From The Missouri Department of Conservation

With the heat wave felt throughout Southeast Missouri briefly subsiding, anglers should have better luck on the area’s lakes and rivers this weekend. There is rain in the forecast on Friday and Saturday, but Sunday, with a high of 82 degrees and light clouds, should be perfect for fishing.

SOUTHEAST REGION (573) 290-5858

    LAKES

Clearwater Lake: 87 degrees, normal, clear; crappie fair after dark on jigs; largemouth bass fair early morning and late evening on topwater lures; all other species slow. (Report made on 8/10/2011)

Council Bluff: 86 degrees, normal, clear; largemouth bass fair on dark colored soft plastics during low light periods; all other species slow. (Report made on 8/10/2011)

Cypress Lake: 89 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish good in 2'-3' depths using worms and stinkbait; crappie slow using minnows and jigs in depths over 3'; bluegill and redear sunfish fair in 2'-3' depths using crickets, small jigs, and small pieces of worms; largemouth bass slow on spinnerbaits in up to 3' depths, jigs and plastic worms. (Report made on 8/10/2011)

Duck Creek: 82 degrees, normal, clear; largemouth bass fair on topwater lures and plastic worms; bluegill, redear sunfish and warmouth sunfish fair on crickets and jigs; all other species slow. (Report made on 8/10/2011)

Lake Girardeau: normal, clear; channel catfish fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 8/10/2011)

Perry County Lake: 87 degrees, clear; black bass fair on crankbaits; channel catfish fair on liver; all other species slow. (Report made on 8/10/2011)

Robert DeLaney Lake: 85 degrees, normal, channel catfish fair on worms, liver, stinkbait, and live sunfish; all other species slow. (Report made on 8/10/2011)

Wappapello: normal, black bass good on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits early and late in the day; bluegill fair on crickets; crappie fair on minnows and jigs in the lake in the river channel; channel catfish fair on trotlines and jug lines at night using live bait and nightcrawlers.  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 8/10/2011)

    RIVERS

Black River (near Annapolis): 80 degrees, low, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 8/10/2011)

Castor River (above Zalma): low, clear; all species good. (Report made on 8/10/2011)

Lower Black River (Clearwater Dam): normal, clear; black bass fair on worms and topwater lures late evenings and early morning; channel catfish fair on live bait; all other species slow. (Report made on 8/10/2011)

Mississippi (below Charleston): normal, dingy; channel catfish fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 8/10/2011)

Mississippi River (Cape Girardeau): 79 degrees, high, muddy; all species slow. (Report made on 8/10/2011)

St. Francis (above Wappapello): normal, clear; black bass good on topwater lures and large minnows drifted in the deeper holes; all other species slow. (Report made on 8/10/2011)

St. Francis (below Wappapello): 84 degrees, channel catfish good on trotlines and pole and line using worms, chicken liver, and stinkbait; flathead catfish good on live bait,  bluegill, and small sunfish; bluegill good on worms and crickets; largemouth bass good on plastic worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 8/10/2011)

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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!