Rumor or not?

[Sam]

Well, that article is vague enough. It leaves you with no idea what they're doing that costs $10. million.

I'm no expert, but I have an idea of the best thing they could do every year, to help the fish. It's simple.

If they'd keep the lake level very high, regardless of rainfall, from March 1 through June 30 every year - that would make a big difference. We're enjoying the benefits right now of those high-water springs 4 and 5 years ago, when the fish got to nest in the land weeds and brush and lots of little ones hatched out and survived.

Maybe that's the plan? And maybe the $10 million is to compensate for electricity not generated during those months so they can keep the lake level high?

Of course, it seems to me that if they'd do that every spring - the extra water wouldn't be wasted. They could use it to generate lots of electricity while drawing the lake down to power pool in July and August - when air conditioners are running and it's really needed.

Just my .02 worth.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I'm still puzzled by the reference to restoring fish habitats. These were mammal habitats before the dams were built, not fish habitat. If they want to improve habitat for fish, thats one thing, but what is there to restore?

[MoCarp]

The nonprofit National Fish and Wildlife Foundation said Bass Pro Shops will contribute $5 million, which will be matched by money raised by the foundation, over 5 years for a national campaign to preserve and restore fish habits.

Half of the $10 million will go projects at the 52,300 acre Table Rock Lake, neighboring Lake Taneycomo and the White river watershed on the Missouri-Arkansas border.

Bass Pro is the first corporate sponsor of the foundations More Fish campaign.

That could be a very bad thing or a very good thing,

most likely land buy outs in some areas or spawning reserves off limits to fishing.

ether way Its a Pr thing to deal with the ruination that the Taney project will bring--think about it, buy out via eminate domain and Taney becomes a bass pro controlled project--the new allowing of eminate domain laws for private projects is a hotbed issue right now--and to think someone will invest 1 billon on taney with out the political will to control it is silly prep yourselves boys it could be really bad if it goes that way--I really hope I am wrong on that

mo

[Sam]

I found a more complete press release on this project. Here's the link:

http://www.nfwf.org/press/press_060320_basspro.cfm

It's still so vague it doesn't give you much idea of what they're going to DO. The part that gets closest to that says:

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By national standards, Table Rock Lake historically supported some of the highest bass densities and for many years was one of the top ten bass lakes in the nation. While it remains one of the country’s most popular fishing destinations, improved conservation measures will support largemouth and small mouth bass, America’s number one game fish. With Bass Pro Shop’s support, a variety of fish habitat enhancements will be considered, such as restoring vegetation to shorelines and constructing natural structures for fish to find cover and food. Improvements will benefit recreational fishing and water quality at Table Rock as well as downstream to and within Lake Taneycomo.

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(1) I don't know how you can "restore" vegetation to shorelines where the water level rises and falls so much.

(2) "Constructing natural structures for fish to find cover and food" just sounds like more of the Christmas-tree, cedar-tree project that's been done in the past. Brush piles are nice, but I don't think Tablerock is especially hurting for cover. Look at all those flooded trees, including standing cedars! Now, if they really wanted to help fishing, they'd simply keep the water lever high every spring regardless of rainfall.

[Wayne SW/MO]

The water needs to be put where it will really do some good, the feeder streams. The lakes are settling basins for what enters from the various sources.

The big problem is a narrow mentality by too many people about cause and effect. BPS wants all it can get for its buck and knows that too many fishermen will not see the connection unless the money is put on the bank they fish.

When TR was built it was isolated to a large degree and most of the feeders were still clean, that combined with standing timbers produced a lot of Bass, just as BS did. Dropping fish and Cedars won't make up for the damage being done by leaking septic tanks, yard chemicals, chemical spills and road pollution. To take the lake back to its former, they need to take water quality back to something resembling the level 30-40 years ago at least.

[Okiedog]

Table Rock is going to be the "pilot lake" in a new program that is a partnership between industry like Bass Pro, Berkely etc and that National Fish and Game and the Corp that is going to be a massive undertaking that is going to happen nationwide.

Lucky for us Table Rock is going to be the lake that they use to sell the program and use as thier labratory.

It involves hundreds of millions of dollars of many years and it has to do with cover, structure and possibly with as much cash as they have-- fish stockings.

I read about this in the News Leader I think a couple months back, but I might have read it in a In-Fisherman, or Bassmasters or something like that.

[vacation]

I have not heard BP stocking any fish, it will be interesting to see how they handle 'test' boat drivers hitting debris at times.

[MoCarp]

it may be some new prefab fish attracting structure--for lack of a term concrete trees

as far as other things--waste water treatment and or rural water developements

I can't see much more unless its a lake shore property by outs

by it being vague makes me suspect

Mo

[Bill Babler]

Talked to some folks, that were in the know, after this weeks meeting at Big Cedar.

This IS NOT A FISH STOCKING PROGRAM AND WILL NOT OR EVER WILL BE ON TABLEROCK LAKE!

This is a program for structure inhancement. This will mean absolutely nothing to this fishery. The only contributing factor to a better bass fishery is recruitment of spawn. The structure will mean nothing. It may concentrate fish in some locations, but no gaurantee of that either.

Lake levels maintained during and after the spawn, and as many females spawning as we can get is what will help this fishery.

Forage and cover are not the problem.

What this boils down to is lots of pub.

[vacation]

I hope you all arent serious about the Branson Landing project as reference to fish structure=) The Landing is a great addition to our community, I undertand certain concerns about fishing on Taneycomo b/c of the Landing but lets remember the lake is a gift to us all and lets not be selfish. The Landing will also provide great revenue for us ALL. More money in our pockets means better bass boats and more equipment!!