Missouri, Arkansas team up to tackle water quality
Keeping water clean is a key component of attracting lakes-area visitors
As president of Upper White River Basin Partnership, John Moore has long been a proponent of the Bi-State Water Agreement now in place. Missouri and Arkansas share the water resources of the basin.
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by Jeremy Elwood - Reporter
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Water quality and quantity are among the most important environmental issues in the Ozarks - and not just for drinking.
Missouri and Arkansas are working together to protect their shared resources in the White River Basin, which runs from Arkansas into Missouri and back into Arkansas and includes the James River.
The White River also is the source of three manmade reservoirs: Lake Taneycomo, Table Rock Lake and Bull Shoals Lake.
Protecting water quality is particularly important for Branson-area resorts that tap into those waters to offer amenities to visitors.
The area touts more than 200 lodging facilities with nearly 19,000 rooms, and many of those have direct access to waterfront property, according to the Branson/Lakes Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. The CVB also notes that visitor polls show more than 40 percent of visitors to the area participate in lake or other water activities during their visit.
It's those numbers that make water quality so important to area businesses.
"It's our livelihood," said John Vreeland, owner of Trout Hollow Lodge on Lake Taneycomo. "People come to visit us because of our unique location on the side of a clean lake that is conducive to trout. If water quality deteriorated, people would be less likely to show up."
Spirit of cooperation
In November, the governors of the two states signed the Bi-State Water Agreement, which pledges that the two states will cooperate on issues involving the water resources the two states share.
John Moore, president of the Upper White River Basin Partnership, said his group is among those that has been pushing for years for such an agreement.
"Our foundation has worked on this for several years, and we brought it into pretty tight focus about a year ago with a letter signed by all our trustees to then-Gov. Matt Blunt and Gov. Mike Beebe," Moore said.
It is unclear what impact the agreement will have on economic development and the business environment in the two states, as the agreement doesn't spell out specific steps the two states will be taking in the future through their respective natural resource departments.
Several business owners on area lakes said improved standards would be beneficial.
"If people don't keep shorelines clean, you get tons and tons of debris in the water - not only debris like limbs and trees, but garbage," said Lamar Patton, owner of Scotty's Dock and Marina on Lake Taneycomo. "We're all supposed to be good stewards on the lake, and that's what we try to do, but just when you think you've been amazed by what people will throw in the water, then you see something else that's even worse."
Vreeland of Trout Hollow Lodge is particularly concerned about being a good steward of water quality, especially since water quality seems to have declined in recent months.
"We've been here since 2003, and with these recent floods, the water used to be substantially cleaner than this," he said. "When we pull our boats out of the water they're coated in some kind of brown product. We hope it will clear up over time to what it was in past years."
He added that the trout don't seem to have been affected, though fish often take a long time to show effects from changes in water quality.
Indirect effect
Along with the direct impact on companies such as Patton's, Moore said the partnership could have indirect positive effects on the business community as a whole.
"By having the states working together to address regulatory issues, there would be consistency in standards and regulatory issues between the two states," Moore said. "Second, it could be beneficial indirectly because by talking and working together, we minimize the potential for disagreements or litigation, and a climate where there isn't a lot of litigation and people are doing business is a plus."
Missouri Department of Natural Resources agrees that cleaner water will benefit businesses in both states, despite any potential cost increases tied to more stringent water standards.
The two states will likely look at issues such as projected population growth and its impact on water demand and the maximum pollution amounts that could go into waterways and still meet safety standards.
"In general, better water quality in the Ozarks and a better understanding of and increased availability of water quantity are bedrocks of the economic engines that drive that area," said Kerry Cordray, DNR spokesman. He noted that improved quality of life will attract businesses.
"The lakes benefit, the streams benefit from greater understanding of the resource and a cooperative approach to keeping those resources lively and available and clean," he added.
Moore added that even if standards are tightened as a result of the partnership, the effect will likely be felt less on the Missouri side of the border.
"What we might see is a tightening of some effluence standards, making them consistent for people on both sides of the line," he said. "Missouri has generally had a little bit tighter standards, so there might be more impact on the Arkansas side."
