Skip and Angie sent me this picture. This fish was caught and released Dec. 23 out of Bull Shoals Lake. It weighed 8+ pounds! I haven't talked to them to find out all the details, but I thought I'd post the pic anyway. Fishing has been good lately. I hear they're catching bass and crappie. The weather is beautiful again today. Sunny and supposed to hit 60 degrees. I can handle this "winter" weather.

It's Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope your day is filled with family and friends and fun and joy! (And fudge.) It's a beautiful day in P-town. Sunny and mild. We're supposed to have unseasonably warm temperatures tomorrow and a chance of severe weather. We'll take the warm temps. But, strong winds and tornadoes... no thanks. I'll keep you posted.

Have a glorious day!

Weather Report

The weather has been gray and cold and ugly here today. The day started out with a glaze of ice on the roads. It was pretty slick until the salt trucks got out and about about mid-morning. This afternoon we had a couple of downpours, but by then the temp had gotten up above freezing, so luckily it was just rain, and not ice. I think there's a chance of a wintry mix in the morning, but by afternoon it's supposed to warm up and then be in the 40s the rest of the week. Good news for folks traveling this way or heading out of town for Christmas. Speaking of, the dock will be closed on Thursday. We will be around Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning from 8 to 10 a.m. We'll also be closed next Thursday for New Year's Day. Happy holidays, everyone! Cheers!

For Your Information

So, we were supposed to have the annual Missouri-Arkansas Marina Owners Association (a.k.a. MAMA) meeting in Harrison, Ark. today, but an apparent ice storm in Little Rock made it too difficult for the colonel and other officials from the Little Rock Corps office to get up here. So, it was postponed until sometime in January. I usually try to report back to you all about what is discussed at the meeting after it happens, and I will do that once this one is rescheduled.

In the meantime, I thought I'd tell you a little bit about why we have this meeting. Basically it's our once-a-year chance to talk to the colonel face-to-face, as a group, about issues we feel are important. For example, last year the primary topic was the encapsulated foam issue. I am sure most of you are aware of the encapsulated foam policy that was signed and sent out by the outgoing colonel last year. The policy stated that within 10 years all commercial and private docks must be completely converted to encapsulated foam. Encapsulated foam isn't cheap, and many dock owners feared it would put them out of business. Yikes. A lot of dock owners were not happy about that little farewell. So, at last year's meeting we shared our concerns with the new colonel, and that resulted in a new policy being written - one that was much more reasonable and one we could all live with.

We also discussed the Corps implementing a policy that would regulate recreational activities inside commercial zones - the idea being that such a policy would promote safety and also help protect docks and the boats and personal property within them. That policy actually took effect earlier this fall. What does this mean to you? Well, it means the Corps now prohibits swimming, fishing, scuba diving, etc. within commercial zones - a.k.a. the PCM cove and other marina coves on the lake. For years, we at PCM have posted signs warning against the dangers of swimming and fishing from or near the docks, as we have underwater fuel and electric lines running all over the place. So, really this is nothing new. It's now just an official Corps policy, and the Corps will be the ones enforcing it.

Questions? Ask me, and I'll try to answer them!

This is for you, Buck

Hey everyone. So, I know I haven't been very good lately about updating the blog. It's just difficult sometimes to come up with any news! But, I promise to be better about writing something... anything... more frequently for those of you (like Buck) who check this every day. :)

Just 10 days 'til Christmas. Are you done shopping?

Happy Monday!

654.0

It's official. We are now at normal pool! I'll try to take some pics and post them later... in case you forgot what this looks like! I heard on the radio yesterday that predictions for this winter are warmer than usual, but wetter. Sheesh.

Normal pool one week from today?

Today the lake level is 657.6. The forecast shows B.S. at normal pool by Wednesday, Dec. 3 - one week from today and almost exactly nine months to the day since the lake started going up. If you go back and read the post I wrote on March 4, you'll see a picture of the lake just starting to cross the lower road - much like the picture I took today. (Sorry this isn't the greatest pic - I didn't have my camera, so I took it with my phone.)

We should be able to re-open the lower road sometime next week after we wash it off and adjust cables. Until then, please do not attempt to drive around the blue truck on the lower road. Sorry for any inconvenience this weekend.

Remember, we'll be closed tomorrow for the holiday. Open from 8 to 4 Fri, Sat, Sun. Winter hours (8 to 10) start Monday. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

One week 'til turkey day

It's quiet and chilly here today. And I don't have much to report. I do want to give you a heads up that we will be closed next Thursday for Thanksgiving. However, we will be open from 8 to 4 Friday, Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving. Starting Dec. 1 our official winter office hours will be 8 to 10 a.m. (Such a hard life.) We do have several projects planned this winter, so even after Dec. 1 we'll likely be around throughout the day. The lake is almost back to normal now. Less than 7 feet to go.

