MISSOURI FISHERMEN TURN IN RECORD YEAR

JEFFERSON CITY -- Missourians have had a busy year reeling in record fish. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has certified 12 state fishing records since Jan. 1.

Brad Farwell, a 10-year-old Eagle Rock resident, reeled in a 24- pound, 1/4-ounce longnose gar Aug. 17 at Table Rock Lake. The catch broke a state record that had stood since 1979.

A 4-pound 12-ounce shortnose gar hooked June 24 at Lower Big Lake by Bill Willmert, Dexter, was a record setter, too.

The Meramec River has proved to be a prime location for Bourbon residents when it comes to catching suckers. Mike Jackson hauled in three record fish: a 1-pound, 8-ounce black redhorse on June 3, a 2- pound shorthead redhorse on June 20 and, on June 27, a golden redhorse weighing 2 pounds, 3 ounces. Joe Tousignant's river redhorse weighed in at 8 pounds, 1 ounce on July 24.

Jessica Murry, St. Peters, pulled in a 9.76-ounce yellow bass from the Mississippi River March 18.

A 9.02-pound common carp taken with archery gear June 7 at the Lake of the Ozarks put Terry Robb of California in the record book.

Record setting is a family activity in Wappapello. Greg Stilts used a trotline to capture his 5-pound, 14.5-ounce bowfin July 7 from the Castor River. Douglas Stilts, also fishing on the Castor, used a trotline to haul in his 2-pound, 11-ounce smallmouth bass on June 4.

Robert King of Marshall reeled in a state record with his June 11 catch of a 3-pound, 1-ounce black crappie.

Nathan Derry's 1-pound yellow perch catch at Butler City Lake on May 20 tied a record set there in 1981.

A Texan captured the state record for bluegill gotten by a method other than pole, line and lure. John Hardin, Farmers Branch, Texas, used a limb line to hook his 9.6-ounce fish on June 13.