St. Louis Willmore Park North Lake opens for emergency fish salvage through Feb. 1

Missouri Department of Conservation, working with the City of St. Louis, put an Emergency Fish Salvage Order on North Lake at Willmore Park on Nov. 3, 2026. The order runs immediately through Feb. 1, 2027. A recently found leak has lowered the 1.5-acre lake enough that fish are at risk.

During the salvage, anglers may take all fish except endangered species listed in the Wildlife Code. Method rules are suspended so gigs, snagging, grabbing, dip nets, throw nets, seines and hand fishing are allowed alongside normal tackle. Length, daily and possession limits are also off. City of St. Louis park rules and hours still apply, and anglers ages 16 through 64 need a valid Missouri fishing permit.

Fisheries biologist John Schulte said the fish will not survive a sustained low-water period, so the salvage is meant to put those fish to use instead of watching them die. MDC stocks the lake under the St. Louis Urban Fishing Program. An investigation into the leak and possible renovation options is planned for 2027 once the lake is fully drained. The park sits near Jamison and Loughborough avenues along River Des Peres.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: Missouri Department of Conservation via EIN Presswire — Fish salvage order at Willmore Park's North Lake (Nov. 3, 2026).