Because of major flooding in May, it really wasn't any surprise when the Missouri Department of Conservation canceled the three meetings it had scheduled around the area to discuss the crappie situation at Wappapello Lake, and ever since, we've been waiting to hear when they'd be rescheduled.
Finally, there's some news, though you may or may not like it.
"We want the public to know that improving the quality of the crappie fishery at Wappapello Lake is still a high priority for the Department of Conservation," said Fisheries Management Biologist Dave Knuth, who oversees the lake's fishery. "Our regulatory process guarantees that the public will have a significant amount of time to provide input on any potential regulation change. However, the order of things has changed a bit."
Instead of rescheduling the three meetings locally, MDC instead will be taking comments at its 80th anniversary open house on Aug. 8 at the Cape Girardeau Nature Center. That meeting will run from 6-8 p.m.
"I will be in attendance and the situation at Wappapello will be one of the discussion topics," Knuth said.
Once those comments are tabulated, he said, fisheries staff will make several recommendations to their division chief and other higher-ups on some potential things to help improve the crappie fishing.
"In September, regulatory options will be presented to MDC administration," Knuth said, "and once complete, we will then move forward with more opportunities for those interested in Wappapello Lake to provide public comment regarding those options."
Knuth said it's important for anglers to know they still will have a say in the process.
The department, he said, cannot move forward without "an ample amount of public comments," and he suspects there will be several ways to do so after they get approval in September for their various proposals.
"After we get approval of some options, I'm betting we'll have several different avenues to comment, whether that is online or at an open house," Knuth said.
Until then, Knuth invites anglers with comments about the Wappapello crappie fishery to contact him by email at Dave.Knuth@mdc.mo.gov, or by calling him at the department's Southeast Regional Office at 573-290-5730.
"This is definitely on top of the list of priorities for us," he emphasized, "and we are moving forward."