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Posted by BigBassJB on Friday, September 03 @ 11:51:44 CDT (21 reads)
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My biggest worry is that my wife (when I'm dead) will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it. ~Koos Brandt
Sept - That is a four letter word meaning HOT!
However, if you are in the right spot at the right time the fishing can also be hot.
Lake Conditions: 09/03/2010 6:30 AM Lake Level 167.58 Generator 1 Currently Shut Down Generator 2 Currently Running from 2pm until 6pm Spillway Gates Closed Current Waterflow 204 CFS
Lake Level Last 9 Years on 9/3 – 2001 (168.38), 2002 (167.45), 2003 (167.97), 2004 (169.13), 2005 (164.17), 2006 (162.40), 2007 (170.79), 2008 (168.15), 2009 (168.30) This information provided courtesy of the U. S. Geological Survey
Water surface temperatures range in the high 80’s and I would rate the clarity in the southern part of the lake as clear to very clear.
I woke up this morning early to the sound of thunder and rain. It was so nice to have a cup of coffee and watch the lake get some very much needed moisture. We need more of this for sure.
SRA Generating – I have had a number of people ask me why SRA is still generating with the lake below the 168’ MSL mark. Well the bottom-line is that SRA Texas said that there are exceptions built into the agreement that allows generating activity even if the level drops below 168MSL. One exception is to maintain downstream flow to ensure sufficient water is available for users below the dam. The FERC permit for the hydroelectric operation calls for a continuous release of 144 cubic feet per second (cfs) at the spillway. There is also another 60 cfs constant release that comes out of the power station. That is why you always see that 204 CFS listed in their Current Waterflow.
SRA does stop routine hydroelectric generation when the lake level reached 168MSL, however, as allowed by Louisiana state law and the hydroelectric contract, SRA can make releases in low flow conditions to be able to get water out of the river downstream to take care of industrial and municipal users. This is why many of you saw SRA generating 8 hours per week to assure those water uses downstream have the ability to pump water.
Our lack of rain in the area has contributed highly to the requirement for releasing water to maintain minimum water levels below the dam. The water release from Toledo Bend could either be released directly downstream or used in the generation of electricity to maintain the flow. So that is the story …….
Sure wish we had negotiated the contract so that normal generating would have had to stop at 169’MSL so that we could have also accounted for much of the water loss through evaporation.
Lake Draw Down - With all that said …. I visited with Ann Galassi (SRA Texas) and they are tentatively planning to draw Toledo Bend down to 165 feet MSL (that will be 7 feet below full pool – we are approximately 5 feet low now) to do maintenance on the dam. There are a number of areas along the dam in need of repair and these cannot be fixed without drawing down the water level. The 165 MSL should leave most ramps open but will definitely affect homeowners that are already having problems getting their boats in and out of their boat slips. Navigation around the lake will certainly be more dangerous if this occurs.
Here is a copy of the statement from SRA – ******************************************* Toledo Bend Reservoir - Dam Inspection TOLEDO BEND PROJECT JOINT OPERATION 450 Spur 135, Burkeville, TX 75932 409/565-2273 FAX 409/565-2338
September 3, 2010 ADVISORY #1 The Toledo Bend Project Joint Operating Board met today and approved a temporary lake level drawdown as recommended by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for repair and inspection to the soil cement face of the dam. The recommended drawdown is expected to be to the elevation of 165' m.s.l., which is 2.58 feet below today's elevation of 167.58' m.s.l. Those areas along the soil cement face that have experienced deterioration due to wave and weather related conditions will be inspected and repaired to ensure the continued stability and reliability of the structure.
The drawdown is expected to begin Friday, September 10, 2010 by generating with both hydroelectric units 24 hours / day / 7 days / week.Without significant rainfall and inflow, the desired elevation of 165' m.s.l. should be reached in approximately two weeks.The amount of time required to accomplish the repairs will depend on how many areas may be identified after the lower lake level is attained. Since it has been several years since a significant drawdown has occurred, this will be a good time for shoreline owners to inspect and make necessary repairs to boathouses, piers, retaining walls and related structures. Construction approval applications for this type of activity can be obtained from the Sabine River Authority of Texas (SRA-TX) Toledo Bend Division Office (409-565-2273) for Texas residents or from the Sabine River Authority, State of Louisiana (SRA-LA) Pendleton Office (318-256-4112) for Louisiana residents.
Toledo Bend Project wants to advise everyone that the Antiquities Code of both Texas and Louisiana prohibit digging for or removal of any artifacts such as arrowheads, bones or pottery on public property. For more information on each State's code, or to report violators contact either: Texas Historical Commission (512-463-6096) (www.thc.state.tx.us/rulesregs/rrstate.shtml) Louisiana Div. of Archeology (225-342-8170) (www.crt.state.la.us/archaeology/legislation/chapter_13.aspx)
Once all the necessary inspection and repairs are made to the dam, the lake will be allowed to return to the regular operating guide as conditions allow. Future advisories will provide updates on the progress of the repairs. For more information contact SRA-TX (409-565-2273) or SRA-LA (318-256-4112)
Bass – I have never seen so many schools of small bass chasing minnows on the surface. We must have had an excellent spawn this year because many of these bass range from 4 – to 6-inches long. As these fish “fatten up” we are in for some fantastic fishing in the future.
