By PAUL DAVIS
Outdoors Editor
After three months and a record-high water level, Clearwater Lake finally is at a normal level.
"We can finally call ourselves pretty much back to normal," said Deputy Operations Manager Fred Esser this week.
The normal water level, 497 feet at this time of year, means all boat ramps at the lake are back in service, as are most facilities.
Visitors may still have to deal with silted beaches or roads in some low areas, Esser said, but it won't be a problem.
"We've got some cleanup left to do," he said.
A few areas remain closed until repairs can be made.
"A section of Bluff View just came out of the water," Esser said, "so we still need to verify we have electricity and repair the water system. Right now, we have no showers or water there."
In the Webb Creek area, the beach remains closed.
"We're in a whole lot better shape than we were just a few weeks ago," he said.
The lower level means fishermen have started returning to the lake, Esser said, and they've been having success.
"Over the last couple weeks, people have been hitting it really well," he said of the fishing.
The lower water also means the discharge from the spillway has fallen, and by now, the effect probably is apparent in the Black River at Poplar Bluff.
"We started lowering the outflow from the spillway Tuesday," Esser noted.
During the whole high-water ordeal, Esser said, the lake also experienced a turnover, resulting in a pungent odor as hydrogen sulfide gas from decaying debris escaped into the air. The situation, he said, is almost completely rectified.
Smallmouth
Tournament
The Current River Smallmouth Association will be hosting a tournament Saturday, with fishing out of the Doniphan area.
Launch time from the T. L. Wright ramp in the park should be at 7 a.m., with weigh-in at 5.
Paul Henderson has more information at 573-686-5476.
Angler's
Choice
If you're more of a lake angler, the Angler's Choice circuit will be holding a bass tournament Sunday at Wappapello Lake, with fishing from Chaonia Landing.
The launch time is scheduled for 6 a.m., with the weigh-in later at 3 p.m.
Ken Owens is the tournament director and can be reached at 573-820-3715.
Youth
Event
If you're looking for a fun time in the outdoors with your children this weekend, the Dexter Greenheads chapter of Ducks Unlimited and the Missouri Department of Conservation will be hosting the annual duck banding day at the Otter Slough Conservation Area.
The event will kick off at 7 a.m. on the parking lot next to Cypress Lake.
During the free event, youths will learn about native fish species and how they are managed from MDC fisheries biologists on the banks of Cypress Lake.
From there, they will move to the headquarters building and will have the opportunity to learn about mourning doves and wood ducks as they place a leg band on them, depending on how many can be trapped before the event.
The day, according to organizers, is designed to get children interested in the outdoors in a hands-on way and always is a lot of fun.
Children who attend also will get a free gift from Ducks Unlimited.
To get to Otter Slough, take Highway ZZ south from Dexter or Highway TT south from Dudley.
If you need more information, call Mike Wilburn at 573-421-3713.
Alternative
Hunting
A friend and I had the idea over the weekend that with the much cooler morning temperatures, we should try a squirrel hunt.
We headed out at daylight, confident the break in the weather was going to make for a good hunt. The plan was good, but the squirrels didn't stick to it and apparently just slept in.
We walked a lot of ground and drove mile after mile to new locations, and the only squirrel we saw ran across the road in front of the truck.
Thinking we may find some squirrels near water, we set up close to a small woods pond maybe 50 feet in diameter. It quickly became apparent there were no squirrels cutting nuts in the treeptops, but we knew right away we weren't alone.
Before long, we were on a whole different mission with a new target: big bullfrogs. They were steadily croaking along the pond edge, and we edged closer like a pair of pudgy ninja snipers.
Now typically, most hunters will pursue frogs at night with lights, and they'll usually use a gig or just grab them by hand. Hunting frogs in daylight with a .22 rifle, surrounded by vast forest, was totally different.
We learned quickly you have to get to the frog before it sinks, and we ended up well over our boots more than once while retrieving them. It was worth it, but next time we go squirrel hunting, we might pack along a long-handled dip net, an extendable fishing rod or maybe a pair of waders.
Obviously, there's a safety factor when shooting around water, so if you decide to try this, be sure of your backstop and the whereabouts of anyone with you.
As far as the squirrels, they should be starting to get active in the hickory trees in the next couple weeks. It seems to me their activity level really ratchets up once the hickories ripen in mid-August.
Deadline
Extended
If you didn't enter the photo contest at the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge because of time restraints, you'll be happy to know the entry deadline has been extended.
The new entry deadline will be at 4 p.m. on Aug. 15.
Judging should take place in late August and the winners will be announced shortly after that.
Trophy
Collector
Finally, Poplar Bluff High School trap team member Hannah Cash deserves another big shout-out for her performance at this week's AIM Nationals event in Sparta, Ill.
Cash earned a third-place finish in the doubles championship, adding to her already-substantial trophy collection.
The trap team is done competing until mid-September, but it will be hosting a demonstration and sign-up day beginning at 9 a.m. on Aug. 26 at the Poplar Bluff Gun Club. If you have a junior high or high school student who might be interested in the program, it would be a good opportunity for them to learn about it.