Lake Wappapello

About Lake Wappapello

Wappapello Lake, found in southeastern Missouri, is a Corps of Engineers lake that was built for flood control. The St. Francis River along with nearby springs and creeks supply the water for Wappapello Lake. The lake is unique in that the water level is held at two pools. During the winter months, Wappapello is lowered to the conservation pool of 5,200 acres in preparation for spring flooding. During the warmer months, the lake is raised to a recreational pool level of 8,400 acres. As the colder months approach, Wappapello Lake is again lowered.

The Wappapello Lake area offers many recreational activities which include boating, fishing, water skiing, sailing, camping, hunting, and hiking. Primitive and modern camping facilities are available along with a number of lodging facilities around the lake. For water sports, there are plenty of boat ramps around the lake along with six marinas, Barrett’s, Bowman’s, Holliday Landing, Lost Creek Lodge, Sundowner, and Wappapello State Park, some of which are full service and provide fuel and boat rentals.

Wappapello Lake is made up of a main lake with small arms and coves. The shoreline is made up of mud, gravel, rock, bluffs, and standing timber during recreational pool levels. The main channel and creek beds have stumps that were left when the lake was created and can provide excellent fishing all year around. Available fish in Wappapello include black bass, white bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish. To help with fishing, fish shelters have been created with sunken brush. These shelters, which are available for public use, are marked with buoys. Maps are available from Wappapello Lake showing the location of the fish shelters.

Detailed Lake Information:

Type of Lake: Hilland

Average Depth of Lake: 15 feet

**Average Water Temperature:**
Spring: Summer: Fall: Winter:	65 85 70 30

Spring Thaw: Late January
Fall Turnover: October
* Lake Wappapello will freeze over during hard winters.

Heavy Rains: Affects entire lake with the south end clearing up in 3 days, and the north end clearing up in 7 days.

**Winds:**
Spring: Summer: Fall: Winter:	Windy Calm Mild Mild

Detailed Lake Characteristics:

This information describes the makeup of the bottom, shoreline, structure, and water color for various parts of Lake Wappapello.

**Main Lake Area:**
Bottom: Shoreline: Structure: Water Color:	Mud Mud, Rock, Gravel, Bluffs, Weeds Rocks, Bluffs, Trees, Stumps, Falldowns Clear

**Caldwell Creek:**
Bottom: Shoreline: Structure: Water Color:	Mud Mud, Rock Rocks, Bluffs, Trees, Stumps, Falldowns, Roads, Flats Stained

**Page Branch:**
Bottom: Shoreline: Structure: Water Color:	Mud Mud, Rock, Bluffs, Weeds Trees, Stumps, Falldowns, Flats Clear

**Perkins Branch:**
Bottom: Shoreline: Structure: Water Color:	Mud Mud, Rock, Bluffs, Weeds Rocks, Bluffs, Trees, Stumps, Falldowns Stained

**Lost Creek:**
Bottom: Shoreline: Structure: Water Color:	Mud Mud, Rock, Bluffs, Weeds Rocks, Bluffs, Trees, Stumps Clear

**Mule Camp / Spring Hollow:**
Bottom: Shoreline: Structure: Water Color:	Mud Mud, Rock, Bluffs, Weeds Rocks, Bluffs, Trees, Falldowns Clear

**Possum Hollow:**
Bottom: Shoreline: Structure: Water Color:	Mud Mud, Rock, Gravel, Bluffs, Weeds Rocks, Bluffs, Trees, Stumps, Falldowns Clear

**Gum Spring Hollow:**
Bottom: Shoreline: Structure: Water Color:	Mud Mud, Rock, Gravel, Bluffs, Weeds Rocks, Bluffs, Trees, Stumps Clear

**State Park Area:**
Bottom: Shoreline: Structure: Water Color:	Mud Mud, Rock, Gravel, Bluffs, Weeds Rocks, Bluffs, Trees, Stumps, Falldowns Clear

Miliam Hollow:

Bottom:
Shoreline:
Structure:
Water Color:

Mud
Mud, Rock, Gravel, Bluffs, Weeds
Rocks, Bluffs, Trees, Stumps
Clear

**Strickland Point:**
Bottom: Shoreline: Structure: Water Color:	Mud Mud, Rock, Bluffs, Weeds Rocks, Bluffs, Trees, Stumps Clear

Detailed Fishing Information:

Main Forage: Shad, Crayfish

Average time of year when fish spawn:

Bass:
Crappie:
Bluegill:
White Bass:
Catfish:
Carp:

April-May
April
May-June
March-April
May-June
April

Best baits to use during seasons:

**Bass:**
Spring: Summer: Fall: Winter:	Crankbaits Plastic Worms Spinnerbaits Crankbaits

**Crappie:**
Spring: Summer: Fall: Winter:	Minnows, Jigs Minnows Minnows, Jigs Minnows

**Bluegill:**
Spring: Summer: Fall: Winter:	Worms Crickets, Worms Worms Worms

**White Bass:**
Spring: Summer: Fall: Winter:	Jigs, Spoons Spoons Jigs, Spoons Spoons

**Catfish:**
Spring: Summer: Fall: Winter:	Cut & Live Bait Cut & Live Bait Cut & Live Bait Worms

**Carp:**
Spring: Summer: Fall: Winter:	Worms Cotton Seed, Corn Worms Worms

**Night Fishing Conditions:**
Spring: Summer: Fall: Winter:	Fair Fair Fair Fair

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