I was on the water yesterday afternoon from about 1pm until 5:30. The fishing was slow until about 4pm and then the bass really turned on. I was using a short leader (about 1 foot) on a Carolina-rig and a Baby Brush Hog (watermelon-candy) fished in about 17 feet of water on main-lake ridges. Between 4pm and 5pm I caught 20 black bass and the largest was about 2 1/2 pounds. I didn’t have any heavyweights but it sure was fun. About half of the fish were tournament keepers and were fat as toads.
Starting to see a few fish hitting spinnerbaits. And speaking of spinnerbaits, Stanley Baits has a new skirt for their spinnerbaits (and jigs) and it is dynamite. The skirt has a special part that is extended beyond the regular shirt that serves as a trailer and look great in the water. The bait should be on the market very soon.
As the lake drops more and more grass is exposed making the frog and topwater baits more effective. I still prefer the Chug Bug, Pop-R, Zara Spook and Torpedo for my fishing but I am sure that many of your favorites will work. We have also been chunking smaller weightless worms and wacky-worm rigs along the edges of the grass. This type of fishing and the topwater bite can be extremely effective and last all day if you have cloud cover.
Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught. ~Unknown
Night fishermen are still doing well but the wind has been driving them crazy. If we can get a bit less wind the fishing conditions will definitely improve.
The past couple of weeks have been tough and it seemed like the wind blew day and night.
One factor is that the lake is low enough now so that many trees tops are exposed or just under the surface of the water. It is very easy to get “high center” on these trees and tough to get off without damaging your hull. Check out the area you intend to fish during the daylight hours to be sure that you are aware of the potential problems.
Baits to use include the Stanley football head jig (1/2-to 1-oz) in a watermelon, black/blue or peanut butter and jelly color. Strike King’s “Hack Attack” jig with a “Rage Tail” trailer can also be very effective. I have had better luck recently with the Carolina-rig, however, that can change fast so have both ready. Worm colors that seem most effective are the watermelon-red and candy, red bug, smoke, Alabama Craw and green pumpkin.
There have been reports of some nice bass also being taken on deep diving crankbaits. Many of the bass are suspended and a crankbait may be just the ticket to catch a limit.
Crappie: Anglers that are catching crappie consistently are the ones using live shiners and fishing them near or in brush-piles that are located in 18-30-feet of water.
Bream/Perch – Many of the bigger perch, etc have started going to deeper water as the lake continues to drop.
Yellow Bass – Starting to see lots more being caught and many are running shad with the schoolie black bass. A jigging spoon will still catch those in the deeper depths of say 14-29 feet but small tube baits and topwaters seem to be best for those chasing minnows on the surface.
Catfish – Not too many reports but a few reports of smaller fish being taken on trotlines baited with soap.
Thieves Hit Again! Just in case you are not aware of it, thieves recently took fishing equipment in the Fairmount area. According to Deputy George Griffith, last Tuesday night/Wednesday morning thieves made off with approximately 100 rods and reels. Fifteen different reports were filed as boats were targeted boats in the Oak Ridge and Paradise Point subdivisions.
Fishing equipment such as rods and reels, several tackle boxes and one depth finder were taken from boats along the shore, in boat houses and on trailers. It is advisable to remove all valuables from boats when not in use and lock them securely in a garage or storage building.
I did an article for the LakeCaster earlier this year when there were lots of thefts near the Pendleton Bridge area mostly on the Louisiana side of the lake. My advice has not changed – If you get a good deal on rods and reels at flea markets, etc. odds are that you are buying stolen merchandise and supporting these scumbags. If you have any information on the thefts call the Sabine County Sheriff’s office at 409/787-2266.
************************ Received this story from fishergal Debbie Derrick – I went fishing this morning but after a short time I ran out of worms. Then I saw a cottonmouth with a frog in his mouth. Frogs are good bass bait. Knowing the snake couldn't bite me with the frog in his mouth I grabbed him right behind the head, took the frog, and put it in my bait bucket. Now the dilemma was how to release the snake without getting bit. So, I grabbed my bottle of Jack Daniels and poured a little whiskey in its mouth. His eyes rolled back, he went limp. I released him into the lake without incident and carried on fishing using the frog. A little later, I felt a nudge on my foot. There was that same snake - with two frogs in his mouth. -- Life is good in the South. Thanks - Debbie
**************************** What is the main ingredient of WD-40? Before you read to the end, does anybody know what the main ingredient of WD-40 is? Don't lie and don't cheat. WD-40 - 'Water Displacement #40'.
