Gem Lake near LaBarque Creek: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Gem Lake is set in Jefferson County, Missouri. Height above sea level is 594 feet. The town to know is LaBarque Creek, 1.2 miles out. St. Louis sits 30 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive. LaBarque Creek lies northwest from the bank.

• Where to Fish on Gem Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Across Jefferson County, recorded fish include orangethroat darter, longear sunfish, rainbow darter, bluegill and banded darter. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Gem Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 78°F; the cold one sits at 29°F. Seasons here are moderate, and the fishing runs most of the year. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. The season on Gem Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Lynch Lake sits 2.6 miles off and takes the overflow. For Gem Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.