VFD Hunter's Dinner this Saturday

The Pontiac/Price Place Volunteer Fire Department is hosting its annual Hunter's Dinner at 5 p.m. this Saturday at Station #1. Cost is $6 for adults; $3 for kids younger than 10. The menu includes turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, green beans, cranberry relish, rolls, dessert, coffee and tea. You can get meals to go if you'd like to pick up food to take home to your friends or family.

Closing at 4:00 today...

Ok, so we were planning to start closing at 4 tomorrow (Sunday), but it's just so chilly and yucky out today, and there are so few people around, that I'm going to close at 4 today. So, from now through the end of November we'll be open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Just FYI!

The Right Way

This morning, for the first time in MONTHS, I made the complete circle around the park! We still have cable issues, so you'll notice when you drive around the corner that the blue PCM truck is parked in the middle of the road. You can drive around it; just please use a little caution. Also, for those of you who don't know, the 800 dock is now connected to the shore, so you can park over in your usual spot again. Happy Friday!

The End of an Era

It's been a long journey. One that unfortunately came to an end today. This morning, we took down what we've all come to know as "the beaver tree." Between the high water and the beaver's incessant sawing, the tree did not survive. We believe it died about a month ago. And with the strong winds we've had lately, we were concerned that it could fall and hurt someone or cause damage to the dock or someone's vehicle.

Many of you have followed the beaver story all year, but what you may not realize is that the big, beautiful cottonwood was as old as the lake. Tim remembers when it was "just a little bitty thing" back in the '60s. But despite it's modest size back then, it was always in the way, he says. Years ago the docks were laid out differently, and during high water conditions they had to split the dock, push it past the tree and reconnect it between the shore and the tree. Numerous times they considered cutting it down. But for whatever reason, they never did.

He can remember twice it was struck by lighting - once about 20 years ago. That summer there were bad storms on three out of four consecutive Fridays. When the lightning hit the tree, Tim was in an aluminum boat pulling a steel cable across the cove. (Talk about a death trap.) Doc Klayman was also on the dock that day. He says it split the tree right down the middle, and fire was shooting out the top. Everyone thought for sure the tree would die after that, but it survived! As the tree continued to grow, the shade it provided also grew - Phil Peters and Roger Long always liked to park near the tree for that very reason.

I was sad to see it fall this morning. I know some of you probably are, too. Today, when Doc came in from fishing and saw it lying across the road, he said, "It's the end of an era." And he's right. It certainly looks different out there without that tree, and it's going to take some getting used to. We're planning to save a log from the base of the tree to make a bench, so we can enjoy a little piece of it forever and ever.

I guess in the end the beaver won. Or did he? Wouldn't you like to see his face tonight when he comes out and finds nothing left of his little masterpiece... but a stump? SURPRISE!

New Hours

Starting this Sunday, Nov. 9, we will be closing at 4 p.m. Our hours will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through the end of November. We'll cut back even more starting Dec. 1. I'll keep you posted as we near the end of the month.

Happy Halloween! (a day early)

If you happen to be in Pontiac this weekend (or if you're just looking for an excuse to go to the lake) Just Jackie's is having a Halloween party Friday night. Costumes are encouraged, but obviously not mandatory. Tom Cline, Mike MacPherson and the rest of REVOLVER will be there playing live music for your entertainment - and it's their last show of the season.

Besides that, it's supposed to be a gorgeous weekend in Pontiac. Sunny and mid-70s! You better take advantage of a good fall lake weekend, because you know Missouri weather can change overnight! (Brrrr... I don't even want to think about it.)

So, head to the lake this Halloween weekend... if you DARE.

Signs of Fall

Here are a few fall pics from P-Town. The colors aren't as brilliant as usual, but the scenery is still pretty to look at. Enjoy.

Check it out!

The lake level is about 673 now (still 19 feet above normal), and the top road is almost completely out of the water. However, if you head down to the dock in the near future please go down the "wrong" way for now. You'll notice we have the road blocked off by the launch ramp, so you can't actually drive the full circle yet - that's because there is a cable going across the road that we don't want anyone driving on for now. Thanks for your cooperation!

Update: Stamp Sales

I spoke to Micky Iseminger (Pontiac postmaster) this morning, and as of today she has sold 278 sheets of breast cancer awareness stamps! Her goal was to sell 140 by Oct. 31. Even though she has surpassed that mark, she still has more sheets if you want to purchase some. Remember, 13 cents from each stamp (or $2.60 per sheet) goes to breast cancer awareness. This Friday (Oct. 31) she'll serve pink cake and punch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Pontiac Post Office. She'll be drawing for a $20 gift certificate to Just Jackie's, plus other items. Call 417-679-3440 for more info.