The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. Its name comes from the project that was to find a 'water displacement' compound.. They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40. The Convair Company bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts. Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you.
WD-40 uses: 1. Protects silver from tarnishing. 2. Removes road tar and grime from cars. 3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings. 4. Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery. 5. Keeps flies off cows (I wonder if it works for fleas?) 6. Restores and cleans chalkboards. 7. Removes lipstick stains. 8. Loosens stubborn zippers. 9. Untangles jewelry chains. 10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks. 11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill. 12. Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing. 13. Removes tomato stains from clothing. 14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots. 15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors. 16. Keeps scissors working smoothly. 17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes. 18. It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor! Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off. Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks. 19. Bug guts will eat away the finish on a car if not removed quickly! Use WD-40! 20. Gives a children's playground slide a shine for a super fast slide. 21. Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers. 22. Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises. 23. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open. 24. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close. 25. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers. 26. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles. 27. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans 28. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling. 29. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly. 30. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools. 31. Removes splattered grease on stove. 32. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging. 33. Lubricates prosthetic limbs. 34. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell). 35. Removes all traces of duct tape. 36. Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain. 37. Florida’s favorite use is: 'cleans and removes love bugs from grills and Bumpers.' 38. The favorite use in the state of New York , WD-40 protects the Statue Of Liberty from the elements. 39. WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a little on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states. 40. Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch. 41. WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag. 42. Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash. Presto! The lipstick is gone! 43. If you sprayed WD-40 on a distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start.
P.S. The basic ingredient is FISH OIL.
To Realize --- The value of a sister/brother .. Ask someone who doesn't have one. The value of ten years … Ask a newly divorced couple. The value of four years … Ask a graduate. The value of one year … Ask a student who has failed a final exam. The value of nine months … Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn. The value of one month … Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby. The value of one week … Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper. The value of one minute … Ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane. The value of one second … Ask a person who has survived an accident.
Time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have. You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special. To realize the value of a friend or family member … LOSE ONE. Remember.... Hold on tight to the ones you love!
Who ever said A bad day of fishing is always better than a good day at work." Never had their boat sink." – Unknown
See you out on the water – I will be in a red and white Nitro so wave to me and we can chat. -- JB
August 2010
Posted by BigBassJB on Friday, August 06 @ 10:18:34 CDT (52 reads)
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The two best times to fish is when it's rainin' and when it ain't. - Patrick F. McManus
August – Man it has been hot! I am REALLY ready for the Fall when the temperature hovers in the 70’s.
WOW!!!!! That is just about all I can say about the recent Bass N Bucks event on Toledo Bend. I had heard some folks say that the fishing was tough but you couldn't tell it by the 28-pound bag of bass that my good friends Danny Iles & Wayne Johnston brought to the scales. In fact, there were five bags over the 20 pound mark.
It was a hot, sticky overcast day but Danny Iles and "Team Grandfather" Wayne Johnston had a game plan that was excellent. They had several fishing spots located and the plan was to start in the shallow grass and then move to the 15-foot water. Baits of choice were the Strike King Series 6 crankbait and the new Power Tackle Lateral Perch. Fishing spots and baits were no problem. The real problem the team had was that they needed a bigger livewell. At 10:00 they contacted Tournament Director Dave Concienne and asked if they could weigh some of their fish so the fish would have a better chance of being returned back to the lake alive and well. They were allowed to weigh in their three largest, which would allow them to possibly cull the other two bass and improve their weight. Their first three bass weighed 18.90 lbs and they did cull the other two bass and replaced them with solid 4-pounders to complete their 5-bass limit that weighed a whopping 28.25-pounds. The win was worth $5,000 for 1st place, $500 for being in a qualified Ranger Boat and an additional $250 from Cabela's. Congratulations to Danny and Wayne!!
Tommy Howard & Jim Furr finished in second place ($2,500) with a great bag of bass that pushed the scales down to the 24.06-pound mark. They said that they had a limit by 6:30 and were able to cull three times. On the last spot they fished Furr stuck a toad weighing 8.14-pounds that was also the $1,000 Big Bass of the Tournament. Most of the fish caught by this team were taken on 10" worms off points and drop offs in 16'-25'- feet of water.
Top 10 Teams - 1st $5,000 + 28.25 lbs Danny Iles & Wayne Johnston 2nd $2,500 + 24.06 lbs Tommy Howard & Jim Furr 3rd $2,000 22.20 lbs Bert Thompson 4th $1,200 20.30 lbs James Blythe & Jeff Pate 5th $1,000 20.28 lbs Lamonte Loyd & Joe Setina 6th $1,000 19.12 lbs Cory Rambo & Rusty Clark 7th $1,000 18.82 lbs Kraig Welborn & Jeremy Burge 8th $1,000 18.79 lbs Rick Miller & Thomas Lee 9th $ 800 18.50 lbs Jason Wells & Vic Cooper 10th $ 700 18.48 lbs Bart Blakelock & Johnny Watkins Big Bass: $1,000 8.14 lbs Jim Furr & Tommy Howard
Dave Concienne announced that next year there will be a Rayburn only circuit and a Toledo only circuit PLUS the Summer Series. Look for more information soon on www.BassNBucks.com.
