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Archive for July 2nd, 2010
Like the Obama Administration releasing a soon to be buried statement, I too am releasing damaging information (to my uh, well established reputation, tsk) on a weekend and holiday weekend to boot. I am doing this in the interest of safety and for the equally less alert amongst you. I feel obligated to remind you that an impoundment or ‘lake’ above a dam spilling water is really not much of a lake when you are in a float tube. There is a current, even if not immediately evident. It soon becomes evident as you kick and kick without little effect and draw nearer toward the spillway.
Now, I was ok at first, a good quarter mile from the dam. I kicked out and eventually felt that current, but struggled (yes, it was a lot of work) to kick up into an area without much current. I came upon weed beds and trout eager to take a green WB skimmed across the top of the weeds on an intermediate line. As I looked out across the lake back toward the rig it occurred to me that I had to get back across that lake and that current. Well, for now time to fish. I focused upon the retrieve and take, caught fish and felt good. But, I kicked out away from my quiet back water and once I looked up to assess my surroundings I realized I had moved a considerable distance and toward the spillway. Time to move. I kicked and kicked. I kicked more. I dug in and worked as hard as I could like grinding out reps. I was getting no where near where I needed to be and only moving closer toward that last barrier (heavy stretched out ropes) one attempts to grab before spilling down the ‘chute’.
One thing floated between me and that last grasp. A drift boat. A couple was fishing in the anchored boat.. I assessed the emerging decision. Pride, self prescribed stupidity, embarrassment…..so, I asked if they could help me. There I did it. They saw my fatigue. They saw I was gaining unintended speed. They tossed the bow rope; I grabbed it and came to a halt. They upped anchor and rowed me out of harms way. I paid my heart felt thanks several times over. I arrived at shore exhausted. My legs fried, my body tense, I had planned poorly. The tattoo on my arm says Semper Paratus…I pride myself in that.
What seems obvious enough now, didn’t settle in before I stepped foot in the water. A dam that is spilling water is not containing a stable body of water. Had I been in my normal pontoon boat with oars, I would have rowed out through all this subtle turmoil and anchored in likely place. Lesson learned…whether in a float tube or pontoon boat. Oh! Floatation Devices too!
Came upon this h/t Trout Underground re Carp in Malheur Lake: “Carp are native to Europe and Asia and were artificially introduced into the Silvies River in about 1920, probably to keep nearby irrigation canals open on the premise that carp would eat aquatic plants and algae, Beck said.
Their numbers in Malheur Lake — which averages 18 inches deep — verges on the unbelievable. Biologists estimate 1.5 million carp inhabit the lake….”
WOW!
Historic data of Rotenone treatments of carp at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge:
1957: 1.5 million carp killed in Malheur Lake and nearby Boca Lakes
1959: 58,000 carp killed in Blitzen River and Sodhouse Pond
1960: 400,000 carp killed in Malheur Lake and Blitzen River
1961: 150,000 carp killed in Malheur Lake and Blitzen River
1968: 240,000 carp killed throughout refuge
1969: Blitzen River treated with rotenone, number of carp killed unknown
1977: Unknown thousands killed in Malheur Lake and 50,000 killed in Blitzen River
1992: 100,000 killed in Blitzen River and Sodhouse Pond