New Access to Main Dock...

The lake is really dropping now! We're getting close to having the top road out of the water... Today the guys moved the main walkway, so you can now drive down the road in front of the bathrooms, park, and walk on the dock. I took more pictures and I will post them shortly.

R & M at PCM

In an effort to strengthen the connection between the main office and the 200 dock, the guys (Josh, Matt and Tim) have been working behind the office this week on installing new braces that will hold the two docks together. Earlier this year, strong winds caused some damage to the end of the 200 dock closest to the main office. That wasn't the first time that had happened -- it's a weak spot. Hopefully these new braces will solve that problem, so the next time the wind blows it won't happen again. Better yet, let's hope we don't have any strong winds blow through for a while. ;)

I Spy #5

This is probably too easy... but I thought since it's been a while I'd give you a freebie. :) Good luck!

Support Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast cancer awareness stamps are now on sale at the Pontiac Post Office. Each stamp costs 55 cents, or $11 for a sheet of 20. Thirteen cents from each stamp, or $2.60 per sheet goes to breast cancer awareness. Pontiac postmaster Micky Iseminger sold 77 sheets last year, making her the top seller for small post offices in her area. This year her goal was to sell 140 sheets -- she's already pushing 200!!

She's making it fun for you, too, by doing weekly prize drawings for those who purchase at least one sheet. And, on Oct. 31 she'll be serving pink cake and pink punch at the post office! How fun is that?

The Pontiac Post Office is open from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; 12:45 to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Call 417-679-3440 for more details.

Lake Level

Hey all! I hope you're having a good Thursday afternoon. I'd like to update you on the lake level, if you haven't been following it online. It's down to about 682.0. Just 28 feet above normal! It's going down pretty rapidly. Let's hope it keeps that up. Obviously it's going to depend on the amount of rainfall we get this fall and winter and next spring. We'd like to get the top road open one of these days, as well as remove the walkway connecting the 200 dock to the 800 dock. I'm sure many of you would like that as well. We'll keep you posted. And I know I owe you some recent pics and a new I Spy. I promise to get on that right away. :)

P.S. The beaver tree is done. We'll be cutting it down this winter. :(

Fishing Report

Bob Gunkel and Justin Avery did well fishing this morning. They had a nice crappie, bass and walleye... little bit of everything. They said the bite was good until about 8 a.m., then it just shut off. Early morning and late evening is when most folks have been going and catching.

Happy Monday, everyone. Just wanted to let you know our hours have changed again... 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, including the weekends. That will likely stay the same through at least October.

If you've been following the lake level forecast website you know B.S. crested on Friday at 686.0. Only 32 feet above normal! HA. We haven't had any rain in a while, and I didn't see any in the forecast for the next week, so hopefully it will start back down again.

From what I'm hearing the fish have been biting. In fact, fishing has been pretty darn good lately, especially early in the morning and late in the evening. I've been hearing chatter about kentuckys, walleye and crappie. Woo-wee!

PCM Updates!

Greetings! Sorry it's been THREE WEEKS since I've written. I've actually been out of town for a while, and I just... got... back. This is what's been going on:

"TAKE A HIKE, IKE!" (direct quote from Cindy P.)
First of all, I'm sure some of you are wondering how Ike affected our little village. I was actually out of town when the storm hit early Sept. 14. Lots of trees and limbs were downed in Pontiac, and the power was out for several hours. There were some minor problems at the dock. If you're wondering what happened to the fishing dock, it's fixed to the end of the uncovered dock in the back of the cove for now. It broke loose from the 800 dock, and it's going to take a little work to get it back out there. In addition to that,an anchor and a piece of tin on one of the old docks came loose... and so did one of our rental boats... and a few other bumps and bruises. Nothing major. (Thank goodness we aren't situated on the Texas coast. Those poor folks.)

BOAT DOCK HOURS
This weekend we'll be open until 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Starting Monday we'll be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. (By the way, Just Jackie's will be open 3 to 10 p.m. Friday, and all day Saturday and Sunday through the winter. No more Wednesdays.)

FALL LAKE CLEANUP POSTPONED
Because the lake is still super high we've decided to postpone the cleanup until possibly the spring. We'll just watch the lake level to see what happens. We'll keep you posted.

SUGGESTION BOX
I'm already starting to plan for next season... If you have any comments or suggestions about things we could do better next year, please don't hesitate to speak up! (Yes, I know the spiders were really BAD this year. I'm looking into it. :)

Beaver Alert!

