PB trap shooters continue hot streak

Poplar Bluff’s trap team continued its hot streak at last weekend’s Scholastic Clay Target Program championship shoot at Linn Creek, with several shooters earning their personal best scores.

Conner Hendricks earned a second-place finish in the varsity division with a score of 198 out of 200, while in the junior varsity grouping, Garret Cooper took the win with a 198 and Kason Henderson grabbed second place, also with a 198. Third place went to Austin Stoner with a 197, sealing a Poplar Bluff sweep of that division’s podium.

Poplar Bluff’s maroon Squad, comprised of Dylan Hale, Trenton Patterson, Andrew Miller, Henderson and Tayler Hillis, took first place honors in the open division, scoring 964 out of 1,000.

Poplar Bluff’s grey squad, with Jon Pike, Stoner, Madigan Franklin, Cooper and Hendricks, was right on the maroon squad’s heels, taking second place with a score of 958.

Individually, several shooters earned patches for their efforts.

Jaydon Everts was recognized for scoring his first 25 straight, while Pike got his first 75 straight.

Four shooters - Hendricks, Henderson, Stoner and Cooper - all earned badges for scoring their first 100 straight clays.

The trap team will compete next at the AIM (Academics, Integrity and Marksmanship) Nationals July 29-30 at the World Shooting Complex in Sparta, Ill.

Still Hot

The area’s lakes and rivers are pretty much back to normal levels, and fishing continues to be pretty “hot” - if you can stand the heat.

Most crappies are being caught deep around structure. Anglers also have reported catching bass on topwater baits early and late in the day and on lipless crankbaits during the warmer periods.

The water flow in the Wappapello spillway has slowed quite a bit, making fishing easier.

A run through the area Wednesday morning showed a huge amount of rough fish, especially gar and buffalo, in the spillway, while anglers there at the time were catching a few bluegills and small crappie along the banks.

There are plenty of alternative fishing spots across the region which should provide good fishing, too. Duck Creek’s Pool 1, Otter Slough’s Cypress Lake, Beaver Lake and Pinewoods Lake come to mind. Plus, those areas probably don’t see the crowds of the bigger waters.

Dud Crop

A bit of cruising around between myself and some friends has pretty much resulted in the sad conclusion that this year’s blackberry crop has been a dud.

Even today, at almost the halfway point in July, berry numbers are sparse, and I haven’t witnessed a single patch with more than a handful of ripe specimens. Most every patch I’ve visited (based on past success) has had nothing more than a few dinky red berries showing.

I guess I’ll chalk it up as a learning experience, because my initial thought that the berry crop would be good because of all the spring rain we’ve had just never came to fruition.

Night Tournament

If night fishing for bass sounds interesting to you (especially with this brutal heat), the East Ozark Bass Club has an vent for you.

The group will host a night tournament at Clearwater Lake Saturday, based out of the Piedmont ramp.

The launch time is set for 6 p.m., with fishing continuing though 2 a.m.

You can register for the event at the ramp before the launch.

Crappie Tournament

The Wappapello Crappie Club’s annual His and Hers tournament will take place Saturday, based out of the Sundowner ramp north of the dam.

Fishing is slated to run from 6 a.m. until 1 p.m., followed by a weigh-in at the Sundowner pavilion.

Anyone wishing to fish the tournament can sign up ahead of time at Sundowner Marina, or early on the morning of the event.

Angler’s Choice

The Angler’s Choice circuit will host a tournament Sunday on Wappapello Lake, based out of Chaonia public ramp.

The launch has been set for 5:30 a.m., with the weigh-in at 3 p.m.

Ken Owens is the tournament director and can be reached at 573-820-3715 if you want to get registered.