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1:22 am
The lakes dam is failing . The fish commish has to drain it completley. This lake has muskies in it and the fish commish is asking for clubs Etc.. to help in a fish salvage operation when the lake is drained. Is this something we can do ? maybe put the muskies saved in Marburg or Pichot?. Any thoughts on this?? http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Ex.....possum.htm musky matt L
2:44 am
I will call also to find out if they think this is worth it and what they would do with the saved muskies.Good work Matt.Bob
4:01 am
I read about this yesterday and was very upset about it.This lake was once drained before in 1985 for the same reason,I guess they just put a bandaid on the dam that time.I have fished here a lot in the last 8 to 10 years with some sucess,but the bass and trout fisherman always seemed to catch the bigger fish on small baits.
When thes lake was drained in 1985,the fish were supposed to be salvaged but the water went down faster than expected and we had a warm day and the remaining water warmed up very fast and the majority if not all the muskies were belly up.The final count of muskies(these were all purebreds back then)was like 120 or 122 in this 59 acre lake.With the biggest muskie going 48 inches and 40 pounds!
If you want to see a 40 pound tiger or 40 pound purebred this would be a great time to see one.
I saw a trout fisherman catch a 44 inch 36 pound pure here in 1999.When they filled the lake after the 1985 draining they started stocking both pures and tigers in here in 1986 or 87.When they did their first survey(netting) after the refilling and restocking in 1995,they captured a tiger that was 47 inches and 34 pounds, just 8 years after being stocked.Goes to show you what growth a tiger can exhibit on white suckers and maybe a few trout for lunch.
I personally two years ago had a tiger follow me in here twice that was definitly pushing 40 pounds,if that fish is still in there I guess we will find out.
4:55 am
March 26, 2004
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What is it with PFBC lakes? Leaser Lake north of Allentown has been drawn down several times in the last 15 years for dam repairs.
A friend (who hangs out on this board) was involved with picking up dead fish off of the bottom of Tamarack Lake when they drew it down around 1999. Imagine how sad (and smelly) it is to personally witness a front-end loader full of dead fish. They did manage to salvage 453 muskies, which they stocked in other area lakes. Word was that the fishing in Woodcock improved drastically with the extra fish.
An article on the Tamarack salvage can be found at:
http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Ex.....marack.htm
Fishing has finally improved there to the point where people are catching a bunch of mid-30" fish.
Chris
2:06 pm
Time to get involved we will need support at all levels we should get all the info and meet about this. I will be involved and do what it takes to get this job done. Tom
2:33 pm
May 19, 2004
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I would like to help. Let me know when this is to be done. I am trying to think of ways to transport 40" fish. Any ideas?
Barry
We may only see what we look for.
2:54 pm
March 22, 2004
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Hey,
Well at least this should give us all the time necessary to prepare and to take the time off from work. Count me and my boat in. Barry makes a good point though, how the hell do you transport fish of the size that will potentially be there?
DL
DL
3:16 pm
well I think the fish commish brings there stocking trucks to the site . now the way I understand it is no boats because the lake will be drawn down to a puddle so it looks like waders and nets in the mud
7:49 pm
March 22, 2004
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Matt,
Good point with the waders and nets. Thank goodness I just picked up a new set of waders. Think my cradle net will be usable (he says as he ducks to avoid the various objects being thrown at him).
DL
DL
2:07 am
June 23, 2004
Offline
Matt,
When does this look like it will take place? I'd like to be a part of it.
Capt. Dieter Scheel http://www.BigDRiverGuide.com
2:54 pm
May 19, 2004
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Yo Dave, you should hang that cradle in the tree with your Hawg Wobbler!
Barry
We may only see what we look for.
4:44 pm
March 22, 2004
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Now Barry,
How would that look? Like I was showing off my prowess at tree fishing, that's what it would look like and I would hate to be labeled as a showoff.
DL
DL
5:36 am
On the topic of PFBC dams, I crossed paths with someone involved with dam safety at PA Dept. of Env. Protection and asked him about this since it seems like one is being drained every year somewhere in the state. He told me that the dams are all/mostly earthen construction, which is really only designed to slow the water rather than be completely watertight, and it is inevitable that some "piping" (openings allowing water to move way too quickly) will develop within the dam eventually. In essence, these dams are built like farm pond dams, but really should have been a bit more sophisticated. Although in PFBC's defense, these construction methods met requirements at the time of construction. Either way, these problems represent a serious drain on their already stressed budget.
