As the weather turns to fall, it seems that fish across the region are remaining slow to hit on most baits. Across the board, bass and catfish seem to be the most likely to produce results. The Mississippi River at Cape and the St. Francis River, up above Lake Wappapello, look like they are having the most action out of all species.

SOUTHEAST REGION (573) 290-5858

    LAKES

Clearwater Lake: 75 degrees, normal, clear; crappie fair while trolling; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/29/2011)

Council Bluff: 69 degrees, normal, clear; largemouth bass fair on dark colored soft plastic worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/29/2011)

Cypress Lake: 72 degrees, normal, dingy; crappie fair on minnows and jigs; bluegill fair on crickets and worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/29/2011)

Duck Creek: 68 degrees, normal, clear; largemouth bass good on shiners; bluegill fair on jigs; all other species fair. (Report made on 9/28/2011)

Lake Girardeau: normal, clear; channel catfish fair on worms and cut bait; largemouth bass fair on plastic worms; all other species fair. (Report made on 9/28/2011)

Perry County Lake: 70 degrees, clear; largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits; channel catfish fair on liver; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/29/2011)

Robert DeLaney Lake: 76 degrees, normal, all species slow. (Report made on 9/27/2011)

Wappapello: normal, black bass good on crankbaits and plastic worms; crappie good on minnows and jigs; channel catfish good on live bait using jug lines and trotlines at night; bluegill fair on crickets and worms along shoreline; all other species slow.
Anglers should note the 9" minimum length regulation for crappie on Wappapello Lake.  Call the Wappapello Lake Recreation Hotline for updates at 573-222-8139. (Report made on 9/27/2011)

    RIVERS

Black River (near Annapolis): 72 degrees, low, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 9/29/2011)

Castor River (above Zalma): low, clear; all species fair. (Report made on 9/29/2011)

Lower Black River (Clearwater Dam): normal, dingy; black bass good on topwater lures and crankbaits; channel catfish good on live and cut baits; white bass fair on tube jigs; crappie fair on jigs and minnows; all other species slow.
There have been some instances of paddlefish being caught and hooked in the mouth while using traditional fishing methods as of late.  Paddlefish are closed to taking by any method in the Black River except from March 15 through April 30.  If a paddlefish is caught outside of those specified dates it must be released immediately. (Report made on 9/29/2011)

Mississippi (below Charleston): low, dingy; all species slow. (Report made on 9/27/2011)

Mississippi River (Cape Girardeau) rising, dingy; channel catfish and blue catfish fair on worms, cut bait and stinkbait; all other species fair. (Report made on 9/28/2011)

St. Francis (above Wappapello): normal, dingy; all species slow. (Report made on 9/29/2011)

St. Francis (below Wappapello): 67 degrees, normal, dingy; channel catfish fair on stinkbait, liver, and worms; flathead catfish fair on live bait, small bluegill, and goldfish; crappie fair on minnows and jigs; all other species slow. (Report made on 9/27/2011)