FISHING JUST FINE IN FOUR COUNTY LAKES

Local fishermen don't have to travel far this summer to catch a stringer of all types of fish.

According to Dennis Norman, a fisher's biologist for the Southeast Protection Region of the Missouri Department of Conservation, fishing in the area has been good so far this year.

The area Norman is talking about are the four county lakes: Lake Girardeau at Crump, Tywappity Lake at Chaffee, Perry County Lake, and Lake Boutin at Trail of Tears State Park. The diversion channel, which separates Cape and Scott counties, has also been good for fishing.

"Of all four of the county lakes," said Norman, "Lake Girardeau is sitting the best, so far as numbers of fish caught.

"There are some dandy crappie in there that weigh about a pound and the lake is the best out of the four for bass fishing. A couple of 10 pounders have been caught there. Channel-cat fishing has been real good there as well. Fishermen are finding night fishing for catfish is the best."

Norman said that the Conservation Department's use of grass carp at Perry County Lake has cut down on the algae problem they have had there before. That has made for a clear lake excellent for fishing, he said.

"They're getting nice bluegill out there," said Norman, "about 6- to 7-inches long, which is about the same size being caught at Lake Girardeau. The crappie are small but you can catch a lot of 6- to 8-inchers. It, too, is a good lake to catch some channel cats."

Lake Boutin seems to be the biggest disappointment of the four county lakes, said Norman.

"I would certainly not recommend going there if you plan on fishing for bluegill or bass," said Norman. "There were so many bass in there at one time that they ate all the smaller bluegill. However, the Bass aren't really that big. Most of the bass being caught there are 8-10 inches."

But he said that some "pretty good" channel cat are being caught in Lake Boutin.

Norman said that Tywappity Lake is the place to go for some really lunker catfish. He said that the bluegill and bass are being caught in fair numbers but are still a little small.

All four county lakes do have a size restriction. Bass 12-15 inches long must be thrown back, but anything over or under that size can be kept.

There is also a 10-horsepower limit for outboard motors on all the lakes except for Boutin where outboard motors are prohibited.

If you're looking for variety in your fishing experience, Norman said that the diversion channel has about 25 to 30 different species of fish.

"The stream is naturally stocked from the river and there is lunker everything in there. There is just a whole host of species in that channel. It's also easy to get to."

Bass larger than 12 inches can be kept and there is also a 10-horsepower outboard motor limit for the channel. Norman also said that boaters should operate their boats in such a manner so as not to cause a wake.