March was a record-breaker for Missouri fishermen

March was a month for the record books in Missouri.

State fishing records were broken four times, one of the best months in recent years. But before you get too excited, none of the fish was a so-called glamor species. All were nongame fish — drum, black buffalo twice and goldeye.

Still, for those who seek big, rough fish, 2016 is already a year to remember.

“There have been some (years) when we only have four or less state records set in an entire year,” said Andrew Branson, fisheries program specialist for the Missouri Department of Conservation. “In 2014, for example, there were only three.

“So it’s pretty impressive when we see four records broken in one month.”

Joshua Cole of Reeds Spring, Mo., caught the most recent record fish, a 30-pound, 15-ounce drum. He took the fish with his bow at night on March 31 at Table Rock Lake.

The fish was officially weighed at Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery in Branson, and Cole was awarded the alternative methods (legal methods other than rod and reel) state record.

“Once my friends and I got the fish in the boat, I knew it was a state-record fish,” said Cole, whose catch exceeded the former alternative-methods state record of 26 pounds, 8 ounces. “This is by far one of the biggest fish I have ever caught in my life.”

David Burle of Bloomsdale, Mo., also set a Missouri alternative-methods state record when he used his bow to shoot a 59-pound, 8-ounce black buffalo March 11 on one of the lakes in the Duck Creek Conservation Area. But his record lasted only three days.

Travis Cardona of Hillsboro, Mo., broke that mark when he took a 74-pound fish, also bow fishing at Duck Creek.

Brent Newton of Holts Summit, Mo., caught the first state record of March when he landed a 2-pound goldeye on rod and reel in the Osage River.

“We also had one state record set in January (a 2-pound, 2-ounce gizzard shad), so we’re off to a great start,” Branson said. “We had nine records set last year, but this year could be even better.”

Gobble, gobble

The woods in Missouri and Kansas will be full of youth turkey hunters and their adult partners this weekend.

The Missouri youth season will be Saturday and Sunday. The Kansas youth season, which started April 1, will continue through Tuesday.

The regular season opens Wednesday in Kansas and April 18 in Missouri.

Camping in comfort

Big Lake State Park in northwest Missouri will offer campers a chance to enjoy the outdoors without roughing it.

With a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 1, the state park introduced eight premium camper cabins, the first lodging made available at the park since it reopened in 2014. The cabins, which include heating, air conditioning and water, are the first full-service camper cabins to be installed in the Missouri state park system.

They are available for rent from April through November. To place a reservation, go to mostateparks.com or call 877-422-6766.

This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 10:15 AM with the headline "March was a record-breaker for Missouri fishermen."