OUTDOOR CORNER: A FISHING SECRET: LAKE GIRARDEAU

Local lake holds a variety of species for anglers.

How many folks think there just aren't any good fishing lakes close to Cape Giarardeau and Jackson? There are probably quite a few of you.

I'll let you in on little secret. Lake Girardeau offers some of the best fishing in Southeast Missouri. This 162-acre lake is the main attraction at Lake Girardeau Conservation Area, located 14 miles southwest of Jackson. To get there, take Highway 34 west to Highway U and then follow the signs.

Largemouth bass are abundant, including many 2 to 5 pounders. In fact, every year several 8- to 10-pound bass are caught, some of which are released. The best time to catch a linker is March or April. Lots of anglers tell me they can't catch bass at the lake. I always suggest trying something different -- an unusual lure or color that the bass haven't seen.

Bluegill are also plentiful, with a few fish reaching 8 inches. Redear sunfish is another bright spot. Although not as abundant as bluegill, they are larger, with many 10- to 12-inch fish. Try fishing on the bottom with worms on the north side of the lake during the spring and early summer.

Crappie are common up to 10 inches and a few reach 12 to 14 inches. Fish with jigs or minnows in 6 to 10 feet of water next to standing timber or fallen trees. Channel catfish are stocked each fall which results in lots of nice fish.

A new resident to the lake is muskellunge (muskie). A total of 729 5- to 12-inch muskie were stocked in 1995 and 1996. Muskie, the largest member of the pike family, should grow to around 30 inches long (9 lbs.) after 3 to 4 years and eventually offer the chance to catch a trophy, possibly a 20- to 30-pounder. The Missouri state record stand at 41 pounds, 2 ounces. Some folks are concerned that muskie will feed on young bass and crappie, but muskie feed primarily on gizzard shad, which are abundant in the lake.

Fishing regulations include a 12- to 15-inch slot length limit for bass. This means that all bass between 12 and 15 inches long must be returned to the water immediately. The minimum length limit for muskie is 36 inches now and will become 42 inches in 1998. Daily limits are six bass, one muskie, four catfish, 30 crappie and 20 of all other fish combined.

Numerous fallen trees along the shoreline, abundant standing timber and a few creek channels, point and rock outcroppings provide abundant and varied natural fish habitat. Along the shoreline, 26 large hardwood trees were recently felled into the lake to improve the habitat. Christmas-tree brush piles have been placed near the fishing dock nearly every winter since 1992. Over 200 cypress seedlings have been planted on the bank to improve aesthetics and eventually help control bank erosion.

The lake is fertilized each year to increase productivity and deter aquatic weed growth. Many folks think that adding fertilizer hurts the lake and fish. However, it actually helps by providing more food for microscopic plants that feed small fish and insects, which in turn, feed larger fish. The result is more and larger fish to catch.

Facilities near the dam include a lighted concrete boat ramp, ample paved and gravel parking, picnic tables, privies, a small campground and a fishing dock accessible to disabled persons. A gravel parking area and privies are also located near the upper end of the lake.

We have heard many wild and crazy rumors about the lake over the years. Each year someone asks why we removed the Missouri state record largemouth bass (13 lbs., 4 oz.) from the lake. Although there are many lunkers in the lake, I have never seen a bass that large.

Some folks say that bass and crappie eggs won't hatch because the fertilizer turns the water too green and there has to be sunlight on the eggs for them to hatch. Again, this is not true.

The craziest story I have heard was that the Conservation Department has electrical wires criss-crossing the lake bottom and turns on the power each weekend to keep fish from biting. This is absolutely untrue; we want to provide the best fishing possible at the lake. Good luck fishing and I'll see you at Lake Girardeau.

Mark Boone is a fisheries management biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation.