OutdoorMissouri.com

My kids just purchased a new home close to Cape Girardeau , mo where would be the best place to catch some BIG crappie? i Would even try in Western Kentucky. thanks

Kinkaid Lake Southern IL

Located in southwestern Illinois' Jackson County, Kinkaid Lake is approximately 5 miles northwest of Murphysboro and 100 miles southeast of St. Louis. Built in 1968, the lake encompasses 2,750 acres. The ownership of the surrounding land is divided among the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which manages approximately 4,000 acres; the U.S. Forest Service, which administers 5,000 acres; and Kinkaid-Reed's Creek Conservancy District, which oversees 300 acres

If you are trying Western KY, then you should spend some time on Kentucky Lake. Man we used to haul some slabs out of there.

I am not into geography, but where is Reel Foot Lake from there? I know it is a good crappie lake.

Reelfoot is in NW TN. It is pretty good. There is a pretty good place to eat all you can eat catfish there in Tiptonville.

I bet it even costs less than going fishing.

Clear Water Lake has some good crappie. Its on the south end of Iron Co. if I remember right. A couple buddies and I used to make the trip from Hillsboro to crappie fish Clear Water. Good catfshing too.



Kentucky and Reelfoot are also great lakes. Lots of cypress stumps and cover for the slabs to hide in.

Just dont get out on Kentucky lake with the wind blowing.

You aren't kidding there. My dad, my best friend, and myself were fishing out of Paris, TN one time, and the wind got up. I was in the bottom of the boat praying for my life.

Wappapello(sp?) is where most everyone fishes down in SEMO. In the springtime (spawn) and in winter (low water over brush), you can catch some very good crappie. The rest of the year they are mostly dinks.

Dave , do you know how many acres Clear Water Lake is ??

No, but it is a decent size resevoir. The Black River runs into it, and I have fished both the river, and the lake. It is an old lake, with plenty of brush/structure, and bluffs.

If you go, it shouldn't take you long to find some good looking areas. We used to catch 12-14" crappie there pretty often, but that's been 10yrs ago.

With that ammount of brush though, I would suggest a long pole, 10-13' for dipping jigs. I never used a long pole on Clearwater, but looking back, it would have come in handy.

The more clearer water is at the mouth of the Black River, and then the water becomes more stained the further south you go. It is in Reynolds Co. just south of Iron Co.

Oh, it is a heck of a lot smaller than Lake of the Ozarks, Truman, and Tablerock, so if you want to hit the spawn, don't wait for notice from folks fishing the bigger lakes, the spawn will be on at Clear Water before the bigger lakes.

Good luck.

Lake Giradeau is decent. I caught a 6 1/2 lb cat outta there when I was nine months preggy. My favorite fishin' is bass so go over by the dam on that lake for them.
As far as Crappie go, your on your own.. have fun no matter what yah do!

Huntingal....where is Lake Giradeau at ?? i have looked on a missouri state map and can't find it anywhere ??

I had to do a search .. Been nine years since Ive been there... Directions To Lake Girardeau

Near Cape Girardeau and 7 miles west of Jackson on Highway 34, then 6 miles south on Highway U. Watch for signs.
This 162 acre lake has a boat ramp and picnic areas. Originally stocked in 1995, it has a 42? limit.