shad for catfishing. Not sure what you just caught? Here's how to tell a blue catfish from a channel catfish. Tag your catch with #319bait on Instagram and it might end up on our site.
Tight lines!
Watch the action
Want to see what fishing the current looks like? Here's me breaking down the most important thing to do when you're fishing moving water, and then reeling in a blue catfish to prove it.