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ALEXANDRIA, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will resume public programs in northeast Missouri, beginning with a clinic on alternative-method catfishing July 16–17 on the Mississippi River.
This clinic, for ages 12-years and older, will take place on the Mississippi River near Alexandria, 4:30–8 p.m. on Friday, July 16, and 8 a.m.–noon on Saturday, July 17. The clinic will consist of a streamside seminar and hands-on tutorial use of setlines. Saturday morning, participants will head out on the river to check lines, learn about regulations, and hopefully harvest some catfish.
MDC staff and volunteers will offer instruction on the basics of setline fishing on Missouri’s rivers and lakes. An MDC fisheries management biologist will provide information on recent catfish surveys and management of fish populations. The program will focus on safe and legal use of trotlines and bank poles, gear, equipment, and boat operation.
“Alternative methods, like fishing with setlines, are another way for Missourians to enjoy the outdoors, and often a way to catch more fish and bigger fish,” said MDC Conservation Educator Rob Garver. “there are so many options, and it doesn’t take that much to get started.”
Participants must preregister for this clinic prior to July 6 at mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178140.
To help ensure public safety amid the coronavirus pandemic, participants will be divided by family members and size of MDC boats to allow for proper physical distancing. Boat seats, rails and handles will be cleaned between each use. Life jackets will be cleaned, and each jacket will only be used by one person for the duration of the clinic. Presentations and demonstrations will be held in a large, open, outdoor space. MDC asks all participants to observe current, local guidelines regarding physical distancing and masking. Participants should bring and wear face coverings when appropriate.
Families now have the option to link their children’s accounts to their own accounts which will streamline the program registration process. Once a group account is setup parents will be able to register their children to an event without having to logoff and login for each individual. This functionality will allow parents to register their entire family or select family members to an event at the same time. First, users will log into their account and click “My Group Profile,” then add family members to their account. Setting up a group account today will make program registration quicker and easier for all MDC programs.
MDC offers Discover Nature programs to help Missourians explore nature and master outdoor skills together. For more information about this catfishing clinic, contact Garver at Rob.Garver@mdc.mo.gov, or (660) 785-2420. Learn more about Discover Nature events in northeast Missouri at mdc.mo.gov/northeastevents .
