Phil Lilley

Interesting factors- #1 This has been kept quiet. Haven't seen it in the papers. Notice went out in May and the public notice sent by without any comments. #2 As far as I know, the city of Branson has not commented. Don't know if they even know. #3 TRA dredged upper Taneycomo back in the glory days (60's & 70's and well into the 80's). Did it hurt the fishery then? #4 Just how many "bugs" live in this part of the lake? Midges- yes. Scuds - haven't seen many. I understand they don't do well in water over 6 feet deep. BUT back in the 60's they could be found THICK down in the Branson area. I have a friend who worked at the Sammy Lane Dock and he said they used to cling to the foam floatation. They used to jump and knock them off and the trout would go into a feeding frenzy. He used to catch 5 pound rainbows all day off the dock. That was mid to late 60's. On the surface, it sounds like a bad idea. I'm still waitng on a reply from MDC on their offical position and why.

Table Rock Asphalt Co has applied for a renewal permit to take gravel from Taneycomo... expanding their territory up past highway 65 bridge to above Lilleys. We are about mile 523.6- they want to go up to mile 524.1. Here's the link to the permit site. http://www.swl.usace.army.mil/regulatory/00156-11.htm I just heard about it. If it was in the papers, it was missed. Talk to Lee Schoonover and he said any comments are still helpful in their decision, even though the comment period has ended. He said TRA and MDC are meeting right now and hashing out their differences. He also said that the Corp is the deciding agency and if MDC feels taking gravel in this area of the lake hurts the fishery, they wouldn't allow dredging. He also said TRA may pull their request if MDC provides this evidence. I honestly don't know enough facts about it to say one way or the other. I will dig alittle deeper and see what I can find out. More later...

Powersite will but with the higher level in BS, their effeintcy will decrease. The more water in BS decreases head pressure. Table Rock? Don't know for sure. But only when Ark Fish & Game stepped up and became a partner- a paying partner- this became a reality. I guess no one in Missouri was willing. Beaver? I guess that was Ark F&G decision.

These are some I found when I was restoring my lost files the other day. They aren't big enough for desk top background though.

Note- I sent in an email to Mike Biggs last Friday in hopes to get some clarification on some of my notes... there are holes and I apologize. I hope to get an answer from Mike soon and will relay any more info. In attendance (more or less) - Mike Biggs, CORP Planning, Environmental and Regulatory Division Chuck Pennell, Taney Co Presiding Commissioner (called for the meeting) Ron Herschend, Taney Co Commissioner, West Danny Strahan, Taney Co Commissioner, East Maynard Wallace, former Mo Rep running for senate Mark Oliver, Assistant Fisheries Chief, Ar. State Fish & Game Total of 38 in attendance. Biggs started the meeting going over the $800,000+ study that congress authorized in 2001 on the affects of a minimum flow below Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams. Increasing the minimum flow below Bull Shoals, they would have to add 5 feet to the "flood pool" or level over present power pool of 654, increasing it to 659. Any impact on roads, ramps, beaches, docks within this 5 feet would be remedied and paid for by the Arkansas Fish & Game. Any impact above the 659 level would be given consideration for "aid". Empire Electric would be paid a one-time buy out of $9m. They will suffer loss at the Powersite Plant because of the rise in power pool level. The $9m buy out means Empire can't pass this loss onto its customers. Southwest Power Administration will be given a "credit" of whatever it’s estimated they will lose because of minimum flow. SPA maintains the dams- and credit will offset part of this maintenance, and the same as Empire, this credit is given so that SPA can't pass on this loss to the consumer. A year ago, MF was a dead issue. Then two sponsors or partners stepped up to the plate and committed to pick up some of the "expense" of MF- that's what changed the outcome. Arkansas Fish & Game agreed to pay for the impact of both lakes and congress agreed to pay power providers for their loss. Time table- No money has been allocated to continue the project in '07. But in 2008, it is possible that this will be picked back up by congress. It was stated that MF would be implemented by 2010. Economic Impact - $130,000 to the bad -- $3.5m to the good annually. This encompasses a 2 hour radius of the tailwaters, including all of Bull Shoals and Norfork Lake Regions. I'm not going to get into the comments of the meeting. Most comments by residents were short sighted and self seeking, especially by some politicians. Some basically called the study bogus and the Corp liars... not much you can say to that. Some honestly didn't believe the figures. I was amazed that they focused on the $130k loss instead of the $3.5m increase. The flood issue was a hot subject though. Their logic, and it is understandable, was that if you add 5 feet to the power pool that the lake would flood more often. The study findings show that there's a 1.8% high chance that the lake would flood at 675 with the new power pool level. That means the frequency of flooding isn't affected, only the duration. In this case, a road that's flooded at 675 will be under water 2-4 more days, for example. The positive impact is going to be on the fishing- both above and below the dams. More water in the conservation pool will help spawning periods. It's too bad MDC wasn't there to address this. I made this point at the end of the meeting- said I was amazed no one had brought it up since most in the room fished. Links - http://www.swl.usace.army.mil/planning/wrminflow.html http://www.swl.usace.army.mil/planning/dra...dy_may_2006.pdf 75 day comment period ends August 18, 2006 Send comments to Mike Biggs at mike.l.biggs@usace.army.mil

When they generate down there, what do you do, John? Boat? I've fished there once- I think Cow Shoals but it's been along time ago. I'd like to get down there this fall.