For example, Missouri and Arkansas both limit fecal coliform bacteria to 400 parts per 100 mL during the peak effluence season, but the two states define peak season differently; Missouri's peak season last April through October, while Arkansas' season lasts only May through September.
Regardless of what comes from the agreement, dock owner Patton said any improvement would help - both for lakeside businesses and residents who want to enjoy the natural resources available in the area.
"A farmer makes his living on the field, and he's not going to do anything to mess up his field," Patton said. "Anything we do in our business, we try to make sure we're good stewards of the resources that we have. We try to take the time to make sure we clean up whenever we can and make sure our business practices are those of a good neighbor on the lake."
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Browns & Rainbows
Published Date: 11 May 2009
Week Ending - Saturday 9th May 2009
This Week :
Browns : 1
Weight : 5lbs 2ozs
Av Weight : 5lbs 2ozs
Largest : 5lbs 2ozs
Rainbows : 724
Weight : 1878lbs 13ozs
Av Weight : 2lbs 9ozs
Largest : 8lbs 11ozs
No of Visits : 371
Total Catch : 725
Av Catch per Angler : 1.95
This Season :
Largest Brown : 11lbs 2ozs
Largest Rainbow : 13lbs 8ozs
No of Visits : 2867
Total Catch : 9741
Av Weight : 2lbs 7ozs
Av Catch per Angler Visit : 3.4
Comments :
Raging south westerlies have made for an uncomfortable time and depressed catches.
However the deep lures have worked from the boats for some and a few from the bank have done well taking some top quality fish again from the deeper water near Draycote Dam.
Mr Geoff Lomasney of Rugby took four rainbows from the bank weighing 17lbs 4ozs and he returned another four. All came from Draycote Dam on a Rouse's Buzzer. Mr John Dews of Solihull banked three for 13lbs 8ozs including one at 6lbs 8ozs. Mr John Salisbury of Warwick took one at 6lbs 9ozs from the bank. And best fish of the week was an 8lbs 11ozs rainbow also from the bank to Mr Tony Harris on a Cats Whisker. He took eight in total weighing 24lbs 00ozs.
Nuneaton bank angler Mr Bob Griffiths took a brown weighing 5lbs 2ozs.
From the boats Mr John Ryder of Solihull returned a brown of 4lbs 00ozs and Mr Paul Beasley of Bedworth put one back at 7lbs 10ozs, he had another seven fish weighing 25lbs 4ozs.
Best eight fish limit was 29lbs 4ozs to Mr John Dobbie of West Haddon, Mr Steve Brown of Long Lawford weighed in eight for 26lbs 12ozs, Mr Eric Whale of Coventry had seven for 24lbs 11ozs, Mr John Clifford of Malmesbury took six fish for 22lbs 00ozs and Mr Ron Blackwell of Leicester took five for 20lbs 8ozs.
Mr Wayne Killian of Frankton had a rainbow weighing 7lbs 4ozs. Mr Ken Maplethorpe, Mr Roger Bemrose, Mr Mike Edkins, Mr John Dobbie and Mr John Clifford all had rainbows over six pounds.
Enquiries to : Fishing Lodge, Draycote Water, Kites Hardwick, Rugby. CV23 8AB
Telephone : 01788 - 812018 Fax : 01788 - 815711
Week Ending - Saturday 9th May 2009
This Week :
Browns : 1
Weight : 5lbs 2ozs
Av Weight : 5lbs 2ozs
Largest : 5lbs 2ozs
Rainbows : 724
Weight : 1878lbs 13ozs
Av Weight : 2lbs 9ozs
Largest : 8lbs 11ozs
No of Visits : 371
Total Catch : 725
Av Catch per Angler : 1.95
This Season :
Largest Brown : 11lbs 2ozs
Largest Rainbow : 13lbs 8ozs
No of Visits : 2867
Total Catch : 9741
Av Weight : 2lbs 7ozs
Av Catch per Angler Visit : 3.4
Comments :
Raging south westerlies have made for an uncomfortable time and depressed catches.
However the deep lures have worked from the boats for some and a few from the bank have done well taking some top quality fish again from the deeper water near Draycote Dam.
Mr Geoff Lomasney of Rugby took four rainbows from the bank weighing 17lbs 4ozs and he returned another four. All came from Draycote Dam on a Rouse's Buzzer. Mr John Dews of Solihull banked three for 13lbs 8ozs including one at 6lbs 8ozs. Mr John Salisbury of Warwick took one at 6lbs 9ozs from the bank. And best fish of the week was an 8lbs 11ozs rainbow also from the bank to Mr Tony Harris on a Cats Whisker. He took eight in total weighing 24lbs 00ozs.
Nuneaton bank angler Mr Bob Griffiths took a brown weighing 5lbs 2ozs.
From the boats Mr John Ryder of Solihull returned a brown of 4lbs 00ozs and Mr Paul Beasley of Bedworth put one back at 7lbs 10ozs, he had another seven fish weighing 25lbs 4ozs.
Best eight fish limit was 29lbs 4ozs to Mr John Dobbie of West Haddon, Mr Steve Brown of Long Lawford weighed in eight for 26lbs 12ozs, Mr Eric Whale of Coventry had seven for 24lbs 11ozs, Mr John Clifford of Malmesbury took six fish for 22lbs 00ozs and Mr Ron Blackwell of Leicester took five for 20lbs 8ozs.
Mr Wayne Killian of Frankton had a rainbow weighing 7lbs 4ozs. Mr Ken Maplethorpe, Mr Roger Bemrose, Mr Mike Edkins, Mr John Dobbie and Mr John Clifford all had rainbows over six pounds.
Enquiries to : Fishing Lodge, Draycote Water, Kites Hardwick, Rugby. CV23 8AB
Telephone : 01788 - 812018 Fax : 01788 - 815711
Monday, May 11, 2009
Rainbows on the River
By Vic Attardo, On the Outdoors
Lehigh River guide Paul Davidson holds a fat rainbow trout, the size the river will often offer hard-working anglers. Photo by Vic Attardo
This rainbow must have been a fan of track and field, specifically the long jump.
When Paul Davidson hooked the trout in a fast run of the Lehigh River, instead of taking off downstream like 99 out of 100 rainbows will do, this one came upstream. And as it came towards Davidson's driftboat, it made a series of horizontal leaps over the surface that were all of four or five feet long from point of departure to point of landing.
But before Davidson could retrieve enough line to catch up to the steaming, screaming fish, it was long jumping by the side of the boat where, like a track star, it must have dug its heals into the bottom because the line caught around a rock and the rainbow athlete got off.
For a few seconds, Davidson and I stood in the 16-foot long high-hulled driftboat in mild shock. It had been a big fish.
I don't know who spoke first but one of us said, "Did you see that?" Then another said, "My gosh, that was incredable."
"Holy Cannoli," Davidson said, and I'm sure it was him who said that because though I think cannolis are really good and a great one might be worthy of sainthood, that's not a phrase I use. "Holy Cannoli," Davidson said again.
Despite losing that particular fish, it was one of those days you pray for on the Lehigh River. Guide Davidson (610-379-5469) and I smoked them. Changing some pronouns on Julius Caesar — who I doubt invented cannoli — "We came, we saw, we conquered."
Together the guide and I landed between 15 and 18 fat healthy trout, the best number I think we've ever landed together on the Lehigh. Also we had strikes from, or slightly hooked, or fought and lost, near again that many. The action was terrific so Davidson got to say, "Holy Cannoli" a lot.
And that was something in itself because when we started the day, Davidson was skeptical we'd do anything at all. He had just had a lousy outing two days before, and the morning was a cloudless, warm one with all the makings of a burnt cannoli shell without its delicious cheese filling.
But I wasn't skeptical at all because I recognized this weather as the third day of a stable pattern with a front scheduled to blow in by evening. I've seen these third-day patterns before in bass, trout, stripper, crappie and even sea robin fishing, and I know the last day can be good. Also I knew that on the third day, despite all otherwise logic, the best fishing will take place in the middle of the afternoon. In the evening, the fish will most likely turn off because they've probably had their fill of cannolis, but that is hours away.