Toledo Bend Lake Level Stats - As of 08/05/2009 6:30AM Lake Level 167.93 Generator 1 Currently shut down Generator 2 Currently shut down Spillway Gates Closed Current Waterflow 204 CFS This information provided courtesy of Sabine River Authority State of Louisiana
Lake Levels Last 9 Years on 08-05 08-05-2009 169.32 08-05-2008 169.02 08-05-2007 171.86 08-05-2006 164.51 08-05-2005 166.29 08-05-2004 170.97 08-05-2003 169.35 08-05-2002 169.85 08-05-2001 169.70 This information provided courtesy of the U. S. Geological Survey
Bass – Recent rains felt really good and actually cooled the surface temperature down a bit. This stifling heat has made it tough on daytime anglers but fish can be caught. I was on the water yesterday from sunup until about 2pm and fortunately had cloud cover most of the day. I had 12 black bass, four Kentucky’s and 8 yellow bass. I had two 4-pounders and a couple of 3-pounders in the black bass area and had one bass to the top of the water that was REALLY big - and it just came unplugged. All but one of the bass (blacks and Kentucky’s) were taken using a Carolina-rig, short leader and a watermelon-candy baby brush hog fished in about 15-18-feet of water. I took one of the 3-pounders on a Stanley frog. The yellow bass were all taken on a 1/2-oz nickel Texan jigging spoon.
If I had to put together one pattern to fish during the hot summer it would be as follows: Be on the water early and use a topwater bait, small spinnerbait or an un-weighted worm around the grass. As the sun comes up higher go deeper (14-22-feet) with your presentation using a Carolina-rig, Texas rigged worm (watermelon-candy) or a deep diving crankbait. Once the sun really gets high either stick to the deep fishing along ledges, humps, points and near the river channel or start looking for the schooling action.
When late afternoon/night-time rolls around work the 14-to 24 foot depths (ledges, drops, ridges near flats) at night slowly. Baits to use include the Stanley football head jig (1/2-to 1-oz)
in a watermelon, black/blue or peanut butter and jelly color and the Strike King’s “Hack Attack” jig with a “Rage Tail” trailer.
I also like to use a Texas or Carolina-rig with a large worm in a black, black-blue or watermelon-candy color. I occasionally “slow-roll” a big bladed spinnerbait along the edge of the drops.
Night fishing is certainly the most consistent pattern to use at this time of the year but be sure you keep track of the weather because it can change fast. You don’t want to get caught out there on the big water when one of these fast moving storms come through.
Toledo Bend is just amazing when the bass start schooling on the surface. I was on the water recently in an area where my fishing partner Ricky Davis and I had schools of yellow bass and black bass blowing up on shad. We used small nickel colored ½-ounce jigging spoons with four techniques. (1) If the bass are really actively feeding on the surface we just cast to the feeding fish and worked the bait back to the boat fast and on the surface. (2) Work the bait back in a pumping action (cast, let the bait fall a foot or so and then raise the rod tip, pause, reel one turn and then repeat the process. This technique will allow you to cover quite a bit of water and also work the bait at different depths. (3) Watch your graph carefully and when you see feeding fish just drop your bait down to that depth and vertically jig until you and the fish make connection. (4) My favorite is working the edges of the drops and vertically jigging the spoon or tailspin bait up and down off the bottom to about three feet above the bottom. Occasionally raise the rod high, hold the bait at that depth and then slightly shake it. Bass just can’t stand this and will sometimes try to take the rod out of your hands.
Crappie: Anglers that are catching crappie consistently are the ones using live shiners and fishing them deep near or in brush-piles that are located in 25-feet or so of water.
Bream/Perch – Fish the boat docks or points in about 16 feet of water. Lots of bigger perch are starting to show up and all of them want a big, juicy nightcrawler.
Yellow Bass – Starting to see lots more being caught in from 14-to 25-feet of water as you come into the creek areas. Most of the fish have been on the smaller size but occasionally you will stick a real heavyweight. These fish provide some of the best eating around.
Catfish – Few reports of smaller fish being taken on trotlines baited with soap.
