By Chris Erwin
It’s Wednesday morning, as I drive down the hill towards the Clay Lick boat ramp the forecast for today called for good weather; however, the skies are gray and overcast as I launch my boat and tie it up at the floating dock near the ramp.
Behind me coming down the hill was a big white bus, as I walked over to the area where all the soon to be habitat is stacked. I see a herd of guys unloading from the bus all wearing red shirts. I soon find out they are job corps students soon to be Fire Fighters. I also see people for the US Forest Service and a lot people with Department of Fish and Wildlife shirts on. They are all talking to each other and getting ready to load the boats for the first planting of habitat in the lake.
This is not the first time for most of the people they have volunteered for this job when the DFWL placed habitat in the Stony Cove area. They are also some fisherman here ready to lend a hand.
Tom Timmerman District Biologist hops up on the front of the habitat boat and calls everyone to order. He explains the markers have been placed on the water in the location were the habitat is to be placed.
The boats will transport the material to each marked location and be placed in the water. These locations are primarily in 15 feet of water this is for a couple of reasons. One, they don’t want them below the thermocline; this means they should not be deeper than 20 feet. The other reason for the 15 ft. depth is, winter pool drops the lake 10 feet, to get the longest life from this material it best not to be uncovered during the draw-down over the winter months.
All the locations have been gone over by Trimmerman and his team and marked so the other men transporting the material will know where to deposit the habitat.
As the work begins the land crew continues to move the material down near the water’s edge where it can be loaded on to the boats. The habitat boat at first glance appears to be a pontoon boat, but it’s much more. This boat reminds me of a roll-back car hauler once the material is loaded and transported to the placement location the whole front of the boat hinges up much the same as a roll-back, and all the material slides off the front of the boat this makes for a quick dump, and the boat is on its way for another load.
Loading this boat is different as well, a small backhoe picks up the habitat and in just minutes, the boat is ready for another load.
I was totally impressed with speed and precision of all the people working on this project. I really think this project will improve the fishing and at the same time be a place that anyone will be able to find and use to catch all the game species Cave Run Lakes has to offer.
They will be maps made that have these locations marked so you can take advantage of this project. I would just like to say, I have been a big fan of the DFWL. Our state has the cream of the crop when it comes to decanted smart committed people they have improved fishing in almost every lake, river and stream in this state, and they have restored many hunt able and non-hunt able species that had disappeared from Kentucky. We are lucky to have a DFWL who takes their job to heart and are determined to reach the highest level of success possible. Until next time keep your lines tight and take a kid fishing.
Saturday morning here in Greenup, 46 degrees with a 15 mph wind as the River Rats bass club have a tournament, 35 boats set out on a cool morning with a northwesterly wind a blowing, I say a couple fish could possibly put someone in the money today. The pattern for today will probaly be to down size your baits and a slow presentation, usually the fishery in the Greenup pool is decent on the Ohio river but I think the Little Sandy river will be where this tournament is won or lost, the Kentucky bass in the Little Sandy river could be the difference maker and they will bite when there is a big temperature drop like today.