MISSOURI FISHERMEN FOUND 1996 TO BE A RECORD YEAR

JEFFERSON CITY -- Record fish were biting for many Missourians in 1996. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has certified 18 state fishing records this year. The MDC recognizes state-record catches in two categories -- "Pole Line and Lure" (PLL) and "Other."

Dennis Shafer of Stover became the year's first record setter in April when he snagged a 53-pound bigmouth buffalo at Lake of the Ozarks.

May turned out to be a great month for catching big fish. Robert Redmon of Independence broke a record that had stood for nine years when he took a 54-pound black buffalo from Wappapello Lake. A longnose gar weighing slightly more than 32 pounds taken from Bull Shoals put Greg Rippee of Willard into the record book. Dexter resident Bill Willmert reeled in a 5-pound 10.08-ounce spotted gar at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge to take over the PLL category. David Ward of Advance used a limbline to capture his 4-pound, 4-ounce largemouth bass. A 12-ounce skipjack herring taken from the Osage River helped Mike Jackson of Bourbon set a PLL state-record catch.

Douglas Stilts of Wappapello used a limbline to get a 6.5-ounce redear sunfish and set a new record. St. Louisian Ron Thornburgh claimed the top spot in the other category with his 4.48-ounce rock bass from the St. Francis River.

It became commonplace to haul in record common carp this spring and summer. Robert Barnhill of California started the trend using archery gear to take a fish weighing just over 12 pounds from Lake of the Ozarks. Using the same method Dave Morelock of Springfield pulled a 19-pound 8-ounce common carp from Lake Taneycomo May 29, only to have his record broken a day later when Mark Scott from Golden caught a 20-pound carp. Blue Springs resident Leroy Montgomery took over the state-record slot in the Other category in June using archery gear to haul in a 29-pound, 14 ounce common carp from Lake Taneycomo.

New records in the "Other" category were set for several species of fish. Jerry Brown of High Ridge hauled in a 15-pound 3.2-ounce drum from Lake Wappepello. Palmyra resident Travis Moore used a trotline on the South Fabius River to take home a 5-pound 13-oz walleye. David Smith of Cape Girardeau established a new state-record in the other category with his catch of a 3-pound, 7-ounce spotted gar. A 1-pound, 0.12-ounce spotted bass and 4-pound 2.8-ounce American eel from the Castor River secured the second and third records this year for David Ward. Douglas Stilts set his second record for the year with a trotline catch of a 15.04 ounce white crappie.

To receive details of how to certify state-record catches or receive a copy of the Missouri State Record Fish sheet, contact: Fisheries Division, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, or visit our web-ste at http://www.state.mo.us/conservation/ fish/fishing.html.

Besides keeping all-tackle and line-class records, the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame recognizes records for fish kept and for those caught and released. For more information, contact: Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, Box 33, Hall of Fame Drive, Hayward, Wisc. 54843. Phone: (715) 634-4440.