The Hatch

Joined
Aug 23, 2002
Messages
16
Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery <br />Lake Taneycomo will be getting 52,500 rainbows in March, up from 38,500 in February. We are scheduled to get about 21,000 of those from the federal hatchery at Neosho and the rest from Shepherd of the Hills. Taneycomo did get a load of brood stock rainbows in mid-February of about 200. They were spread out from Ozark Beach up to Taneycomo Terrace, just above Branson. We haven't seen any caught as of today. We are also scheduled to get another load sometime in March. <br /><br />Minimum Flow <br /><br />I reported last month that MDC has put increasing the minimum flow below Table Rock Dam back on the front burner. I also reported that MDC had assigned a guy name Del Rob to work on the project. Since then I've found out the following information on the issue. <br /><br />First alittle background information for those who are newcommers to the TTT. Increasing the minimum flow on Lake Taneycomo would mean just that- increasing the flow from the dam from when the water is "off". When the water is "off" there is still water flowing from the dam- but very little. If you've fished the extreme upper end by the hatchery outlets, there is almost always a slight current. At the rebar hole (Lake Map), there is a rush of water at the shoot. Increasing the flow would increase the level and the speed of this flow considerably. Why? The objective it to cover more gravel with water, to increase the ability to harvest more aquatic life- food for our trout. The study would tell MDC at what level of increase would give them the best optimum results- 12 inches? 18 inches? And then translate that into cfs (cubic feet per second). Right now, at minimum flow we get about 50 cfs of water. <br /><br />Why is it such a big deal to get changed? First we are working with government- on all sides. The US Army Corp of Engineers are the operators of the dam facility, Southwest Power Administration tells the Corp how to run the dam (brokers the power) and the Missouri Department of Conservation is generating the study that will request the Corp and SPA to change their operating proceedures. Simple?! Not hardly!! Now throw into the picture Arkansas State Fish and Game Commission and the rest of the tailwaters in the White River system. They have to be included in the plans because the addtional water we are requesting has to come from Arkansas and return to Arkansas. And Arkansas F&G is trying to do the same thing below their dams- at Beaver and Bull Shoals. They reportedly have their "ducks in a row" and are waiting on MDC to finish their studies so everyone can proceed. <br /><br />Concern citizens here in Taney County been talking "minimum flow" for years- local groups like Friends of Lake Taneycomo have been pushing for change for over a decade with very little result. We were told at a public meeting five years ago (SPA, DNR, MDC, US Corp) that we (local business people and fishermen) were lucky to have any sort of consideration from SPA or the Corp because according to the law, they (SPA and the Corp) didn't have to give us anything (speaking about the low levels of oxygen in the fall months in the tailwaters. The Corp and SPA fund a program that injects liquid o2 into our tailwater. If they didn't, almost everything in the tailwater would die from lack of oxygen, including ALL fish). It's true, by law, government controled hydro facilities priority list reads as follows: <br /> 1. Flood Control. <br /> 2. Power Demand. <br /> 3. Recreation and Wildlife. <br />"If we wanted changes, we (the public) would have to fund them." That would involve millions of dollars at that time. But since then, environmental groups in other parts of the country have won court cases in which dam operators were found to be responsible for damage to the envionment either below or above the dam. And the dam operators are responsible for fixing it- even if it means removing the dam, which has happened out west- I think Oregon. Thus, enities like SPA and the Corp have warmed up to the idea of working with state governments to enhance enviornmental issues like low DO (dissolved oxygen) and minimum flow. <br /><br />So this issue of increasing our minimum flow is now a reality. The Corp and SPA has shown they are willing to look at solutions and it will cost them. Increasing the minimum flow below any of these dams will not be easy for the Corp. Just increasing the flow using the existing turbines will cause unusual wear and tear on the units so I'm sure they are looking for alternative ways to provide water for this. And the simple fact is that this water is money for SPA and the Corp- they really don't want to just let it thru without benefiting from its use. <br /><br />We have been told now that it'll be at least a year before MDC finishes their results on minimum flow. May be that's the light at the end of the tunnell- we'll see. <br /> <br />I hope you will come and join us....And please bring your own women and beer!
 

naughtybynature

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 3, 2002
Messages
187
Re: The Hatch

hey pheonix, the rainbow trout is an incredible species of fish. i spend most weekends from spring to fall casting a fly for these beautiful fish. my record to date is 3 pounds. the lake that my cabin is on is not very big so i'm pretty proud of that fish. what method of fishing do you use to catch the mighty rainbow? this is sure to start a pissin match but don't you think that the rainbow is much better looking and tasting than those bass thingies you americans are so obsessed about? i always laugh when i watch tnn and see those guys in their bass boats, they hook this little fish and jerk and convulse like the fish is a whale trying to pull them into the lake! i saw this one guy pull the bass from about 15 ft from the boat and it flew right out of the water and into his boat. what's up with that? are bass that strong? i regularly catch 30+ pound coho, sockeye and spring salmon and those powerful fish that take upwards of an hour to land. you won't find any of our locals puttin on a show like that. fill me in. there must be somethin about bass fishing that makes you guys so crazy!
 

ehenry

Commander
Joined
Jan 6, 2002
Messages
2,393
Re: The Hatch

Hey Moose, why don'tyou eat bass just curious?? I've never eaten walleye mainly because we don't have any down here. Crappie and catfish are good too.
 

495v

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 13, 2002
Messages
432
Re: The Hatch

Eating bass is a cardinal sign. Besides, it does not taste all that good. At least not like Walleye, crappie, and perch. About the only bass I will eat is Sea Bass.
 

ehenry

Commander
Joined
Jan 6, 2002
Messages
2,393
Re: The Hatch

What makes eating a large mouth bass a cardinal sin? I've seen catch and release practiced on a number of lakes. NO bass ever removed and it resulted in an over populated impoundment with no fish of any size. We have a slot limit on our 110 acre lake and we consistantly catch quality fish. If the fish is in the slot it is released. Above or below the slot may be kept. I guess its personal preference on what type fish you like to eat. Say what you want to but grilled large mouth filets are fine!!!
 

trollhole

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 19, 2001
Messages
423
Re: The Hatch

Well I will have to say I fish for everything and anything in South Carolina lakes catfish, perch, crappie, large mouth, stripers, hybrids, brown and rainbow trout. I will say I have cooked my share of all of them and as far as taste a brown or rainbow trout beats them all hands down. There is no comparison. Hey guys if you get a chance to come down this way this winter look me up love to have a partner to go trolling for trout. It's a blast! :D
 

naughtybynature

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 3, 2002
Messages
187
Re: The Hatch

sorry moose, forgot about this thread, to clean a moose... i mean trout i gut it, and cut the head off. leave tail on. now put pan on stove or campfire and get it good and hot with a fair amount of oil in it. i like to batter the trout in flour with sesoning, or chake and bake will do as well. make sure you get the batter inside the fish too. fry it up on high till the meat starts to flake off. when you do it this way the meat should just fall off the bones. i know i did it right when i have a full tummy and a complete trout skeleton on my plate. luv it! of course a fine canadian beer compliments a good trout cook up.
 
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