With soggy weather around, 11 teams fished last weekend's USA Bassin' tournament at Wappapello Lake.
The team of Manion and Jennings finished the day in the top spot, hauling in 12.93 pounds. Their winning weight also was aided by the day's big bass, which weighed in at 6.85 pounds.
Second place was earned by the team of Francis and Harris with 9.91 pounds, and third place went to Warren and Dougherty with 8.93 pounds.
Finishing in the fourth spot was the team of Crawford and Byington with 5.94 pounds, and Dallas Rich and teammate Michael Winder rounded out the top five with a weight of 5.82 pounds.
The USA Bassin' organization's next event will be March 10 on Clearwater Lake.
Crappie Slower,
Water Rising
Crappie fishing has slowed quite a bit at Wappapello after the fish have been hammered for several weeks. That's not to say you can't catch some keepers - it's just slower than it had been.
Now, with all the rain this week, the lake will jump up quite a bit and surely change the fishing.
"Based on the water that's already on the ground, we're looking at it going to 364 feet," said Park Ranger Doug Nichols on Wednesday afternoon. The normal level for this time of year is 354.74 feet.
Nichols said with several more inches of rain expected in the lake's upstream watershed over the coming days, he expects Wappapello to "get up there pretty big." It won't, however, come anywhere close to the record level set last May.
Gate changes at the dam began Wednesday, Nichols said, and by this afternoon, the tailwater discharge should be around 5,000 cfs. After that point, officials will monitor the lake in case the discharge needs to be increased.
While the fast-rising water likely will put a major damper on the good crappie fishing, it should provide some good catfishing in the flooded brush along the banks.
Stream Bass Closure
For those hitting the local rivers and small creeks for some winter fishing, the Ozark stream bass season will close on Wednesday.
The area covered by the closure is pretty much everything south of the Missouri River, except for the Bootheel, Mississippi County and parts of Stoddard and Butler counties.
You still can fish for and catch smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass in streams after the closure date, you just have to release them.
Turkey Banquets
While Poplar Bluff's Heartland Gobblers/National Wild Turkey Federation banquet is coming up in a couple weeks (see other story), there are two other local events happening before then.
The first is the Southern Ozark Longbeards/NWTF banquet on Saturday in Doniphan, Mo.
The event will begin at 5 p.m. and will take place at the His Place church on Highway 160, east of town.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.nwtf.org or by emailing Sam Griffin at sam@bobgriffininsurance.com.
The other event is the Current River Longbeards/NWTF banquet on March 1 in Van Buren, Mo.
The doors are scheduled to open at 5:30 p.m. at the Southern Missouri Baptist Assembly.
Tickets are available online at www.nwtf.org or by calling Delbert DeWolfe at 573-660-1114.
Wild Game Dinner
The Outdoorsmen with a Mission organization, comprised of local sportsmen with a desire to help those in need, will be hosting its annual wild game dinner on March 3 at Poplar Bluff's First Baptist Church.
Besides a variety of wild game to eat, the night will feature raffles, a silent auction and a big buck contest.
Tickets still are available, but they have been selling fast. Tickets are $15 each and you get them by calling 573-712-6606 or 573-429-3195.
In With the New
It's almost time for new hunting and fishing licenses in Missouri because your 2017 versions will expire on Wednesday.
The easiest way to buy permits is through the Department of Conservation's free "MO Hunting" or "MO Fishing" smartphone apps. When you do so, the permits are stored locally on your phone, meaning you don't need cell service to see them.
If you prefer paper permits, you can buy them at the few permit vendors that remain, or just do them online at home. I'd recommend buying every permit you think you'll need at one time to cut down on the number of papers you have to carry (deer and fall turkey permits aren't available until July 1).
Another option is purchasing your permits online at mdc.mo.gov and carrying them as pdf files on your phone. It's perfectly legal and more convenient than carrying a half-dozen pieces of paper.
Finally, you have the option to purchase the Conservation Permit Card ($2), which can be scanned by a conservation agent and will show all of your purchased permits.
Regardless of which route you take, I'd still recommend printing paper versions of deer and turkey permits when you buy them. The reason is because if you kill a deer or turkey and have to leave it, say to go get a cart, sled or help from someone else, it has to be tagged by law.
PKC Hunt
Finally, the Butler County Coon Club will be hosting a PKC hunt beginning at 7 p.m. tonight.
The event will be based out of the club's headquarters building off County Road 607, just south of Poplar Bluff.
An entry fee of $30 will be taken for all participants.
For more information, give Terry Uhl a call at 573-714-1624.