I meant to post this sooner, but here it is finally.
Deer hunters should be interested in outdoor writer Rob Lowendick's new book "Deer Hunting in Ohio: History, Legends and Trophies." Look for it at major book retailers, search on the web by title or by visiting Rob's website at www.robertoutdoors.com. Click on "Books."
I haven't seen the book yet (I was hoping to see it before posting this), but it sounds like it has sections that would be interesting even if you're not a deer hunter.
Fishing report?
Sorry I haven't posted more recently, but unless you're an ice fisherman, there just hasn't been much to write about. I've heard some saugeye are being caught through the ice at Buckeye Lake and saugeye are also being caught in some spillway waters, but that's been it.
I don't ice fish, and with it as cold as it has been, I don't have any great interest in fishing the open water in spillways or rivers, either.
Instead, I'll take my time and gradually get boat and tackle ready for spring. I haven''t done much yet, but I've been thinking about how to rearrange things in the boat to make finding stuff easier. Of course, first I have to cut down on how much "stuff" is in the boat.
And that's a problem I've been wrestling with for years.
At least it gives me something to do.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
New tournament series
There's not much fishing going on these days, unless you're into ice fishing (which I'm not) or fishing spillways and other open water flows. However, information is emerging about next season's tournaments.
Of note to those interested in tournament circuits, Team Bass Xtreme has added a Muskingum Division to its Buddy Series of tournaments. The division will be directed by Howard Miller, who is familiar to many anglers in the area, and will include events April 16 at Burr Oak Dock 4, May 7 at Buckeye Lake Lieb's Island, June 11 at Dillon reservoir marina ramp, July 9 at the Belpre City Ramp on the Ohio River Aug. 20 on the Muskingum river at Zanesville's Riverside Park and Sept. 10 on the Muskingum River out of the ramp below McConnelsville near the Morgan County Fairgrounds.
For complete information, visit the Team Bass Xtreme website in the links box on this page.
Tournament listings
Another new addition of interest to tournament anglers is )Ohio Bass Angler. this site provides information on opens, circuits and pot tournaments around Ohio. You may even be able to get entry forms on the site. It's worth checking out.
Of note to those interested in tournament circuits, Team Bass Xtreme has added a Muskingum Division to its Buddy Series of tournaments. The division will be directed by Howard Miller, who is familiar to many anglers in the area, and will include events April 16 at Burr Oak Dock 4, May 7 at Buckeye Lake Lieb's Island, June 11 at Dillon reservoir marina ramp, July 9 at the Belpre City Ramp on the Ohio River Aug. 20 on the Muskingum river at Zanesville's Riverside Park and Sept. 10 on the Muskingum River out of the ramp below McConnelsville near the Morgan County Fairgrounds.
For complete information, visit the Team Bass Xtreme website in the links box on this page.
Tournament listings
Another new addition of interest to tournament anglers is )Ohio Bass Angler. this site provides information on opens, circuits and pot tournaments around Ohio. You may even be able to get entry forms on the site. It's worth checking out.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
MWCD shoreline projects
I mentioned before that the reason for some of the extra draw-down at some of the Muskingum Watershed lakes this winter is to control slides or other shoreline erosion. Here's the release MWCD issued to describe what's being done:
Nearly 500 individual sites in need of varying amounts of shoreline improvements have been identified at the reservoirs managed by the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD).
A team of MWCD engineering staff members has been using some innovative mapping and aerial photographic technology to review the 300 total miles of shoreline at the reservoirs and reports that improvements are needed at an estimated 480 locations. The work would cover about 24 miles worth of shoreline at the 10 MWCD lakes.
“The reservoirs in the system of dams and reservoirs in the Muskingum River Watershed are now more than 70 years old and anyone who has taken a boat ride at a lake or views the shorelines from the road can see the effects of eroding shorelines,” said Boris E. Slogar, MWCD chief engineer. “The MWCD has talked for many years about the need to improve its shorelines to protect the benefits of flood-risk management and water conservation that the reservoirs provide in the watershed.
"This technology enables our staff and the public to recognize the urgency to prepare a prioritization plan and begin this important work of stabilizing the shoreline areas.”
The work is scheduled to begin in upcoming weeks as a total of 23 shoreline stabilization projects at four reservoirs estimated to cost around $1.5 million will be handled between December 2010 and April 2011, Slogar said.
Work is scheduled at the following reservoirs this winter:
Atwood Reservoir – 9 projects
Charles Mill Reservoir – 4 projects
Seneca Reservoir – 7 projects
Tappan Reservoir – 2 projects
Work already under way at Pleasant Hill Reservoir will continue, he said.
“A number of these project sites are located near roads or other important sites that eventually could threaten the continued safe access of the highways, bridges or other structures,” Slogar said. “The site at Pleasant Hill Reservoir, which we identified as the highest priority of all of the MWCD reservoirs last year, threatens several homes if it is not addressed.”
The work will be paid for through the MWCD’s funds collected from property owners in the Muskingum River Watershed who receive identified benefits from the Amendment to the Official Plan of the MWCD that calls for maintenance and rehabilitation in the system of flood-reduction and water conservation reservoirs and dams in the region.
Work is expected to be identified, prioritized and handled yearly as part of the ongoing maintenance needs in the reservoirs, which originally were constructed in the 1930s and have been suffering from the effects of normal erosion for many years.
Much of the information used in the MWCD’s review of the eroded shorelines came through updated aerial imagery that was produced earlier this year.
“This imagery assisted our staff in reviewing all aspects of these sites, and it was completed in a timely manner to provide us with up-to-date data for planning purposes,” Slogar said.
A total cost estimate for all of the 480 identified sites has not been developed, he said.
The MWCD, a political subdivision of the state, was organized in 1933 to develop and implement a plan to reduce flooding and conserve water for beneficial public uses in the Muskingum River Basin, the largest wholly contained watershed in Ohio. Since their construction, the reservoirs and dams in the MWCD region have been credited for saving more than $8 billion worth of potential property damage from flooding, according to the federal government. The reservoirs are managed by the MWCD and the dams are managed for flood-risk management by the federal U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
For more information about the MWCD, visit www.mwcd.org
Nearly 500 individual sites in need of varying amounts of shoreline improvements have been identified at the reservoirs managed by the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD).
A team of MWCD engineering staff members has been using some innovative mapping and aerial photographic technology to review the 300 total miles of shoreline at the reservoirs and reports that improvements are needed at an estimated 480 locations. The work would cover about 24 miles worth of shoreline at the 10 MWCD lakes.
“The reservoirs in the system of dams and reservoirs in the Muskingum River Watershed are now more than 70 years old and anyone who has taken a boat ride at a lake or views the shorelines from the road can see the effects of eroding shorelines,” said Boris E. Slogar, MWCD chief engineer. “The MWCD has talked for many years about the need to improve its shorelines to protect the benefits of flood-risk management and water conservation that the reservoirs provide in the watershed.
"This technology enables our staff and the public to recognize the urgency to prepare a prioritization plan and begin this important work of stabilizing the shoreline areas.”
The work is scheduled to begin in upcoming weeks as a total of 23 shoreline stabilization projects at four reservoirs estimated to cost around $1.5 million will be handled between December 2010 and April 2011, Slogar said.
Work is scheduled at the following reservoirs this winter:
Atwood Reservoir – 9 projects
Charles Mill Reservoir – 4 projects
Seneca Reservoir – 7 projects
Tappan Reservoir – 2 projects
Work already under way at Pleasant Hill Reservoir will continue, he said.
“A number of these project sites are located near roads or other important sites that eventually could threaten the continued safe access of the highways, bridges or other structures,” Slogar said. “The site at Pleasant Hill Reservoir, which we identified as the highest priority of all of the MWCD reservoirs last year, threatens several homes if it is not addressed.”
The work will be paid for through the MWCD’s funds collected from property owners in the Muskingum River Watershed who receive identified benefits from the Amendment to the Official Plan of the MWCD that calls for maintenance and rehabilitation in the system of flood-reduction and water conservation reservoirs and dams in the region.
