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Anyone else read this? What are speculations on impact? Fish population to thrive with project Cedar trees sunk in Table Rock Lake will serve as habitat for aquatic species. Kathleen O'Dell News-Leader A barge-load of downed cedar trees was sent to the bottom of a Table Rock Lake cove Thursday, launching a $4.5 million effort to restore fish habitats and fish populations there. The ceremonial sinking near Big Cedar Lodge helped create the first of many fish habitats under the "More Fish Campaign," part of the 2006 National Fish Habitat Action Plan. The goal is to restore diminishing fish and other aquatic populations, but also to preserve a recreational economy that generates, conservatively, $67 million annually between Table Rock and Lake Taneycomo, said Matt Mauck, a fisheries biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation. The United States has lost 20 percent of its fish and aquatic populations and nearly 40 percent of the nation's native fish species are in decline, said Martin Mac Donald, with Bass Pro Shops. The top contributing factor is the "aging" of reservoirs like Table Rock Lake, which means underwater trees and shrubs decay and fish lose their cover, Mac Donald said. In 2006 the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation joined federal and state agencies, conservation and angling organizations, and Bass Pro Shops to establish the National Fish Habitat Action Plan to help reverse the decline. Along with the plan, and with Bass Pro Shops as the first corporate sponsor, the fish and wildlife foundation launched the More Fish Campaign to help raise awareness and funding to protect, enhance and restore abundant and healthy populations of fish and aquatic species to our nation's waters. Table Rock Lake is the first chosen for the pilot project focused on reservoir habitats and the health of their watersheds. If successful, it could serve as a model for other reservoirs across the country. To begin, fisheries biologists and builders at Tracker Marine in Lebanon designed and built a pontoon-style Fish Habitat Barge with a hydraulic lift that can easily dump loads of trees, stumps or gravel into areas of the lake designated for fish habitats or spawning beds. The 30-foot custom pontoon and trailer cost about $62,000, and will be used over the next five years to restore fish habitats throughout Table Rock, said fisheries biologist Shane Bush. He will operate the barge. Two older-model barges are used in Arkansas and Missouri. Trees, shrubs and gravel will come from materials cleared or thinned from construction sites or nearby forests, Mac Donald said. Bass Pro Shops has committed $1.5 million over the next five years which will be matched 2-to-1 by the following agencies: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and its partners including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Missouri Department of Conservation, and Arkansas Fish and Game Commission. That will make the project's total $4.5 million. Another $2 million of Bass Pro Shops and wildlife foundation funds will help fish habitat projects nationwide. Partners in the pilot project on Table Rock include Bass Pro Shops, the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Forest Service. How the money will be spent The $4.5 million to fund the National Fish Habitat Action Plan will go toward a variety of projects over the next five years including: Operation of the Fish Habitat Barge and a full-time fisheries biologist and staff to collect and place brush piles, stumps and rocks to create underwater fish habitats and rock reef spawning beds. Hauler contracts to collect discarded trees and natural materials to create fish habitats. Cost-share projects with private landowners to help restore eroding stream banks on the James River and other waterways flowing into Table Rock Lake. Financial help for the septic pumpout program operated by the James River Basin Partnership and Table Rock Lake Water Quality within the Table Rock watershed. A contract with the Tennessee Valley Authority to study the feasibility of installing a four-bay oxygen diffuser at Table Rock Dam. The equipment, if added, would boost oxygen levels of water flowing into Lake Taneycomo to benefit food sources for and the health of fish. For more information on the Table Rock project, go to morefish.org. linked from here: http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...EWS01/710120424 peace john nickle

Lilley, thanks for the response, and the boards themselves! ive been lurking awhile and just eating all this stuff up. Don: I will be fishing, uhm, i think its called the long creek arm, south of the dam. Our place in on the little cove between jakes branch and clevinger cove. I have actually had two brand new spoons sitting there looking at me for the last three weeks, so i will finally be able to give them a try. 1/2 oz and 3/4 oz white. Im still getting used to the finder on the boat we use, so it will be a good exercise in finding trees etc. I was also wondering if this technique would be good around the bridge (hwy 86 maybe?) that runs across the lake just north of gage's marina? There isnt any rip rap, but those pilings have to have something around them? Maybe? As far as the football jig, my gf has, very wisely, suggested i follow a fishing budget, so i have yet to acquire one. However, as it is another payday, i am "allowed" to make another purchase if i want. This seems like a worthwhile one, as the lure is often mentioned on this board. What suggestions might you have? Hope you have good fishing this weekend, and that we dont get rained on too much! thanks again john nickle

Hey all, The gf is considering a trip to the lake this weekend. I was curious if all the recent rain would disrupt the fishing. Ive heard that after storm systems go through, the fishing can just die. Given that i have actually yet to catch a legal-sized fish, that may not be such a big deal. Any thoughts on what i should expect tomorrow, or any advice. I will mostly be fishing top water in the morning, but am open to anything. Thanks! peace john nickle