I was at Cally yesterday and found out a bit of information concerning SARA's operation of these two lakes. As of now, SARA wil continue to operate both lakes until the first of Dec. Due to difficulties in finding a new operator, CPS requested that SARA extend past the original Aug. termination of services. CPS also stated that, no matter who took over, ALL yearly passes that have already been bought will be honored for their duration. I bought mine in Mar. so I'm still good until next Mar., no matter what. One last thing, SARA will resume selling yearly passes.

Hope this helps you,

Mike

Thanks Mike, and glad you added that one last thing, as it's been getting expensive!

thanks for posting Mike. I got a question maybe someone on here can answer...... What's the deal with the grass in the nets???? I'm REALLY excited to see them paying attention to new grass beds & protecting them. just wanted to know if anyone knew the specifics????

Rob

I understand that it's somekind of CPS project. They're trying to introduce differnt types of aquatic plants to the lake. Why I don't know.

Mike

Are annual passes on sale now ? Cost ?
Roger

From what I was told, SARA was told to start selling them again at the same price they've always been. Now I can't say for sure when they will start so just ask when you go out again or give either lake a call. If it were me I would get one within the next three months or so. You can bet that after Dec. 1 the price will definitely go up.

Mike

That would be a change in thinking for sure!

Years back in the 80's and I think Roger should remember it, but there used to be huge grassbeds all over the lake, like coon tailed moss, and duckweed, and the topwater bass fishing was fantastic early and late, and crankbaits and worms during the day.

In the heat of the summer like now, it was nothing to go out there and fish off those grassy points and catch 50 to 100 schooling bass as fast as you could throw out and take them off and throw again.

They would slash the water and the shad would jump out ahead of the bass.

I pulled into a grassbed once and had a three pound bass jump into the boat.

Then in about a weeks time all the grass and duckweed started to die off, and in about two weeks it was all gone, and Braunig was about the same time, and it never came back.

Braunig was exactly the same time, so what killed it? I can't say for sure, but I think it was intentional for whatever reasons.

One spring in 1982 (date on the trophy), in the cove directly to the left passed the pier, back toward the bridge at Braunig, the largemouth bass would spawn in that shallow cove and you could see the nest in the grass back there, and drift fish a worm and I had a 28 pound stringer (10 fish limit) in a one day tournament and had a couple 5's and my partner had and eight, and I came in 3rd place and the winning string was in the 40's all caught within sight in that cove!

Then the grass mysteriously died that year, and that was the end as it never came back!

Those were the years that we actually caught crappie off of the crappie wall.
It seems like the vegitation disappeared about the time that the tilapia population exploded..connection ?
Roger

It could be Roger, but it seemed to be pretty instantanious to be the Talapia although they were present in large numbers.

That was back when I fished that lake probably three times and more a week so it just seemed that way to me I guess.

The next problem I see are those ugly aquarium fish what ever you call them,(I call them lake roaches) because they've taken over the lake.

I wonder how those commercial castnetters are dealing with them getting tangled in their nets, and is there a market for them, because you can't throw a castnet without catching several of the disgusting critters now?

That's exactly what I was thinking. The grass disappeared rite around the time the Talapia explosion occurred. So if they are trying to get the grass started back up. What's to say them MONSTER T-lapia in there now and the ammount of them will let it thrive??? What are they gona do have nets around it 24/7?? I sure wished they would do something to get the bass population back up and thriving in both of the lakes. It's definitely GOOD to see someone out there trying something that may be positive.

Rob

Fished this morning for a couple hours and caught eight by the dam.

It was dead still and HOT with not a breeze to at least move the heat around.

I did notice the wind started to pick up while at the cleaning table.

My main objective today was to buy my annual permit which I did!

Thanks Mike!

I'm glad my little bit of info has helped you guys. Hope to see ya on the waters.

Mike

thats good news the parks should stay open!