Phil Lilley

Here's a podcast of a sermon we listened to on the way back from Kansas yesterday. My son Caleb turned us on to different teachers on itunes. This one was especially good for this season and the hard times some are having. http://ozarkanglers.com/podcast/generous.mp3

Guess they've been killing alot of ducks on the lower lake, I've heard.

What's your professor's name?

As much as we bless others, that blessing is multiplied by the number of people that are here, especially the ones who we have met personally though this medium. I have to give all the glory to God who is so generous that He gave us His Son, Jesus, and without Him, for us, there is no other reason to live. Everybody who participates is a blessing. OA would be nothing without each one of you. Merry Christmas.

Tucker- Thanks for posting information on your club. Does your club have a website? I'd like to add it to OA's links. I edited some of your all's posts and put a space in the emails you typed. Bots can scan webpages and pickup emails and add them to spam lists, I'm told. Thought I may save you some grief down the road.

There’s an old saying among diehard ice fishermen. It goes like this, “Early ice is best ice.” And nowhere is that more true than on the Iowa Great Lakes. Right now anglers are venturing out on four inches of ice in Upper Gar and Minnewasta lakes. East Lake and Big Spirit may have some safe ice as well. This weekend will see a big push of anglers hoping to cash in on the early action. No one has a better handle on the fishing in this region than long-time guide Jim McDonnell, “The Fishing Professor,” of Royal, Iowa. “Guys will start venturing out on three inchs of ice,” he says. “And the first ice is usually on Minnewasta and upper Gar. “They’ll be looking at perch, bluegill and maybe some white bass and yellow bass,” he continues. “There will be a couple of weeks of really good fishing.” Shortly after that Big Spirit Lake will begin to freeze. “Anglers wil get into good crappie, bluegill and a few perch off Templars, early,” McDonnell says. “The next option would be The Grade and there’s always a good crappie, perch and bluegill bite. “Next would be Angler’s Bay but you have got to be really carefull out there,” he says. “As you move out from the shoreline you might have four inches of ice but farther out there could be only one inch. That’s because of the wind currents which set up with a southwest or northwest wind. So, be sure to use a spud bar as you push your way out.” Anglers will be looking for clumps of still green weeds under the ice. Here the bluegill, crappie and perch will hang out. There are no shortage of prsentations in today’s panfish marketplace. McDonnell recomends staying with products made by Lindy, Northland and other brand names. Everything should be tipped with a waxworm or a wiggler. “Sometimes just a plain 1/80-ounce jig head tipped with a waxworm or a wiggler is as good as anything,” he says. http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2...a4474904539.txt For lines, Jim stays with the time-tested Berkley XL monofilament. For bluegills, he’ll go as light as two or even one pound test. He also uses a fly fishing leader straightener to straighten the first 10 feet or so of his line. “You can’t have your presentation twisting back and forth if you want to catch bluegills,” he says. Most of the lakes here have good buegill fishing, but West Okoboji is clearly the leader in this department. Typically, the big lake freezes up much later than the smaller lakes, but when anglers can get out on Emerson’s or Miller’s they’ll find fishing for big bluegills as good as anywhere. For information on fishing these lakes, call Oh Shucks Bait Shop (712) 338-2087, Fisherman’s Factory Outlet (712) 336-4535 or Stan’s Bait Shop (712) 338-2586. “These are good starting points for information,” McDonnell says. “One phone call and you are way ahead of the game.” McDonnell and his partner, Laef Lundbeck, operate an ice fishing guide service in the Lake’s region. They rent portables as well as permanent and delux ice shacks with all needed equipment. Call (712) 933-5532 for information.

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I actually got out the last couple of afternoons and fished with John Johnson and friends. BOTH days water running 24/7... feels like it's November again. I guess it's because of Beaver Lake being dumped. Who knows. We drifted basically from Lookout to Fall Creek. Best technique was jig and float- yesterday is was a 1/50th oz sculpin or brown jig with an orange head. Today it was anything pink. Set the float 3-5 feet deep, depending on the depth of water. I tried to keep the boat in 3 feet of water and throw to deeper water. There were trout on the shallow side but not as many. Too deep of water and we didn't get bit. I did throw a 3/32nd jig, sculpin and/or olive caught a few but not as good as floating a jig. Nice rainbows yesterday. Today they were smaller. Good fighters. We're going to try to drive out to west Kansas to shoot some birds tomorrow afternoon. Looks like we might be skating over highway 400. Be back Thursday.

