OUTDOOR CORNER: SOUTHEAST MISSOURI LAKES OFFER PLENTY FOR AREA FISHERMEN

Now that spring has finally arrived, it is time for people to grab their fishing gear and head to the water.

Here's a look at lakes in Southeast Missouri.

Duck Creek Pool #1 is located on the Duck Creek Conservation Area on Highway 51, approximately seven miles north of Puxico. Pool #1 is 1,800 acres and has lots of aquatic vegetation, so anglers must be prepared to fish in it. Many anglers think this vegetation is a nuisance, but it provides excellent habitat for fish.

Crappie fishing should be good, with some fish over 10 inches. In March and April, crappie anglers should fish the north end of the pool with minnows or micro-jigs. The best bluegill and redear sunfish fishing is in May and June. Bluegill and redear longer than 8 inches are common.

Pool #1 supports a trophy largemouth bass population. You many not catch many bass, but the bass you catch should be large (over 3 lbs.). The best bass fishing is at night during July and August. The chain pickerel fishing is in February, March and April. You should use spinner baits or other weedless lures.

Fredericktown City Lake is located off of Highway 00, approximately one mile north of Fredericktown. Largemouth bass fishing should be good. About 15 percent of the bass are longer than 15 inches. The number of bass in the 12-15 inches protected slot length have increased, providing anglers good catch-and-release fishing. There are good numbers of 6-9 inch bluegill. Fishing for channel catfish should be good on nightcrawlers, liver and stink bait. Crappie fishing should be fair.

Lake Girardeau is a 1,162-acre lake located off of Highway U in southwest Cape Girardeau County. In 1995 and 1996, muskie were stocked and some of these fish should be 25-30 inches. Because all the muskie will be below the 42-inch minimum length limit, all muskie must be released unharmed immediately after being caught.

The lake continues to support an outstanding largemouth bass population. All sizes of bass are present, including many bass above and below the 12-15 inch protected slot length. Each spring, a few 9- and 10-pound bass are caught. Anglers will find fair numbers of crappie over 9 inches and good numbers of 6-8 inch bluegill. Redear sunfish are not abundant, but some fish will be over 10 inches. Channel catfish fishing will again be good.

Perry County Lake is a 100-acre lake just west of Perryville. Largemouth bass and bluegill fishing should be good. About 15 percent of the bass are over 15 inches and bass up to 6 pounds are present. Bass anglers should fish the dam, hardwood and wood brushpiles on the north end of the lake, or the jetties on the south end of the lake. Lures that imitate gizzard shad or crayfish should be very effective.

Bluegill longer than 6 inches are common, but few are over 8 inches. Large redear sunfish (9-11 inches) should provide anglers with an excellent challenge. The lake supports numerous crappie, but only 5 percent are longer than 9 inches. Anglers are encouraged to harvest 30 crappie per day. Minnows fished in woody cover work well for crappie. Contour maps of this lake are available from the Department of Conservation.

Robert G. DeLaney Lake covers 100 acres and is located off Highway N, approximately 2 miles north of Charleston. Anglers have the opportunity to catch a trophy bass due to the 18-inch minimum length limit and creel limit of two. Bluegill fishing should be good, with many 6-7 inch fish. Crappie and catfish angling should also be good. The best crappie and catfish angling occurs along the east and north ends of the lake.

Tywappity Community Lake is 37 acres and is located off of Highway RA in Chaffee. This small lake supports a good bluegill population with fish over 8 inches fairly common. The majority of bass are less than 12 inches. Catfish angling should be fair, with fish up to 8 pounds.

Wappapello Lake, north of Poplar Bluff, is 8,400 acres. Bass angling should be better this year, because the numbers of largemouth bass over 12 inches have increased. There is no size limit for black bass, and anglers are strongly encouraged to harvest all bass less than 11 inches, up tothe daily limit of six. This should allow the remaining bass to grow faster, resulting in more large bass.

Crappie fishing will be similar to most years, but not as good as 1997. Most of the crappie will be 6-10 inches, with fair numbers of 10-12 inches and a few up to 14. Crappie fishing is best from mid-fall through late spring, especially during the April spawning period. Bluegill fishing should again be good, with many 6-8 inches.

Channel catfish are common, especially along the dam. A few large flathead and blue catfish are present.

In 1996 and 1997, walleye were stocked throughout the St. Francis River above Wappapello Lake. Walleye stocked in 1996 are 15 inches long and anglers report catching walleye in the lake. To protect these fish, harvest of walleye is not permitted in Wappapello Lake, the St. Francis River above the lake, or their tributaries. All walleye must be returned to the water unharmed immediately.

Anglers should be aware that motors larger than 10 horsepower can now be used on many Department of Conservation lakes, such as Perry County Lake, Lake Girardeau and Duck Creek Pool #1. Boats using motors larger than 10 horsepower must travel at no-wake speed. Only electric motors are allowed on Tywappity Community and Robert DeLaney Lakes.

For with questions concerning lake locations, motor restrictions, or fishing regulations, anglers should contact the Cape Girardeau Regional Service Center at 290-5730.

Additional information can be found in the `1998 Fishing Prospects at Selected Missouri Lakes and Streams' that is available at your local Missouri Department of Conservation office.

Paul Cieslewicz is a fisheries management biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation.