The Pursuit of Trout and White Bass Begins

Field notes by Jeff Cantrell, photos courtesy of the Missouri Dept. of Conservation

Although hard core avid anglers have been wetting their fishing lines throughout the winter; most people yield to fishing fever as March unfolds.  The month of March officially starts, for some, with a loud whistle/signal at the state’s trout parks.  Locally, Roaring River and Bennett Springs State Park have been Catch-and-Release November through mid-February, but when the whistle sounds on March first fishermen may cast a line in hopes of bringing dinner home.

Catch-and-Keep for trout season is certainly a great example of the “Field/Stream to Table” connection for Missourians. And trout fishing activities have a contribution of millions of dollars to the state’s economy each year. I also utilize these state parks in other ways through the year including teacher trainings in Discover Nature Schools (DNS) curriculum, school field trips and education programs, and hiking gorgeous trails.  Trout are not native to these cold waters, so the Conservation Department in partnership with state parks established hatcheries to supply these popular fisheries. Trout fishing centered picture albums of holidays and outings are prized family possessions and they highlight the importance of this recreation for our outdoor heritage.  Other fish related pursuits will soon begin for us all.  Native fishes might not have a state park devoted to them, but they still cultivate a nice following from naturalists/anglers. Subtle changes in water temperature and organic chemical cues aligned with increasing photoperiods trigger increased activity in our aquatic life. 

 One of these actions is referred to as “white bass running”, or you may hear people this month ask, “are the white bass running yet?”.  Historically, Missouri’s white bass were restricted to the Mississippi River and adjacent incoming waters, but now they are found throughout impoundments and reservoirs in the Ozarks. Much of the year white bass are located in the deep clear waters and spawning adults enter the tributary streams in the early spring.  Ozark anglers love the excitement of these active, schooling fish. The “runs” refer to the mature fish, usually males first migrating into the headwaters to feed heavily and eventually spawn.  Males may move into the spawning grounds two to four weeks prior to the females, and anglers may locate them in vibrant water over a firm sandy or clean gravel bottom. A true phenomenon to witness – the schooling fish feed vigorously on crayfish and small stream fishes, often rushing shiners and stonerollers to break the water surface and make a commotion. The feeding uproar continues until the food abundance moderates and schooling frenzy just continues upstream seeking more prey.  It’s a lot of fun to cast a line into the active “food chain of events” like that!

So, as the hints of spring ascend let’s grab our fishing gear, purchase the appropriate fishing licenses (supporting the aquatic management and science understanding of our fish species and waters) and ENJOY.  It’s easy to notice the series of events always taking place in nature with one thing often leading to another.  I consider the recreation of stream fishing the same way; the white bass pursuit might be the gateway to crappie fishing just a few warmer weeks into our future.

Have an amazing start to spring and I hope to see you at Roaring River or your favorite fishing spot.  – Jeff

Jeff Cantrell (jeff.cantrell@mdc.mo.gov) is an outdoor educator and naturalist. He invites you to drop by the Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center, Joplin, MO and pick up the fishing prospects booklet.

Posted on February 27, 2023 by Karen Garver and filed under White Bass, Trout, Anglers and tagged Roaring River Bennett Springs.

Prairie booster make over museum grounds

Joplin History & Mineral Museum Prairie Restoration

On a cold but sunny January morning, Chert Glades members brought rake and foot-stomping power to seeding native plants into about 5000 square feet of property at the Joplin History & Mineral Museum. The museum envisions prairie-like plantings north and south of the building as well as a garden space for native shrubs and forbs to be planted later this spring.

 

While the prairie planting will take several years to mature, the garden space, directly in front of the building, should hint at what’s to come later this year! In the future, Chert Glades members envision this space as ideal for showing residents and visitors how beautiful and functional native plants can be for their own yards!

Chapter members worked with volunteers from Liberty Utilities to spread seed supplied through U.S. Fish & Wildlife and Missouri Prairie Foundation.

V. Frankoski

tamping in the seed

Getting directions

C. Naff, R. Naff, A. Wild, V. Frankoski, K. Smith, & E. Bowyer (not pictured Jill Franks & Sara Fischer)

Photos by C. Naff

Posted on January 29, 2023 by Karen Garver and filed under Gardens, Native Seed, Prairie Restoration and tagged Joplin History & Mineral Museum Native seed planting restore to Prairie.

The Wonders of a Wetland

Celebrate World Wetlands Day on Feb. 2nd! Wetlands are one of nature’s most fascinating ecosystems.  They are distinctive habitats full of hidden treasures ready to be discovered. Wetlands are important enough to have their holiday.

Read more …
Posted on January 23, 2023 by Guest User and filed under Natural Habitats and tagged Wetland Cardinal Valley Habitat Restoration Shawnee Trail Conservation Area August A Busch Shell Osage Conservation Area World Wetlands Day.

Prairie Days

George Washington Carver National Monument is the place to be for Prairie Days, Saturday September 10th. Take a step back in time with games and toys that your grandparents could have played. Find out how the kids can become a Junior Ranger. Make some candles, churn some butter, and lye soap. Enjoy the variety of music under the tent, smell the smoke from the fire pit that has Dutch ovens cooking over it. The visitor center will show a film of George Washington Carver’s life and accomplishments.

Take a hike through the prairie and visit the Cemetery. Visit and learn from the many exhibits in the front lawn of the park.

Come on out and enjoy the day! Event runs 10 AM - 3PM

Posted on September 10, 2022 by Karen Garver and filed under EDUCATION, Pollinators and tagged George Washington Carver Carver Prairie Missouri Bees.

CHANGE IS THE NORM FOR BOTH COLOR AND SOUNDTRACKS

Field notes by Jeff Cantrell, photos courtesy of the MO Dept. Conservation

The month of April simply explodes with opportunities for nature viewing.  The forest floor in a high-quality natural area will display a different setting of wildflowers every four or five days.  The flora color palette will be heavy on the pinks, blues, and whites catering to specialized spring pollinators attracted to those colors and, sometimes, different fragrances.  Only a few yellow and red native flowers this early season. The yellow flowers will likely dominate in the open country this summer and supply social insects and their kin with nectar in exchange for pollination services.  These are mostly moisture loving flowers and they bloom while the forest canopy is tender with only tree buds and the youngest of leaves.  Sunlight during this spring season streams in and warms the soil for these ephemeral bloomers and the shallow pools of waters.  The pools benefit from the sunlight by staging a multitude of food webs in the water. The sunlit layer just below the surface has food chain “links” such phytoplankton and zooplankton increasing as fast as the flora color changes are happening just feet away on drier land. 

I find these temporary pools fascinating because they are an ecosystem within an ecosystem, and they are very important to the ecological balance.  Beyond the visual of the beautiful forest floor and the colorful migratory birds coming to the surface waters to drink, there are other attractions to these pools.  This watery landscape has a spring soundtrack.  Many frog and toad species are attracted to these temporary pools.  The big puddles may dry up soon, but there is time for amphibian life cycles to progress and capitalize on the aquatic food webs already in place.  Several species of amphibians (salamanders, toads & frogs) depend on these habitat features, and landowners may be interested in adding more for conservation purposes. 

The soundtrack is commenced by the male frogs and toads calling for the arrival and mate attraction of the females. Some males rest their vocals and try to position themselves between a healthy calling male and an approaching female.

These males are referred to as “satellite” males by biologists, energy is important, and this is one way of not expending more. 

The opening acts on this Ozark Forest soundtrack will most likely be spring peepers, western chorus frogs, gray tree frogs, American toads, and pickerel frogs. Southern leopard frogs have a “laughing” or chuckle sound to their calls and will be found at ephemeral pools at the forest edge and more open grassy areas. 

Spring peepers are certainly a harbinger of spring, and their call is often one of the first sounds of spring nature lovers recognize.    Naturalists listen for the peepers initially and know a few of the other species will follow in the weeks ahead.  Frog calls revolve during the weeks of April and May similar to the progression of flowers with their timeframes to bloom and go to seed.  Eventually the canopy of the forest fills in and the spring flora ceases under heavy shade.  The young tadpoles quickly grow and transform to young adults before the water dries.  Naturalists will now cast their observations to the open areas for more flowers of yellow, and listen for cricket frogs, green and bullfrogs on sunnier aquatic habitats.

Enjoy the music!  The singers may be cold-blooded, but their vocals will make you smile!  - Jeff

Jeff is a local Conservation Educator stationed at Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center, Joplin, MO Jeff.cantrell@mdc.mo.gov


Spring Peeper

Leopard Frog

Gray Tree Frog

Pickerel Frog

American Toad

sounds from Lang Elliott Music of Nature

Posted on April 6, 2022 by Karen Garver and filed under ASK A NATURALIST, Missouri Wilds and tagged Tadpoles frogs Ozark Forest Soundtrack night sounds.