Work is expected to be identified, prioritized and handled yearly as part of the ongoing maintenance needs in the reservoirs, which originally were constructed in the 1930s and have been suffering from the effects of normal erosion for many years.
Much of the information used in the MWCD’s review of the eroded shorelines came through updated aerial imagery that was produced earlier this year.
“This imagery assisted our staff in reviewing all aspects of these sites, and it was completed in a timely manner to provide us with up-to-date data for planning purposes,” Slogar said.
A total cost estimate for all of the 480 identified sites has not been developed, he said.
The MWCD, a political subdivision of the state, was organized in 1933 to develop and implement a plan to reduce flooding and conserve water for beneficial public uses in the Muskingum River Basin, the largest wholly contained watershed in Ohio. Since their construction, the reservoirs and dams in the MWCD region have been credited for saving more than $8 billion worth of potential property damage from flooding, according to the federal government. The reservoirs are managed by the MWCD and the dams are managed for flood-risk management by the federal U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
For more information about the MWCD, visit www.mwcd.org
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tournaments shaping up
Some more tournament information for next spring is already coming in.
First, Robin Cross will begin the Tuesday evening tournaments at Buckeye Lake on April 12. they will begin at 5:30 p.m. out of the North Shore ramp, with registration at 5 p.m. As in 2010, cost will be $10 per person, free for anglers 15 and under. If you have questions, contact Robin Cross at rccrossbass@yahoo.com or call him at 740-438-2782.
Robin has also scheduled an open tournament at Buckeye on May 21. Hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the entry fee is $100 per team in advance or $120 at the ramp. Again, contact Robin at the above address or e-mail and I'm sure entry forms will be at local bait and tackle shops.
I earlier reported the tentative club schedules for Southern Ohio Bassmasters and Cranberry Marsh Bass Club. As usual, some changes are in the works. I'll wait to report the club schedules when they are completed, but I will note now that the Chuck Murrey Memorial sponsored by the Southern Ohio Club will be on May 8 instead of May 15
First, Robin Cross will begin the Tuesday evening tournaments at Buckeye Lake on April 12. they will begin at 5:30 p.m. out of the North Shore ramp, with registration at 5 p.m. As in 2010, cost will be $10 per person, free for anglers 15 and under. If you have questions, contact Robin Cross at rccrossbass@yahoo.com or call him at 740-438-2782.
Robin has also scheduled an open tournament at Buckeye on May 21. Hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the entry fee is $100 per team in advance or $120 at the ramp. Again, contact Robin at the above address or e-mail and I'm sure entry forms will be at local bait and tackle shops.
I earlier reported the tentative club schedules for Southern Ohio Bassmasters and Cranberry Marsh Bass Club. As usual, some changes are in the works. I'll wait to report the club schedules when they are completed, but I will note now that the Chuck Murrey Memorial sponsored by the Southern Ohio Club will be on May 8 instead of May 15
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Ending and beginning
November has been a disappointing end to the 2010 fishing season for me. I've only been out three times this month, despite the reasonably good weather, and caught only one fish -- a nice white bass on the Muskingum River Nov. 13. A trip to Rush Creek Nov. 10 with Lindsey produced nothing for either of us, although I had a couple bites. My results Nov. 7 at Dillon have already been chronicled.
It's possible I may get out again, but I'm not counting on it.
But November os also a time to get ready for next year, as clubs and circuits begin setting their tournament schedules for next season.
Cranberry Marsh Bass Club met Thursday evening to approve its 2011 schedule, which has been increased to eight tournaments. I don 't know if they made any changes, but their tentative schedule was:
April 17 -- Buckeye Lake
May 1 -- Pleasant Hill
May 15 -- Alum Creek
June 12 -- Dillon
June 26 -- Alum Creek
July 17 -- O'Shaughnessy
Aug. 14. -- Muskingum River Riverside
Sept. 4 -- Delaware
Sept. 24-25 -- Classic (to be determined)
The annual Pete Taylor Open will be on May 7.
Cranberry was also to elect officers Thursday, but I haven't heard who was elected.
