From the Missouri Department of Conservation

The fish are starting to become more lively in area rivers and lakes, but anglers are going to have to make a educated selection on where to fish at to have any luck. Most rivers and lakes are still a little slow in the midst of the area's heat wave, but Duck Creek, Castor River, and Wappapello seem to be picking up.

SOUTHEAST REGION (573) 290-5858

LAKES

Clearwater Lake: 88 degrees, normal, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 7/27/2011)

Council Bluff: 89 degrees, normal, clear; channel catfish fair on liver and worms after dark; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/27/2011)

Cypress Lake: 89 degrees, normal, 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 7/26/2011)

Duck Creek: 89 degrees, falling, clear; largemouth bass good on topwater lures; bluegill, redear sunfish and warmouth sunfish good on crickets. (Report made on 7/28/2011)

Lake Girardeau: 86 degrees, normal, clear; channel catfish fair on worms; largemouth bass fair on topwater lures; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/27/2011)

Perry County Lake: 88 degrees, dingy; channel catfish fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/27/2011)

Robert DeLaney Lake: 86 degrees, normal, channel catfish fair on worms, liver, stinkbait and live sunfish; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/26/2011)

Wappapello: normal, black bass fair early and late on plastic worms and crankbaits; crappie fair on minnows and jigs in the river channel above Chaonia Landing; bluegill fair on crickets and worms; channel catfish fair at night on live bait and nightcrawlers on trotlines and jug lines. 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 7/27/2011)

RIVERS

Black River (near Annapolis): 80 degrees, low, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 7/27/2011)

Castor River (above Zalma): low, clear; black bass good on Rapalas and Beetle Spins; sunfish good on jigs and jigs with spinners. (Report made on 7/27/2011)

Lower Black River (Clearwater Dam): normal, dingy; crappie fair on minnows; bluegill fair on worms; black bass fair on worms and topwater lures; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/26/2011)

Mississippi (below Charleston): normal, dingy; channel catfish fair on live frogs and worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/26/2011)

Mississippi River (Cape Girardeau): high, muddy; channel catfish and blue catfish good on cut baits; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/27/2011)

St. Francis (above Wappapello): low, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 7/26/2011)

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 7/27/2011)

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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!