We spotted him! Well, Josh and Matt spotted him this morning and yelled at me to come out and look. This isn't the greatest photo. He was swimming across the cove. And he's fast! Look at the wake he's making! I had to zoom in to get this. So, in case you've been wondering... yes, the beaver is still here. Sigh.

NEW HOURS

FYI: Starting today, we'll be closing at 7 p.m. daily. Have a great Labor Day!!

New Boating Laws to Take Effect Aug. 28, 2008

Note: Below is a press release from the Missouri State Water Patrol.

NEWS RELEASE

PUBLIC INFORMATION SECTION, P.O. Box 1368, Jefferson City, MO 65102

For further information contact: Sergeant Gerard G. Callahan
Public Information Director
Phone: (573) 751-3333
E-mail: Jerry.Callahan@mswp.dps.mo.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jefferson City

New Laws In Effect On the Water for the Labor Day Weekend

The traditional end of summer is upon us and while many people will be boating well into the fall, for some Labor Day weekend is the last hurrah of the summer boating season. The Missouri State Water Patrol asks that boaters stay vigilant in their safe boating practices. Remember the rivers and lakes will be more crowded than other weekends due to the three day weekend. Slow down and be courteous to other boaters around you. Allow for extra time while loading and launching boats.

In addition to the added traffic there will be a number of new laws that will take affect on Thursday, August 28 which boaters will need to be aware of.

· Missouri's legal blood alcohol content for operating a vessel will drop from .10% to .08%.

· Boats must come to an idle speed within 100 feet of an emergency vessel that is displaying flashing lights.

· The nighttime speed limit of 30 m.p.h. has been expanded to include all state waterways.

A law making it illegal to obstruct the flow of traffic on the water was expanded to apply to all state waterways.

News Release ID: N07080178
Release Date: 20080826

Isn't it nifty? Eric is FIFTY!!!

I bet the store sold a lot of orchid-colored Western shirts that year. What do you think? Hubba hubba. Guys, hold on to your lady friends, because this cowboy just might breeze into town, sweep her off her feet and ride off into the sunset. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIC!!!

NEW HOURS!

We are making a slight change to our hours starting today. From now through Labor Day weekend we will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. (Over Labor Day weekend we will stay open until 9 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31.) Starting Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 1) we will most likely start closing at 7 p.m. through the week. Yes, folks, it's that time of year. (Sniff, sniff.)

It's a Girl!

Larry and Brenda Kankey (of Bull Shoals, Ark. and the Good Karma houseboat at PCM) welcomed a granddaughter on 8-8-08. Campbell Elizabeth Miller weighed 8 lbs, 2 oz and was 21 inches long. Apparently, Grandpa Larry had guessed ahead of time that she'd weigh 8 lbs, 2 oz and be 21 1/2 inches... Pretty darn close! Brenda says mom and baby are home and well. Isn't she sweet?!

Too Cute

I had to share this photo of our dog, Oscar. This was his first time out on the boat. How can you not love that face?

The Blowout

Wow, so I think I finally figured out how to do slideshows on the blog! Yay, me! Here are a few snapshots of the party on the lake on Saturday. I think the slideshow will automatically start, but if you scroll over the picture you can pause it and click the left or right arrows and go through each photo at your own pace. Enjoy!

I Spy #4 (rated PG-13)

Hmm... what could this be? And where?

The Big Pull

Thank you to Mark Lindhorst for sharing this photo, taken on Bull Shoals Lake. From left: Jeff Heidrich, Cameron Lindhorst, Lauri Heidrich, Sandy Lindhorst, Abbey Lindhorst, Trish Crawford, Craig Mincke, Amy Lindhorst and Matt Forsyth.

I Spy #3

I just posted a picture of a 52-pound catfish... It's been in my drafts since July 5, so it posted way down below the radar picture.... Just wanted to let you know so you'll know to scroll down and check it out.

I Spy #2

This is another easy one... I think. I bet you can guess what it is... but do you know where it is?

I Spy

This is a new little game, where I post a picture of something in Pontiac... and you tell me what/where it is! Starting with this...

Crawdad Boil

Hey everyone! Yes, I'm still here... I wanted to let you know Mike C. is in town for a short visit, and he's heading up the big crawdad hunt tomorrow night. (That's Monday night...) Anyone who wants to go is welcome. Then on Tuesday evening they'll cook them and eat them in the park at the pavilion. Mike will provide soda and watermelon, corn and potatoes. If you'd like to bring something, that's great, but you don't have to. I'm not sure what time the feast will begin, but I'm guessing around 6 or 7? I'll find out for sure and post it here later.

The Blowout

With the 4th of July holiday behind us, people are starting to ask about the Blowout. We are having it, but it will be a little different this year because of the high water. Mark your calendars for Saturday, August 2. More details will follow soon.

And the winner is...