Southern Ohio Bassmaster met Sunday to set a schedule. Pending permit approval, the 10 regular tournaments will be:
April 23 -- Burr Oak
May 1 -- Piedmont
May 14 -- Buckeye
May 22 -- Delaware
June 18 -- Charles Mill
June 26 -- Pleasant Hill
July 9 -- Ohio River Powhaten Point
Aug. 21 -- Muskingum River Fairgrounds Ramp (below McConnelsville)
Sept. 10 -- Dillon
Oct. 2 -- Tappan
Oct. 15 and 16 -- Classic (to be determined)
The Chuck Murrey Memorial Open is tentatively being move up to May 15 at Dillon.
Southern Ohio's next meeting wil be in late January, when we get permits back, and to elect officers.
Both clubs have an interesting proposal on the table. That is, at the end of the season, to allow members to deduct one tournament from their results. In the case of Cranberry, that would mean a the end of the season, point totals would be based on the members' top seven results. For SOuthern Ohio, it would mean counting nine tournaments.
The main practical result would be that a member could miss one tournament and not have it hurt him at the end of the year. Over the course of a year, a lot of things can happen to cause someone to miss a tournament.
On the other hand, it could make some differences in the final standings, but how much? I don't think it would have helped me in this season's standings, but I can envision situations where it could.
It's possible I may get out again, but I'm not counting on it.
But November os also a time to get ready for next year, as clubs and circuits begin setting their tournament schedules for next season.
Cranberry Marsh Bass Club met Thursday evening to approve its 2011 schedule, which has been increased to eight tournaments. I don 't know if they made any changes, but their tentative schedule was:
April 17 -- Buckeye Lake
May 1 -- Pleasant Hill
May 15 -- Alum Creek
June 12 -- Dillon
June 26 -- Alum Creek
July 17 -- O'Shaughnessy
Aug. 14. -- Muskingum River Riverside
Sept. 4 -- Delaware
Sept. 24-25 -- Classic (to be determined)
The annual Pete Taylor Open will be on May 7.
Cranberry was also to elect officers Thursday, but I haven't heard who was elected.
Southern Ohio Bassmaster met Sunday to set a schedule. Pending permit approval, the 10 regular tournaments will be:
April 23 -- Burr Oak
May 1 -- Piedmont
May 14 -- Buckeye
May 22 -- Delaware
June 18 -- Charles Mill
June 26 -- Pleasant Hill
July 9 -- Ohio River Powhaten Point
Aug. 21 -- Muskingum River Fairgrounds Ramp (below McConnelsville)
Sept. 10 -- Dillon
Oct. 2 -- Tappan
Oct. 15 and 16 -- Classic (to be determined)
The Chuck Murrey Memorial Open is tentatively being move up to May 15 at Dillon.
Southern Ohio's next meeting wil be in late January, when we get permits back, and to elect officers.
Both clubs have an interesting proposal on the table. That is, at the end of the season, to allow members to deduct one tournament from their results. In the case of Cranberry, that would mean a the end of the season, point totals would be based on the members' top seven results. For SOuthern Ohio, it would mean counting nine tournaments.
The main practical result would be that a member could miss one tournament and not have it hurt him at the end of the year. Over the course of a year, a lot of things can happen to cause someone to miss a tournament.
On the other hand, it could make some differences in the final standings, but how much? I don't think it would have helped me in this season's standings, but I can envision situations where it could.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Two bass win at Dillon
Sunday was probably my last tournament of the year. I hope it won't be the last time fishing before winter.
Each year, Bub Cooksey, owner of Rayco Rent To Own and Bob Mathie, owner of Bob's outdoor supply, sponsor a little friendly pot tournament for the "regulars" that stop at Bob's for talk and coffee many mornings. This year, 10 of us participated. It was a few less than usual, but I think the cold spell that hit Friday kept some away.
The water temperature had dropped below 50 degrees, but we still managed to weigh some bass.
Shaun Majors and Bob Fulks won the contest with two bass weighing 4 pounds, 7 ounces. They also had the big bass of the tournament at 2 pounds, 14 ounces.
