Conditions were just right Saturday morning for the annual Kids Fishin' Fun Day, and nearly 100 children and their parents turned out for the big event, which was sponsored by the Southeast Missouri Sportsman's Association, Missouri Department of Conservation and U.S. Forest Service.
"It was a great day, and everyone seemed to have a good time," said SEMO Sportsman's Association's Randy Daves, who also noted the crowd was larger than usual.
This year's event was held at the pond behind New Covenant Fellowship Church in Poplar Bluff, and it turned out to be a great spot, with easy access and plenty of parking.
"We plan on going back," said Daves.
During the event, children and their parents caught bluegills, bass, catfish, crappie and even a few turtles.
"We do this to get kids outdoors," said Daves. "Some don't have the means to get on the water, so we make it easy for them to see what fishing is all about.
"We want them to take advantage of what the good Lord designed."
As in years past, the U.S. Forest Service held a casting contest, and children also enjoyed a bounce house when they weren't fishing.
Everyone enjoyed hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch, and dozens of door prizes, including two full camping packages, were given away.
Several local businesses and individuals helped with the event, Daves said, making it a success.
"Our sponsors are outstanding," he stressed. "Everyone is head over heals to help us out."
Good Fishing
Crappie fishing has slowed a little at both Wappapello and Clearwater lakes, but remains pretty good.
It appears the crappie have moved away from the banks for the most part and are holding in a little deeper water again.
Catfishing continues to get better and better, with some nice catches of both channel cats and flatheads early and late in the day.
Bluegill fishing also has been pretty good, with crickets being the choice bait. I did talk to a couple anglers at Duck Creek Conservation Area's Pool 1 Monday and they hadn't had a bite all morning, so location is probably the biggest factor to success.
In the Wappapello spillway, anglers are mostly catching small crappie and largemouth bass, with surprisingly little white bass action. Catfish also are biting below the dam, and rough fish like gar, suckers and carp are more than abundant.
Tourney Winners
A little rain Saturday afternoon wasn't enough to keep 80 teams fishing the Wappapello Bass Circuit's tournament off the water.
At the weigh-in, the team of Harty and Ellebracht stood above the rest with a stringer weight of 17.32 pounds. They also had the day's second-largest bass, weighing in at 6.27 pounds.
Second place was earned by Fowler and Mangell with 16.49 pounds, while third place went to Hughes and Trout with 15.41 pounds. They also had the biggest bass of the day, a 7.05-pound whopper.
The circuit's next event will take place on June 23.
USA Bassin'
The USA Bassin' organization's Southeastern Ozarks Division will hold a tournament Saturday at Clearwater Lake, with fishing from the Piedmont Park ramp.
The launch time has been set for 6 a.m. and the weigh-in will be at 3 p.m.
Doug Warren is the tournament director and can be reached at 573-924-2215.
Stellar Showing
Poplar Bluff High School's trap team had a stellar showing when they traveled to Corning, Ark., last weekend for a shoot featuring individual scoring.
In the 16-yard singles competition, TJ Abney earned the win in the Junior Gold division, while Hunter Seal was the top shooter in the Junior division.
First place in Division A went to Dylan Hale, while Hunter Turner took the win in Division B.
Andrew Miller grabbed the win in Division C competition, and he shot his first ever 75 straight clays in the process.
In doubles competition, Abney took first place in the Junior Gold division, and in the ladies division, Tayler Hillis was the winner.
The team will compete next on June 2 at the Scholastic Clay Target Program Championships at Linn Creek, Mo.