Phil Lilley

Do the math- Top of rocks are at 702 feet. 2 units - basically is 706 feet. 3 units - 708 feet. 4 units - can be as high was 710-11 feet. That's 4, 6 and 8 feet over the rocks. These are conservative levels.

Your jet guides are completely wrong. I have been up there and standing there when the rocks were placed. At 3 units there will be a minimum of 5-6 feet over the largest rock. That means even less than 3 units you have plenty of clearance. Less than that you better know where they are. As for fishing them, I again think you're wrong. They're big enough I don't think you're going to get your junk snagged on them. Bank fisherman- you're right there. They said and planned one way and did it completely different. One problem is they aren't fishermen and don't wade and fish down there. But the rocks will serve the purpose they were put there for- to create holes and pockets to hold fish. The rocks weren't put there to create more fish. As for cutting off boaters - I don't understand the sense of this mindset. People who wade and don't fish out of boats hate boaters cause... ?? They're too fast. They make wakes? They have access to water that waders don't? That may be it. Jealousy? Come on guys... count the total days the water is running and on those days most waders stay home and if they go fishing they only have access of 1% of the fishable, catchable water below the dam. It's only fishable by boat when the water is running. Why not allow boats up there to fish? Why restrict them? There's no viable reason to- period. As for placing rocks to stop boating up there- that's absolutely crazy. Why would MDC do that? Has MDC placed the rocks where I wanted them to? No, not really. Some of them, yes but they bought too many rocks. I think they are way to far in the boating lanes and I believe this will come back and bite them.

You done good... Looking forward to seeing your future posts.

https://plus.google.com/photos/104883236262217089205/albums/5670126405818297617

I thought it's be cool to get a pic of the machine operator with a fly rod dragging the line behind him

What while the outlet anglers are standing there watching? Some of those guys carry... I bet!!

https://plus.google.com/photos/104883236262217089205/albums/5670107704920171409 More pics

I'm adding more pics to the google+ album I linked to in the second post.

I got to be honest here and I think they guys who are in charge of this project would agree. They hauled in too many rocks to be placed in the lake. They're having to find places to put all these rocks - putting them in places where they hadn't planned. They move a few clusters this morning because they were too far out in the middle of the lake channel. There's going to be rocks all over the place up there and tomorrow they'll start on rocking chair area. I talked to Mike (MDC) this morning and also Darrell who was standing with us and I told Mike that Darrell should be done there tomorrow to show them where there would be good places to put rocks. He and the other drift boat guides know that area down there much better than I. We talked about the long riffle that crosses the lake above KOA that's now super shallow and holds no fish at all. You'll see some rock down there.

Yea- I probably was too honest on those starters. These motors have been run much more than any private person would run them and we've had zero issues with them except the starters. When I said cold, I mean when it's 20 degrees out, they take a while to crank start. But no more than any other motor I guess. I could have said something else but again, when I post something on here, I treat the reader as family/friends and want to make sure I'm as honest as possible. Therefore- I probably won't sell any of these via the forum.

Branson Chapter has some funds.

You should lobby TU - local guys. They're always looking for ways to spend their money.

Thanks! What are you doing for MSU?