Bub Cooksey and Rick McDonald finished second with two bass weighing 3 pounds, 14 ounces; Wayne Hanley and his daughter, Tara, were third with a 2-pound, 4-ounce bass and Tim Majors and Dana Moran were fourth with a 2-pound, 2-ounce fish.
Unfortunately, I didn't put a bass in the boat. When we started in the morning, most of the guys went into Big Run, so I headed up the lake. I eventually made my way up into the river.
Big mistake.
The water was even colder up there and there was northing going on.
I finally wound up in Big Run with about an hour or so of fishing time left and promptly lost what may have been the big bass of the tournament.
I had it on a crankbait and didn't think it was very well hooked, so I reached for the landing net, which was naturally just out of easy reach. I was trying to keep tension on the fish without horsing it, but just as I finally reached the net, it came off.
To make matters worse, a couple casts later I lost the crankbait.
Bub also gave out a special award to the angler who caught the largest fish that wasn't a largemouth or smallmouth. Tara Hanley weighed in a 3-pound, 12-ounce channel cat, but then Jerry Mosman hauled an 11-pound, 3-ounce carp out of his livewell.
"I wanted to get some kind of award," Jerry said.
Jerry won the Cranberry Marh Bass Cub Angler of the Year award this season, but I bet he'll hear more about the carp this winter than he will about the title!
Each year, Bub Cooksey, owner of Rayco Rent To Own and Bob Mathie, owner of Bob's outdoor supply, sponsor a little friendly pot tournament for the "regulars" that stop at Bob's for talk and coffee many mornings. This year, 10 of us participated. It was a few less than usual, but I think the cold spell that hit Friday kept some away.
The water temperature had dropped below 50 degrees, but we still managed to weigh some bass.
Shaun Majors and Bob Fulks won the contest with two bass weighing 4 pounds, 7 ounces. They also had the big bass of the tournament at 2 pounds, 14 ounces.
Bub Cooksey and Rick McDonald finished second with two bass weighing 3 pounds, 14 ounces; Wayne Hanley and his daughter, Tara, were third with a 2-pound, 4-ounce bass and Tim Majors and Dana Moran were fourth with a 2-pound, 2-ounce fish.
Unfortunately, I didn't put a bass in the boat. When we started in the morning, most of the guys went into Big Run, so I headed up the lake. I eventually made my way up into the river.
Big mistake.
The water was even colder up there and there was northing going on.
I finally wound up in Big Run with about an hour or so of fishing time left and promptly lost what may have been the big bass of the tournament.
I had it on a crankbait and didn't think it was very well hooked, so I reached for the landing net, which was naturally just out of easy reach. I was trying to keep tension on the fish without horsing it, but just as I finally reached the net, it came off.
To make matters worse, a couple casts later I lost the crankbait.
Bub also gave out a special award to the angler who caught the largest fish that wasn't a largemouth or smallmouth. Tara Hanley weighed in a 3-pound, 12-ounce channel cat, but then Jerry Mosman hauled an 11-pound, 3-ounce carp out of his livewell.
"I wanted to get some kind of award," Jerry said.
Jerry won the Cranberry Marh Bass Cub Angler of the Year award this season, but I bet he'll hear more about the carp this winter than he will about the title!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
MWCD lake drawdowns
The Muskingum Watershed Conservanc District began drawing Seneca Lake down for the winter on Nov, 1. Drawdowns at five other lakes begin Nov. 15 and the last two begin Dec. 1.
a few lakes will be drawn down further than normal to allow for work over the winter. Atwood, Seneca and Tappan will be lowered 8 feet to allow for shoreline stabilization projects to take place. An ongoing shoreline stabilization project is being addressed at Pleasant Hill, which is als coming down 8 feet.
Shoreline work was also planned at Piedmont, but it has been delayed for this winter budget availability, I was told by Darrin Lautenschleger, Public Affairs Administrator for MWCD. Because of the delay, it is possible toe drawdown at Piedmont will not reach 8 feet.
The drawdown is partb of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers flood risk management operation of the system of reservoirs and dams in the Muskingum River Watershed.
