Me and my family all live in the St. Louis vicinity and have been wanting to go to do some nice Catfishing but have no boat. I was interested in somewhere we could sit on the bank and fish in the evening or at night - maybe build a campfire and bring a cooler. Where would you all go? My concerns revolve around the high waters lately.

The best bet would be to find a local reservoir or town pond. This would get you some cats that you might not get to bite in an extremely large body of water.

Merngraser Lake at Pyramid Stae Park would be my best suggestion with the lack of a boat, and here is why I say that.. When I bass fish that lake can't seem to keep the cats away from my bass crankbaits, don't get me wrong.. I love catching them all, I don't descriminate.. ! (Never caught one under 1.5-2 lb range, all good ones) (also seen carcasses at the ramp from the hicks.. All nice ones) It is in the newer side of the park, off of ?? Cutler Trico road (has a water tower towering over one corner of it) I believe it is.. If you follow up with a need for better details I will look up exact directions, I believe from Mascoutah you go out 64 to 127, and south to the general park area, should be about one hour with good directions.
My next suggestion is kind of off the wall.. But here goes, I have (almost) never been skunked for putty cats on older/established neighborhood lakes/ponds fishing at dusk or a bit after with hot dogs... If you can get access..
The problem with the rivers now is not only the high water but the skeeters, not worth the torture!!

(If you fish Merngrasser, bring along a little red wagon or something to help you carry your gear... The best spot is wayyy across the lake from the ramp.. (But worth it) Over by the water tower, there is a creek that during wetter times just bustles into the lake.. That can be funky-weird good fishing, stupid good, but even if it is not running, that side of the lake is the better end, I am trying to visualize if you can walk over there- bank clear etc, I can look from a satellite and tell you if you are interested, let me know..

I don't think that lake closes at night, isn't that correct Gretch or am I mistaken?

from what I hear, if your patience is good, you could score some cats from the Mascoutah lakes, the ones across from the high school. you may have some days where you get skunked, but some other days may make it worth while. I have fished it a few times for cats and have been successful with some 2 to 3 pounders. But I have as many times been skunked. Just ask around town for what the current bait of success has been lately.

not sure of the cooler status but pretty sure you wouldn't be able to build a campfire.

waterloo,il has some nice ponds. waterloo res lakes I think they are called. Fish the biggest one off the dam by the water level control that sits out about 10 yrds from shore. caught some nice cats there late in the day last year. take rte 3 to 156, take a right, first left, about a mile or 2 dn the road on your left. you can't miss it

tried looking up Merngraser Lake on a map and could not spot it, in fact Google Earth does not match at all to the road map view. I have never been down to pyramid before and have always wanted to go. Most of my family lives on the other side of St. Louis so we always wind up going in MO. But this would be a great option for me and the boy. Do they have any regs on campfires around the lakes?

Technically - you can't build a fire at Merganser, is it done..yep.
Another option in Pyramid, since you are coming from the city is some of the more "waterfront" campsites in both the boulder lake area camp ground and the north campground. There are some nice spots along the creek in the Captain unit as well - a little bit of a walk, and little sashay through the trees, but good areas to set up for night fishing.

Critter and I have had good luck at Wayne Fitzgerrell as well, we use the primitive camp ground, camp and set our lines right from the camp site.

Additionally - The Coulterville City Lake is excellent for catfish..and you can fish from the whole North end bank and dam. Fires are fine, and lots of evenings I go out there just because it's close. I also run my lines for turtles and catfish out there, always have good success.

do either of you know if you can drive down to the water tower at Merganser? looks like an access road down there.

Waterloo you get run off at dusk, and I don't have any info on cats there, I will tell you is "my lake".. What I mean is I fish it for bass 2-3(5 sometimes LOL) times a week and have never "lucked" into a solitary cat... But that really is meaningless, may just be happenstance.

So it sounds like you found it on the map or not? Sounded kind of like you did.. ? I can give directions..

More than likely they will leave you alone on the campfire... You just can't steal big rigs from the coal plant and drive them over the restrooms.. (Inside joke)

I don't know if you can drive closer to the "good side".. And I have not tried to satellite view to check for bank obstructions to walking over there.. Man I hope the creek is running for you when you go.. Although it will ruin you for fishing slower times.. :)

That lake is EXREEEEEMLY DEEEEEP, I want to say I remember mrking 100+ in the middle and that is no bunk..

The bass, and crappie fishing (can) also be excellent.. The bottom is flat, non-weedy, little gravely mixed with perhaps a bit of clay, ideal for bank fishing.. The rub I have on some of the Pyramid lakes is they are too grassy making bottom fishing, crankbaiting, or spinnerbaiting very difficult.. Not so at Merngrasser.

Tightlining over from the water tower to the creek area would be my best quess at puddy cats.. If you are after meat.. I would cut to the chase and bass fish though.. Much faster because you actvely go after them rather than waiting for the cats to come to you.. Although cats are much better tasting IMO. The limit for bass is anything under 14" and only one over 18"... (Best bass lures there, Yamamot Senkos 5-6 inches hooked wacky with nooooo weight on a 2/0 circle or octopus hook. Or... Just basic crankbaits.. Shad color patterns.. No deep divers from the bank though)

Good luck, and tell us what you figured out, that's how we all share and learn, thanks..