And guess what? That's what happened. We had a terrific bite starting about 11 o'clock continuing to about 4:30, and just when all the fishing books say we should have enjoyed an evening of the freshest, richest pastry, the baker went home refusing to make anything else. But we didn't care, we also had our fill.
Still, you should know that you can't have a Holy Cannoli day without proper ingredients, and on this day it was a mixture of flies and lures.
On the fly rod, we used double rigs. Mine consisted of a yellow and brown Wooly Bugger — and excellent Lehigh River color — with either a Flashback Pheasant Tail or a green, copper wire beaded caddis pupa. Davidson also used a flashy Wooly Bugger and a caddis pupa.
For lures, I threw a yellow Crickhopper for one or two fish and we both tossed a bunch of Rebel stickbaits. Davidson used a two-and-a-quarter inch rainbow-pattern Tracdown Minnow while I went with a four-and-a-half inch purple/chartreuse Holographic Minnow, another bait I've discovered to be a Lehigh River killer.
In my estimation, stickbaits are the unsung tool for big-water trout fishing. While I most enjoy using the fly rod, when I get into water over seven-feet deep with a current that turns fly line into overcooked spaghetti, I reach for the spinning outfit and a big stick.
The Lehigh, with a temperature of 57 F. in the morning and 60 degrees by noon, was so clear you could see the good-luck pennies on the bottom. Under these conditions I had a lot of confidence in the flashy wobbling of the Holographic Minnow, but I still had to figure out a trick before I really started hooking fish.
As we drifted downstream in late morning, I saw two or three trout charge at the lure, even swim with it, but I couldn't connect. Disappointing.
Then one rainbow followed the bait across the Lehigh all the way to the side of the boat. I could see it as clear as day and was surprised the fish didn't notice us and take off. But this 'bow was so in love with the bait that it came right on, swiping and trying to catch the fake meal but being unsuccessful. With the bait and the hot bow right at the boat, I suddenly stopped the retrieve and the Rebel dropped back two or three feet in the current whereupon the trout was able to grab it and the fight was on.
Davidson saw the whole show as well.
"Holy Cannoli," he said.
After that, we realized that if we spotted a trout flash at our stickbaits, but without a connection, we'd stop the retrieve, allowing the bait to momentary sink in the current, thus giving the trout its best grabbing chance.
This tactic worked. With the still-stick tactic, 'bows and browns were able to bite some part of the bait. If we were lucky enough, and the fish was unlucky enough, it would get the hook, and the fight was on.
Of course, that initial success didn't mean the trout was landed because, after all, this was the Lehigh and the river doesn't give up its cannolis for free.
Lehigh River guide Paul Davidson holds a fat rainbow trout, the size the river will often offer hard-working anglers. Photo by Vic Attardo
This rainbow must have been a fan of track and field, specifically the long jump.
When Paul Davidson hooked the trout in a fast run of the Lehigh River, instead of taking off downstream like 99 out of 100 rainbows will do, this one came upstream. And as it came towards Davidson's driftboat, it made a series of horizontal leaps over the surface that were all of four or five feet long from point of departure to point of landing.
But before Davidson could retrieve enough line to catch up to the steaming, screaming fish, it was long jumping by the side of the boat where, like a track star, it must have dug its heals into the bottom because the line caught around a rock and the rainbow athlete got off.
For a few seconds, Davidson and I stood in the 16-foot long high-hulled driftboat in mild shock. It had been a big fish.
I don't know who spoke first but one of us said, "Did you see that?" Then another said, "My gosh, that was incredable."
"Holy Cannoli," Davidson said, and I'm sure it was him who said that because though I think cannolis are really good and a great one might be worthy of sainthood, that's not a phrase I use. "Holy Cannoli," Davidson said again.