Jeremy- Wayne meant Table Rock I think (TR). He was fishing from a boat on Taneycomo. Forgive me if I'm incorrect on Wayne's post.

Whatever you do will be the right thing, John. Blessings...

I didn't notice it as being a strong storm but we had some winds and a good rain a couple hours ago. Cooper Creek Resort's lower dock broke lose in the wind. The upper half piveted upstream and ended up against the upper dock. The lower fishing pier headed downstream. So we had an adventure with 2 of our pontoons and 3 of their jons getting it bad upstream and tied off. It was fun. More rain commin'.

Well, I finally had the best excuse to go fish under the lights last night... committed to take a friend who had been asking to go, badgering really. So we went. Put in at old 86 off 165 in Jake's Cove and headed to the diving bluffs (only place I know to go) and dropped the light about 9 pm. We were south of the point about 300 yards, a place I had not tried before and not having a depth finder, was a bit lost. Tied to a stickup close to the cliff bank and went out a cople hundred yards and dropped my anchor. But I still wasn't comfortable with the depth of the water- too shallow- less than 40 feet I think. But we sat till 1 am with little shad gathering. So we went out to the point and anchored in much deeper water. We immediately had more shad but at 3 am we called it quits- not enough shad in the light to even net bait. The lake was nice and so was the company. Breeze and the moon... and a few rude boater who wanted to play. I let them have it with my 1,000,000,000 lumis beam light and they left us alone.

Mocarp - we have our work cut out for us... gonna have to come up with some gormet recipes and have everyone over my house!

I beg to differ. Cooked properly, carp is just as good if not better tasting than most freshwater fish. With any fish, it depends on their diet, water quality and the way they are prepared and cooked. Case in point- my dad. He was raised in TX and had the same attitude about carp, although he never was a fisherman. I smoked some carp once and he loved it- and was very surprised when I told him what it was. He eats all the sucker and carp I've ever prepared and loves it.

Very good- thanks for sharing this. I'll leave it here for awhile and then pin it to the Carp Forum.

There are dozens of herons just on the upper lake. I counted 28 herons one day on the bluff bank down from Lookout. If a heron only ate one trout a day each day of the year, multiply 50 herons (low estimate) from Branson upstream times 365 equals 18,250 trout. That's 2.7% of the trout stocked annually. I did a quick Google search and didn't find what I wanted... how many fish on average does a heron eat? I've seen one eat 4 in one hour at the dam.

Chuck didn't see your praise report... he's just learning this forum-thing.

I'm bidding on one of Al's stamps on ebay. After getting out my collection the other day, I've bought a dozen or more stamps off ebay- it really is alot of fun. Hope to collect them all (Al's at least). Here's another.

Mike Meinkoth, MoDOT Assistant Historic Preservation Manager, stayed with us almost a month ago and had mentioned that he had some old photos of Taneycomo. I asked him to send me some- I love old photos and know others would appreciate seeing them. So here are the first batch- Links are of the full view of what he sent. Explainations will follow after you've had a chance to comment and may be guess where and when they were taken. http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/old_taney/1943_flood_rte_80_bridge.jpg http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/old_taney/1943_flood_rte_80_bridge_approach.jpg http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/old_taney/1943_flood_rte_80_bridge_deck.jpg http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/old_taney/1943_flood_Sammy_Lane.jpg http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/old_taney/Branson_Riverfront_reprint.jpg http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/old_taney/downstream_from_the_rte_80_bridge.jpg http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/old_taney/rte_65_bridge_under_construction.jpg http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/old_taney/upstream_from_the_rte_80_bridge.jpg Mike is trying to locate more pictures of this area. Here's what he relayed to me in his email- I had hoped that when the Branson Landing destroyed 2 properties listed on the National Register: the Branson City Park Historic District and the Sammy Lane Resort Historic District that part of the mitigation effort, as required by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470) would be to collect photographs and stories about these two properties. I am still trying to get information from the State Historic Preservation Office on what has been done so far, but with little luck. I wonder what luck you may have with your website collecting old photographs and fishing/float trip stories. If you know of, or have any pictures, please let me know and I'll get you in contact with Mike.

We have a lead... kids from town. We should be ready for them next time.

depends on what you're using for bait/lure. It always does. Your question needs more details. If for bass- sure it's ok. If it's for trout/smaller lures and bait- no- it's too large.

I went to the meeting last night. I took notes and have typed up a report but I've sent it to Mike Biggs to go over and see if I'm right on the facts. I should have something today to first of next week- then I'll post it. MF will not happen at Taney for a long time. MF will be implimented below Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams within 3-5 years but not before. Details to follow soon.

