Spring weather luring fishermen

SIKESTON -- Warmer weather and budding plants typically mark the arrival of springtime, but they're also signs of the heightened fishing season.

"The best time for fishing is after Easter up until about July," said Leother Branch, an agent with the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Post-Easter is a big time for fishing because the water temperature starts to change and crappie, blue gill, bass and catfish -- what local residents typically fish for -- start to spawn from spring to summer.

Crappie are getting ready to start spawning -- which is when fish are more susceptible to being caught -- and blue gill spawn around May, Branch noted.

"Everybody's itching to go," agreed avid fisherman Jerry Dement of Sikeston. Dement, who fishes year-round, said he primarily targets bass, crappie, blue gill and sometimes catfish in lakes, ponds and streams throughout Southeast Missouri, Western Kentucky and anywhere within a 300-mile radius of Sikeston.

But for beginners, Dement recommended fishermen not limit themselves to one species and being versatile.

"Catch what's available and the more knowledge you have, the more you learn about it," Dement said.

Of course every fisherman has their own philosophy, but Branch thinks the most favorable time to fish is when the water temperature is above 55 degrees.

"The best time to go is whenever you can, but I personally like to go during prefront conditions -- right before a weather front comes in -- to stimulate the fish even more," said Dement, who comes from a family of fishermen.

Although Dement prefers using artificial bait, there's nothing wrong with using live bait, he said.

"I just fish with whatever I think will catch them with," Dement said.

When it comes to fishing, the majority of people from the area probably go to Upper Big Lake north of Charleston and the General Watkins area north of Sikeston, Branch said.

"The (Mississippi) River's a valuable resource and there's a lot of activity during normal river stages with people boating and bank fishing," Branch said.

However, Branch advised people to wear flotation devices and have a fire extinguisher handy.

Tributaries that run through Southeast Missouri are very popular as well, Branch said. A lot of tributaries are adjacent to private land so before trespassing on anyone's land, obtain permission first, he said, pointing out anyone ages 16-64 must have a state fishing permit before they can legally catch a fish.

According to Joe Gooch, owner of Southern Rod and Reel in Sikeston, the top fish targeted by local fishermen, in order, are crappie, large mouth bass and catfish.

Fishing basics include a rod, reel, line and bait, but Gooch said choices for fishing equipment are not limited.

"The rods, the reels, the line are all different -- and most fishermen can't have just one. Today they make rods for all types of fishing," Gooch said.

There are also all different colors of jigs for water colors and different lines. For example, besides variations in strength, there's a line that can't be seen under water and there's also one that turns gold above the water and is clear under water, he explained.

Electronic resources are available that help fisherman determine what the bottom looks like, how deep it is, whether its a hard or soft bottom, if it has trees or stumps, Gooch explained.

"All of this variety is mind-boggling," Gooch said.

The Internet is a good source for information about fishing for both experienced and newcomers to the sport, Gooch said.

"What they need to do is go into a sporting goods store they know has people who know what they're doing, or they should find a friend that fishes a lot and ask them," Gooch suggested.

Dement admitted he owns quite a bit of fishing equipment, but fishing can also be very simple and very cheap. And often it's the times he wades in streams that he experiences his best fishing, he said.

"I fish purely for pleasure and it's kind of a way to get away from things and fish a lot alone but fish with other people, too," said Dement. "I do it for enjoyment."