Despite losing that particular fish, it was one of those days you pray for on the Lehigh River. Guide Davidson (610-379-5469) and I smoked them. Changing some pronouns on Julius Caesar — who I doubt invented cannoli — "We came, we saw, we conquered."
Together the guide and I landed between 15 and 18 fat healthy trout, the best number I think we've ever landed together on the Lehigh. Also we had strikes from, or slightly hooked, or fought and lost, near again that many. The action was terrific so Davidson got to say, "Holy Cannoli" a lot.
And that was something in itself because when we started the day, Davidson was skeptical we'd do anything at all. He had just had a lousy outing two days before, and the morning was a cloudless, warm one with all the makings of a burnt cannoli shell without its delicious cheese filling.
But I wasn't skeptical at all because I recognized this weather as the third day of a stable pattern with a front scheduled to blow in by evening. I've seen these third-day patterns before in bass, trout, stripper, crappie and even sea robin fishing, and I know the last day can be good. Also I knew that on the third day, despite all otherwise logic, the best fishing will take place in the middle of the afternoon. In the evening, the fish will most likely turn off because they've probably had their fill of cannolis, but that is hours away.
And guess what? That's what happened. We had a terrific bite starting about 11 o'clock continuing to about 4:30, and just when all the fishing books say we should have enjoyed an evening of the freshest, richest pastry, the baker went home refusing to make anything else. But we didn't care, we also had our fill.
Still, you should know that you can't have a Holy Cannoli day without proper ingredients, and on this day it was a mixture of flies and lures.
On the fly rod, we used double rigs. Mine consisted of a yellow and brown Wooly Bugger — and excellent Lehigh River color — with either a Flashback Pheasant Tail or a green, copper wire beaded caddis pupa. Davidson also used a flashy Wooly Bugger and a caddis pupa.
For lures, I threw a yellow Crickhopper for one or two fish and we both tossed a bunch of Rebel stickbaits. Davidson used a two-and-a-quarter inch rainbow-pattern Tracdown Minnow while I went with a four-and-a-half inch purple/chartreuse Holographic Minnow, another bait I've discovered to be a Lehigh River killer.
In my estimation, stickbaits are the unsung tool for big-water trout fishing. While I most enjoy using the fly rod, when I get into water over seven-feet deep with a current that turns fly line into overcooked spaghetti, I reach for the spinning outfit and a big stick.
The Lehigh, with a temperature of 57 F. in the morning and 60 degrees by noon, was so clear you could see the good-luck pennies on the bottom. Under these conditions I had a lot of confidence in the flashy wobbling of the Holographic Minnow, but I still had to figure out a trick before I really started hooking fish.
As we drifted downstream in late morning, I saw two or three trout charge at the lure, even swim with it, but I couldn't connect. Disappointing.
Then one rainbow followed the bait across the Lehigh all the way to the side of the boat. I could see it as clear as day and was surprised the fish didn't notice us and take off. But this 'bow was so in love with the bait that it came right on, swiping and trying to catch the fake meal but being unsuccessful. With the bait and the hot bow right at the boat, I suddenly stopped the retrieve and the Rebel dropped back two or three feet in the current whereupon the trout was able to grab it and the fight was on.
Davidson saw the whole show as well.
"Holy Cannoli," he said.
After that, we realized that if we spotted a trout flash at our stickbaits, but without a connection, we'd stop the retrieve, allowing the bait to momentary sink in the current, thus giving the trout its best grabbing chance.
This tactic worked. With the still-stick tactic, 'bows and browns were able to bite some part of the bait. If we were lucky enough, and the fish was unlucky enough, it would get the hook, and the fight was on.
Of course, that initial success didn't mean the trout was landed because, after all, this was the Lehigh and the river doesn't give up its cannolis for free.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Anglers finding lots of trout
Anglers finding lots of trout
By CAPT. TERRY FRANKFORD - Special to The Herald
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tool goes here Anglers aboard the Reelin and Chillin have cleaned up on trout this past couple of weeks. Redfish have also been around, but a few trips we couldn’t find them.
Thank goodness for the trout. A flounder or two have showed up to tighten a line or two as well. A few mackerel are in the bay and are showing up along the beaches if you can get past the windy conditions.
