Local trout enthusiasts band together

You won't find many trout in Southeast Missouri.

That could change in the future.

"We're going to look into a winter 'catch-and-keep' program," said Michael Wells, president of the area's newest fishing organization. It is SEMO Trout Unlimited, a national group whose mission is to conserve, protect and restore North America's trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds.

The local group organized earlier this year during a special meeting of 16 area anglers at Southeast District Headquarters of the Missouri Department of Conservation.

"We elected officers, board members and established the chapter's borders," said Wells.

Thomas Draper of Jackson was elected vice-president, John Rigdon of Cape Girardeau was elected treasurer and Karl Larson of Cape Girardeau was elected secretary.

The group also elected six directors: Jim Hux and John Wilson of Sikeston were elected to one-year terms, Jeff Fuge of Jackson and Brian Suchman of Cape Girardeau were elected to two-year terms and Jeff Moll of Perryville and Don Pugh of Jackson were elected to three-year terms on the board.

The boundaries were determined: Initially, the group will be bounded on the east by the Mississippi River, on the north by Highway 32, on the west by Highway 67 and on the south by the Missouri/Arkansas border.

While there are no trout fishing opportunities within those borders, the group will work to create some form of trout fishery in the area.

"One of our immediate goals is to create some form of winter catch and keep a fishery or fisheries in the area depending on popularity," said Wells. "And we'll start a search for any spring-feed streams in the area."

Trout are cold-water fish, thriving in water temperatures of 39 to 72.

"We have great potential and opportunity right now to do some big things through private initiative and public cooperation," Wells added.

The club currently has 25 members but is looking for more.

Wells, who has been an avid trout fishermen more than half of his life, has been working to organize the group since the summer of 2001. A website was established in October to better organize the anglers in the area who are or wanted to be members of Trout Unlimited. The website, http://thebuzz.semissourian.com/112, helped immensely with organization of the chapter.

"The Buzz has been great," said Wells. "Without it, we would still be trying to organize."

The SEMO Trout Unlimited club holds monthly meetings at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. And, once a month, club members will hold a "Stream Fishing Meet." The first meeting is scheduled April 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Greer Access on Eleven Point River. Greer's Access is off Highway 19, near Greer and Alton.

The second monthly meeting is scheduled May 4 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the North Fork of the White River. Anglers will meet at the Holiday Inn in West Plains at 9 a.m. and then go to river.

"This is one of America's 100 best trout streams as rated by Trout Unlimited," said Wells.

For more information, contact Michael Wells at 335-6945.