The new regulation is effective March 1.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Commission approved at their February meeting the proposed crappie regulation change at Wappapello Lake. As of March 1, the regulation will be a daily limit of thirty (30) crappie, but not more than fifteen fish can be greater than 9 inches in total length.

This is a change to the previous regulation of a daily limit of 30 and a nine-inch minimum length limit that has been in place since 2006. Based on the biological data and information gathered from anglers through creel surveys and public meetings, this is a must needed change according to Dave Knuth, a MDC fisheries management biologist.

“We see large fluctuations in the quality of the crappie fishery at Wappapello Lake from year to year, which is largely driven by the stability of the water levels,” Knuth said. “Crappie growth can be extremely variable in Wappapello Lake and length limits are not effective when growth is slow and not consistent from year to year.”  

The new regulation will increase harvest opportunities for anglers during poor years.

“We heard what anglers were saying about the 9-inch minimum length limit, the large number of short fish anglers were catching and the limited number of harvestable size fish available,” Knuth said.

The new regulation will also increase the opportunity for anglers to harvest the slow growing Black Crappie. Only about two percent of the Black Crappie ever reach 9 inches in Wappapello Lake before they die of natural causes, Knuth said.

“I encourage anglers if they do keep fish under 9 inches to keep Black Crappie,” he said. “Black Crappie are more robust than the White Crappie at smaller sizes. Reducing Black Crappie numbers in the lake may improve White Crappie growth by reducing the competition between these two species.”

Also, limiting the number of fish over nine inches will keep some of the bigger fish in the lake a little longer. This will maintain some consistency in the quality of the fishery even during poor years.

“We will continue to monitor the fishery intensively to determine if the regulation is producing the desired results,” Knuth said. “Like many of the anglers that fish this lake, I am excited to see this change.”

Trout lakes in Jackson, Farmington and Perryville are stocked and ready.

Cape Girardeau, MIssouri - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) says trout may be harvested from Rotary Lake in Jackson, Giessing Lake in Farmington and Legion Lake in Perryville beginning Feb. 1.

According to MDC Fisheries Management Biologist Mike Reed, fishing has been very good this winter due to relatively warm temperatures.  Anglers have reported success at all three lakes using a variety of artificial lures and flies. 

“If the lakes don’t freeze we should have an excellent opener to the trout harvest season at all three lakes,” Reed said. 

Reed said MDC stocked trout in November at the start of the catch-and-release season. 

“These fish provide a tremendous amount of fishing opportunity through the fall and winter months when warm water fishing is at a lull,” Reed said, adding that in addition to catchable-size fish, a few “lunker” trout were also stocked at each lake.

Reed reminds anglers they must release trout caught now through Jan. 31. 

Starting Feb. 1, any bait may be used and four trout may be kept regardless of size.  All anglers between the ages of 16 and 64 must have a valid Missouri fishing permit and any angler harvesting trout must possess a trout permit as well. 

“An amazing number of trout can typically be caught the first week of trout harvest season,” Reed said. 

Many anglers frequently catch limits of trout using light weight or ultra-light fishing tackle or fly tackle. Reed recommends anglers use 2-4 lb. test line, small hooks and little or no added weight to their line. Popular baits include almost any type of small spinner, small crank baits, natural baits such as worms and cheese, and commercially produced dough baits. 

Bald eagles are starting to nest across southeast Missouri and can be seen along area waterways.

Puxico, Missouri - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and U.S. Corps of Engineers have canceled the Eagle Days event scheduled for Friday, Feb. 1, and Saturday, Feb. 2, at MINGO National Wildlife Refuge, Duck Creek Conservation Area (CA) and Wappapello Lake, due to the current federal government shutdown.

“It’s unfortunate that we had to cancel the event, but people may still drive onto these and other areas to view eagles on their own,” said Sara Bradshaw, a MDC education consultant and one of the Eagle Days organizers. “The eagles are active on the areas and viewable in several locations with the use of binoculars.”

Eagles are starting to nest across Southeast Missouri and can also be viewed at Ten Mile Pond CA or anywhere along the Mississippi River and other waterways. Bald eagles are usually seen near lakes, rivers, and marshes as they forage for fish or carrion. The bald eagle’s return to the lower 48 states is a continued conservation success story. Although historically about 20,000 pairs nested in the United States, by the 1950s only about 3,000 pairs were nesting. Today, over 10,000 pairs nest in the United States annually, including about 200 in Missouri, as of 2010.

Mature bald eagles have a dark brown body with white head and tail, which makes identification simple. The large, hooked bill, strong talons, and irises of the eyes are yellow. Females are larger than males, but otherwise the sexes look alike. In flight, bald eagles soar on rising warm air currents on flattened wings, not holding them V-shaped. Juveniles are all brown, with white speckles. Adult bald eagles can grow up to 36 inches in length with a wingspan of up to 84 inches.

Top counties: Franklin with 4,021 deer checked, Howell with 3,858, and Callaway with 3,695.

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested a near-record 199,427 deer during the November portion of fall firearms deer season, Nov. 10- 20. Of the 199,427 deer harvested, 102,930 were antlered bucks, 19,924 were button bucks, and 76,573 were does.

Top harvest counties were Franklin with 4,021 deer checked, Howell with 3,858, and Callaway with 3,695.

Last year hunters checked 192,797 deer during the 2017 November portion of firearms deer season with 100,161 being antlered bucks, 20,267 being button bucks, and 72,369 being does.

The recent-record season was 2012 with 204,668 deer harvested, including 87,368 antlered bucks, 27,143 button bucks, and 90,157 does.

MDC reported eight firearms-related hunting incidents during the November portion of firearms deer season of which three involved fatalities -- two of which occurred incidental to hunting while at hunting camps and one self-inflicted incident while in the field. Of the five non-fatal incidents, four were self-inflicted and the fifth occurred when the shooter struck a victim while swinging on game.

Deer hunting in Missouri continues with archery deer hunting from Nov. 21 through Jan. 15, 2019. The late youth portion of firearms deer season runs Nov. 23-25. The antlerless portion of firearms deer season runs Nov. 30 through Dec. 2. Lastly, the alternative methods portion will run Dec. 22 through Jan. 1, 2019. Learn more about deer hunting in Missouri at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer

Missouri offers some of the best deer hunting in the country and deer hunting is an important part of many Missourians’ lives and family traditions. Deer hunting is also an important economic driver in Missouri and gives a $1 billion annual boost to the state and local economies.

Pictured is Ben Ray of Sikeston, Missouri with his first doe!

Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that young hunters ages 6 through 15 harvested 13,560 deer during Missouri’s early youth portion of the 2018 deer hunting season, which ran Oct. 27-28. Top counties for the early youth portion were Howell with 350, Osage with 316, and Franklin with 263 deer checked. Last year’s harvest total for the early youth portion was 17,412.

“Warm temperatures and gusty winds this weekend presented much more challenging hunting conditions compared to last year, but Missouri’s youth still pulled off a respectable harvest,” said MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Barb Keller.

Archery deer hunting continues through Nov. 9 and again from Nov. 21 through Jan. 15, 2019. Up next for deer hunting in Missouri is the November portion of firearms deer season, which runs Nov. 10-20. That will be followed by the late youth portion of firearms deer season on Nov. 23-25. The antlerless portion of firearms deer season runs Nov. 30-Dec. 2. Lastly the alternative methods portion will run Dec. 22- Jan. 1, 2019.