For Immediate Release August 3, 2006 A service of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation News Contacts: Micah Holmes or Kristen Gillman (405) 521-3856 Web site: www.wildlifedepartment.com New activities featured at the Oklahoma Wildlife Expo New hunting regulations to hit the shelves Department to hold vehicle auction Wildlife Department offers more hunter education classes Outdoor Calendar Fishing Report New activities featured at the Oklahoma Wildlife Expo If you thought last year's Wildlife Expo was big, just wait until you see what the Wildlife Department has in store this year. The second annual Oklahoma Wildlife Expo, to be held Aug. 25-27, will feature more than 200 hands-on activities, including many brand new attractions. "Last year's event was great for families and with all the new activities available, I am confident this year's Wildlife Expo will be even better," said Nels Rodefeld, information and education chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and one of the 236 Department employees working on the event. "Best of all, every one of these activities is absolutely free and you can register to win great Expo prizes at wildlifedepartment.com." Once again the Expo will be held at the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City. Here is a look at a sampling of the new activities available at the 2006 Wildlife Expo. Calls of the Wild - Featured on Jay Leno's The Tonight Show, Ralph Duren can make 135 different animal sounds with just his mouth. His enthusiasm for the outdoors is contagious, his skills are amazing and his seminar is one you won't want to miss. Kids in camo - Dress up your future hunter in their cutest camouflage outfits and enter the Cutest Kids in Camo Contest to be held Saturday morning. Noodling Tub - See huge flathead catfish up close and watch a live noodling (hand fishing) demonstration. Scuba adventures - Try on the latest scuba gear and enter to win two free scuba diving lessons. Wild flavors - Michael Fusco enjoys hunting and fishing and specializes in preparing wild game and fresh fish. He is also skilled in pastry arts, and is considered one of Tulsa's premiere chefs. He will hold several seminars throughout the Expo demonstrating innovative methods for preparing mouthwatering meals of wild game. Jon McGrath, a 13-year old skeet shooting phenom, will be at the Expo to visit with shooters, both old and young alike. McGrath is the youngest person to be named Captain of the All America Skeet Shooting Team and last year he won three gold medals at the Junior World Skeet Shooting Championship. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is partnering with a wide range of other state agencies, private individuals and outdoor-related companies to host this huge event. The Expo is designed to promote and perpetuate the appreciation of Oklahoma's wildlife and natural resources and provide hands-on learning opportunities for all types of outdoor enthusiasts. The Expo is designed as an entertaining and educational event for both avid outdoor enthusiasts and those new to hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. Every visitor will be sure to find something that interests them, from live butterflies, to mountain bike riding, to dog training, to sampling wild game. The Wildlife Expo will take place Aug. 25-27 on the expansive grounds of the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City. Expo hours will be from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. To register for great Expo prizes or for more information regarding activities available at the Oklahoma Wildlife Expo log on to wildlifedepartment.com. -30- New hunting regulations to hit the shelves Hot temperatures and dry weather have many hunters daydreaming about crisp fall mornings in the woods. Just in time, the "2006-07 Oklahoma Hunting Guide" has been printed and copies will soon be arriving at hunting license vendors across the state. There have been several changes to the hunting regulations designed to increase hunter opportunity and help better manage the state's rich and diverse natural resources. Here are a few of the highlights: . Turkey hunters are no longer restricted to harvesting only one tom turkey per day during the spring season. . A new Youth Spring Turkey Season has been established. Turkeys taken during the youth season are not considered bonus and count toward county, wildlife management area and regular spring turkey statewide limits. . The required number of hours for hunter education classes has been reduced from 10 hours to eight hours. . Limited red fox hunting and trapping is now allowed. . Raccoon daily and season limits have been increased. . The $5 rattlesnake hunting permits will now also be available on-site at selected rattlesnake round-up festivals. . Effective Nov. 1, 2006, permission to hunt or fish on private lands shall be presumed to be valid for not more than one year, unless the owner, lessee, or occupant specifically grants consent for a specified period of time. . Antelope hunting opportunities have increased in Cimarron and Texas counties. Anyone hunting in these areas (during antelope season) should be aware of hunter orange and firearm requirements. For complete information about license costs, season dates, zones and other details about the upcoming hunting seasons log on to wildlifedepartment.com or consult the "2006-07 Oklahoma Hunting Guide," available at hunting license vendors across the state. -30- Department to hold vehicle auction Are you in the market for a used vehicle? If so, you will want to head out to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's public vehicle auction. It will be held Thursday, Aug 17, at 6 p.m. at the Department's headquarters located at 1801 N. Lincoln in Oklahoma City. "We have a good variety of Ford and Chevrolet trucks. All of them are four-wheel drive and many of them are extended cab models," said Johnny Hill, property manager for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "We're going to sell everything as is to the highest bidder." A total of 26 vehicles will be available at the event, including several ¾ ton Chevrolet trucks, a 2002 Chevrolet one-ton dually truck, two 1999 Chevrolet Tahoes and a 1996 Dodge Caravan. For more information about the auction call (405) 521-4600 or for a complete list of auction vehicles, log on to wildlifedepartment.com. The sale will start promptly at 6:00 p.m. and items may be inspected from 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. the day of the sale. -30- Wildlife Department offers more hunter education classes Completing a hunter education course is now more convenient than ever. Not only are there more classes available, they are even easier to find than in previous years. "This year we have more classes in more locations than ever before. We've also listed most of the classes in the "2006-07 Oklahoma Hunting Guide," said Lance Meek, hunter education coordinator for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "The hunter education courses have also been adjusted to allow students to complete a course in eight hours rather than 10." Approximately 14,000 hunter education students are certified annually at more than 300 courses statewide. To find out more about the hunter education program or to find a course near you, log on wildlifedepartment.com/courses.htm or look in the "2006-07 Oklahoma Hunting Guide" available at license vendors across the state. A set of unique home-study hunter education classes will be offered for aspiring hunters, Saturday, August 26 and Sunday, August 27, at the free Wildlife Expo at the Lazy E Arena just north of Oklahoma City. Each day, one lucky participant will win a lifetime hunting license. "We had a great time last year at Expo hunter ed course. It's really a fun way for the whole family to go through the course and you won't find a more flexible, hands-on hunter ed class," Meek said. To sign up for this course call (405) 521-4636 and be prepared to provide your name, address, and date of birth. Before you come to the Wildlife Expo, be sure to complete the online home study course at wildlifedepartment.com. You can also pick up home study booklets at Wildlife Department offices in Oklahoma City, Jenks, or Higgins. Booklets are also available at the Midwest City Library, Oklahoma City Bass Pro Shop, Sportsmen's Warehouse and the H&H Gun Range in Oklahoma City. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1972, upon reaching 16 years of age must have completed a certified hunter education course in order to purchase a hunting license. Additionally, any hunters under the age of 16 (below the age required to purchase a hunting license) must complete a hunter education course in order to use a firearm to hunt big game (deer, elk or antelope). -30- STATEWIDE HUNTER EDUCATION COURSES Course locations are listed by town, followed by date, course location and time. If a phone number is listed, pre-registration is required. Courses are a minimum of 10 hours and are free. Students must pass an exam with a score of 70 percent. For updated information on upcoming courses, contact the Wildlife Department's Hunter Education Hotline at (405) 521-4650 or check our Web site at www.wildlifedepartment.com/hunted.htm 10, 12: Hunter Education: Elks Lodge, 5921 E Waterloo, Edmond; Aug. 10 (6:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.) and Aug. 12 (8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.) must attend both nights. 11, 12: Hunter Education: Ryan Community Center, Ryan; Aug. 11 (6 p.m. - 10 p.m.) and Aug. 12 (8 a.m. - 2 p.m.) must attend both nights. 12: Hunter Education Home Study: Midwest City Library, Midwest City; 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.; (405) 732-4828. 12: Hunter Education: Lay Electric Coop, Blackwell; 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 12: Hunter Education: Porum Landing Fire Station, Porum; 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; 12: Hunter Education: Creek County Fairground, Hwy 33 and 66, Kellyville; Live fire included; 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; 12: Hunter Education: Masonic Lodge, Vinita; 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; 12: Hunter Education: Jenks Church, Jenks; 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; (918) 299-2334. 12: Hunter Education: Great Plains Tech Center, Frederick; 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; 12: Hunter Education: Grove Community Center, Grove; 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; 12: Hunter Education: Sequoyah County Fairground, Sallisaw; 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; 12: Hunter Education: Okemah County Fairground; 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; 12: Hunter Education: Municipal Court Building, Perry; 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; 15: Hunter Education Home Study, Sportsman's Warehouse, OKC; 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. (405) 302-4800. 18 & 19: Hunter Education: Great Plains Technology Center, Lawton; August 18 (6 p.m. - 9 p.m.) and August 19 (9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.). 18 & 19: Hunter Education: Walters School Auditorium, Walters; August 18 (6 p.m. - 9 p.m.) and August 19 (9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.). OUTDOOR CALENDAR AUGUST 10: Aquatic Education Fishing Clinic: Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Family Fishing Clinic, Casting Pond at the Oklahoma Aquarium, Jenks. Pre-registration required. Register by calling the Wildlife Department at (918) 299-2334. 12: Basics of reloading at Sportsman's Warehouse (2301 West Memorial Rd, OKC). Learn about gun safety and reloading process. Program runs from 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. For more information contact Jim Greengfield at (405) 302-4800. 12: Boot care at Sportsman's Warehouse (2301 West Memorial Rd, OKC). Learn how maintain your boots during hunting season as well as everyday work. Program runs from 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. For more information contact Timothy Haley at (405) 302-4800. 12: First Western Oklahoma Wildlife Expo to be held at Sayre City Park. Scheduled activities include fly fishing, casting and pitching, 3-D archery, trap shooting and a turkey and coyote calling contest. Will also serve as a site for the "On the Water and In the Woods" TV program's Outdoor Challenge. For more information on the Expo email the Sayre Chamber of Commerce at sayrechamber@itlnet.net. Go to www.otwitw.com for information on the Outdoor Challenge. 