Monday, April 29, 2013

National Endangered Species Day Youth Art Contest Winners Chosen


Grand Prize Winner is Kindergartener from St. Louis


The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Endangered Species Coalition, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the International Child Art Foundation have announced the winners of the 2013 Endangered Species Day Youth Art Contest. The art contest is an integral part of the 8th annual national Endangered Species Day on May
American Burying Beetle, created by Ava Bribiesco from Missouri,
 was selected as the grand prize winner
of the 2013 Endangered Species Day Youth Art Contest.
17, 2013.

“Each one of the more than 2,000 young artists deserves our nation’s thanks for bringing focus to the plight of the Oahu tree snail, the Florida panther, and other threatened and endangered species that dwell in our mountains, valleys and waters,” said Service Director Dan Ashe. “I am inspired by these talented young people who have depicted in art some of our nation's most precious natural resources.”

The Grand Prize was awarded to Ava Bribiesco, a kindergartener attending the International Schoolhouse in St. Louis, Missouri. Ava’s artwork depicted the endangered American burying beetle, a bright orange insect that is native to Missouri.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Open House planned May 2 at Fort Davidson State Historic Site


For more information: 573-751-1010
  
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The public is invited to bring their ideas to an open house and informational meeting on Thursday, May 2 at Fort Davidson State Historic Site in Pilot Knob.
Sponsored by Missouri State Parks, the open house will begin at 5 p.m. in the site’s visitor center, followed
by an informational meeting at 7 p.m. The meeting will address issues related to both the historic site and Elephant Rocks State Park near Graniteville.  
Representatives from the historic site and park will be on hand to provide information about the facilities and answer questions. Agenda items will include an update regarding the facilities, planned improvements at the sites and a recap of the year’s accomplishments. The public is invited to share comments about the facilities and current operations.
The informational meeting is part of an ongoing effort by Missouri State Parks to ensure citizens have input on facilities and services offered in state parks and historic sites. People requiring special services or accommodations to attend the meeting can make arrangements by calling Fort Davidson State Historic Site at 573-546-3454.
Fort Davidson State Historic Site’s visitor center is located on Highway 221 in Pilot Knob. For more information about Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit www.mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Weather didn’t hurt first-week turkey harvest

Turkey expert says the season’s best hunting likely is still ahead.

JEFFERSON CITY–In spite of less than ideal weather, hunters shot 21,437 turkeys during the first week of Missouri’s three-week spring hunting season.

This year’s first-week harvest is 328 fewer than last year, a 1.5-percent decrease. That small difference is
Courtesy MDC
fairly insignificant, according to Resource Scientist Jason Isabelle with the Missouri Department of Conservation. He says the first-week harvest number is encouraging considering the weather that many hunters had to contend with.

“We had some very challenging hunting conditions for much of the week,” says Isabelle, “but still managed to harvest about the same number of turkeys that we did on opening week last year. At one point during the week, we were 17 percent behind where we were last year. But the improved conditions that we had this past weekend, particularly on Saturday, helped us to nearly catch up to where we were at this point one year ago.”

Isabelle, who oversees the Conservation Department’s turkey management program, says last year’s turkey harvest was the second to show an increase since 2004. Jakes, as 1-year-old male turkeys are commonly known, made up 17 percent of this year’s first-week harvest compared to 26 percent last year.

“Jakes made up a smaller percentage of the opening week harvest than last year,” says Isabelle, “but the difference does not necessarily indicate that we have fewer jakes on the landscape. Prior to 2011’s hatch, we hadn’t had good turkey production for a number of years. Because of the improved hatch of 2011, jakes were readily available during the 2012 season, and adult gobbler abundance was lower than it typically would be, so naturally hunters shot more jakes. We had a second year of improved nesting success in 2012 and a good carry-over of birds from 2011. Hunters found more 2-year-old gobblers this year, and that took some pressure off of our 2012 crop of jakes.”

Isabelle says weather could still hold down this year’s harvest, but with relatively normal conditions, especially on weekends, hunters could easily top last year’s end-of-season turkey kill.

“If the weather cooperates, I could certainly see a spring harvest that exceeds the last couple of years,” he says. “Hunters still have the majority of the season ahead of them. As the season progresses, there will be more hens nesting, which leaves gobblers by themselves and more likely to respond to hunters’ calls. This fact, coupled with less hunting pressure during the last couple weeks of the season, can make for some outstanding hunting conditions.”

Missouri’s top three turkey harvest counties in the first week of the season were Franklin with 560 turkeys checked, Texas with 444, and Ste. Genevieve with 413. The Conservation Department recorded no firearms-related hunting incidents during the first week of the season.

-Jim Low-

Friday, April 26, 2013

Missouri Department of Conservation Statewide Fishing Report


In most streams south of the Missouri River, black bass season will open May
25, 2013, until that date all black bass in those streams must be returned to
the water unharmed immediately after being caught. For details see Chapter 6
of the Wildlife Code.

PLEASE CHECK REGULATIONS CAREFULLY: Special regulations may apply to
designated portions of water bodies; some baits and lures may not be legal
for all portions.
===============
Central

Binder Lake Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Crappie:?Fair Largemouth Bass:?Fair
Temperature:  55?
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  dingy
crappie fair on jigs and minnows; largemouth bass fair; all other species
slow.

Blind Pony Lake Reported on: 4/23/13
Temperature:  51?
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  dingy
all species slow; the lake is closed to private boats and bait held or
transported in containers with water is prohibited.

Lake of the Ozarks (Bagnell Tailwater) Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Slow Catfish:?Good
Temperature:  49?
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  dingy
black bass?season closed; white bass?fair?using light colored soft
plastics and?crappie jigs; crappie?slow, try minnows and crappie jigs;
catfish good?on shad, cut shad and?worms.

Lake of the Ozarks (Glaize) Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Black Bass:?Fair White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Good
Catfish:?Fair
Temperature:  54?
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  dingy
black bass fair?on dark colored soft plastics and?crankbaits; white
bass?fair?using light colored soft plastics and?spoons; crappie good?on
minnows and crappie jigs; catfish?fair?using?cut baits and?stinkbaits.

Lake of the Ozarks (Gravois) Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Crappie:?Fair Black Bass:?Fair Catfish:?Good White
Bass:?Slow
Temperature:  54?
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  dingy
crappie fair on bank with minnows; black bass fair on crankbaits; catfish
good on cut shad; white bass slow.

Lake of the Ozarks (Niangua) Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Black Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Good Catfish:?Good White
Bass:?Fair
Temperature:  54?
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  dingy
black bass fair, try using soft plastic worms and crankbaits; crappie good,
try using soft plastic jigs and marabou jigs tipped with Crappie Nibbles;
catfish good, try using cut shad; white bass fair, try using small
spinnerbaits or light colored soft plastic lures.

Lake of the Ozarks (Osage) Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Black Bass:?Good Crappie:?Good Catfish:?Good White
Bass:?Fair
Temperature:  54?
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  dingy
black bass good, try using spinnerbaits and soft plastic lures; crappie good,
try using soft plastic jigs; catfish good, try using cut shad; white bass
fair, try using light colored soft plastics.

Lamine River Reported on: 4/23/13
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  muddy
Harriman Hill and Roberts Bluff Accesses are both under water; all species
slow.

Little Dixie Lake Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Crappie:?Good Channel Catfish:?Fair
Temperature:  56?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  dingy
crappie?good on?minnows; channel catfish fair on chicken liver; all other
species slow;?all use including fishing is prohibited from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Missouri River (Middle) Reported on: 4/23/13
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  muddy
all species slow.

Osage (lower, at Tuscumbia) Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   White Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Slow Catfish:?Good
Temperature:  49?
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  dingy
black bass?season closed; white bass?fair?using light colored soft
plastics and?crappie jigs; crappie?slow, try minnows and crappie jigs;
catfish good?on shad, cut shad and?worms.
===============
Kansas City

Atkinson Lake (Schell-Osage CA) Reported on: 4/24/13
Fish Reported:   Catfish:?Fair Crappie:?Fair White Bass:?Fair
Temperature:  56?
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  muddy
all other species fair.

James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Channel Catfish:?Slow Redear Sunfish:?Slow
Temperature:  49?
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  clear
largemouth bass fair on crankbaits; bluegill fair on nightcrawlers around
brush piles; crappie fair on jigs 2' under a bobber near deep water brush.

Missouri River (Kansas City area) Reported on: 4/23/13
Temperature:  47?
Water Level:  falling
Water Type:  muddy
there is a large amount of debris in the flow; fishing is slow for all
species.

Montrose Lake Reported on: 4/24/13
Fish Reported:   Catfish:?Slow Crappie:?Slow Black Bass:?Slow Striped
Bass:?Slow White Bass:?Slow
Temperature:  47?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  muddy
fishing pressure light for all species.

Schell Lake (Schell-Osage CA) Reported on: 4/24/13
Fish Reported:   Catfish:?Fair Crappie:?Fair White Bass:?Fair Hybrid
Striped Bass (Wiper; Whiterock Bass):?Fair
Temperature:  55?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  muddy
Truman Lake Reported on: 4/24/13
Fish Reported:   Crappie:?Fair Catfish:?Good Smallmouth Bass:?Good White
Bass:?Fair Hybrid Striped Bass (Wiper; Whiterock Bass):?Fair
Temperature:  53?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  muddy
crappie good on minnows; catfish good on cut shad; black bass good on
crankbaits and jigs; white bass and hybrid striped bass good on swimbaits and
spoons.

Truman Lake Tailwaters Reported on: 4/24/13
Fish Reported:   Crappie:?Good White Bass:?Good Catfish:?Good
Paddlefish:?Good Hybrid Striped Bass (Wiper; Whiterock Bass):?Good
Temperature:  54?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  muddy
catfish good on cut bait; paddlefish moving toward dam.
===============
Northeast

Henry Sever Lake Reported on: 4/24/13
Temperature:  57?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  muddy
all species slow.

Hunnewell Lake Reported on: 4/24/13
Temperature:  55?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  dingy
all?species slow; the lake is closed to private boats and bait held or
transported in containers with water is prohibited.

Long Branch Lake Reported on: 4/24/13
Temperature:  48?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  muddy
all?species slow.

Mark Twain Lake Reported on: 4/24/13
Temperature:  48?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  dingy
some boat ramps are closed due to high water; all species slow.

Mississippi River (upper) Reported on: 4/24/13
Fish Reported:   :?Good
Temperature:  42?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  muddy
all species slow.?

Salt (below Mark Twain) Reported on: 4/24/13
Fish Reported:   Freshwater Drum:?Good
Temperature:  48?
Water Level:  rising
Water Type:  muddy
drum good on nightcrawlers; all other species slow.

Thomas Hill Reservoir Reported on: 4/24/13
Temperature:  52?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  muddy
all species slow.
===============
Northwest

Bilby Ranch Lake Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Channel Catfish:?Fair
52 degrees, rising, dingy; channel catfish fair on cut bait; black bass fair
on jerkbaits; all other species slow.

Grand River Reported on: 4/23/13
water level at or near flood stage; any type of fishing will be difficult
until water levels go down.

Lake Paho Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Channel Catfish:?Fair
54 degrees, water level flowing over spillway; channel catfish fair on
natural baits, rains have concentrated channel catfishing to road tubes at
the north end of lake; limited number of hybrid striped bass are also being
taken in conjunction with the catfish; all other species slow.

Missouri River (upper) Reported on: 4/23/13
44 degrees, high, dingy; carp?fair on corn; all other species slow.

Mozingo Lake Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Bluegill:?Fair Crappie:?Good Walleye:?Good Channel
Catfish:?Good Black Bass:?Good
53 degrees, below normal pool level, dingy; crappie, walleye, channel catfish
and black bass are good; bluegill fair; natural baits working the best;
largemouth bass fair on jerkbaits and soft plastics; all other species slow.

Pony Express Lake Reported on: 4/23/13
51 degrees, low, clear; crappie still 5' - 10' deep around structure; all
species fair.

Smithville Lake Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Crappie:?Fair Catfish:?Fair Largemouth Bass:?Fair White
Bass:?Fair Walleye:?Fair
50 degrees,?17" below normal level; crappie fair with fish beginning to move
toward spawning areas; try fishing around the coves; a few crappie being
taken in shallow water, try assorted jigs or minnows; catfish fair on cut
shad with a few being caught on liver, nightcrawlers and crappie sized
minnows; largemouth bass fair on suspending baits, jigs and spinnerbaits;
white bass fair in areas around major docks with a variety of baits being
used; no reports on a white bass run up the Little Platte River yet; walleye
fair, begin fishing large lake points with Rattle Traps and crankbaits to
catch hungry post?spawn fish.?
===============
Ozark

Big Piney River (lower, Pulaski Co.) Reported on: 4/24/13
Temperature:  61?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  muddy
all species slow.

Big Piney River (upper, Texas Co.) Reported on: 4/24/13
Temperature:  58?
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  dingy
all species slow.

Bryant Creek Reported on: 4/24/13
Temperature:  62?
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  dingy
all species slow.

Bull Shoals Lake (East) Reported on: 4/24/13
Temperature:  64?
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  muddy
all species slow.

Current River Reported on: 4/24/13
Temperature:  69?
Water Level:  falling
Water Type:  dingy
all species slow.

Eleven Point River Reported on: 4/24/13
Fish Reported:   Rainbow Trout:?Good
Temperature:  58?
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  clear
rainbow trout good on corn and minnows; all other species fair.

Gasconade River (middle) Reported on: 4/24/13
Temperature:  62?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  muddy
all species slow.

Gasconade River (upper) Reported on: 4/24/13
Temperature:  58?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  muddy
all species slow.

Jacks Fork River Reported on: 4/24/13
Temperature:  59?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  dingy
all species slow.

Norfork Lake Reported on: 4/24/13
Temperature:  65?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  dingy
all species slow.

North Fork of the White River Reported on: 4/24/13
Temperature:  57?
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  dingy
all species slow.
===============
Southeast

Black River (above Clearwater Lake) Reported on: 4/23/13
Temperature:  57?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  dingy
all species slow.

Black River (below Clearwater Lake) Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Crappie:?Fair
Temperature:  64?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  dingy
discharge?rate from spillway is 2700 cfs, elevation is 5.6' above normal;
crappie fair on minnows and assorted jigs with Crappie Nibbles under a float
below spillway in deeper water; all other species slow.

Castor River (above Zalma) Reported on: 4/23/13
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  clear
all species slow.

Clearwater Lake Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   White Bass:?Fair Channel Catfish:?Fair Bluegill:?Fair
Largemouth Bass:?Slow
Temperature:  62?
Water Level:  falling
Water Type:  dingy
lake level is 505.2 and falling; white bass fair on shad colored, shallow
running crankbaits and chartreuse marabou jigs in deep holes on the Black
River arm; channel catfish fair on nightcrawlers;?largemouth bass slow
on?jigs; crappie slow on black and chartreuse, and silver and white tube
jigs with Crappie Nibbles off of points.

Council Bluff Lake Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Black Bass:?Good Crappie:?Fair
Temperature:  60?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  clear
black bass good on minnows and dark colored soft plastics;?crappie fair on
minnows and jigs; all other species slow.

Cypress Lake Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Crappie:?Fair Largemouth Bass:?Fair Bluegill:?Fair Redear
Sunfish:?Fair Channel Catfish:?Slow
Temperature:  62?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  dingy
crappie fair on minnows and jigs in 1' - 3' of water; bluegill and redear
sunfish fair in 1' - 3' of water on jigs, crickets and worms; largemouth bass
fair in 1' - 3' of water on minnows, jigs, plastic worms and crankbaits;
channel catfish slow in 2' - 8' of water on worms, crickets and stinkbait;
all other species slow.? NEW CRAPPIE REGULATION: no length limit on crappie
on Cypress Lake, the daily limit of 15?remains in effect.

Duck Creek C.A. Pool #1 Reported on: 4/24/13
Fish Reported:   Largemouth Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Temperature:  64?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  clear
Water level is 346.20; largemouth bass fair on spinners; crappie fair on
minnows; all other species slow.

Lake Girardeau Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Largemouth Bass:?Good Bluegill:?Fair Crappie:?Good
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  clear
largemouth bass good on minnows; crappie good on minnows;?bluegill fair on
jigs; all other species slow.

Mississippi River (Middle) Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Channel Catfish:?Fair Blue Catfish:?Fair Flathead
Catfish:?Slow
Water Level:  falling
Water Type:  muddy
river level 42'; channel catfish and blue catfish fair on worms and
stinkbaits; all other species slow.

Mississippi River (Ohio River to Arkansas) Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Crappie:?Slow Largemouth Bass:?Slow
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  muddy
45.8 ft at Cario and rising; all?species slow.

Perry County Lake Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Crappie:?Fair Largemouth Bass:?Fair
Temperature:  57?
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  clear
crappie fair on minnows; largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits; all other
species slow.

Robert DeLaney Lake Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Crappie:?Fair Bluegill:?Fair Black Bass:?Fair
Temperature:  70?
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  dingy
all other species slow.? NEW CRAPPIE REGULATION: no length limit on crappie
on DeLaney Lake, the daily limit of 15 remains in effect.

St. Francis River (above Wappapello Lake) Reported on: 4/23/13
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  dingy
all?species slow.

St. Francis River (below Wappapello Lake) Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Channel Catfish:?Good Flathead Catfish:?Good Black
Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Temperature:  63?
channel catfish?good on stinkbait and chicken liver; flathead catfish good
on live bait and chicken liver; black bass fair on artificial baits; crappie
fair on jigs and minnows; all other species slow.

Wappapello Lake Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Black Bass:?Slow Crappie:?Fair Channel Catfish:?Fair
Bluegill:?Slow
Water Level:  high
crappie fair using minnows and jigs;?channel catfish fair using
nightcrawlers and live bait;?all other species slow. Anglers should note the
9" minimum length limit regulation for crappie on Wappapello Lake. Recorded
lake level and other infomation can be received by calling the Wappapello
Lake Information Hotline at?573-222-8139 or 1-877-lake-info.
===============
Southwest

Bull Shoals Lake (West) Reported on: 4/22/13
Fish Reported:   Black Bass:?Good White Bass:?Good Crappie:?Good
Walleye:?Fair
Temperature:  58?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  dingy
black bass good on Alabama Rig (three hooks only), spinnerbaits on windy
points, soft plastics and jigs; white bass good on Alabama Rig (three hooks
only) with white plastic grubs, white swimming minnows, and?small
Rapalas?in the main lake, Swan Creek,?and Beaver Creek; crappie?good on
minnows and 1/16th oz. jigs near brush piles; walleye fair on jerkbaits; all
other species slow.?

James River Reported on: 4/22/13
Fish Reported:   Catfish:?Good White Bass:?Fair Black Bass:?Fair Northern
Rock Bass (Goggle-Eye):?Good
Temperature:  58?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  dingy
catfish good on nightcrawlers; goggle-eye good on small plastics, white
spinnerbaits or live bait; black?bass fair on football jigs in pumpkin seed
colors, males showing up on beds?around structures; crappie fair on jigs and
minnows over brush piles.

Lake Taneycomo Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Rainbow Trout:?Good
Temperature:  52?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  clear
trout good on?pink, white, and chartreuse Power Baits, white/olive?marabou
jigs also working well when generators are running at the dam; all other
species slow.?

Niangua River Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Black Bass:?Good Northern Rock Bass (Goggle-Eye):?Fair
Rainbow Trout:?Fair
Temperature:  58?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  dingy
black bass?good on live minnows and soft plastics; goggle-eye fair on
minnows and soft plastics; trout fair on bright colored Power Baits.?

Pomme de Terre Reservoir Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Black Bass:?Good Crappie:?Good Walleye:?Slow White
Bass:?Slow Muskellunge:?Slow
Temperature:  56?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  muddy
black bass good on?spinnerbaits in brush; crappie good in 10' - 15' of
water; all other species slow.?

Stockton Lake Reported on: 4/22/13
Fish Reported:   White Bass:?Good Crappie:?Fair Walleye:?Good Black
Bass:?Good
Temperature:  52?
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  dingy
white bass good on?Road Runners and?Twister Tails; walleye?good
on?crankbaits and jigs tipped with nightcrawlers; black bass?good on
crankbaits; crappie?fair on?minnows and jigs.

Table Rock Lake (James River arm) Reported on: 4/22/13
Fish Reported:   Black Bass:?Good White Bass:?Good Crappie:?Fair
Temperature:  56?
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  dingy
black bass good on Wiggle Warts while fishing rocky banks, also try
spinnerbaits on windy days or jigs; white bass?good below Galena?on
spinnerbaits, try using white Vibric Rooster Tails or small crankbaits,
purple, smoke, and blue swimming minnows with 1/16 or 1/18 oz. jigs are also
working well, fish just before dark or right after sunset for best results;
crappie fair on live minnows, soft plastic minnows and jigs in 4' - 12' of
water; all other species slow.?

Table Rock Lake (main lake) Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Black Bass:?Fair Crappie:?Fair
Temperature:  60?
Water Level:  normal
Water Type:  clear
black bass?fair on spinnerbaits and?tube baits?off sloping gravel banks;
crappie fair on live minnows, small spinnerbaits and?1/16 oz. or 1/32 oz.
jigs around brush.?
===============
St. Louis

Big River Reported on: 4/24/13
Fish Reported:   Catfish:?Fair Crappie:?Slow Black Bass:?Slow
Temperature:  52?
Water Level:  rising
Water Type:  muddy
62 degrees, high, muddy, rising; catfish fair on cut baits, livers and
shrimp; all other species slow.

Bourbeuse River Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Catfish:?Slow Black Bass:?Slow Crappie:?Slow
Temperature:  58?
Water Level:  falling
Water Type:  muddy
All species slow.

Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lake 33 Reported on: 4/24/13
Fish Reported:   Catfish:?Slow Crappie:?Slow Black Bass:?Slow Common
Carp:?Slow Bluegill:?Slow
Temperature:  52?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  dingy
All species slow.

Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lakes 3, 4, 5, 7, and 23 Reported on:
4/24/13
Fish Reported:   Bluegill:?Slow Channel Catfish:?Slow Black Bass:?Slow
Crappie:?Slow
Temperature:  52?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  dingy
All species slow.

Meramec River (Crawford Co.) Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Black Bass:?Slow Channel Catfish:?Slow Crappie:?Slow
Temperature:  54?
Water Level:  falling
Water Type:  muddy
All species slow.

Meramec River (St. Louis Co.) Reported on: 4/24/13
Fish Reported:   Black Bass:?Slow Bluegill:?Slow Crappie:?Slow
Catfish:?Slow
Temperature:  54?
Water Level:  falling
Water Type:  muddy
All species slow.

Mississippi River (St. Louis Region) Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Catfish:?Slow
Temperature:  52?
Water Level:  rising
Water Type:  muddy
All species slow.

Missouri River (Lower) Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Catfish:?Slow
Temperature:  52?
Water Level:  rising
Water Type:  muddy
All species slow.
===============
Trout Parks

Bennett Spring State Park Reported on: 4/22/13
Fish Reported:   Rainbow Trout:?Good Brown Trout:?Fair
Temperature:  55?
Water Level:  high
Water Type:  dingy
Zone1 and 2 best lures: gingersnap colored and pink and white colored marabou
jigs;?blue colored and green colored Cracklebacks; John Deere colored and
bedspread colored?mini-jigs; red colored Rooster Tails; red colored wooly
with spinner; white colored and tri-colored glo balls; Zone 3 best lures:
yellow extra scent Power Bait; go get 'em trout bait; white floating salmon
eggs.? April fishing hours are from 7:00 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.? Saturday May
4 is the Bennett Spring Annual Kids Free Fishing Day.? May fishing?hours
are 6:30 a.m.?until 8:15 p.m. ?All kids 15 and younger will be allowed to
fish for free and lunch will be provided for the kids.? We will have many
exhibits?that are open from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. for the kids to look
at.? For questions call 417-532-4418.?

Maramec Spring Park Reported on: 4/25/13
Fish Reported:   Rainbow Trout:?Good Brown Trout:?Slow
Temperature:  56?
fishing is good; the spring branch is?slowly?falling and?has good flow;
recent rains have made the water dingy; remember to use light weight line and
tackle; fish are holding in areas of deeper water and near submerged habitat,
target these areas for best success;?feather jigs in black, white, and
brown/yellow?colors are producing good numbers of fish; trout worms in
orange/white, green/white and yellow are good choices; tightlining doughbait
is producing fish in the late afternoon; fishing hours for the month
of?April are 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.? Kid's Free Fishing Day is Saturday,
May 18th.? For more information call 573-265-7801.

Montauk State Park Reported on: 4/23/13
Fish Reported:   Rainbow Trout:?Good
Temperature:  56?
the river level is high and gradually falling, the water is dingy; with the
water color sight fishing is a little difficult; 2 lb test fishing line or
lighter is recommended; fishing is good on most baits; white, brown and
yellow scented dough and putty baits are working well in the bait zones; most
flies, Rooster Tails and jigs in black and yellow, olive colors and other
dark colors are working well; the best fishing is in the mornings and
evenings.?April fishing hours are 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.? May fishing hours
will be 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. For up-to-date stream conditions check
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?07064440

Roaring River State Park Reported on: 4/24/13
Fish Reported:   Rainbow Trout:?Good
Temperature:  58?
Water Type:  dingy
the stream water is running high and most of the holes are very deep this
spring; more weight is needed in a lot of these holes and you will need at
least one 3/0 and maybe 2 of them to get to the bottom; Rooster Tails in
black, brown, and white are good most days, fluorescent orange and
fluorescent pink are doing well; orange, white, cheese, fluorescent yellow
power eggs and power worms are working well; hatch brown works very well in
the hatchery area;? jig fishing with tan, black/yellow, white, olive green
and dark brown are working well; flies working well are black wooly buggers,
dark brown, and olive wooly buggers are also working well; nymphs to use
would be copper johns, pheasant tails, sow bugs, prince nymphs, and burlaps;
in Zone 3 use nightcrawlers, corn, Power Bait paste and nuggets.

Fish Management Notice
Trout Stocking

The Conservation Department stocks trout in each of the trout parks every
evening from the day before the March 1 opener through Oct. 30. Tag sale
estimates determine a daily stocking rate average of 2.25 fish per expected
angler. Except on opening day, three fish are stocked for every expected
angler. From March 1 to Oct. 31, the parks will collectively sell more than
400,000 tags and stock more than 900,000 fish. These fish will average about
12 inches long over the season, but some variation occurs. Dozens of lunkers
weighing upwards of 3 pounds are stocked each year. A few tip the scales at
more than 10 pounds.

MDC to hold Discover Nature - Fishing event on June 8

Families will get a chance to learn about the fun of fishing at a Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Discover Nature Fishing program ...