MDC seeks comments from Wappapello Lake anglers at upcoming open house meetings

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News from the region
Southeast
Published Date
04/17/2017
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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has scheduled three open house meetings to present data on crappie from Wappapello Lake as well as collect comments from Wappapello anglers.

“We look forward to interacting with anglers so we can show them our data and hear their comments. This combination will help lead us to a future path of management that’s best for the fish population and the people who care about it,” said Dave Knuth, a MDC fisheries management biologist.

Meetings are scheduled as follows:

  • May 4, 6 to 8 p.m., at New Home General Baptist Church
             
    1864 Hwy AA, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901
  • May 9, 6 to 8 p.m., at Greenville Elementary Gymnasium
           
    195 Walnut St., Greenville, MO 63944
  • May 11, 6 to 8 p.m., at University Forest Classroom
           
     46 University Forest Dr., Wappapello, MO 63966

Knuth said the history of Wappapello Lake is relevant to the challenges in managing the lake's crappie fishery. The 8,400-acre lake is unlike many other lakes, in that it’s a shallow floodplain reservoir as opposed to a steep sided, large volume reservoir. The lake’s primary, and necessary, function is for flood control, which often doesn't provide ideal conditions for fish spawning and growth. However, MDC has identified some of the issues and continues to work to improve crappie fishing in the lake.

For more information about fishing for crappie and Wappapello Lake, go online to mdc.mo.gov. To contact Dave Knuth with questions or comments about Wappapello Lake, call (573)290-5858, ext. 4434.