Three-fourths of the Earth's surface is water, and one-fourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn. ~Chuck Clark
Little Boy - He was just a little boy, On a week's first day. Wandering home from Bible school, And dawdling on the way. He scuffed his shoes into the grass; He even found a caterpillar. He found a fluffy milkweed pod, And blew out all the 'filler.' A bird's nest in a tree overhead, So wisely placed up so high. Was just another wonder, That caught his eager eye. A neighbor watched his zig zag course, And hailed him from the lawn; Asked him where he'd been that day And what was going on. 'I've been to Bible School,' He said and turned a piece of sod. He picked up a wiggly worm replying, 'I've learned a lot about God.' 'M'm very fine way,' the neighbor said, 'for a boy to spend his time.' 'If you'll tell me where God is, I'll give you a brand new dime.' Quick as a flash the answer came ! Nor were his accents faint. 'I'll give you a dollar, Mister, If you can tell me where God ain't.' Psalm;91:
What is the difference between http and https? Don't know how many of you are aware of this difference, but it is worth knowing. The main difference between http:/// and https:// is all about keeping you secure. HTTP stands for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. The "S" stands for "Secure"... If you visit a website or web page, and look at the address in the web browser; it will likely begin with the following: http://. This means that the website is talking to your browser using the regular 'unsecured language. In other words, it is possible for someone to “eavesdrop" on your computer's conversation with the website. If you fill out a form on the website, someone might see the information you send to that site. This is why you never ever enter your credit card number in an http website! But if the web address begins with https://, that basically means your computer is talking to the website in a secure code that no one can eavesdrop on. If a website ever asks you to enter your credit card information, you should automatically look to see if the web address begins with https://. If it doesn't, You should NEVER enter sensitive information....such as a credit card number, SS # etc.
Young Thoughts – Sometimes I want to be a kid again. I want to go back to the time when: ~Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-mo." ~ Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming "do over!" ~ "Race issue" meant arguing about who ran the fastest. ~ Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in "Monopoly." ~ Catching the fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening. ~ It wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends. ~ Being old referred to anyone over 20. ~ The net on a tennis court was the perfect height to play volleyball and the rules didn't matter. ~ The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was cooties. ~ It was magic when dad would "remove" his thumb or take my nose off my face. ~ It was unbelievable that dodgeball wasn't an Olympic event. ~ Having a weapon in school meant being caught with a slingshot. ~ Nobody was prettier than Mom. ~ Scrapes and bruises were kissed and made better. ~ It was a big deal to finally be tall enough to ride the "big people" rides at the amusement park. ~ Getting a foot of snow was a dream come true. ~ Abilities were discovered because of a "double-dog-dare." ~ Saturday morning cartoons weren't 30-minute ads for action figures. ~ "Oly-oly-oxen-free" made perfect sense. ~ Spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for giggles. ~ The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team. ~ War was a card game. ~ Water balloons were the ultimate weapon. ~ Baseball cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a motorcycle. ~ Taking drugs meant orange-flavored chewable aspirin. ~ Ice cream was considered a basic food group. ~ Older siblings were the worst tormentors but also the fiercest protectors.
Today's Thoughts –
He who hesitates is not only lost, but probably several miles from the next freeway exit.
The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible - George Burns
My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and then she stops to breathe. - Jimmy Durante
My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying. - Rodney Dangerfield
Money can't buy you happiness .... But it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery - Spike Milligan
Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was SHUT UP . - Joe Namath
I don't feel old. I don't feel anything until noon. Then it's time for my nap. - Bob Hope
We could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work its way through Congress. - Will Rogers
May your troubles be less, may your blessings be more, and may nothing but happiness come through your door. And always remember -- Friends are the marshmallows in the hot chocolate of life.
See you out on the water – I will be in a red andwhite Nitro so wave to me and we can chat. -- JB
There will be days when the fishing is better than one's most optimistic forecast, others when it is far worse. Either is a gain over just staying home. - Roderick Haig-Brown
July 2010
Posted by BigBassJB on Sunday, July 04 @ 14:03:56 CDT (91 reads)
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June 2010
Posted by BigBassJB on Sunday, June 06 @ 23:14:23 CDT (100 reads)
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May was a busy month and it looks like June will be the same.
The American Bass Anglers hit the lake May 1-2 and despite terrible weather and high winds Travis Merritt of Iowa, Louisiana put together stringers of 12.24 pounds (Sat) and 13.54 (Sunday) using Stanley Wedge spinnerbaits, Stanley Ribbits and crankbaits to take the win.
The Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail ended its last tournament of the year May 1st on TB with anglers Keith Worthy and Chuck Sheffield winning the event with 24.60 pounds. Huxley Bay Marina held their 32nd Annual Take A Kid Fishing Tournament in early May and over 600 kids (age 3-15) participated.
American Bass Anglers Bassmaster Weekend Series hit the lake May 8th with Pineville, Louisiana angler Jason Robertson taking first place honors (and $3000) in the boaters division by flipping trees and bushes with an Oldham jig.
Bass-N-Bucks saw father and son Derrick and Dave Mong take home more than $17,000 with a 25 pound bag of bass that were taken on football jigs and deep diving crankbaits.