We found the trout on open grass flats in water depth between three and six feet deep. The water surface temperature was between seventy, and seventy-five degrees. I noticed that due to windy conditions we didn’t catch in low visibility waters - I had to get several miles away from the passes to get on the fish.
I used seven-and-a-half foot, medium-action St. Croix rods, Okuma Inspira reels spooled with 10-pound test line. Finally, I used an 18-inch, 20-pound test monofilament leader (Big Game) tied to a No. 4 Owner circle hook.
Three tactics worked at different times:
Ÿ Free line the shrimp, no cork, no weight. Hook the shrimp at the tail end coming up from the bottom first. This will give you more casting distance having the head forward. Set up with the wind behind you, and cast the shrimp high to catch the wind. The farther away from the boat the better.
Ÿ Add a popping cork about three feet up from the shrimp. I prefer the Billy Bay Pop N’ Gurgle style - it’s set up for distance casting. Pop the cork every ten seconds or so to mimic another fish or bird hitting bait on the surface.
Ÿ Add a No. 4 split shot a couple feet up from the hook (no cork), twitching it every now and then.
There is nothing wrong with using live sardines if you can net them. Also, artificials work great. My favorite is the Halo Shrimp also made by Billy Bay. On one trip I had four anglers rigged with two on live shrimp, and two on Halo artificials. The trout caught were even between the two baits with a few mackerel caught on the artificials only.
(Capt. Terry Frankford, Reelin & Chillin Charters Inc., can be reached at 941-228-7802 or e-mail terry.frankford@verizon.net. Web site is www.charterfishingsarasota.com.)
By CAPT. TERRY FRANKFORD - Special to The Herald
Reprint or license
Text Size: tool nameclose
tool goes here Anglers aboard the Reelin and Chillin have cleaned up on trout this past couple of weeks. Redfish have also been around, but a few trips we couldn’t find them.
Thank goodness for the trout. A flounder or two have showed up to tighten a line or two as well. A few mackerel are in the bay and are showing up along the beaches if you can get past the windy conditions.
We found the trout on open grass flats in water depth between three and six feet deep. The water surface temperature was between seventy, and seventy-five degrees. I noticed that due to windy conditions we didn’t catch in low visibility waters - I had to get several miles away from the passes to get on the fish.
I used seven-and-a-half foot, medium-action St. Croix rods, Okuma Inspira reels spooled with 10-pound test line. Finally, I used an 18-inch, 20-pound test monofilament leader (Big Game) tied to a No. 4 Owner circle hook.
Three tactics worked at different times:
Ÿ Free line the shrimp, no cork, no weight. Hook the shrimp at the tail end coming up from the bottom first. This will give you more casting distance having the head forward. Set up with the wind behind you, and cast the shrimp high to catch the wind. The farther away from the boat the better.
Ÿ Add a popping cork about three feet up from the shrimp. I prefer the Billy Bay Pop N’ Gurgle style - it’s set up for distance casting. Pop the cork every ten seconds or so to mimic another fish or bird hitting bait on the surface.
Ÿ Add a No. 4 split shot a couple feet up from the hook (no cork), twitching it every now and then.
There is nothing wrong with using live sardines if you can net them. Also, artificials work great. My favorite is the Halo Shrimp also made by Billy Bay. On one trip I had four anglers rigged with two on live shrimp, and two on Halo artificials. The trout caught were even between the two baits with a few mackerel caught on the artificials only.
(Capt. Terry Frankford, Reelin & Chillin Charters Inc., can be reached at 941-228-7802 or e-mail terry.frankford@verizon.net. Web site is www.charterfishingsarasota.com.)
Thursday, May 7, 2009
2 Day 2009 Olympiad Fly Masters Tournament
LAKE LURE - Sixteen anglers from across North and South Carolina competed in the inaugural 2009 Olympiad Fly Masters Tournament in Lake Lure and Chimney Rock May 2-3.
