Hey D10

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10-01-2013, 09:27 PM
Cmj

Hey D10

I have noticed that the lilly pads have already died in the Conway creeks. I heard that the G&F sprayed to kill them. Any truth to this? If so, why?
10-01-2013, 09:35 PM
D10

Every year we have to hire a guy to come spray the lake to control the Alligator Weed. It is a non-native invasive species that is trying to take over the lake. We have only been able to keep it from getting out of hand thus far. Also, the contract sprayer will spray some navigation lanes in the thickest Lilly pad fields, like the one across from Dan at Gold Creek. These are only supposed to be "navigation lanes". Some of the Lilly pads may have also been killed as he was treating the alligator weed. The herbicide that he uses is mainly effective only on aquatic plants like alligator weed. It is pretty harmless on most of the native vegitation in the lake.
10-01-2013, 09:44 PM
Cmj

Quote:

Originally Posted by D10

Every year we have to hire a guy to come spray the lake to control the Alligator Weed. It is a non-native invasive species that is trying to take over the lake. We have only been able to keep it from getting out of hand thus far. Also, the contract sprayer will spray some navigation lanes in the thickest Lilly pad fields, like the one across from Dan at Gold Creek. These are only supposed to be "navigation lanes". Some of the Lilly pads may have also been killed as he was treating the alligator weed. The herbicide that he uses is mainly effective only on aquatic plants like alligator weed. It is pretty harmless on most of the native vegitation in the lake.

Thanks for the quick response. From what I can tell, he sprayed every pad in the creek and Pool. Not a pad left in there. Looks like fishing tactics will be a little different in there this Fall.
10-01-2013, 09:46 PM
D10

Are you talking about Gold Creek? I will check it out tomorrow when I get a chance.
10-01-2013, 09:50 PM
Cmj

Quote:

Originally Posted by D10

Are you talking about Gold Creek? I will check it out tomorrow when I get a chance.

Yessir. The only live pads left are around the 365 bridge. Even the cove past the bridge is dead.
10-01-2013, 09:51 PM
D10

Thanks. I will give it a look tomorrow.
10-01-2013, 10:07 PM
Cmj

BTW, Caney is the same.
10-01-2013, 10:12 PM
D10

Thanks for letting me know. I will go by there also.
10-02-2013, 01:56 PM
D10

3 Attachment(s)

I ckecked out gold creek and the lilly pads are still there. They did get knocked down some when the area was being treated for alligator weed.

Attachment 138458 Attachment 138462 Attachment 138463

If you look close you can see that navigation lanes that he sprayed. I also looked at the area in Gold Creek before you get to Wilhelmina Cove by the iron bridge. He also sprayed here, but there are still some lilly pads out there.
10-02-2013, 02:06 PM
Cmj

Ok, thanks.
10-05-2013, 07:51 PM
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.
10-05-2013, 08:33 PM
rmack

I agree with CP
10-05-2013, 09:51 PM
D10

Quote:

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.

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.
10-06-2013, 04:54 AM
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.
10-06-2013, 12:18 PM
D10

Quote:

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.

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.
10-06-2013, 12:22 PM
NIMROD

Probably hitched a ride on a boat trailer from Arkansas River.
10-06-2013, 01:02 PM
ski trip

Hey Matt, can you post a picture of alligator grass? Thanks.
10-06-2013, 01:11 PM
D10

Quote:

Originally Posted by ski trip

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

I will when I get back to the office on Monday.
10-06-2013, 02:02 PM
ski trip

Quote:

Originally Posted by D10

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

Thanks, man!
10-07-2013, 08:15 AM
D10

5 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ski trip

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

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 138818 Attachment 138819
10-07-2013, 08:20 AM
hawgdog

Great information sharing .....Thanks
10-07-2013, 08:52 AM
Gindog

Matt thanks for the information. I see how it be hard to spray and kill just that you like to kill with out killing other grass also, that some thick stuff.