Mark Twain Lake consistently produces good crappie fishing, but, according to MDC management biologist Ross Dames, size has been relatively small because of slow growth, and though there should be good numbers of crappie for anglers, the general size will be less than 9 inches. For larger crappie, those over 9 inches, Dames recommended the North Fork or South Fork arms of the lake. Crappie grow faster in those arms, and receive less fishing pressure.

Hunnewell Lake, the water-supply lake for the MDC's Hunnewell Hatchery, supports excellent crappie fishing. Crappie anglers can expect to catch good numbers of 9-inch and longer crappie in 2007. Historically, the lake has produced great crappie fishing. (Morel hunting around the lake can be awesome, too.)

The northeast region of Missouri also contains good numbers of watershed lakes supporting good to outstanding crappie populations. Most lakes receive only light fishing. To locate a watershed lake, check with local Natural Resources Conservation Service offices for locations and ownerships; then, contact the owner for permission to fish.

ST. LOUIS REGION
In the St. Louis region, crappie anglers can expect to have fair to good crappie fishing in MDC lakes. MDC fisheries manager Marvin Boyer recommended the August A. Busch Memorial and Weldon Spring conservation areas. Lake 33 will again produce good crappie fishing, he said, especially early in the year, then again in the fall. Most crappie will be less than 9 inches long. Only about 10 percent are larger than 10 inches.

For larger crappie, Boyer suggested, fish lakes 34 and 35. Although these lakes have fewer crappie, the fish are larger, ranging from 12 to 13 inches. His sampling showed only about 10 crappie per hour, but 36 percent of the fish were 10 inches or larger. Many crappie anglers fish Lake 25 for the larger crappie, catching four or five, and then finishing off a limit with smaller fish by fishing Lake 33.

Boyer pointed out that in Lake 31, the area's only catch-and-release lake, crappie average 12 inches, with 80 percent 10 inches or larger. The most successful anglers at these areas use jigs or minnows, fished on light line.

The other relatively unfished crappie resource is the Mississippi River both upstream in the impounded locks and dams north of St. Louis, and downstream in the open reaches. Biologists recommend fishing in slack water, found in the mouths of tributaries, behind islands and island chutes, and in scour holes around brushpiles.

OZARK REGION
The Ozark Region has only two major lakes: Norfork and Bull Shoals Lake. Spring crappie fishing in the upper end of Norfork Lake can only be described as awesome, with large numbers of crappie attempting to spawn. A.J. Pratt, the biologist responsible for the lake, reported that 2007 should be no different than 2006, but also the last year for really good crappie fishing in the lake. Crappie anglers can expect good to excellent catches of 10-inch and larger crappie in 2007. However, next year will be a down year because of a lack of a strong crappie spawn.

Crappie fishing in Bull Shoals Lake during 2007 will be similar to 2006's, said Pratt, with good numbers of 10-inch and larger crappie available for anglers throughout the year. He recommended the west end near Forsyth. This area has good numbers of small fish that will grow to legal length during the year.

During the remainder of the year, he suggested, successful anglers need to fish over structure, including brushpiles. Brushpile maps are available by calling the West Plains regional office.

SOUTHEAST REGION
Clearwater Lake supports a good to excellent population of crappie. According to the manager, sampling shows about 74 percent of the crappie population are less than 10 inches -- so 26 percent are 10 inches and larger, which ought to make for good fishing in 2007.