john redmond

[drifter106]

The Kansas Water Office proposed it. Its so silted in they need the extra height to maintain a stable water supply. Its lost 40% of its holding capacity since it was built in 64. At 1041 I'd imagine no more putting in at the Strawn Flats. They also have the proposal out to dredge that lake. They say they need to remove 600,00 cubic yards of sediment each year at an estimated cost of $6-8 million per year. Its really sad what has happened to the Neosho from Hartford to the dam in the last 20 years.

At one time we really fished the lake religiously...back when there were hedge rows extending out into the lake. The Old Strawn boat ramp was a terrific place to put in and spend a day. It really started to go down hill when they tried to change the course of the river when they put that cut in above the lake. I am quite sure they thought they were doing the right thing but it sure made a mess of everything. Haven't been on it in a while but fellow fisherman tell me the river channel in the lake has pretty much filled in cept for up by the dam.

[zummy]

Since its only 10 minutes from the house I spend a fair amount of time on it. I have chased a crippled duck till they said I was a speck on the horizon and only been knee deep in it. The lake is insanely shallow. Its also the only lake I have been sunk into the mud up to my crotch. The log jam has cut the lake off from the river. The white bass don't really go up the Neosho anymore. Crappie don't either. Heck when I was a kid we could catch the occasional walleye in the river near Neosho Rapids. Eagle creek has silted the mouth closed making it more like an oxbow. Times have sure changed in this area.