Mozingo, built 15 years ago, is offering up excellent bluegill catches. "After the crappies are done spawning, the bluegill fishing is really good," remarked Mason. "From Memorial Day through early June, anglers can fish the bank just about anywhere and have a ball."

The lake is owned and operated by the city of Maryville in Nodaway County. Covering 1,006 acres and featuring numerous arms and coves, the long, narrow lake is part of Mozingo Lake Park. Bank-anglers can have their pick of spots along the 26-mile shoreline.

Artificial brushpiles have been sunk in the lake to add to the already good fish habitat. Woody stuff in the shallow water is the type of cover to hit on this lake.

The eastern side of Mozingo is privately owned, so your access to the shoreline is subject to the generosity of private landowners. The rest of the lake is fairly open where anglers can reach the water, but a boat is generally the best way to take advantage of the fishing. Although good fishing can be found just about anywhere, the northern shoreline is the best bet for finding nesting bluegills.

Bluegill anglers are apt to tangle with some of the lake's other offerings. The 12- to 15-inch-slot limit on largemouth bass has contributed to making Mozingo a high-quality panfish lake, and according to the results of an electrofishing survey done in 2005, its bass are big, over a fourth of them being at least 15 inches in length.

The crappie are whopper-sized, too: Specimens of up to 17 inches have been found in the lake, and good numbers of them are heading in that direction. No special regulations apply for the lake's bluegills.

Three boat ramps serve boaters. Boat passes are sold for a small fee. A handicapped-accessible fishing dock is available. The park offers camping and cabins for the visiting angler.

For more information contact the Northwest Regional Office at (816) 271-3100. Information about Mozingo Lake Park can be found at Maryville City Hall at (660) 562-8001.

LAKE SHOW-ME
"Lake Show-Me has been a good bluegill lake on a steady basis for years," said fisheries management biologist Darren Thornhill. "From an MDC fish survey completed in 2004, 10 percent of the bluegill in the lake were 8 inches or better. Those are really good sizes. The catch rates during the surveys were also good."

According to Thornhill, most anglers arrive at Lake Show-Me to tag the lake's hefty 9- to 11-inch crappie, a feat that isn't difficult to accomplish. But the word is also out now about the big 'gills.

According to Thornhill, anglers arrive with a fly rod in one hand and guide their boats with the other. Back in the coves, sight-fishing is a blast. The bluegills are thick in some of the backwaters during the spawn, and the action on a fly rod is fast and furious.