Precious Memories

[greengrub]

[SIZE=6]We who use to crappie fish on DeGray and Ouachita[/COLOR] sing "Precious Memory." The moss/grass we fished is gone. It's coming back in some areas, but ever so slowly.
I've heard two reasons for the moss disappearing. Some say Game and Fish placed Pakistani flies in the water and that they lay eggs on moss, and the larvae eat the moss.
It would have taken a lot of flies to eat so much moss. The second thing I've heard is that the high water, for consecutive years, prevented the sun to get to the moss; thus
it died. I don't know what happened, but it has surely affected crappie fishing in both lakes. I'm just hoping Game and Fish didn't cause the downturn.

Does anyone know for sure what happened?

[Slab Junkie]

I heard they dropped aquacide pellets from a plane into the lake to kill the moss. Don't know if this is fact or not but I hope it grows back fairly quick.

[AgriHawg]

From my understanding the AG&FC were not involved. However, the Corp. of Engineers did introduce the Pakistani Fly into Degray (not sure about Ouachita). The combination of LOW water and the flies cleared out much of the grass. In my opinion, & that of some biologists, is that the removal of the grass is improving the fish population. Most fisherman disagree, because they can't catch as many fish anymore. The grass actually helped predators eat more small crappie, by giving them a place to ambush. Not to mention it was easy for fishermen to locate and catch them. I am extremely happy the grass is gone, and do not look forward to it's growth back. BTW, the grass we are talking about is an invasive species, not native to our area. The Corp. is growing and planting native grass into some of the area lakes. Off the top of my head, I can't remember which ones the plantings are going to. Although, the low water levels of Degray were causing problems, last I heard.

And NO aquacide pellets were used.