Table Rock Lake Cover Restoration Project

[Bill Babler]

Very informative meeting last night held at the MDC Hatchery. This meeting was by invitation only and used as an advisory meeting to both educate, and solicite information from resort owners, marina owners, guides and MDC officials.

Shane Bush, Fisheries Biologist presided over the meeting with his superior in charge of the Fishery, Matt Mauch in attendance, along with representives from the Corp.

Shane will be running the barge and placing the trees. Quite an impressive piece of equipment. Materials for deposit in the lake will consist of both limbed brush, cedars, boulders and stumps.

These materials will be provided by the Corp to a small extent, independent contractors and lake area developers, and harvested trees from MDC properties.

Much thought has gone into this project and I was truly impressed by both Shane and Matt. Extremely fine young men, dedicated to make this 5 year project work. It will be a learn as you go project and I believe within a year or two we may see some fine benifits.

The guides to a T all stated that this project should be geared for the general fishing public, and that all of the structure should be easily found by area guests.

Structure placement should for the most part be designated for the improvement of shoreline cover to increase recruitment by all the pan fish spieces. Crappie and Largemouth in the river systems being the most targeted fish.

Placing structure in areas that are traditional fish holding areas where it has been in the past, and that are proven areas will be targeted very heavy.

I really believe in this method, as it goes back to the old addage, that 90 percent of the fish are in 10 percent of the water.

To try and add structure to main lake clear deep water areas that usually don't hold fish would be folly and just a waste of time and money.

Cedars and limbed brush will be targeted for shoreline habitat. Running the piles in either wind rows shallow to deep or by placing multiple piles on points, channel swings and secondary locations.

Boulders, and stumps will be targeted in the clear water main lake area as smallmouth holding locations on gravel flats and roll-offs.

By no means is the placement of structure set-in-stone. If you have ideas or areas that you would like to see targeted, get in touch with either Matt or Shane. If would be best if you had a reason and could give a very detailed argument on why you believe the area needs structure.

For the most part, they know where to put the cover, but are very receptive to suggestions.

Other areas of interest mentioned was water quality, with plans in the works to help cut down on nutriants entering the water from the James River Water Shed. Also bank erosion in the same area, allowing silt to filter in from the agriculture properties up the James.

I believe this can be a very good thing for the area as long as we can keep the corporate sponsors from dictating the project. There are some strong political influences here, with lots of promises and commitments that need to be honored.

As you all know, sometimes they are, but most of the time, after the big splash and interest fades a might, funds seem to dry up and other new topics come to the front. There are several projects to be addressed here and for any to really do any good, I am worried about the allotment of resources, ie money.

We'll see, I'm all for it as it was presented.

[J.E.]

Great info Bill, keep the light shinning on this.

[CMAC]

Hopefully, this project will help improve the largemouth populations. I am all for it, providing the intentions are pure.

[Rolan Duffield]

Bill: Thanks for the report and keeping us informed.

Seems as though there should be a lot of discarded christmas trees that could be used for the project after Christmas. Those would be free structure for many areas.

Rolan