In case you're wondering, we did draw for the $500 gift certificate to PCM. There happened to be a few folks standing around the dock on Sunday for the drawing, including Kirk Mitchell, Dave Kinscherff, Jerry Conner and his son Jameson. We asked Jameson to do the drawing for us. We shook the barrel of names and told him to close his eyes and dig deep. He drew Kirk Mitchell's name two times in a row! And Kirk was standing right there! It was great. So here is the complete list of winners:

$500 gift certificate to Pontiac Cove Marina: Kirk Mitchell

$100 gift certificate to Just Jackie's: Kirk Mitchell

2-night stay at Cactus Ridge: Skip & Angie Dechau

2-night stay at Pontiac Lodge: Don Donley

2-night stay at Roo B Doo: Kelly Laurie

2-night stay at Lost Cove Resort: Sharon Kohler

Congrats to all the winners!

A Tiny Blip

And we thought the July 4th weekend was going to end without any mishaps...

Apparently Mother Nature was upset with the little lake village we call "Pontiac" last night. Check out the radar image above, provided by KY3 meteorologist Brandon Beck. Ignore that big blue blob. That isn't actually rain or a storm. Instead, squint your eyes and note the tiny blip situated right on the MO-ARK line over Bull Shoals Lake. Yep, that's Pontiac. The storm passed through about 10:30 last night and shook up a few folks staying on their houseboat at PCM. They called Bill Bauer, who called Tim, who then called Matt and me. We all met at the dock at about 10:45 to find the walkway from the 200 to the 800 dock broken loose; trash cans missing and trash strewn all through the cove; a piece of metal roofing curled up on one of the older docks; a few lockers blown over; some displaced foam; and a few other structural twists and turns. Overall, the damage was minor, compared to the great storm of February 2006. We were lucky. While waiting for the guys to finish checking and tightening cables, Mom and I were shining a flashlight in the water, looking for missing trash cans, when we spotted that blasted beaver swimming across the cove.

Big Cat

John Herzog and Cathy Faulkner caught this 52-pound catfish on Thursday, July 3.

Gettin' Hitched!

J.T. Glenn and his fiance, Kimberly Tumlison, will be married at 7 p.m. this Friday night, July 4, on the Good Karma houseboat, owned by Brenda and Larry Kankey of Bull Shoals, Ark. J.T.'s parents, Tom and Deanna Glenn, would like to invite any and all friends to attend the ceremony at the dock. How cool is that?!

A week and a day late...

Sorry for the delay in sharing the results of the Pontiac Spearfishing Tourney last Saturday. The guy on the right, Ivan Lawson, is holding the winning catfish, which weighed in at 35 pounds, 4 ounces. See the rest of the results below...

In the catfish category, Ivan Lawson, Troy, Mo., took first ($300) for a 35-pound, 4-ounce fish. Second place ($150) went to Bert Benton, Flippin, Ark., for a 25-pound, 9-ounce fish. Jason Copeland, Bull Shoals, Ark., won third ($50) for a 25-pound, 1-ounce fish. In the rough fish category, Jeremy Manier, Highland, Ill., won first ($200) with a 10-pound, 9-ounce carp. Joe Graber, Edwardsville, Ill., took second ($100) for a 9-pound, 12-ounce carp. And Mel Manier, Eureka, Ill., won third ($50) for a 9-pound, 8-ounce carp. Bob Van Daley, Collinsville, Ill., won $150 for the biggest walleye at 6 pounds, 5 ounces.

After the weigh-in the divers, their friends and families gathered on the deck at Just Jackie’s for the awards, drawing for door prizes and a pizza buffet. Prizes included gift certificates to Just Jackie’s, Cactus Ridge Resort, Pontiac Lodge, Roo B Doo Resort, Lost Cove Resort and a spear gun, donated by the marina.

Pontiac VFD Dinner Saturday

The Pontiac/Price Place Volunteer Fire Department is having a dinner at 5:00 Saturday evening at the fire house. Menu includes pork steaks, baked potato, baked beans, corn on the cob, tea, lemonade, coffee and dessert. Cost is $7 per person. All are welcome to attend!

For those of you who haven't seen it with your own eyes... this is what the beaver has done to the tree.

Lake Level

Hey everyone, here is an update on the lake level. Bull Shoals continues to drop a few tenths of a foot daily. It's down to 691.4 today. However, we were told Beaver and Table Rock will be dumping more water due to the large amounts of rain in the region last Friday. So we'll see what happens. The latest long-term prediction from the Corps is that B.S. will be at normal pool by the end of September. Again... we'll see. :)

Pontiac Spearfishing Tourney

PONTIAC SPEARFISHING TOURNAMENT

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Entry fee: $25 per person

Registration: 7 to 9 a.m. at the marina

Take-off: 9 a.m.