The month ended up with the McDonalds Big Bass Splash held out of Cypress Bend Marina setting a new TB record with 2,230 entries. Layne LaCaze of Robeline, Louisiana took top honors with a 11.48-pound lunker that was also worth a new 2010 Dodge truck and Triton bass boat. The big bass was taken on a Carolina-rig and worm near a grass bed that had a 30-foot drop nearby. Second place with an 8.83 pound bass was Scott Joes of Gilmer, Texas who won a Triton bass boat. The fish was caught on a wacky worm in 6-to 8 feet of water that was thick with hydrilla. Third place with an 8.61 pound catch was George Clay of Deer Park, Texas who won a Dodge truck. Clay’s bass was taken on a Carolina-rigged Trick Worm fished in 17-feet of water. Fourth place with 8.27 pounds went to Jim Campbell, Many, Louisiana and Fifth place and a Stealth ATV was taken by William Stueart of Texarkana, Texas. Miss Myrtle Smith who is 102 years young and still fishing the Big Bass Splash events was presented free entries for the rest of her life to any of the Sealy tournaments. Miss Smith’s great grandson also competed this year in the Little Anglers Division.
Fairmount Bass Club had a rescheduled tournament on May 1st with Richard Bolyard taking first place with 14.90-pounds. Jim Binns placed second, Kurt Godso third, Chuck Earwood fourth and Dave Nelson fifth. Fairmount Bass Club was on the water again on May 15th and the fishing was tough. Once again Richard Bolyard took first place honors followed by Patty Lenderman, Clint Walker, Jim Binns and Chuck Earwood.
Wow! What a month and the July 4th holiday is right around the corner.
That will get us caught up on what took place in the fishing world last month on Toledo Bend so let’s look some stats and a forecast for June.
Lake Conditions: 06/5/2010 6:30 AM Lake Level 169.52 Generator 1 Currently running 6hrs. 6pm. - 9pm Generator 2 Currently running 6hrs. 6pm. - 9pm Spillway Gates Closed Current Waterflow 204 CFS
If you look at the weather report it would seem that everyone is getting some rain. As most of you know, that is unfortunately not true. Some of the showers we experienced have been “gully washers”, but only lasted a short period of time. It sure would be nice to start having those nice slow showers each day that can soak into this rock-hard ground.
Water surface temperatures range in the 80’s and I would rate the clarity in the southern part of the lake as clear to very clear.
Bass – If you snooze you lose. There is a good topwater bite early but once the sun gets up it’s all over. Local angler Jack Martin has been just hammering the fish early and most have come on a topwater lure. Topwater baits that have been effective are Stanley’s Ribbit, the Yellow Magic, Chug-Bugs, Pop-R, Snag Proof frog, buzzbaits and the Heddon Torpedo. If you are looking for a fun bait to fish try the new Yum Money Hound. It’s buoyant, you can cast it a mile and its 3 ½-inch “walking the dog” design is pure dynamite.
More and more bass are showing up on the main-lake ridges and humps. I recommend using a football head jig (1/2-to 1-oz) in a watermelon or black/blue color and a Strike King “Rage Tail” or one of the new Stanley Y-Not’s as a trailer. The grass is reaching the surface in many areas and is starting to mat, so it won’t be long before flipping the grass with a 1-oz jig will be “THE” technique to catch the big ones.
Better keep a Texas and Carolina rig handy during the upcoming months because both can be very effective. Many bass clubs will start their night tournaments soon and either rig can put some hefty bass in the boat. For Texas-rig fishing I like to use a larger slip sinker (makes more noise) and a big worm when probing the edges of the creek channels and humps. Best colors are watermelon-red, watermelon-candy and black.
Another great technique to try is a weightless Crème Wacky Stick fished around and through the grass. This bait casts well using a 3/0 hook and the technique is to patiently allow the bait to sink to the bottom and then just work it back to the boat in short twitches of the rod trip with lots of pauses in between each twitch.
Crappie: If you remember last month I said these guys were here today and gone tomorrow? Well nothing has changed… unless you have a good brush-pile to fish. Those anglers catching crappie consistently are the ones using live shiners (some jigs) and fishing them near or in brush-piles that are located in 18-30-feet of water. Save those tree limbs, etc. as you do that pruning and make your own brush-pile. Just wire the branches together, add enough weight to make it sink to the bottom, place a jug “float” at the top to keep the brush-pile upright and then make sure you have GPS coordinates or can triangulate in on the spot to be sure you can accurately fish it each time you are on the water. Putting out a brush-pile can be lots of work, but can pay-off with some great catches.
Bream/Perch – Fish the boat docks. Lots of bigger perch are starting to show up and all of them want a big, juicy nightcrawler.
Catfish – Trotlines are beginning to produce some better size fish and most of the folks I have talked to are using soap for bait. On a good night about 15-to 20 fish can be taken but the real big guys are not coming in …… yet.
See you out on the water -- JB
Giant Salvinia
Posted by BigBassJB on Sunday, June 06 @ 21:24:20 CDT (104 reads)
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Giant Salvinia – The Most Dangerous Plant In Texas/Louisiana
I recently had the pleasure of attending the Bi-State Alliance quarterly meeting and the speaker for the occasion was my friend Howard Elder. Elder is an expert Aquatic Habitat Biologist for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in Jasper, Texas and this meeting was a follow-up to a previous meeting between Bi-State Alliance, Senator Robert Nichols, TPWD, SRA (Texas and Louisiana) and Louisiana representatives to discuss Giant Salvinia (GS) issues. There were many items discussed at the recent meeting, but for purposes of this article I would like to zero-in on a few that seemed most critical.