One correction Chris - I didn't pick dead muskies off the bottom - they were floating all along the edge of a few acre pool that could not be drained at Tamarack. It was about 85F, sunny, and they were really nasty [[^]- didn't help that I was wading in lake muck that we sunk into up to our crotches. We loaded dead fish into canoes, drug them to shore, and put them in a front-end loader to be dead-holed. I took a photo of a load of a couple dozen muskies of all sizes including some pushing or maybe past 50" - quite a sight. My wife made me take about 5 showers when I got home to rinse off the stink. Anyhow, the moral of the story is get as many out alive as possible.
Jeremy Trexel
2:10 am
Your next mission should you chose to accept it is to save the big girls and we are talking 40lbs and bigger This will make playing with the babies seem like childs play. I have the full support of the M.T.F. and THE WOODCHUCKERS. The place is Opposum Lake Bob is calling for dates Monday tell you wifes and boyfriends (Matt) you might have to go when they call. Tom
11:13 pm
May 19, 2004
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Has anyone heard anything more on this project?
I need to block out some time, so please let me know.
Thanks!!
We may only see what we look for.
11:34 pm
hey Barry i called the day that I posted havnt heard anything yet ill call again tommorrow
1:38 pm
June 23, 2004
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Anybody heard anything on the fish salvage. I don't want to miss this one.
Capt. Dieter Scheel http://www.BigDRiverGuide.com
1:14 am
I spoke with Bob Larontas and he informed me notice would be very short.There is no way to now how fast or slow the lake will drain and cant predidct problems like cloged drains and what not.Matt,did you give them your ph # to call you when there ready??Bob
9:57 pm
Called Pa Fish commish again. As with Bobs previous post it will be short notice the lake is being drawn down now very slowly and basiclly they could not give me a date. We are on the list musky matt l
4:12 pm
please count me in,would like to help if I'm in town. Where is Woodcock?
Do you guys fish for Musky over the winter?
1:36 am
This still has not happened.This will come on very short notice,via fish comm.You'll have to keep checking.Sorry.Bob
8:11 pm
The last info that I got was that they were trying to save the dam due to pressure from the anglers that regularly fish here.The lake is drawn down to less than half its normal 59 acres.I got my info from someone that works as a fisheries aid within the fish commision.
8:59 pm
I recieved a call from the fish commish today , The drawdown will be suspended till spring. Reasons being its taking longer to drain than first thought and its late in the season , Also the DEP needs to take some more studies of the dam for possible repairs etc... without draining it completley .
The lake is fishable by a carry in boat only with a stone ramp going in soon. could be a 40 lbs in there ?
Musky Matt L
2:16 am
this is a great time to check out the structure in the lake.and possibly add some???
2:53 am
March 19, 2004
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It's funny you mention that Chuck.I was there yesterday. I took my ''yack'' out there and saw nothing!!! Fished it for about three hours, water was down about 10ft. I saw fourteen fish cribs out of the water, plus many christmas trees sunk with cinder blocks. It was a little difficult getting to the water with all of the mud. Mud,mud,mud,oh did I mention mud. If it rains I wouldn't go near this place for two weeks.MUD!!!!
MUD
MUD
MUD
MUD
MUD
MUD
MUD
MUD
GET IT??? MUD
10:40 am
March 2, 2011
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Hey Tom, since they're drawing down the lake, was there any MUD to contend with?!?!?! Imagine what it will be like to be out there trying to net muskies and fighting the mud!
<<<<><<< Ed
Hooksets are free!!!
2:00 am
March 19, 2004
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Ed, thats what I'm talking about. The lake is down, so to get to the water you have to walk on what used to be the bottom of the lake. It is all mud,the bottom of the lake is all mud and the closer you get to the water the slopper it gets. Maybe after tonight the mud will freeze and make it easier to get to the water but it could make it more dangerous also!! I am not saying the lake can't be fished, just be ready to get dirty!
10:59 am
March 2, 2011
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Has anything more ever become of the salvage operation? This kind of dropped off the radar screen over the winter, but we've had open water for a couple of months now! What's the word?
<<<<><<< Ed
Keep those hooks sharp!!!
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