With all the rain last week, fishing pretty much has been put on hold, except maybe in some farm ponds.
Wappapello Lake rose to a little more than 371 feet before it crested Monday, about 16 feet higher than normal. As you'd expect, the lake is off-color and there is a bit of floating debris.
"It's a good time of year to have a flood if we're going to get one," said Park Ranger Doug Nichols at Wappapello. The reason is officials legally are allowed to discharge heavier amounts of water from the dam now than they are later in the spring, when downstream crops have been planted.
Currently, the discharge, Nichols said, is around 8,200 cfs and likely will stay there for a little while.
"In a couple weeks, we should be getting close to normal, barring any additional heavy rainfall," he said.
Nichols did say he knew of some anglers who were catching catfish in the flooded brush along the banks of the lake while the water still was on the rise.
Over at Clearwater Lake, which is smaller and has steeper banks, the level there rose more than 29 feet above normal winter pool before it crested mid-day Tuesday at 523.56 feet.
The tailwater discharge currently is at 2,350 cfs.
Trout Opener
For those who like to catch trout the easy way, the catch-and-keep season in Missouri's four trout parks opened today.
Anyone fishing at the Montauk, Bennett Spring, Roaring River or Maramec Spring parks will need a daily trout tag, which costs $3 for adults and $2 for those age 15 and younger.
The daily limit for trout in the parks is four, with no size restrictions. Hours vary daily at each park, so it's best to call ahead.
Sparse Birds
For those still pursuing snow geese locally, things are getting tough, with fewer and fewer birds around. Apparently, that weather front last week pushed the majority of the birds up the pipeline.
I cruised around Stoddard County with a camera Monday and saw only one small flock. Duck numbers also have dropped off dramatically in the last week or so.
Of course, any weather could just as well push birds right back into the area, so you may not want to clean and put away that shotgun just yet.
Clearwater
Longbeards
The Clearwater Longbeards chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will host its annual fundraising banquet Saturday in Piedmont, Mo.
The doors to the Trinity Methodist Church, off Highway 34 east of town, will open at 5 p.m.
Besides a social hour and dinner, several games and raffles are planned, as are silent and live auctions.
Tickets to the event cost $45 for a single or $60 for a couple, while Jakes tickets for those age 17 and under cost $20. Sponsorships also are available for $280 and $650, with varying benefits.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.nwtf.org/events or by calling Richard Ayers at 573-223-2356.