Gordon Vanderpool of Franklin, won the event, with Paul Thompson of Marion, finishing in second place Walker Parrott of Fletcher, taking third. In the youth division, Dylan Smith of Inman, S.C. took first place.
The two-day competition, hosted by The Granddaddy Fly-Fishing Experience of Lake Lure, began with accuracy and distance casting.
The top 10 finishers on day one moved on to fish the following day on the Upper Rocky Broad River in Chimney Rock.
The two-round fishing portion of the tournament narrowed the top 10 down to five overall finishers. Scores were calculated on the combined lengths of five fish caught during each two-hour timeframe. Many tournaments in Western North Carolina are held on private waters while the areas fished on the Upper Rocky Broad River were all open to the public making that an added challenge for the competitors.
“Fishing on public water was one of the reasons I wanted to compete in this tournament," said Walker Parrott, who with Kevin Howell of Davidson River Outfitters is the National Fly Masters Champion and a member of the North Carolina Fly-Fishing Team. “It’s easy to catch fish on private water.”
Vanderpool, who is also a member of the North Carolina Fly-Fishing Team, was pleased with all aspects of the tournament.
“I just wanted to say thank you to Michael and Michelle Yelton [of The Granddaddy Fly-Fishing Experience] for doing such a wonderful job with this tournament," complimented Vanderpool. "The tournament setting was absolutely beautiful and the fishing was rather challenging. That all made winning this tournament for me a real honor.”
Vanderpool won $500 and a free weekend stay at Firefly Cove’s luxury condo on Lake Lure for his first place finish.
Gordon Vanderpool of Franklin, won the event, with Paul Thompson of Marion, finishing in second place Walker Parrott of Fletcher, taking third. In the youth division, Dylan Smith of Inman, S.C. took first place.
The two-day competition, hosted by The Granddaddy Fly-Fishing Experience of Lake Lure, began with accuracy and distance casting.
The top 10 finishers on day one moved on to fish the following day on the Upper Rocky Broad River in Chimney Rock.
The two-round fishing portion of the tournament narrowed the top 10 down to five overall finishers. Scores were calculated on the combined lengths of five fish caught during each two-hour timeframe. Many tournaments in Western North Carolina are held on private waters while the areas fished on the Upper Rocky Broad River were all open to the public making that an added challenge for the competitors.
“Fishing on public water was one of the reasons I wanted to compete in this tournament," said Walker Parrott, who with Kevin Howell of Davidson River Outfitters is the National Fly Masters Champion and a member of the North Carolina Fly-Fishing Team. “It’s easy to catch fish on private water.”
Vanderpool, who is also a member of the North Carolina Fly-Fishing Team, was pleased with all aspects of the tournament.
“I just wanted to say thank you to Michael and Michelle Yelton [of The Granddaddy Fly-Fishing Experience] for doing such a wonderful job with this tournament," complimented Vanderpool. "The tournament setting was absolutely beautiful and the fishing was rather challenging. That all made winning this tournament for me a real honor.”
Vanderpool won $500 and a free weekend stay at Firefly Cove’s luxury condo on Lake Lure for his first place finish.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Trout Unlimited plans fishing outing
Trout Unlimited plans fishing outing
The Upper Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited presented a fly-tying program at Center Street School in Oneonta on April 6.
Eighty-nine Zonkers were tied, which were sent to the charity Healing Waters, which promotes fly-casting and fly-fishing as therapeutic activities in recovery programs for wounded and disabled veterans.
Healing Waters will use the Zonkers for teaching and in fishing practice. The Zonker is an artificial lure that imitates a small bait fish or minnow.
During April, members of the Upper Susquehanna Chapter of TU and the Otsego County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs joined with local children to assist the state Department of Environmental Conservation in stocking trout in local streams. The creeks where stocking took place included Oaks, Otego, Schenevus, Otsdawa, Wharton and Butternut and Elk Brook. A total of 11,500 8- to 9-inch and 1,240 12- to 15-inch brown trout were released in these streams. Additional trout stocking will be scheduled in May.
The chapter will have its May meeting on Monday, May 11. Members and guests are invited to a fishing outing on the upper Delaware River.
