Hey D10

Spraying navigation trails on the flats like in the picture is a good thing. Spraying the pads and grass in the narrow channels of the creeks is a bad thing. The fish and fisherman love the grass and pads on the narrow parts of the creeks, as this is where the fish stage as they migrate up the creeks in early fall. Next time I would request that the vegetation on the sides of the creek narrows be left alone if possible. Thanks Matt just asking you to consider this before the next spraying.

I agree with CP

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Originally Posted by CrappiePro

Spraying navigation trails on the flats like in the picture is a good thing. Spraying the pads and grass in the narrow channels of the creeks is a bad thing. The fish and fisherman love the grass and pads on the narrow parts of the creeks, as this is where the fish stage as they migrate up the creeks in early fall. Next time I would request that the vegetation on the sides of the creek narrows be left alone if possible. Thanks Matt just asking you to consider this before the next spraying.

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Russ - point well made. Thank you for proving constructive critism from a crappie pro's perspective. Unfortunately some level of spraying is needed in the creeks to control the alligator weed. The creeks are the spreading points for alligator weed for the rest of the lake. Every time we get a good rain, the alligator weed is washed down yhe creeks to the rest of the lake. We are fighting a tough battle. Alligator weed is a non-native invasive species that directly competes and smothers out the native water willow (a fish holding aquatic vegetation). Next year, we will instruct the contract sprayer to leave the pads in the creeks by being a little more selctive where he is applying the herbicide. Thanks again for the advice.

Matt how did the alligator grass get its start in Lake Conway. I can tell you I first noticed it shortly after the 1998 drawdown when the lake was lowered to lower the dam making the lake shallower. Did this have anything to do with the start of the alligator grass? I ust to hate that stuff but have learned the crappie really like it so I started to like it. LOL I know it can spread quickly and take over a lake. I was just wondering about your thoughts on the alligator grass of Conway. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by CrappiePro

Matt how did the alligator grass get its start in Lake Conway. I can tell you I first noticed it shortly after the 1998 drawdown when the lake was lowered to lower the dam making the lake shallower. Did this have anything to do with the start of the alligator grass? I ust to hate that stuff but have learned the crappie really like it so I started to like it. LOL I know it can spread quickly and take over a lake. I was just wondering about your thoughts on the alligator grass of Conway. Thanks.

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We suspect that the alligator weed got transferred into the lake by hitch hiking on an anglers boat (unintentional spreading). This is how non-native aquatic vegetation is spread most of the time. According to the old District Biologist Carl Perrin, we first noticed it around 2000. So it very well could have been in 1998.

Probably hitched a ride on a boat trailer from Arkansas River.

Hey Matt, can you post a picture of alligator grass? Thanks.

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Originally Posted by ski trip

Hey Matt, can you post a picture of alligator grass? Thanks.

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I will when I get back to the office on Monday.

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Originally Posted by D10

I will when I get back to the office on Monday.

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Thanks, man!

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Originally Posted by ski trip

Hey Matt, can you post a picture of alligator grass? Thanks.

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Here are a couple pictures of Alligator Weed.
Attachment 138815
Attachment 138816
Here is our contractor spraying in Palarm Creek. It gets so think that the only ways to get into it to spray it is with an airboat.
Attachment 138817

Here is the native Water Willow. This is the good stuff that we want to see aound the lake.
Attachment 138818Attachment 138819