Weigh-in from 1 to 3 p.m. (location TBA)

*NO LATE EXCEPTIONS AT WEIGH-IN*

Awards and pizza buffet to follow at Just Jackie's

Call 417-679-3676 for more details.

Free Fishing Days

June 7 and 8 (that's today and tomorrow) are free fishing days in Missouri. That means fishing permits are not required this weekend for anyone who wants to fish; however, you must still abide by the fishing rules and regulations of Missouri. So, get out there and catch something!

TGIF

The forecast for this weekend is fantastic: 90s and sunny. No chance for rain to speak of, although it is a little cloudy and windy today with a chance of storms. But Saturday and Sunday look great!

If you're planning to hit the lake this weekend you'll notice the breakwater is finally fixed. In case you hadn't noticed, it had blown up really close to the outside of the 500 dock. Boaters were able to get in and out, but it was pretty tight. On Monday, Brian Weiss (a dock customer and experienced deep diver) dove the cable and discovered the anchor had actually moved. We must have had one heck of a wind for that to happen. Anyhow, it's fixed now.

Happy Friday!

A Surprising Catch

Check out Bill Bauer's new piercing. Last week he went out fishing (and to scope out a good spot to shoot off the 5th annual Pontiac Fireworks, which are a GO, by the way) when he threw a cast that went a little awry. Ouch. We thought it looked pretty cool and suggested he keep it. He might even start a new trend in the OC. He was certainly a good sport about it. Bill Allen came to the rescue to cut him free. I hope he hangs on to that rogue. It's obviously good for catching something.

A case of the "Mondays"

I don't have much to report, I just hated to go any longer without writing something. I'm sad to report the tree will fall. The beaver has won the battle. I don't have any pictures, but I will take some and post them soon. If you haven't already seen it you won't believe what he's done. It's over. He has killed the tree for sure. He cut a huge wedge in the side of it. I wouldn't be surprised if we show up tomorrow and the tree is down. It's so depressing. Sigh.

Forget staking him out and "taking him out." I'm thinking torture may be in order now. Maybe I'll catch him and bring him to Doc Klayman or Dr. Geroff for a little tooth pulling. Hmm... now that's a thought. :)

Happy Memorial Day!

Good rainy morning, folks! It wouldn't be Memorial weekend if we didn't see a little rain, right? Overall it was a good holiday weekend here in Pontiac. No major mishaps. The skies were mostly sunny (with a few tornado watches and rain showers in the mix). It was good to see people enjoying the lake despite the high water and high gas prices. Last year our highest gas price at the marina was on Memorial weekend. Wouldn't it be nice if that same theory worked again this year! Something's gotta give.

From what I heard on the news this morning, the rain is supposed to clear up and reveal blue skies and sunshine this afternoon. So enjoy your Memorial day!

Dinner

Bob Gunkel caught this 6 1/2-pound, 26-inch walleye yesterday. He's been trolling for walleye on the points and catching about one a day, he says. This is the biggest so far!

Hello, Beautiful

It's Friday morning, the start of what looks to be a fabulous weekend -- the forecast shows sunny and 80+ degrees every day for the next five or so days. Let's just hope the gorgeous weather holds out through Memorial weekend! Have a great weekend, everyone!

Battling the Storms

Sorry the updates have been few and far between lately. Not too much going on here. We did make it through the storms and high wind okay over the weekend, in case anyone is concerned. We had a few minor problems, but nothing major. And it really wasn't from the storms Saturday night. It was just flat windy on Sunday. Crazy windy. The docks were rocking and walkways were coming out of the water two feet. It was nuts. From what I've heard Oakland Marina took the brunt of it. I heard 80% of their docks were damaged, including the store. Hopefully they'll be able to re-open in time for the holiday, but I really don't know.

Speaking of the holiday (next weekend!), we are getting geared up and ready for you. If the weather will just cooperate, we'll be in good shape. Parking may be a little tight, but we'll all just have to park where we can -- I'll probably just walk to work! It's hard to believe Memorial weekend is only 10 days away. We certainly haven't had a very nice spring. Maybe summer will arrive soon. :)

By the way, Just Jackie's will open full time again starting next Wednesday, May 21.

Rainy Day

It's been pretty quiet in Pontiac this week. Yesterday and today were cloudy and a little rainy. We didn't get a lot of rain, but places all around us (mainly north) got upwards of 3 inches. Can you guess where all that water is going to end up? That's right... downstream. The lake is at about 693.5 now, which means it has come down about a foot and a half in the past three weeks. Despite the high water, we're still in good shape at PCM. Campsites are all dry, and all docks are accessible. Our biggest issue is the lack of parking. And we really can't complain about that. Some nearby marinas don't have parking, campsites, walkways to all their docks or even fuel.