The group will meet in the picnic area of the Covered Bridge Park in Hamden, located across from state Route 10, to fish at various points along the river. The outing will begin at 2:30 p.m. and continue until dusk, with hot dogs grilled at 4:30 p.m. The informal event will proceed rain or shine.
For more information, contact President Jim Lennox at lennoxfam3@verizon.net or 432-7884, or Vice President Dave Plummer at dplummer@stny.rr.com or 563-1978.
The Upper Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited presented a fly-tying program at Center Street School in Oneonta on April 6.
Eighty-nine Zonkers were tied, which were sent to the charity Healing Waters, which promotes fly-casting and fly-fishing as therapeutic activities in recovery programs for wounded and disabled veterans.
Healing Waters will use the Zonkers for teaching and in fishing practice. The Zonker is an artificial lure that imitates a small bait fish or minnow.
During April, members of the Upper Susquehanna Chapter of TU and the Otsego County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs joined with local children to assist the state Department of Environmental Conservation in stocking trout in local streams. The creeks where stocking took place included Oaks, Otego, Schenevus, Otsdawa, Wharton and Butternut and Elk Brook. A total of 11,500 8- to 9-inch and 1,240 12- to 15-inch brown trout were released in these streams. Additional trout stocking will be scheduled in May.
The chapter will have its May meeting on Monday, May 11. Members and guests are invited to a fishing outing on the upper Delaware River.
The group will meet in the picnic area of the Covered Bridge Park in Hamden, located across from state Route 10, to fish at various points along the river. The outing will begin at 2:30 p.m. and continue until dusk, with hot dogs grilled at 4:30 p.m. The informal event will proceed rain or shine.
For more information, contact President Jim Lennox at lennoxfam3@verizon.net or 432-7884, or Vice President Dave Plummer at dplummer@stny.rr.com or 563-1978.
1st Annual Lake Jocassee Trout Tournament
GREENVILLE, SC -- Russ Reynolds of Walhalla, South Carolina, won the 1st annual JocasseeReports.com trout fishing tournament held on Lake Jocassee Saturday, May 2nd 2009 with a 3-fish limit weighing 13 pounds and 5 ounces. Reynolds, a top local fishing guide on Lake Jocassee, won the tournament by trolling a #3 Badcreek Spoon in Rainbow Trout color on 8-pound test line 35-feet below the surface using Walker downriggers.
"The trout fishing on Lake Jocassee has been unbelievable the past few weeks - I expect the trend to continue all summer. The best trout fishing of the year on Jocassee is between April and October", said Reynolds.
"The water-level on Jocassee is back up, and the trout are larger and more aggressive compared to recent years", he went on to say.
Several other competitors brought heavy fish to the weigh-in scales, but none could top Reynolds, who has been fishing Lake Jocassee since the late 1970's. Russ was fishing the tournament with his wife Cindy, and their two bassett hounds, Vinnie and Louie.
Special thanks goes to JocasseeReports.com for running a great tournament, as well as Devil's Fork State Park for hosting the event.
Those interested in fishing with Russ Reynolds on Lake Jocassee are encouraged to visit his website linked below and email him for availability:
Russ Reynolds
www.JocasseeFishing.com
"The trout fishing on Lake Jocassee has been unbelievable the past few weeks - I expect the trend to continue all summer. The best trout fishing of the year on Jocassee is between April and October", said Reynolds.
"The water-level on Jocassee is back up, and the trout are larger and more aggressive compared to recent years", he went on to say.
Several other competitors brought heavy fish to the weigh-in scales, but none could top Reynolds, who has been fishing Lake Jocassee since the late 1970's. Russ was fishing the tournament with his wife Cindy, and their two bassett hounds, Vinnie and Louie.
Special thanks goes to JocasseeReports.com for running a great tournament, as well as Devil's Fork State Park for hosting the event.
Those interested in fishing with Russ Reynolds on Lake Jocassee are encouraged to visit his website linked below and email him for availability:
Russ Reynolds
www.JocasseeFishing.com
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