Brief History - GS (Salvinia molesta) has been in Texas waters for a number of years and has been documented in least 11 states since 1995. Its first report in Texas involved a single pond near downtown Houston. In the United States, GS began as a popular plant for water gardens that was sold in aquatic nurseries, and in time was introduced to the wild.
Most anglers in our area relate aquatic vegetation to good fishing but that is not the case with GS. This free-floating fern that originated in Brazil has earned a reputation as one of the world's worst aquatic weeds—and with good reason. The United States Geological Survey calls this weed one of the world’s most noxious aquatic plants. GS is almost impossible to eradicate on larger impoundments and the use of herbicides to control it can be very expensive.
GS grows fast, doubling itself every eight days, and under ideal conditions in the late summer it may in fact double itself in size every five days. Rapidly expanding populations of GS can easily alter aquatic ecosystems by overgrowing and replacing native plants. The dense “mats” formed on the surface of the water prevent light and oxygen from entering and as the ph level is drastically lowered it affects water quality. At the same time, decomposing material drops to the bottom consuming dissolved oxygen that is needed by fish and other aquatic life.
Bottom line – If left uncontrolled .. this plant can basically kill a lake.
GS is not only a threat to our natural resources but a huge threat to the economics of our area. Let’s use fishing as an example. Millions of dollars are pumped into this area each year with direct expenditures such as gasoline, bait, hotel rooms, tackle, dining, etc. GS can severely affect launching, fishing locations and can make much of the lake inaccessible.
GS is also a major problem to recreation since it ruins conditions for swimming, boating, jet skiing and waterskiing. The weed is also capable of clogging irrigation and electrical generating systems.
Floods during the fall of last year caused huge mats of GS to be washed out of backwater areas and out onto the main waters of Toledo Bend. At first report the mats were 300-plus yards wide and about 2 to 3 miles long. The good news is that by having the GS in one area Elder and his TPWD representatives were able to treat the mats successfully with herbicides.
Herbicides - The state of Texas does not sell herbicides. Many feed stores stock aquatic herbicides however; they sometimes do not carry specific surfactants or name brands but can order aquatic herbicides. With the exception of restricted herbicides like 2,4-D, anyone can apply herbicides with a properly submitted treatment proposal and required notifications. Application of non-restricted herbicides does not require a TDA Pesticide Applicator’s License unless State money is involved in the purchase.
The Aquatic Habitat Enhancement office of TPWD will provide free training for homeowners who wish to apply herbicides in their immediate area. A seminar is planned June 12th, 2010 that will include identification, herbicide selection, equipment options and steps needed to submit formal treatment proposals and notifications.
Applications in Texas require a formal treatment proposal be submitted to the controlling authority (SRA) and the TPWD District Fisheries Biologist. The SRA has the final decision on the approval. Blank treatment proposal forms can be found at: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_pl_t3200_1066_2.pdf Proposals are good for 6 months. Additional proposals may be submitted as necessary. An example of a form letter for notifications can be found at: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_pl_t3200_1066_1.pdf Treatments may begin 14 days after submission unless notification is received not to proceed.
Weevils (Cyrtobagous salviniae) - This dark-colored, one-tenth-inch-long weevil has already been used—with great success—in more than 13 countries over 3 continents. The adult female weevil lays her eggs in a cavity that she creates by chewing into the leaf bud of GS. The larvae that hatch then feed on the base of the leaf bud. They eventually tunnel into the rhizomes or sometimes the petioles—the structures that attach the leaves to the stems. The weevil larvae become adults in 17 to 28 days, depending on the weather. That means this species is capable of producing a new generation of hungry young in about a month during the warmer parts of the summer. The life span of a salvinia weevil it is about 240-260 days. The adults stop laying eggs in the cooler temperatures—the low 70s—in the spring and fall.
State officials released more than 300K adult weevils on the Texas side of Toledo Bend in 2004. Over-wintering of salvinia weevils has been successful and the weevils have been harvested and moved to different parts of Toledo Bend as well as several shipments to Caddo Lake (approximately 31,314 in 2009). The Bi-State Alliance introductions on Toledo Bend last year, using weevils provided by Louisiana, totaled approximately 58,423 adult weevils. A real positive is that herbicide spraying does not seem to affect the weevils. At this time no weevils have been introduced on Sam Rayburn due to the lack of sufficient giant salvinia to support introductions.
