Clearwater And Wappapello

[BrianS]

I have been contemplating for years to go try one of these 2 lakes but cant find much decent info. Anyone bass fish those 2 lakes?

[David Unnerstall]

I have fished Wappappello quite a bit over the years. I used to keep the old boat at Holliday Landing. Most of the lake is less than six feet deep. The only quality fish we caught there was during turkey season. In the summer all fishing turns off at 9AM. And white was the color. I have never fished Clearwater and want to see what that is like, also.

[jdmidwest]

Wappapello has its moments and can be some good fishing. It is an older lake and has been thru many changes. In its early stages, it produced many large bass. Then it became overpopulated with small bass and a creel limit tried to eliminate the small ones and bring back bigger bass. It is managed for crappie as well and is average for that.

Most of my fishing is done on the upper parts and we have had pretty good luck, but nothing large. The Corps boundary goes all the way up to 34 bridge and I normally float it during the summer down to Greenville a few times each summer. It has a good white bass run in the spring.

Clearwater is drawn down now and will be for a while for repairs on a sinkhole in the dam. I never fished it much so really can't help you there.

[BrianS]

Is Wappepello shallow everywhere? I guess what I'm trying to ask is how dangerous is it to run on if you dont know the lake?

[David Unnerstall]

It is deep in the St. Francis river channel. But they don't call it Wap-Propeller for nothing. I had no damage in the times I ran up and down the lake. I did get beached on a sandbar in the middle of the lake, though.

[Outside Bend]

Clearwater has some pretty good white bass fishing in the spring, I'm not sure how it is for largemouth though.

[BrianS]

Are there topo maps available for these 2 lakes?

[jdmidwest]

I am sure a google search will provide you with maps of each lake. Both are managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and there are maps on their website. I have seen nice spiral bound maps also in local shops, you should be able to come up with one in the area when you get there.

The lakes are managed for flood control downstream of each dam. This time of year they start drawing them down so they can catch water in the spring. Then they fill them up for the summer rec season. The main channel of the river is the deep part as is the lower end closer to the dam. Upper ends are rivers unless backed up with flood water. A good gps will help if you don't know your way around.

[bajacoop]

Wappapello is very shallow with the exception of the river which is marked, however it is still a little tricky your first time to navigate the bouys since the river channel makes some pretty sharp twists and turns.

Clearwater has decent fishing but in the summer is over run with pleasure boats by about 9 AM.