Missouri crappie anglers have reason to smile

Fair Grove native David Hupman, displays a couple crappie he caught off the Caplinger Mills bridge. He calls this area his “favorite fishing hole” because he has snagged plenty of crappie and walleye here. Although the high, dingy and fast moving water has kept many anglers from fishing here, anglers are catching fish in spite of the conditions.

Ken White/Special to the Daily Mail

In spite of the high and dingy water at Caplinger Mills bridge, anglers are catching crappie and catfish.

“This is my favorite place to camp and fish, it’s like my second home,” said Fair Grove angler David Hupman. “I fish for whatever hits my hook, but I mainly like to catch crappie and walleye.”

Hupman had several big crappie in his bucket. He said he has taken some big walleye while fishing off the bridge as well.

Anglers gather on the Caplinger Mills bridge, as fishing has been good in spite of the high and fast moving water.

Photo by Ken White/Special to the Daily Mail

Hupman joined many other anglers who didn’t think the fishing would be good because of the dingy high water. Once word got out that the fishing was good, the bridge became crowded with anglers.

Bob Lamp, Ozark, came to visit friends in Stockton. When he heard about the good fishing at Caplinger, he just happened to have some fishing gear with him and made a trip to the bridge. Lamb didn’t waste much time before he had six crappie and a walleye using a white jig.

He said, “I usually fish Table Rock, but after the rain and high water, I haven’t had much luck, so I was really happy to be able to catch fish at Caplinger. I will be back soon. When the word gets out that the crappie fishing is good, it doesn’t take long to draw a crowd.”

Fishing has also been good on Stockton Lake where anglers have been catching bass and crappie. During several recent bass tournaments on the lake, anglers have been finding success by casting into the tree-lined banks.

Mark Jackson, Springfield, said, “I didn’t think I would be fishing in the trees and catching fish, but that is where I caught a limit of bass, including a five-pounder on a twin spin. Like they say, ‘It’s always fishing, but it isn’t always catching.’”

Crappie anglers have found good fishing in the high water. Jim Walker, Springfield, recently caught a lot of big crappie in the 12 to 14-inch range by fishing close to the bank, while Tina and Dennis Hymer, Stafford, were busy catching crappie in eight-feet of water. Hymer also caught several nice channel catfish.

“Fishing has been good in spite of the high water,” Hymer said.

Another crappie angler, Harold Turner, Lamar, said, “I remember several years ago when the water was high on Stockton, I found the crappie fishing (to be) very good. There was a spot near Crabtree Cove where I happened to find the fish schooled up and I started catching them using a small spoon. I had my limit in a short time.

Hymer continued: “We were camping nearby, so the next day I took my wife and son fishing in the same spot where I had luck earlier. After about two hours we all had our limits of crappie and several white bass. It was one of the best camping/fishing trips of the year. It taught me that even when it doesn’t look like the fishing would be good, try it anyway.”

It’s no wonder that crappie fishing is so popular. When pan-fried, it rates as one of the most flavorful and ranks high in the top 10 best tasting fish in America.

Turner said, “Get a bucket of lively minnows preferably about two inches long. Check the lake for brush that borders deep water and cast near the brush. If the crappie are there, you will know immediately.

“The best artificial lure I have found is a 1/16th of an inch white or yellow jig. I generally stick with a jig, but if that doesn’t work, I go to minnows. Once you catch a crappie, you can be sure there are others around.”

Spring turkey totals

In spite of rainy weather during part of the spring turkey season, statewide hunters harvested 42,344 bearded birds. Vernon County had 568 turkeys checked during the three week season.