OUTDOOR CORNER: AREA RIVERS HOLD PROMISING FISHING

Now that the rivers in Southeast Missouri have finally settled down, it's time for anglers to head to the streams. There is nothing better than fishing in a cool, shaded stream on a hot, muggy summer day. One of the most enjoyable ways to fish streams is to slip on an old pair of sneakers and just wade in. On larger streams, floating from one point to another is quite popular. The following describes several, but not all, of the fishing stream in Southeast Missouri.

Black River downstream of Clearwater Lake: Spotted bass (Kentucky bass) are more numerous than either largemouth bass or smallmouth bass. Anglers should have good success catching spotted bass up to 14 inches throughout the river. The best spotted bass fishing should be near Coon Island Access, where bluegill (greater than 6 inches) are also common. The river supports a good walleye population. The majority of walleye are less than three pounds, but some walleye up to 15 pounds have been caught. Locals prefer to fish for walleye during the winter, but walleye can also be caught during the summer months on a jig tipped with minnow, nightcrawler or leech.

Channel catfish, up to six pounds, are common throughout the river. The river also supports a few flathead catfish with some up to 40 pounds. Chicken liver fished on the bottom is a popular catfish method. Another effective way to catch catfish is to use limblines or trotlines baited with minnows or small sunfish. An excellent sucker population is present throughout the river. Try fishing for them with small hooks baited with the meat of mussels or clams and fished on the bottom just downstream of a riffle. This fall, gigging for suckers should be good, especially in the Markham Springs area.

Castor River: You can wade the river upstream of Highway 34. In this section, smallmouth bass, shadow bass (goggle-eye) and longer sunfish are abundant. The majority of smallmouth bass are less than 12 inches, but trophy-size fish (over 18 inches) are present. Shadow bass, 5 to 9 inches, are fairly common in this reach. Minnows seined from the stream are an excellent bait for bass. Longear sunfish are easy to catch with worms, crickets or small minnows. Castor River downstream from the Sweet Gum Access is floatable throughout the year. In this section of river, spotted bass, largemouth bass, catfish and crappie are common. The majority of bass and catfish caught should be over 12 inches. Limblines or trotlines baited with minnows or small sunfish are the most popular methods for catfish. In spring, there is good fishing for white bass, crappie and walleye at the Blockhole Access. Rattle-traps, spinners or minnows are popular baits.

Saline Creek: You can wade easily upstream from Ozora. Anglers have a good opportunity to catch smallmouth bass longer than 15 inches. Shadow bass are common throughout this section, with the majority between 5 and 9 inches. Longear sunfish, 5 to 6 inches, are common throughout the creek. Minnows or crawfish are effective baits for bass or sunfish.

St. Francis River upstream of Wappapello Lake: Expect good fishing for all three species of black bass. Spotted and largemouth bass are more common in the riffle/pool habitats, while smallmouth bass prefer the shut-ins from Highway 72 to Silvermines (Hwy. D). Black bass greater than 12 inches are common with some longer than 15 inches. Shadow bass angling will be fair. Most will be 5 to 7 inches, with some longer than 8 inches. Anglers should have good success catching channel catfish with most being less than four pounds. This fall, gigging for suckers should be fair to good from Gruner Ford Access (Hwy. H) in St. Francois Co. to Wappapello Lake.

St. Francis River downstream of Wappapello Lake: Your best chance for catching either spotted and largemouth bass will be in the unchannelized portion of the river between Wappapello Dam and Kennett (Hwy. 84). The majority of bass will be less than 11 inches. From Kennett (Hwy. 84) downstream to the Arkansas state line, spotted bass up to 15 inches are fairly common. Numerous bluegill (6 to 8 inches) are present for several miles downstream of Wappapello Dam. Fair numbers of 6- to 8-inch bluegill are present throughout the remainder of the unchannelized portion of the river. Trotlines and limblines should produce some nicer stringers of channel catfish with the majority of fish less than 4 pounds. An occasional flathead catfish, white bass or drum could be encountered anywhere on the river.

Ten-Mile Creek: This small stream is located just west of Poplar Bluff. During the summer, you can easily wade-fish this stream. Smallmouth bass are common and few largemouth bass are also present. The majority of smallmouth bass are less than 13 inches. However, smallmouth up to 18 inches have been reported. Angling for shadow bass should be good in 1996, with the majority of fish between 5 to 9 inches. Longear sunfish are plentiful and are easy to catch. Minnows seined from the stream are an excellent bait for bass and sunfish.

Whitewater River: The river upstream from Old Plantation Access is easily wadable. Anglers will primarily catch smallmouth bass there. Downstream of Old Plantation Access, you will catch more spotted and largemouth bass. The majority of bass will be less than 13 inches. Longear sunfish are common throughout the river. Anglers interested in channel and flathead catfish should focus on the section of river downstream from Bollinger Mill State Park. Limblines and trotlines baited with minnows or sunfish are excellent methods for catfish. In the fall, you can try gigging suckers in the river.

Information on streams in other parts of Missouri can be found in the "1996 Fishing Prospects at Selected Missouri Lakes and Streams" which is available at the Missouri Department of Conservation office at 2302 County Park Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 (290-5730).

~Paul Cieslewicz is a fisheries management biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation.