From the Missouri Department of Conservation

The extreme heat felt throughout Southeast Missouri this week is only going to continue - and that means anglers will have a tough go at trying to catch any fish this weekend. Below is an excerpt from the July 21 MDC Fishing Report for Southeast Missouri.

 LAKES

Clearwater Lake: 88 degrees, clear; largemouth bass fair late evening and early morning on topwater lures; channel catfish fair at night on trotlines. (Report made on 7/20/2011)

Council Bluff: 87 degrees, normal, clear; channel catfish fair on liver and worms after dark; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/20/2011)

Cypress Lake: 87 degrees, high, dingy; channel catfish good in 2'-3' depths using crickets, worms, and stinkbait; crappie slow in 3' depths using minnows and jigs; bluegill and redear sunfish fair in 1'-3' depths using crickets, small jigs, and small pieces of worms; largemouth bass slow in 2'-3' depths on spinnerbaits and jigs;  all other species slow. (Report made on 7/20/2011)

Duck Creek: 88 degrees, high, clear; bluegill and redear sunfish good on crickets; largemouth bass fair on topwater lures. (Report made on 7/21/2011)

Lake Girardeau: 86 degrees, normal, clear; channel catfish fair on worms; largemouth bass fair on topwater lures; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/20/2011)

Perry County Lake: 91 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish fair on worms, liver, stinkbait and live sunfish; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/20/2011)

Robert DeLaney Lake: 86 degrees, normal, channel catfish fair on worms, liver, stinkbait and live sunfish; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/20/2011)

Wappapello: normal, black bass fair early and late on spinnerbaits and plastic worms; crappie fair on minnows and jigs; bluegill good on crickets and worms; channel catfish fair on trotlines and jug lines at night using live bait and nightcrawlers; crappie fair in spillway on minnows and jigs.
Anglers should note the 9" minimum length regulation for crappie on Wappapello Lake. All areas around the lake are now open since the lake water level has dropped.  Call the Wappapello Lake Recreation Hotline for updates at 573-222-8139. (Report made on 7/20/2011)

RIVERS

Black River (near Annapolis): 80 degrees, normal, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 7/20/2011)

Castor River (above Zalma): low, clear; black bass good on minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/20/2011)

Lower Black River (Clearwater Dam): high, dingy; crappie good on minnows; bluegill good on worms; black bass fair on worms and topwater lures; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/20/2011)

Mississippi (below Charleston): high, muddy; channel catfish and blue catfish good on cut baits; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/20/2011)

Mississippi River (Cape Girardeau): high, muddy; channel catfish and blue catfish good on cut baits; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/20/2011)

St. Francis (above Wappapello): low, clear; largemouth and smallmouth bass good in morning and evening on topwater lures; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/20/2011)

St. Francis (below Wappapello): 80 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish good on stinkbait and chicken liver; flathead catfish good on live bait, sunfish and goldfish; bluegill fair on waxworms; black bass fair on artificial bait and spinnerbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/20/2011)

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Anglers are invited to send photos of their fishing trips to the ShowMe Times. Just email acato@showmetimes.com. Be sure to include the name of the fisherman, the date of the catch, where it was caught, weight and - if you care to share - what type of bait you were using!