Fishing is starting to pick up. I've heard the bass are hitting on the topwater. I'm still not hearing much about crappie, though.

The beaver continues to hack away at our precious tree. I'm considering offering a reward for anyone who can "trap" the thing. So put your thinking caps on. Oh, and I spoke to yet another conservation agent yesterday about the varmint, and he said if the animal is a nuisance we have every right to... well... you know... "take care of the problem." I would prefer something more humane, but the more he chews, the higher the price on his head.

Ciao for now!

Interesting tidbit...

Thirty years ago yesterday (May 1) my parents (Tim & Johnna Morgan) bought PCM from my grandparents (Joe & Alice Morgan). Just thought you might like to know that! Happy Friday!

Larry Wilbanks caught this 40-lb striper in Gulley this morning. WOW!

Nice Catch

Bill Allen caught this 8-pound walleye earlier in the week.

Lynda Dunsmuir sent in these great pics of Bull Shoals Lake from a bird's eye view. CLICK HERE to view the rest of her photos on snapfish.

Bull Shoals Dam...

Pontiac Cove...

Weekend Wrap-Up

As I said on Sunday, the third annual Blessing of the Fleet was a great event on Saturday, thanks to all who participated in the blessing itself and the picnic in the park afterward. Deacon Joe Kurtenbach, of Ava, offered the blessing to 40 boats. Several of them made U-turns and headed right back out on the lake after receiving the blessing. For many it was the first time they'd been on the lake this year, and I know a lot of folks were eager to see the lake at this high level. Not to mention it was a splendid day, with temps in the 70s and the sun shining brightly.

Doug and Deb Yeager and gang (pictured above right) won the award for the Most Original Theme, which was "Noah's Ark." (Very appropriate given all the rain and excess water we have!) Pam Hicks and family (above left) dressed as pirates (arghhh!) and won awards for the Best Costumes and Best in Show.

A HUGE thank you goes to Bob Gunkel, Skip and Angie Dechau, Bill and Lois Bauer, Roger and Debbie Lee, and our new park attendant, Tom Pardo, for all of their hard work in setting up, cooking, serving and cleaning up after the picnic. I heard rave reviews from several people about the food. The menu consisted of fried fish, grilled brats and hot dogs, corn on the cob, new potatoes, corn muffins and dessert. It was delish.

Revolver, a blues and rock and roll band, entertained the crowd. Throughout the night the group invited guest singers (and tambourine players...) to join them on stage. There was plenty of dancing going on as well.

At the end of the night, with the food and t-shirt sales, raffle ticket sales, and the joining of six members to the "One Minute Club" (a donation of $300 for one minute of fireworks), more than $3,000 was raised for the fireworks, putting us up to about $4,500 total -- just $1,500 shy of the $6,000 goal for a 20-minute display. Way to go EVERYONE!!

CLICK HERE to see more pictures from the Blessing of the Fleet. (If you aren't already a member of snapfish, simply enter your e-mail address and a password to create an account.)

Great turnout for the Blessing!

Hey everyone! Sorry for the lapse since my last post... It's been a busy week. The third annual Blessing of the Fleet was a great success yesterday. Thank you so much to all of you who came out for the event, and especially to the worker bees who helped set up, cook and clean up. I'll let you know later in the week how much we raised for the Pontiac Fireworks. We couldn't have done it without everyone! I'll post pictures and write more about the Blessing a little later...

He's Baaaaaaaaack!

Well, I suppose he probably never went anywhere, but I was hopeful that our little friend (a.k.a. the beaver) had found a new home with the high water. But really, this just gives him a whole new patch of trees to saw down with his razor sharp incisors. This is a rather large tree on the upper road... you know the one. He has already chewed off one branch, and now he's working on another. Look at the size of that branch! It's huge! He must be stopped.

New Look!

So... what do you think of the new blog? I hope you find the new design is easy on the eyes. Notice the list of links to the right... Those will always be there, so you can check the local weather, news and lake level anytime you like. Enjoy!

Fishing Tournament Results

(Above left): Mark & Ofelia Sanders took first place; (Above right): Verla Cubbage and her son, Jerry, announce the winners and hand out door prizes.

Despite frigid temperatures and gale force winds, 16 boats turned out for the Verne D. Cubbage Memorial Buddy Bass Tournament in Pontiac on Saturday. Mark and Ofelia Sanders, Ava, took first place ($500) with six fish totaling 15 pounds, 6 ounces. They also won the big bass pot ($160) for a 3-pound, 13-ounce largemouth. Bobby Comstock, Protem, and Josh Johns, Theodosia, took second place ($330) with six fish totaling 11 pounds, 3 ounces. Allen Tharp, Gainesville, and Larry Nickels, Mountain Home, Ark., took third place ($200) with two fish totaling 3 pounds, 13 ounces. Rod Crain and Stormy Williams, both of Ava, took fourth place ($150) with two fish totaling 3 pounds. Bob and Josh Barnum, Ava, took fifth place ($100) with two fish totaling 2 pounds, 12 ounces.