Basically what happened during the high water was gravel was washed off the banks into the lake, plus gravel was pushed downstream from one place to another. As far as the bottom area of the lake, when the water is off (no generation), I don't see that anything like you mentioned was actually lost. It wasn't there in the first place. No wing dikes have ever been constructed, or man-made structures except what anglers put at the outlets to guide the stream of water. Those things need to be added now. But thanks for adding to the conversation. Those are just the things we need.

I don't think there's any wind in the forecast. Current should be minimal- even no current in the evening. I wouldn't sweat it. Nothing else come by the resort and see if any of the guys are around to help. I may be here- or possibly on the water.

The word "boulders" is a major drawback to the habitat restructuring. Way back when we were talking to the Corp about doing something and the word boulders was used, it would get a rise out of the marina operators as well as some guides. Boulders came from the Beaver Tailwater project but boulders in NOT what we need at all. Actually it's a word that opponents have used to squelch any notion of moving towards any real planning.

ladyliller- I've posted pics like this that I thought were legit just to find out they weren't what they seemed. Don't feel bad. Thanks for posting them.

We talked about this at our Trout Unlimited meeting last night (see audio download). The corp does inject liquid o2 into the turbines but alot of it is lost in the mix before it even hits the lake. It would be great if you all took over the operation here at Table Rock as well as other tailwaters if your test prove your system works better than the Corps. Sounds like your method would even save money.

I was very encouraged by the discussion last night at the TU meeting on adding fish habitat. "Boulders" has always been thrown out in conversations as one habitat addition mainly because of the project at Beaver Tailwater. Boulders were add there. But boulders here on Taney run into opposition because of heavy boat traffic and the liability issue raised there. My thought- "boulders" is the wrong term. When you think of boulders, you think of rocks 3 to 4 feet in diameter. I think the objective for using rocks in the stream bed is to change the flow of the water to create eddies and pockets for trout to hold, as well as food sources like minnows and bugs. It will also hold vegetation and that will also help the bug population. Why not use small piles chunk rock along with wood matter plus clay and silt strategically placed where it would do the most good. Rock would divert water and create pockets, wood would help bugs like scuds and sow bugs and clay and silt would host midges and other bugs. I've always said it would make a fantastic program for a fisheries department at MU or MSU to create a model that would be financially feasible and applicable for our tailwater. There is grant money always there for habitat improvement for Table Rock AND Taneycomo. With TU helping both financially and with volunteers, I think it's very feasible that something substantial would be done.

To listen to a Quciktime audio file of the Trout Unlimited meeting, click here. Clint Hale, managers of the Shepherd of the Hills Trout Hachery in Branson is the first to speak. Shane Bush, fisheries biologist for Table Rock and Lake Taneycomo, MDC is also with Clint. They addressed a program on Thursday night, December 11 at the hatchery visitor's center to about a dozen people. Bryan Puttman was the host, naturalist for MDC and the hatchery. Many thanks for both guys for being so candid with us pertaining to issues on our fishery here at Lake Taneycomo.

Thanks for joining us. We do look forward to hearing what your organization is doing for our fantastic smallmouth fisheries all over the state. The meeting with Bob DiStephano of MDC sounds real interesting. If you record the talk, please let me know. I'd be interesting in posting it on OA. I'll add your organization's site to our links page.

But how long would it take to get thru all the hearings, county meetings (you know how those guys work) and actually building it. I bet it takes 3-5 years to open. May be then there will be a need. The road- yes I think it's a great idea. I know Justin Gage is a big backer.

http://www.areawidenews.com/story/1484978.html Due to improved dissolved oxygen conditions on the Bull Shoals and Norfork tailwaters, the stocking restrictions have been lifted. Matt Schroeder, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Trout Management Biologist, explained that destratification is a result of decreasing temperature and increasing density of the top layer (epilimnion) of Bull Shoals Lake. "When surface temperature and density of the epilimnion reach that of the bottom layer (hypolimnion) the lake mixes or turns over," Schroeder said. "Once these two layers are mixed with the aid of wind, the bottom layer of the lake is again recharged with dissolved oxygen." Because the intakes of the dam are located in the same area, dissolved oxygen in the tailwater discharge improves as well, Schroeder said. "Around the same time Norfork Lake also began to destratify. However, this process is taking longer to develop and at times the dissolved oxygen levels in Norfork Tailwater is still below state mandated level 6.0 parts per million. As of Nov. 22 the level has consistently been around the 6.0. If this trend continues for the rest of this week, we can infer that Norfork Lake has also destratified." Greers Ferry Lake, however, is further away from destratification. The dissolved oxygen level in the Greers Ferry tailwater has continued to fluctuate with patterns of generation and has continued to decline overall during periods of non-generation. "The Trout Program along with AGFC District Biologists will continue to monitor the dissolved oxygen levels of Norfork and Greers Ferry tailwaters with direct measurements and readings of USGS gauges. Once it has been determined that these lakes have destratified and the resulting D.O. conditions have improved the stocking restrictions will also be lifted from Norfork and Greers Ferry tailwaters," Schroeder stated.

