I am looking at buying a used bass boat this weekend in the st louis area, and I am wondering if there is any lakes that are still open in the area that I could take the boat for a ride on before I purchase it.

 

Maybe Creve Coeur lake?  Don't know about ice though.

Creve coeur lake I believe is an under 10hp rated lake. I'd try the Mississippi River, there's lots of marinas in the St Charles area with decent ramps in coves out of the current. 

Creve Coeur is Trolling motor only. As for closeness your best bet is the river - Missouri that is if your talking St. Charles. Mississippi if you are closer to the city or farther north. There a few lakes in IL as well - Horshoe lake right across the river has a 50 HP limit. Carlyle has no limit and it is about 1hr from Downtown. LOZ is about 2. 

Carlyle although its in Illinois only ~1hr drive for me 

Did you buy it? If not get  ahold of parks and recreation for city of Highland il, or check their website. Selling daily permits for silver lake. I know I'm late, just saw this post. Ice free, h2o is around 44°.

Permits are sold at city Hall, PD, Korte Rec Center.

On February 12, 2016 at 2:57 PM, MO_LMB said:

Creve Coeur is Trolling motor only. As for closeness your best bet is the river - Missouri that is if your talking St. Charles. Mississippi if you are closer to the city or farther north. There a few lakes in IL as well - Horshoe lake right across the river has a 50 HP limit. Carlyle has no limit and it is about 1hr from Downtown. LOZ is about 2. 

theres lots of marinas on the Mississippi in st. charles. they're all in coves too so you don't need to fight current when loading and unloading like on the missouri river.

On 3/11/2016 at 10:03 PM, AndyNegus94 said:

theres lots of marinas on the Mississippi in st. charles. they're all in coves too so you don't need to fight current when loading and unloading like on the missouri river.

I was thinking St. Charles City. I guess  St. Charles County would border the MS.

 

What about George Winter?