Outlook strong for Duck Creek Conservation Area

Thousands of people head to Duck Creek every year to fish. An hour drive is worth it for the fishing opportunities that exist in Pool No. 1. Wide varieties of large fish and plenty of them make Duck Creek a top spot in the region, and this looks to be a fine year no matter what type of fish anglers pursue.

The Missouri Department of Conservation conducted its annual fish population survey over the past week and found things in excellent shape. There are good numbers and sizes of largemouth bass. Approximately 25 percent of the bass we captured were longer than 15 inches and 7 percent were larger than 18 inches. Those who enjoyed angling last year's bluegill, warmouth, and redear sunfish populations will be glad to know things are just as good this year. Bluegill larger than 8 inches and warmouth and redear sunfish larger than 9 inches were common.

During the survey, we captured more warmouth on the north and west side of the pool. Redear sunfish seemed to be concentrated along the south levee. Bluegill numbers were the highest in the middle and south end of the pool. We supplement our crappie sampling with angler surveys. Anglers have reported catching some very large crappie (2 lbs. or more) this spring. Lots of anglers head to the north end of the pool for crappie. However, I've seen quite a few anglers catch good numbers of crappie in the southeast corner of the pool.

As in previous years, we are going apply herbicides to select areas in order to create open water areas in Pool No. 1. We are continuing to experiment with different herbicides to determine which herbicide, or combination of herbicides, is the most effective, safe, and cost efficient to control the submerged vegetation. Last year we used Navigate (2,4-d) to remove the submerged vegetation. The treated areas remained open for approximately six weeks before fanwort, a submerged plant, filled the treatment areas.

In Pool No. 1, coontail and milfoil are the dominant submerged plants of early spring, but by July, fanwort is in control. Fanwort looks very similar to coontail but leafs out later.

This year we will be using both Aquathol Super K and Reward to control the submerged vegetation. Both of these herbicides are supposed to be effective at controlling all three submerged plants. We've purchased enough herbicide to treat ten acres of submerged vegetation. However, to make sure the treated areas remain open throughout the summer, we will initially treat only five acres. If needed, another herbicide treatment will be done in July. If the July treatment isn't needed, the remaining herbicide will be used at Pool No. 1 in 2003.

The areas treated with Aquathol Super K will have a three day restriction on fish consumption. Fish caught outside treated areas may be eaten. All treatment areas and boat ramps will be posted with informational signs.

Fishing Pool No. 1 at Duck Creek Conservation Area is a unique experience because of the extensive amounts of aquatic vegetation present. Almost all of the public lakes in Southeast Missouri have little aquatic vegetation. The aquatic vegetation in Pool No. 1 can make navigation and fishing difficult later in the summer, but it is also the primary reason for the great crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, warmouth sunfish, largemouth bass, and chain pickerel populations. Where else in Missouri can an angler go and have a good chance at catching a 2-pound crappie, 1-pound bluegill, and a 5-pound bass?

The variety of fish, sizes and solid population numbers make Duck Creek a fishing hot spot in Southeast Missouri.

For more information about the fish populations in Pool No. 1, contact the Department of Conservation at 573-290-5730 ext. 240.

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