The drawdowns will range from 3 to 8 feet, said Boris E. Slogar, MWCD chief engineer. A gradual return to normal summer pools will begin in February 2011 in time for the recreation season.
The depth reductions by reservoir, the amount of the reduction and the date the drawdown is expected to begin follows:
* Atwood Lake – 8 feet – Nov. 15
* Charles Mill Lake – 3 feet – Dec. 1
* Clendening Lake – 5 feet – Nov. 15
* Leesville Lake – 5 feet – Nov. 15
* Piedmont Lake – 8 feet – Nov. 15
* Pleasant Hill Lake – 6 feet – Dec. 1
* Seneca Lake – 8 feet – Nov. 1
* Tappan Lake – 8 feet – Nov. 15
The USACE owns and operates the dams and handles management of the reservoir depth levels for flood risk management. The MWCD manages 54,000 acres of the water and land located behind the dams. The USACE and MWCD work together through a partnering agreement for management of the system of reservoirs and dams for flood risk management and water conservation.
The MWCD, a political subdivision of the state, was organized in 1933 to develop and implement a plan to reduce flooding and conserve water for beneficial public uses in the Muskingum River Basin, the largest wholly contained watershed in Ohio. Since their construction, the reservoirs and dams in the MWCD region have been credited for saving more than $8 billion worth of potential property damage from flooding, according to the federal government.
For more information about the MWCD, visit www.mwcd.org.
When the lakes are down for the inter is a great time to visit and see what is actualy in those areas you were fishing this summer. The extra drawdown at some of the lakes makes it an even better opportunity to learn more about what's in there.
The lakes may be too far down, in some cases, to launch a boat, so you may not be able to see some of your favorite areas, but there's stll a lot to see and learn. Take a camera to recoprd what you can.
a few lakes will be drawn down further than normal to allow for work over the winter. Atwood, Seneca and Tappan will be lowered 8 feet to allow for shoreline stabilization projects to take place. An ongoing shoreline stabilization project is being addressed at Pleasant Hill, which is als coming down 8 feet.
Shoreline work was also planned at Piedmont, but it has been delayed for this winter budget availability, I was told by Darrin Lautenschleger, Public Affairs Administrator for MWCD. Because of the delay, it is possible toe drawdown at Piedmont will not reach 8 feet.
The drawdown is partb of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers flood risk management operation of the system of reservoirs and dams in the Muskingum River Watershed.
The drawdowns will range from 3 to 8 feet, said Boris E. Slogar, MWCD chief engineer. A gradual return to normal summer pools will begin in February 2011 in time for the recreation season.
The depth reductions by reservoir, the amount of the reduction and the date the drawdown is expected to begin follows:
* Atwood Lake – 8 feet – Nov. 15
* Charles Mill Lake – 3 feet – Dec. 1
* Clendening Lake – 5 feet – Nov. 15
* Leesville Lake – 5 feet – Nov. 15
* Piedmont Lake – 8 feet – Nov. 15
* Pleasant Hill Lake – 6 feet – Dec. 1
* Seneca Lake – 8 feet – Nov. 1
* Tappan Lake – 8 feet – Nov. 15
The USACE owns and operates the dams and handles management of the reservoir depth levels for flood risk management. The MWCD manages 54,000 acres of the water and land located behind the dams. The USACE and MWCD work together through a partnering agreement for management of the system of reservoirs and dams for flood risk management and water conservation.
The MWCD, a political subdivision of the state, was organized in 1933 to develop and implement a plan to reduce flooding and conserve water for beneficial public uses in the Muskingum River Basin, the largest wholly contained watershed in Ohio. Since their construction, the reservoirs and dams in the MWCD region have been credited for saving more than $8 billion worth of potential property damage from flooding, according to the federal government.
For more information about the MWCD, visit www.mwcd.org.
When the lakes are down for the inter is a great time to visit and see what is actualy in those areas you were fishing this summer. The extra drawdown at some of the lakes makes it an even better opportunity to learn more about what's in there.
The lakes may be too far down, in some cases, to launch a boat, so you may not be able to see some of your favorite areas, but there's stll a lot to see and learn. Take a camera to recoprd what you can.
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