By PAUL DAVIS
Outdoors Editor
Crappie fishing remains above average at Wappapello Lake, with a lot of limits being taken.
"It's been good," said Jason Jenkins, who caught quite a few big fish, including a 17-incher, last week. "Most averaged about 10 inches."
Spider-rigging with minnows along the channel was his key to success.
Park Ranger Doug Nichols said his last three fishing trips have resulted in "easy limits."
The fish, he said, have mostly been found tight to deep cover along the channel in the upper reaches of the lake, though on sunny afternoons, he has caught some on the nearby flats. When that shallow water warms, he said, the shad move there and the crappies follow them.
The lake is at winter pool, and the weather looks to be pretty stable for a while, so fishing should remain good.
Benefit Tournament
A benefit tournament for the Ellington Nutrition Center will be held Saturday on the Current River, with fishing from Van Buren.
"I've been putting this on for 19 years," said event organizer Doug Warren.
Take-off will occur under the Highway 60 bridge and is set for 7 a.m., while the weigh-in will take place at 4 p.m. The nutrition center also will serve food at the weigh-in.
You can get registered for the event or get more information by calling Warren at 573-924-2215.
Conservation Order
There are quite a few snow geese in the region, just in time for the light goose conservation order, which opened yesterday.
There also are plenty of white-fronted geese, so you need to be especially careful what you're shooting at because the season on specks is now closed. This is particularly true for those who sneak and jump-shoot flocks, since specks almost always feed on the outside edges of the snow geese.
The biggest factor to success is probably just putting in the miles scouting for birds, whether you want to decoy or jump-shoot them.
Butler County Conservation Agent Frank Campa has a good rundown of the conservation order regulations elsewhere on this page.
Winding Down
Missouri's rabbit and squirrel seasons are just about over, with both closing a week from today.
I had fully intended to get a late-season rabbit hunt in, but with successive illnesses, it looks like that probably won't happen.
There has been some debate about shooting squirrels this time of year because this is when the females bear one of their two annual litters of babies, but I'm not sure how much of an effect hunting really has.
Sport Shows
If you feel like getting away this weekend, there are a couple of sport shows within a short drive.
The first is the Arkansas Sport Show at the Arkansas State University/First National Bank Arena in Jonesboro, Ark.
The show is supposed to feature plenty of hunting, fishing and boating gear, plus outfitters and seminars.
The show will run from 4-9 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Entry will cost $8 for adults, $4 for children age 6-12 and those 5 and under are free.
The other event is the St. Louis Boat and Sportshow at the America's Center and Dome.
This show looks to be more boat and camping oriented, with several seminars planned.
It will run from 2-9 p.m. today, noon to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The cost is $12 for adults, and anyone age 12 and under can get in free.