Is this is same kind of system the Corp uses at the Table Rock facility? Also, Shepherd of the Hills hatchery installed a new injection system. Can't speak to the Norfork Tailwater but there are others that can here. It would be interesting what your data showed- before and during your injection period. Also, you're probably going to look at the data in years to come because temperature of water is a big factor. Our water temp was high this year so O2 saturation was harder to achieve I'd think.

That's about the same as Missouri isn't it?

Bumping... for those who need reminders.

Roosting bald eagles will be on display Saturday, Dec., 20, at Roaring River State Park near Cassville. The program starts at 3 p.m. at the park nature center for a video on bald eagle, followed by a viewing session. A spotter scope and binoculars are available, but visitors are encourage to bring their own, along with their cameras. Visitors also should wear clothing appropriate for the weather. The park owned by the Department of Natural Resources also is holding an eagle-watching session on Jan. 17, 2009.

There is No Such Thing as 100-Percent Safe Ice December 9, 2008 I’m not sure whether I fall into the majority or minority on this issue, but literally speaking, I flat out don’t like ice over water. The only two places I like ice are at the bottom of my drinking glass or at the hockey rink - you never hear of a hockey player falling through the ice. We’ve all heard that popping and cracking sound that ice makes when you walk on it. If you’re like me that sound makes you cringe. Whether ice fishing myself or walking out on shelf ice to check a license, I’ve never truly felt safe on ice. On a recent patrol along the Salmon River, I noticed ice starting to build at the slow-moving stretch of Deadwater. As I continued my patrol down the river my thoughts turned to how an area recently over-flowing with hunters and anglers will get a break from the action for the next couple of months. But I’ve become accustomed to seeing anglers who have the fishing bug no matter what the time of year. I know that I can always find a few hardy souls willing to venture out onto the shore ice for steelhead or ice fishing out on Williams Lake for a limit of rainbow trout. So when is ice safe? Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources Website offers the following: “There really is no sure answer. You can’t judge the strength of ice just by its appearance, age, thickness, temperature, or whether or not the ice is covered with snow. Strength is based on all these factors - plus the depth of water under the ice, size of the water body, water chemistry and currents, the distribution of the load on the ice, and local climatic conditions.” Experts recommend a minimum of 4-inch thick ice for walking. Ice safety guidelines also recommend a minimum of 5 inches of new, clear ice for snowmobiles, and 8 to 12 inches for a small-to medium-sized automobile, pickup or SUV. Here are some additional facts I found on Minnesota’s DNR website about ice safety: New ice is usually stronger than old ice. Four inches of clear, newly formed ice may support one person on foot, while a foot or more of old, partially thawed ice may not. Ice formed over flowing water and currents is often dangerous. This is especially true near streams, bridges and culverts. Also, the ice on outside river bends is usually weaker due to the undermining effects of the faster current. The insulating effect of snow slows down the freezing process. The extra weight also reduces how much weight the ice sheet can support. Also, ice near shore can be weaker than ice that is farther out. Booming and cracking ice isn’t necessarily dangerous. It only means that the ice is expanding and contracting as the temperature changes. Every winter I check or hear of someone fishing on the river that fell through the shelf-ice. The outcomes of these incidents vary, but all are serious and potentially life threatening. Speaking from experience, I can say that in addition to extremely cold and shocking, it is a very scary experience. I would urge anyone who plans on spending time out on the ice to research measures you can take to ensure survival of yourself or someone else falling through the ice. Remember how important it is to recognize signs of unsafe ice, and stay safe while venturing out this winter. Matt Sheppard is the senior conservation officer in the Salmon Region. http://www.outdoorcentral.com/feature-arti...ercent-safe-ice

Sorry- got to look on the homepage http://ozarkanglers.com

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