Since weevils must be transported in infested GS, any introductions by non-state agency personnel in the State of Texas must be accompanied by an Invasive Species Permit from TPWD. An Interagency GS Control Team is in place with members consisting of TPWD, USFWS, Caddo Lake Institute, LDWF, LSU Texas A&M, UT, USACE, and USDA.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between TPWD and LSUAC has also been signed to facilitate the exchange of weevils for propagation and introduction of the weevil to infested sites. The TPWD and LDWF are working together on the propagation and release of salvinia weevils.
Regardless of what you hear, there are no differences between Texas weevils and Louisiana weevils. The weevils all originate from the same source - USDA APHIS facilities in Mission, TX, and USACE in Lewisville, TX (LAERF).
Harvesting - Mechanical harvesting equipment currently exists that can be effective in removing GS, however, the efficiency is low and the cost is prohibitive. TPWD does not currently have the manpower or funding required for harvesting efforts. Best/acceptable methods for destroying harvested plants are composting, deposition in a landfill and drying. The placement of barriers to protect a desired area followed by removal of all plants present can be very effective and may not require a formal permit. Small scale removal would not require state involvement unless transport of the plants harvested over land is required.
Water level manipulation (lowering the lake) has proven the most cost-effective tool to reduce severe GS infestations. Strategically used with other methods, water level manipulation may offer the most reliable and effective means of reducing GS infestations. Periodic draw-downs could potentially save thousands of dollars in treatment costs, reduce the need for fall herbicide applications, and help reduce regeneration of salvinia and water hyacinth the following spring. Keep in mind that this process may be recommended to reduce nuisance aquatic vegetation, but only SRA can control the water levels on Toledo Bend. Public comment would certainly be an important part of any decision by SRA regarding any proposed water level manipulation.
So Where Do We Go From Here? Statistics have shown that when GS is found in a lake it is almost always near a boat ramp. This is something that all of us should be aware of as we launch our boats and take them out of the water. A tiny piece of Salvinia hanging on a boat trailer rail or stuck on the outboard motor lower unit is all it takes to get the growing cycle started at a new location. Many of our anglers go from lake to lake and it is very easy to spread this destructive plant. The state of Texas passed a law in 2005 that requires boaters to remove all harmful plants from their boat trailers and boats or face a criminal citation carrying a fine of as much as $500 … per plant.
I would encourage the idea of having deposit bins located at all of our high profile boat ramps where anglers could place any GS taken from boats and trailers.
Public awareness is certainly one of the most effective and least expensive ways to control GS. We all need to learn to identify these invasive species, remove them if possible and report the sightings to state agencies. If we all play a part in being the eyes and ears of the TWPD and LDWF it can make a big difference in controlling these plants.
The magnitude of the invasive aquatic vegetation problem is huge and if not controlled it is certain to have a dramatic economic and recreational impact on Texas and Louisiana. It’s a fight that will obviously need the coordinated support of our state legislators in providing the proper funding for adequate manpower and treatment methods. We are very fortunate to have Elder and his crew helping us work this issue.
My thanks also to Jerry Clark and the Texas SRA, Jim Pratt and the Louisiana SRA, TPWD, LDWF and any of the other groups that have joined the effort to control this deadly invasive species. A collaborative effort by everyone is required to prevent an ecological and economic disaster that could easily surpass what we experienced during the past horrific low water lake conditions.
FYI - TPWD can accept monetary donations for vegetation control. To assure the donations are used for the purposes intended, a letter can accompany the donation - specify its purpose, a deadline for its use, and return of the donation if the funds are not used.
Any questions regarding GS related issues should be routed to …. Howard Elder TPWD Aquatic Habitat Biologist Rt.2 Box 535 Jasper, TX 75951 Office: 409-384-9965 Fax: 409-384-4984
***Update --
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, The Sabine River Authority of Louisiana, The Sabine River Authority of Texas and the Toledo Bend Bi-State Alliance sponsored a "Giant Salvinia Seminar" Saturday, June 12th (9am-2pm) at Hemphill VFW Post 10351. Approximately 80 concerned community people showed up for the seminar which also included a free BBQ lunch that was just great!
Howard Elder, Aquatic Habitat Biologist for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department conducted the seminar with assistance from his staff. Presentations were made regarding herbicides, the process for using the herbicides, proper paperwork involved, Salvinia weevils and many other topics related to GS.
As usual Mr. Elder and his staff did a great job and my compliments to the Toledo Bend Bi-State Alliance for putting the seminar together. Many questions were asked by the attendees and I think everyone left with a better appreciation of the issue and what we need to do to successfully fight this dangerous aquatic plant.
Also brought up at the meeting was the concern that many areas of the lake have a combination of plants (not GS) that seem to be increasing in size and are making swimming and fishing in those areas difficult. The plants are a combination of Alligator Weed (on the surface) and Eurasian Milfoil and Filamentous Algae under the surface. The Eurasian Milfoil has been on Toledo Bend for years and may well be the dominant submerged vegetation present on Toledo Bend. These plants are vulnerable to herbicides but in most cases the homeowners are just raking out the plants so they can swim, etc. around dock areas.
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