Didymo Communications TOPIC EXPERTS • Mark Van Patten, Fisheries Management Biologist • Tim Banek, Invasive Species Coordinator • Didymo or “rock snot” is an invasive alga that forms large, thick mats on the bottoms of cold-water streams and rivers, reducing the quality and quantity of food vital to fish such as trout. • Didymoeventually makes fishing nearly impossible, with devastating economic and environmental consequences. • Didymo has not yet been detected in Missouri. Preventing its spread into Missouri is critical since there is no practical way to control or eradicate didymo once it gets established. • The Missouri Conservation Commission has approved a regulation change banning the use of porous-soled waders or footwear incorporating or having attached a porous sole of felted, matted, or woven fibrous material when fishing in trout parks and other specific trout waters. • To help reduce the spread of didymo, MDC encourages anglers to remember: Check, then Clean or Dry. TALKING POINTS The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages trout anglers and others to help prevent the spread of a new threat to Missouri’s cold-water streams and rivers. Called “didymo” (Didymospheniageminata) or “rock snot,” this invasive alga forms large, thick mats on the bottoms of cold-water streams and rivers, reducing the quality and quantity of food vital to fish such as trout. This eventually makes fishing nearly impossible, with devastating economic and environmental consequences. Didymo is native to northern parts of North America and Europe. While it has not been found in Missouri, rock snot has been found just south of the Missouri-Arkansas border in the White River. Didymo is kept in check naturally in other parts of the country and world by lower pH, or acidity, levels in the water. Missouri’s wealth of limestone creates higher pH levels in Show-Me waters. These higher pH levels can allow didymo to spread unchecked. Preventing the spread of this invasive species into Missouri is critical since there is no practical way to control or eradicate didymo once it gets established in the state. Recreational equipment such as boats, lifejackets and fishing gear--particularly porous-soled waders--are the most likely ways for didymo to spread into Missouri. Porous-soled waders and wading boots, worn by many trout anglers, appear to be a likely pathway for the spread of didymo. The soles hold moisture for days and can harbor cells of this alga. Individual cells cannot be seen with the naked eye and only a single cell is needed to establish a stream-killing colony. Anglers who visit waters with didymo can, unknowingly, transfer these cells to the next stream they visit. The Missouri Conservation Commission has approved a regulation change banning the use of porous-soled waders or footwear incorporating or having attached a porous sole of felted, matted, or woven fibrous material when fishing in trout parks and other specific trout waters. Pending public comment through the Secretary of State’s office, the new regulation will go into effect March 1, 2012, the opening day of catch-and-keep fishing at Missouri’s four trout parks. To help reduce the spread of didymo, MDC encourages anglers to remember: Check, then Clean or Dry. • Check all gear and equipment and remove any visible algae. Dispose of algae by placing it in the trash, not by putting it down a drain or into bodies of water. • Then Clean all gear and equipment with a solution of 2-percent bleach, 5-percent saltwater, or dishwashing detergent. Allow all equipment to stay in contact with the solution for at least three minutes. Soak all soft items, such as felt-soled waders and wader boot cuffs, neoprene waders and life jackets, in the solution for at least 20 minutes. • Or thenDry all gear and equipment for at least 48 hours by exposing it to sunlight. To help anglers clean their waders before entering Missouri trout streams, MDC has installed wader wash stations at Missouri’s five cold-water trout hatcheries: Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon, Montauk State Park near Salem, Roaring River State Park near Cassville, Maramec Spring Park near St. James and Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery by the upper portion of Lake Taneycomo near Branson. All anglers are encouraged to replace their porous-soled waders with ones that have non-porous rubber or synthetic soles. Anglers can adapt felt-soled and other porous-soled waders to comply with the new regulation by sealing the soles with solutions of contact cement or marine rubber cement. VanPatten notes the cement may need to be reapplied after each use. MDC offers an instructional video for sealing waders at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_udcfZqA_w Adapting waders is not a cure. It is just one step in prevention. It is still vital to check and clean or dry all waders and all other gear that have had contact with the water. MDC held public open-house forums in March and April in communities near Missouri’s trout parks and hatcheries to help educate anglers, outfitters, retailers and boaters about the dangers of didymo, the need to replace porous-soled waders and to get public feedback on the proposed regulation change. For more information, visit www.mdc.mo.gov and search “didymo.” COMMUNICATIONS TIMELINE February 2011 • Statewide media release on March 1 catch-and-keep trout park opener with key messages • Statewide media release on upcoming public meetings with key messages • Fishing Regulations booklet creation and distribution with inclusion of key messages March - April 2011 • Public meetings at: Montauk State Park, Bennett Spring State Park, Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery – Lake Tanyecomo, Roaring River State Park and Maramec Spring Park • Web content / social media on public meetings with key messages • Letters to stakeholders on public meetings with key messages April 2011 • Missouri Conservationist article with key messages • Trout park information and cleaning stations installed with key messages June 2011 “Invasive Species: Didymo” fact sheet produced with Tim Banek coordinating distribution August 2011 Commission approval of regulation banning porous-soled waders September – October 2011 • Statewide media release on wader ban with key messages • Multiple media interviews with topic experts on wader ban and key messages • Web content / social media on public meetings on wader ban with key messages • Letter to stakeholders with regulation change and key messages November 2011 • Ongoing regional promotion of wader ban and key messages through regional media staff, conservation agents and Fisheries staff • Web content / social media on public meetings on wader ban with key messages December 2011 • Ongoing regional promotion of wader ban and key messages through regional media staff, conservation agents and Fisheries staff • Web content / social media on public meetings on wader ban with key messages January 2012 • Ongoing regional promotion of wader ban and key messages through regional media staff, conservation agents and Fisheries staff February 2012 • Statewide media release reminder on wader ban with key messages • Ongoing regional promotion of wader ban and key messages through regional media staff, conservation agents and Fisheries staff • Web content / social media on wader ban with key messages • Missouri Conservationist article with wader ban reminder and key messages • Fishing Regulations booklet creation and distribution with inclusion of key messages March 2012 • Statewide media release on trout-opener results with wader ban and key messages • Web content / social media on wader ban with key messages Signing and distribution of outreach materials at the catch-and-keep opener at all four trout parks beginning February 29. Note - The regulation is currently ending public comment through the Secretary of State’s office. The public comment period expires November 16th.