12: Butterfly Walk at Oxley Nature Center, Tulsa. The program runs from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and is open to all ages. Meet in the Oxley parking lot as we look for the "flying flowers" such as Sleepy Orange or the Spicebush Swallowtail. Free. Registration not required. For more information contact the staff at (918) 669-6644 or by email at oxley@ci.tulsa.ok.us. 12: National Wild Turkey Federation Oklahoma Chapter of the Wheelin' Sportsmen are teaming with members of the OU Medical Center-Camp Cavett in holding an ODWC Aquatic Education Program and Daycamp. The event will be held on August 12th - 8:00 a.m. at Crystal Lake (6625 S.W. 15th OKC (1/2 Miles west of MacArthur) just south of I-40). The event will include educational programs, fishing, archery, pellet guns, and other activities. All interested parties should contact Tim Slavin (405) 378-0776 12: Aquatic Education Clinic: Dolese Youth Park Pond, OKC Parks and Rec. Pre-registration is required. Register by calling Bob Martin at (405) 755-4014. 12: Bi-Monthly Fly tying Workshop at the Broken Arrow Bass Pro Shops. Bass Pro Shops Fly Fishing Department will hold a one hour fly tying session twice a month. Starting time 10:00am. Format: Question, answer and demonstration. 13: Future Bass tournament trail at Lake Texoma. The tournaments will be a team format. Team members may be two adults or one adult partnering with an angler younger than 18. To compete as a youth angler, an individual must be 17 before Sept. 24, 2006. Awards will be given at each event for the top team with a youth angler, including a $4,000 Bass Cat boat at the September championship. For more information, contact Joe Copeland, (580) 759-2088. 15: Boating/water safety class at Sportsman's Warehouse (2301 West Memorial Rd, OKC). The Oklahoma Highway Patrol present boater education certification. The course covers navigation rules, equipment requirements, boating law and boating safety. The class runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a break for lunch. Class is limited to 25. For more information or to register contact Customer Service at (405) 302-4800. For a complete listing of upcoming outdoor activities and events, go to wildlifedepartment.com and check out the Outdoor Calendar. FISHING REPORT FOR AUGUST 2, 2006 CENTRAL Arcadia: Elevation below normal. White bass biting. Channel catfish are biting on cut shad and liver. Crappie biting in the evening along rocks. Report submitted by Tim Campbell, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County. Arcadia: Elevation normal, water 80-83 and semi-clear. Largemouth bass fair to good on crankbaits just off south rocks at 4-6 ft. Channel catfish fair to good just off bottom on worms and cut bait in the morning and evening. Crappie fair to good on minnows in the morning at 10-12 ft. around south brush piles. Sunfish fair to good in the morning and evening at 1-2 ft. on worms along the northeast bank along the dam. Report submitted by Linnie Mason, gate attendant. Hefner: Elevation 6 ft. below normal. All boat ramps are open. Catfish are being caught off the dam slip corking on punch bait, cut bait and stinkbait and in the canal inlet tight lining. Walleye being caught around the northeast corner of the dam on blue and white, chartreuse and fire tiger deep diving crankbaits Report submitted by Bob Martin, Oklahoma City Fisheries Division. Overholser: Elevation rising, water murky. Channel catfish being caught on worms and shrimp. Crappie slow on jigs. Report submitted by Kelly Roberson, game warden stationed in Oklahoma and Canadian counties. Wes Watkins: Elevation 4 1/2 ft. below normal, water 79-89 and clear. Catfish good on chicken livers, cheese, shrimp, fresh cut bait, shad gizzards and minnows in deeper waters around dam tower and along main lake channel and in feeder creeks. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs right off bottom and around structure and brush piles. White bass schooling throughout the day and during the evening hours and being caught on assorted silver/white colored crankbaits. Largemouth bass poor with some action in deep water around points and along lip of main lake channel at 8-10 ft. on assorted colored soft plastics with some action early morning and evening on topwater lures. Report submitted M. M. Fowler at St. Gregory. Wes Watkins: Elevation 4 1/2 ft. below normal, water 89. Largemouth bass slow on plastic worms and crankbaits around structure at 8-12 ft. Channel catfish fair on cut baits at 4-8 ft. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs near the dam and deep structure. White bass fair on crankbaits off points. Report submitted by Ronnie Arganbright, game warden stationed in Pottawatomie County. NORTHEAST Bell Cow: Elevation 3 ft. below normal and murky. Channel catfish are being caught using cut bait and doughbait. Crappie fair around dock at night on minnows and worms. Bass slow. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game stationed in Lincoln County. Birch: Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 80 and clear. Catfish fair on cut shad along windy banks. Report submitted by Paul Welch, game warden stationed in Osage County. Carl Blackwell: Elevation 2 ft. below normal, water 84 and murky. Striped bass hybrids good on live bait. Catfish good on cut bait and punch bait. Crappie fair around fishing docks. Report submitted by Jon Cunningham, game warden stationed in Payne County. Chandler: Elevation 3 ft. below normal and clear. Channel catfish fair on cut bait and doughbaits. Crappie and bass slow. Report submitted by Gary Emmons, game warden stationed in Lincoln County. Copan: Elevation 1/2 ft. below normal, water 80 and clear. Blue catfish fair on fresh shad at 12-15 ft. Report by submitted by Jeff Brown, game warden stationed in Nowata County. Eucha: Elevation 10 ft. below normal, water 86 and murky. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around brush and structure at 12-14 ft. Largemouth bass fair on plastic baits off rocky points. Catfish fair on cut shad. Bluegill sunfish fair on crickets and worms around grass beds. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries. Ft. Gibson: Water 91 and clear. Catfish good on cut baits. White bass good on spinners, rattletraps and topwater plugs. Largemouth bass good on worms and slow baits. Reported submitted Marvin Stanley, game warden stationed in Muskogee and Wagoner counties. Grand: Elevation normal and murky. Channel catfish fair in the Grand River channel on cut and whole shad. White bass can still be caught around gravel points. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in Delaware County. Greenleaf: Elevation normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs and worms. Channel catfish fair on stinkbaits and cut bait shallow on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around fishing dock and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County. Hudson: Elevation normal and clear. Channel and blue catfish good on worms and cut shad on rod and reel and juglines. Report submitted by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Mayes County. Kaw: Elevation normal, water 87 and clear. White bass good trolling main lake with shad-colored crankbaits at 10-20 ft. and fair at dusk on wind-blown points or schooling in south end of main lake. Blue catfish good in Coon Creek on juglines baited with cut shad or cut carp at 4-8 ft. and fair drifting in Coon Creek on blood and cut bait. Channel catfish excellent in Arkansas River all the way to Traders Bend on stinkbait at 5-12 ft. Stripers, striped bass hybrids, and white bass fair at dawn below dam. Small blue catfish are being caught during times of water flow on cut shad. Nighttime bowfishing excellent below 1,000 ft. mark. Report submitted by Marshall Reigh, game warden stationed in Kay and Grant counties. Keystone: Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water 85 and clear to murky. Largemouth bass fair on topwaters early and plum eight inch worms from the surface to 12 ft. off shallow rocky points early and brush piles. Smallmouth bass fair on finesse jigs and crankbaits at 8-15 ft. along rock points and ledges. Spotted bass fair on small crankbaits and grape six inch worms at 8-15 ft. off main lake bluffs. White bass good on small white crankbaits and jigging spoons and minnows at 8-15 ft. off deep points on main lake river channel. Striped bass below the dam are good and being caught on buck tails during generation and topwaters from the surface to 4 ft. early and late. Striped bass on the lake fair on 5-6 inch swim baits and deep crankbaits at 10-20 ft. casting swim baits and trolling deep crankbaits off main lake points. Channel catfish fair on shrimp, worms and stinkbaits at 8-15 ft. in coves. Blue catfish fair on cut shad and punch bait at 15-25 ft. in the Cimarron River channel. Flathead catfish fair on goldfish and shad at 15-25 ft. in main lake around deep ledges. Crappie fair on medium minnows and jigs at 15-22 ft. around brush piles and bluffs. Report submitted by Larry Sellers, Woody's Bait and Tackle. Oologah: Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 80 and clear. White bass fair trolling with shad colored crankbaits on flats near the main lake. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush piles at 15 - 20 ft. Channel and blue catfish fair on juglines baited with shad at 20 - 25 ft. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County. Skiatook: Elevation 6 1/2 ft. below normal, water 85 and clear. Crappie good on minnows at 20-30 ft. around structure and in creeks, Highway 20 bridge and east bank, north of bridge. Largemouth bass fair but deep suspended over deeper water around brush piles and other structures on jig and chunk, some plastics and Carolina rigging. Smallmouth bass fair on crankbaits, jigs or plastics. Catfish fair on trotlines with sunfish and very large minnows. Striped bass hybrids fair to good, early morning and late evening, on points and mouths of creeks on shad, very large minnows and pearl white sassy shad. Report submitted by Greenwood Fishing Center. Sooner: Water is clear and 86. Striped bass hybrids fair at 15-20 ft. on live shad and chartreuse or white slabs on cold side of the lake. White bass fair schooling early and late on topwaters or crankbaits. Channel catfish good around rocky points at 5-15 ft. on stinkbait. Report submitted by Marshall Reigh, game warden stationed in Kay and Grant counties. Spavinaw: Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water 86 and clear. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around dam area. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits. Catfish fair on cut shad. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries. Tenkiller: Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water 85 and clear. Largemouth bass slow with some action on jigs around brush or ledges. Crappie slow with some action around brush or docks on jigs or minnows. Catfish good on juglines baited with cut bait at 30 ft. Sunfish good around docks on worms. Report by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort. Webbers Falls: Water murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and crankbaits along the rip rap. Channel catfish fair on stinkbaits and cut bait on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush structure at 12-14 ft. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County. NORTHWEST Canton: Elevation 4 ft. below normal. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair drifting shad and slabs. Walleye fair drifting night crawlers. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed in Blaine County. Great Salt Plains. Elevation 1/2 ft. below normal and murky. Fishing below the dam is slow. Catfish in the lake are fair on cut shad while drift fishing. Report submitted by Ben Bickerstaff, game warden stationed in Alfalfa County. SOUTHEAST Blue River: Elevation normal, water 84 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on minnows and flies. Channel catfish fair on worms, and liver. Report submitted by Charles Baker, technician at Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area. Broken Bow: Elevation 5-6 ft. below normal and clear. Fishing has slowed due to heat. Largemouth bass fair schooling early mornings and late evenings on topwaters. Crappie good along structure and brush piles on minnows and jigs. No reports of catfish at this time. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County. Eufaula: Elevation 3 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on Carolina-rigged plastics baits at 5-10 ft. off points. White bass good on slab spoons early morning at 10-20 ft. on the flats. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows at 10-20 ft. around bridges and standing timber. Report submitted Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County. Hugo: Elevation 1/6 ft. below normal, water 83 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits. Crappie fair on minnows. Channel catfish fair on liver and stinkbait. Report submitted by Wendell Smalling, game warden stationed in Choctaw County. Hugo: Elevation 1/6 below normal, water 85 and murky. Bass fair using soft plastic lures at 12-25 ft. Crappie fair on minnows at 10-20 ft. around submerged brush near creek channels. Catfish fair on cut bait and commercial baits at 10-20 ft. along creek channels. Report submitted by Joe Young, game warden stationed in Atoka County. Konawa: Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 97 and clear. Largemouth bass good on topwater lures at 5-8 ft. around weed beds. Channel catfish good on cut shad along points and in south cove at 10-12 ft. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County. McGee Creek: Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 84 and clear. Bass fair when fishing for schooling bass on shad-colored lures fished on top or shallow or on soft plastic lures at 12-20 ft. near rocky points. Crappie fair around cedar brush with minnows and jigs at 10-20 ft. and around cedar brush along creek channels or open water is best. Report submitted by Joe Young, game warden stationed in Atoka County. Lower Mountain Fork River: Spillway creek has been producing lots of fish. Try fishing that area when the powerhouse happens to release water. The fishing seems to have slowed a little, maybe due to the high temperatures. The folks fishing in zone 2 are still catching/releasing some fish early and late in the day are by far the best times to be fishing. Lures and flies that have been the most successful are WD-40, zebra midge, small light mayfly patterns, various caddis adult patterns and some brightly colored streamers. The power house has been releasing water daily, so be prepared to vacate the river when the water starts to rise. Report submitted by Sid Ingram, Beavers Bend Fly Shop. Lower Mountain Fork River: Dry fly fishing is good in all zones on stimulators, caddis, light cahills, wooly buggers, pheasant tails and egg patterns. Zone 1 good early morning and late afternoon on a variety of lures. Your best bet is to try midges, dry flies, bead head pheasant tails, #6 wooly buggers and y2k. Zone 2 is generating. Zone 3 fair. Report submitted by Jesse King, Three Rivers Fly Shop. Pine Creek: Elevation below normal and clear. Bass fair on buzzbaits late in the evening. Crappie fair on minnows around lower end of the lake. Catfish good on night crawlers on rod and reel. Sunfish good throughout the lake on red worms. Fishing activity has been slow due to extreme temperatures. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County. Robert S. Kerr: Elevation normal, water 86 and clear. Largemouth bass slow at 6-8 ft. using plastic baits fishing deeper water next to some rock structure. Crappie slow at 12 ft. using minnows fishing the bends in the old submerged creek channels. White bass fair from the surface to 8 ft. using jigs and crankbaits fishing early morning in the Applegate cove areas. Blue and flathead catfish slow using live bait and fresh cut bait on trotlines and juglines. Walleye and sauger fair at 5-7 ft. using minnow or jigs fishing at the mouth of the Illinois River when water is being discharged from Tenkiller Dam. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County. Sardis Lake: Elevation below normal and clear. White bass and walleye being caught trolling deep running crankbaits around islands. Blue catfish and flathead fair on juglines and trotlines baited with cut shad and baits. Crappie good on minnows around bridges and brush piles. Largemouth bass slow. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County. Texoma: Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water 85 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair to good on spinnerbaits and crankbaits at 5 -10 ft. in the creeks. Striped bass and white bass fair to good on topwater baits, slabs and live bait from the surface to 25 ft. from Alberta to Caney creeks. Channel and blue catfish fair to good on live bait, punch bait and stinkbait at 5-20 ft. north of the Highway 70 bridge. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County. Wister: Elevation 1/2 ft. below normal, water 86 and murky. Blue catfish good on cut shad at 6-15 ft. with most anglers having success after dark. Largemouth bass fair on topwaters around the shoreline in the evenings. All other fishing slow. Report submitted by D.G. Belcher, game warden stationed in Latimer and LeFlore counties. SOUTHWEST Altus-Lugert: Elevation 23 ft. below normal and murky. Lake level is dropping quickly. North shore ramp is high and dry. Hicks Mountain is very low. Use caution for mid-sized boats or smaller. Main boat ramp is still functional, and bigger boats should use this ramp. Crappie fair on minnows. Striped bass hybrids and walleye fair. White bass fair on minnows near Lakeview Boat Ramp north shore. Catfish good on juglines. Report compiled by Quartz Mountain Grocery. Foss: Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water 85 and clear. White bass surfacing in evenings. Striped bass hybrids and walleye slow. Bass slow. Catfish fair. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House. Waurika: Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water 84. White bass and striped bass hybrids are biting on live bait in deep water. Channel catfish good on punch bait. Crappie fair around standing timber. Report submitted by Phillip Cottrill, game warden stationed in Jefferson County. To unsubscribe, please reply with UnSubscribe in the subject only. Copy/paste the UnSubscribe word into the subject line >>> UnSubscribe You also can subscribe/unsubscribe yourself by clicking this link http://wildlifedepartment.com/NewsSubscrip...bscription.aspx Please do not reply to this email except to unsubscribe. If you have a question or a comment, send an email to kgillman@odwc.state.ok.us

