Frequently Asked Questions

The Innsbrook Fishing Club is a group of dedicated individuals that share a passion for fishing among the 100+ ponds and lakes within Innsbrook Resort. As a registered 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, the Club pursues charitable and educational activities for the Innsbrook community. Our members work diligently to help improve fishing habitats in area lakes, arrange informative fishing seminars, host annual fishing tournaments, and foster community togetherness through the sport of fishing. We rely solely on annual club membership dues and charitable contributions. 

We would love to have you!  You can find out more information about joining HERE. 

Absolutely!  We encourage everyone to fish in our great lakes here at Innsbrook.  

No, you do not need a license if you are fishing within the boundaries of Innsbrook Resort.  Since Innsbrook is a private property, Missouri Department of Conservation regulations do not apply.  However, there are local Innsbrook regulations for harvesting fish.  These regulations are sign posted on each body of water.  Please obey all posted regulations so everyone can continue to enjoy our wonderful bodies of water.  

Not exactly.  You may fish in any publicly accessible spot.  Please respect all private properties at Innsbrook.  Do not cross into resident yards, docks, or any other areas that are not public access.  There is also NO fishing in the public beach areas.  Safety is very important to us.  Fishing in beach areas can have unintended consequences.  Sharp hooks and loose fishing line can be dangerous for beachgoers.  Please do not fish in any beach areas.  They typically are not very productive fishing spots anyway.  

Check out this Google Map to find easily accessible spots around Innsbrook.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1nkt7ZTwrPWA5vLhyMMmRkWzBzFCcSpE&usp=sharing

The Fishing Club regularly works to improve fishing habitat in our lakes.  This is usually done by introducing new structures into the water that provide essential breeding and hiding places for fish, helping to support their populations and improve lake ecology.  

Hundreds of cedar trees, artificial fish structures, and PVC habitat cubes have all been placed in our lakes.  Each year The Club identifies what lakes could benefit from new habitat, and focuses efforts on getting some of these structures added to those bodies of water. 

Lakes can go through periods of overpopulation.  When this happens, there are too many fish with not enough forage for them.  They begin to have stunted growth because there is not enough food for them to eat and grow larger.  This causes the entire lake to have issues, as all species start to suffer from overpopulation.  One of the best ways to fix this issue is harvesting fish out of these lakes.  We encourage anglers to remove all largemouth bass that measure 8" to 12".  There are simply too many bass this size in our lakes.  

The Fishing Club has a partnership with The World Bird Sanctuary where we can donate all of these small bass so they can feed their birds.  This is very special program we are proud to be involved with.  By donating these fish, we are not wasting any of these resources.  There is a freezer with plastic bags located next to the library in the Farmhouse area.  Anglers can put 3-5 fish in a plastic bag and drop in in the cooler.  The Club will take the fish to The World Bird Sanctuary every few weeks as needed.  You can see more about this on our Facebook page.  

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EFjwALPDR/?

We appreciate all donations, no matter the size!  Your donation allows us to continue to improve our lakes by keeping up with stocking programs, improving habitats, conducting population surveys, holding education seminars, and so much more.  The easiest way to donate is sending a payment to our Venmo account @InnsbrookFishing-Club

Yes!  The Fishing Club has some rods free for anyone to use located at The Commons Pond.  The rods are for everyone's enjoyment.  If you notice missing or damaged equipment please notify us so we can replace them.  

There are coin-operated fish feeders located at The Commons Pond.  They accept quarters.  Kids love feeding the fish!  

Green sunfish can be found throughout Innsbrook lakes. Green sunfish are disruptors to the ecosystems of our small lakes because they create an ecological imbalance. These aggressive, adaptable fish have large mouths and will readily eat forage that more desirable species, like bass and bluegill, need to survive and flourish. With less food available, the growth of other species will become stunted, leading to unhealthy fisheries. The Fishing Club recommends that all green sunfish caught in our lakes be removed. Do not confuse bluegill with green sunfish. We want to keep bluegill in our lakes!

Green sunfish have larger mouths that you can fit your finger in.  They usually have blueish speckles around their gill plate.  Bluegill have a more rounded snout and much smaller mouths.  You usually will struggle to get a finger into the mouth of a bluegill.  

This video will help you identify the differences.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S__IpL2_kZs