They're posted on other topics under Taneycomo

Deadline for public comment is November 16th. http://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-bans-porous-soled-waders-help-protect-trout-waters-invasive-algae

Thanks for posting - I see some placements that took place after I left.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/104883236262217089205/albums/5669796054335929249 See if this link works.

McGwire?

Not surprised. Was thinking about it during the games this post season. Why not??? Go out on top. What else could he do. And probably no Albert. Start rebuilding... have a good foundation to do so.

Wanted to start this while I have time to type. Spent most of the day up below the dam- till 1 pm I was up watching and talking to the guys placing the rocks. Filmed and took lots of pic. Later I was down at Big Hole waiting for the water to run... my boat was 40 feet from water from the drawdown. They placed sets of 3 rocks in a triangle from the top of the island across from #2 outlet down about 80 yards. Didn't count but I'd say 15 sets. They placed sets upstream from there between #1 and #2 on the hatchery side out to almost the middle of the lake yesterday too. Also, after I left, they went through outlet #2 and placed sets along the hatchery side bank and out close to the current line from outlet #2. I got pics and video but don't have time right now to upload them. Later tonight. They are going to finish there tomorrow and then move down to rocking chair. They have alot of rocks down there to place. Should be interesting when it's all done. You know what I said about not putting rocks where boats will hit them... for get I said that... You'll need to know where they are or you will hit them with 2 units or less.

I don't think so. This should be in the middle or past the middle of the peak run. Here in two weeks, most of the browns will have moved back down. I may be off though. I'll refer to Rick or others who are up there more than I.

Here's what I got from Clint Hale, hatchery manager: ~~ Rainbows are diversely affected by warmer water temperatures, more so than browns. False ~~ Browns are diversely affected by warmer water temperatures, more so than rainbows. True September, 2008 high water/flood gates is the likely cause of losing most of our brown trout. True or False? True Did you see a good number of large browns move up the fish ladder this year. Large meaning 15-20 pounds plus. Or do you ever see browns this large anytime move up the ladder? We did see a descent number of larger browns come up the ladder (We are still spawning). However, we are talking in the 5-8lb range and not 15-20. There are more questions put to Shane but he's sleeping in this morning

As far as numbers, back in the late 1970's when I used to come over and fish, the waders lined the bank, shoulder to shoulder from outlet #2 to rebar. When someone would hook a fish they'd yell "fire in the hole" and head downstream while others down the line would reel in and let him pass. My point was the numbers, not the yelling... Most say the 60's and early 70's were Taney's hay-day but word got out and big fish were caught out. Everyone kept fish- no catch and release. Sure food supply was much better but then MDC stocked 1.7 million rainbows starting in the late 70's and overstocked the lake- there goes the big food supply. I think there were more factors to it's decline but overpopulation was the biggest, I believe. Today there's a much better balance between stocking and food base but the food base depends on water flow - IMO. Not sure how you could find out for sure but I think angler numbers are down from past years. I know boating numbers are down for sure. Couple of reasons- resort/rooms have been cut in half the last 8 years. Marina/boat rentals too. Wading numbers below the dam depends on generation- if they are generating all the time, like now, then numbers are down. If the water is off on the weekend in the fall then the lake is crowded and people think there's more people than normal. But I remember back in the 90's the upper end being packed in the fall. Lots of variables and no scientific numbers to go to really. MDC creel study but I'm not sure if that would help what we're talking about. I'll check on the rainbows vs browns on water temperature. I've heard the same thing, Bruce, but I've also heard it the opposite way too. I think MDC believes that we lost our browns in Sept '08. I'm asking some questions to MDC hatchery and fisheries.

We've had low DO since the dam was constructed... I don't see that being a factor, at least in this conversation. I don't think we'll even know exactly what happened and when but since 2008 the brown trout numbers have been way off. Comeback - how long? I takes a brown probably 6-8 years to reach 15 pounds. That's just a guess.