road kill

Corp is holding a "fact finding" meeting tonight at the Taney Center north of Forsyth at 7 pm. From the Branson Daily News The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is preparing to undertake a project that would raise the levels of two area lakes. The Corps’ Little Rock District Project Manager Mike Biggs said once the project is complete the normal level of Bull Shoals Lake would be raised an average of five feet and the average level of Norfork Lake would be raised as much as one foot. “What will happen is the lake level will be raised and that will cause fluctuations in lake levels to go slower,” Biggs said. “This will really stabilize the lakes’ levels quite a bit.” The corps will regulate the minimum flow by releasing a steady 500 cubic feet of water per second into the lake from the lakes’ flood reserves. Biggs said although the project is meant to stabilize lake levels, preventing the rising and falling of water levels, he said “extreme conditions” will still be “out of the corps’ hands.” “The corps can’t control how much it rains,” Biggs said. “If it rains a lot, the level will still go up, and if we face a drought situation, lake levels will still go down.” Taney County Presiding Commissioner Chuck Pennel said the county commission requested that Biggs attend a public hearing in Taney County in an effort to inform the public of the future changes. “The county commission just found out about this and very few of the Taney County residents have any idea about this,” Pennel said. “I feel it is the commission’s duty to help get the word out to the public.” Pennel said other benefits would come out of the hearing. He said while visiting with a representative from Senator Kit Bond’s office he learned that the raising of the lake levels was “pretty much a done deal,” but that having a public hearing at this point could be beneficial to the county. “(The representative) said that if we did go ahead and have the public hearing and there were any damages to property — whether it be a privately-owned boat dock or a county road — then we would have a better chance of recouping the loss,” Pennel said. “If (we had not had a hearing) we might not have had as good of chance (of recouping losses). “This will also be of benefit because it will get questions answered for county residents.” Biggs said he realized that area roads and boat docks are a concern. “If someone is concerned, they need to contact the corps or the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, a non-federal partner on the project, and they will look at the elevations and see if the docks need to be raised or extended,” Biggs said. “But it looks like at this point that properties that will be the most impacted will be corps parks.” The project manager said people also need to be aware that the soonest the project could effect the area is not for a few years. “This is not something that is going to happen tomorrow,” Biggs said. “We’re still waiting on some money from Congress then we have to go through a pre-engineering and construction design phase.” He said the soonest construction could start on Bull Shoals would be in mid-2008 and on Norfork in 2010. The public hearing will be held tonight, beginning at 7 p.m., at the Taney Center, located just east of Forsyth on U.S. 160. Biggs described the hearing as a “fact-finding mission” and said he would answer questions in an objective manner. “The Corps of Engineers is neither a proponent or opponent of raising the minimum flow,” Biggs said. “We’re just doing what Congress tells us to do.” He said the raising of the water flows would be a benefit to fishermen in the area by ensuring better environments for trout to spawn and live in, and that Congress is taking steps to make sure that electricity cost will not increase. Biggs said the decision to raise the minimum flow was made by three congressional decisions, one in 1999, one in 2000 and one earlier this year which was the result of 20 years of research. The Corps recently extended the public comment period on the issue to Aug. 18 and encourages interested residents to review the environmental impact study done for the project and make comments good, bad or neutral. The study can be viewed from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Corps’ Mountain Home Project Office in Mountain Home, Ark.; Beaver Project Office in Rogers, Ark.; Table Rock Project Office in Branson; Greers Ferry Project Office in Heber Springs, Ark.; or the District Office in Little Rock, Ark. A draft of the study is also posted on the Internet and can be viewed at http://www.swl.usace.army.mil/planning/wrminflow.html. “We’re not afraid of negative comment. We want all the comment we can get to help us have a better and more complete study,” Biggs said. Written comments should be addressed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District, Attn: Mike Biggs CESWL-PM, P.O. Box 867, Little Rock, AR 72203-0867. Comments must be post marked by Aug. 18 to become part of the official record. For more information, call Biggs at 501-324-5842 ext. 1071.

I was just talking to Bob Klein, one of our guides. Bob used to own Riverlake Resort and Main Street Dock- he and Jackie go back to 1982 on Taney. He said this has been the slowest trout-catching summer he's seen and I have to agree. Lack of seeing trout, lack of bites, lack of catching all down. Stocking has been cut by 10% BUT both of us have noticed there's a big drop in fishing pressure on the lake. With all the resorts downtown gone, marinas, Sun Valley not in business and others we've heard are slow this summer, less boat traffic and people fishing off docks- all equal less access to the lake. No O2 problem, temp is normal, clarity is a bit clearer. Bottom line is we don't know why it was slow. Good news it's getting better- why? Don't know. But Bill did well this am above FC on micros and Bob did well at Monkey Island on eggs and spinners. He said he saw alot of trout in the water.

To Branson? Contact the chamber http://bransonchamber.com/ They will send out a packet including a nice book of attractions.