MDC PREPARES NEW SERVICE FOR FLOATERS, FISHERMEN

JEFFERSON CITY -- Every day, workers in the Missouri Department of Conservation's Fisheries Division field dozens of questions. Often, the query is something like, "I want to take a float-fishing trip on the Gasconade River. Can you tell me where I can rent a canoe?" Or perhaps, "Do you know of any fishing guides on Courtois Creek?"

Often as not, a lack of information makes good answers impossible. But that will change soon. The MDC is compiling a list of canoe outfitters and fishing guides serving recreationists on thousands of miles of floatable and fishable streams.

"We get a ton of inquiries about floating conditions, outfitters and that kind of thing," says Eric Roberts of MDC's Fisheries Division. "We have a few listings, but they don't include all the outfitters in the state. They don't even cover all the floatable streams."

Roberts says the MDC hopes to compile a list of outfitters next spring. The goal is to provide the names, addresses and phone numbers of fishing guides and boat-rental services statewide. He says the process has just started, and the biggest challenge will be making the list comprehensive. To help identify all outfitters on the state's more than 20,000 miles of floatable stream, the MDC is asking the operators of such businesses to make themselves known.

Fishing guides and boat outfitters interested in listing their services in the MDC directory can contact: Missouri Department of Conservation, Fisheries Division, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65109. Phone, (573) 751-4115, ext. 175 or via e-mail at: BORGWC@mail.conservation.state.mo.us.

When the directory is ready, it will be announced through news media and the MDC home page on the World Wide Web: http://www.state.mo.us/conservation/news/out/out96.html.