Four kids younger than 16 fished in the tournament. Jordan Husak, Cedar Hill, Mo., caught the biggest fish of the four boys. The fish weighed 2 pounds, 10 ounces. He was awarded a $100 savings bond at First Home Savings Bank in Gainesville. Calib Hatchcock, Union, Mo., Trey Schroeder, Crestwood, Mo., and Jared Harper, Beebe, Ark., were given $50 savings bonds for their participation.

Twenty door prizes were handed out, including tackle boxes, rods and reels, Branson getaway packages, gift certificates to Shockey’s, the Harlin House, Pontiac Cove Marina, and much more. Altogether $500 was raised for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation in memory of Verne Cubbage, who passed away a little more than two years ago.

695.03

So I may have spoken too soon yesterday. Now the Corps has changed their forecast. The lake actually crested today at 695.03. Another new record! Now they're predicting the lake level to be back to normal by Friday... HA! Just kidding. Actually they're predicting 694.9 by Friday. A whopping 13/100 of a foot lower than it is today. Hey, we'll take what we can get. Meanwhile, I snapped this shot, so you could see just how close the end of our walkway is getting to Just Jackie's deck. Don't you think she should deliver down to the water now? :)

One for the Books

The lake has crested today at 694.9. Hallelujah! That is a new record.

Here is the latest forecast:

Tuesday: 694.8
Wednesday: 694.6
Thursday: 694.4

All is well at PCM. I've heard rumors flying that we are going to have to shut off our electricity and the Blessing of the Fleet is canceled... NOT TRUE! If the lake were to reach 697 (that's 2 feet above flood stage), then we would have to shut off the electricity temporarily, of course, until it were to get back to flood stage. That is a "worst case scenario" situation. Thankfully the Corps seems to have a handle on the lake levels now, so we don't foresee that happening.

Now... on to the Blessing!

Join us Saturday, April 26, for a boat blessing ceremony at 2 p.m., picnic in the park at 5 p.m., and live music by the band, Revolver (http://gigsalad.com/revolver), from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Decorating your boat is optional, and prizes will be awarded to the winners (best costumes, most original theme, etc.) Please let us know if you plan to attend and how many are in your group, so we know how much food to prepare. You don't need to bring a thing! A volunteer committee is preparing and selling food to raise money for the Pontiac Fireworks.

We are selling Blessing of the Fleet tees again this year, and they are the best yet!

We hope to see you there!

Water Under the Bridge

Thanks to Jimmy Conner for sharing this photo of the Theodosia bridge.

Who opened the gates?

Behind Larry Kankey and Craig Mincke you can see the flood gates at Bull Shoals dam are open! They were opened at about 12:30 Saturday afternoon.


The latest prediction for the lake to crest is 694.9 on Monday. (Two days ago the forecast was for 695.7, so backing it off 8/10 of a foot is a good sign, I think.)

(Photo by Brenda Kankey.)

More pics

This was taken from the main dock, looking to the right, toward the hill that leads up and out of the park. Look just to the left of the gate, through the trees, and you can see the bathrooms there at the edge of the water.

This pic was taken from the main dock, looking toward where the launch ramp should be... those light poles that are about to go under are on the top road. Don't worry, the electricity has been disconnected from them.

A Dry Forecast... FINALLY

Grrrrreat news. The 10-day forecast for Pontiac is (practically) rain free, with just a few spotty showers possible later next week. And after this little cool down (highs in the 50s this weekend) we should start warming up again next week, hitting 70+ by the end of next week. Spring... are you here to stay?

Today's forecast: mostly sunny, 60 degrees and WINDY.

A New Record Soon!

I missed a year in yesterday's post about past high water levels. This is the correct info:

June 1957: 694.4 (current record... but not for long!)
June 1973: 691
June 1990: 691.5
June 2002: 688.8

Notice all of these high water levels were recorded in June! This is only April, and we're about to break the record. The lake came up a couple feet overnight. Matt had to back his truck down to the water to get on the walkway from his tailgate to keep from getting wet. The lake level is about 693, according to the Springfield news this morning. We understand Bull Shoals is now running eight generators and releasing some water through the flood gates. Look out below.

Just so you know... You have to see this in person to really get the full effect. The pictures below do not do it justice. I literally cannot get to high enough ground to get a full shot of the cove! Now we really need an aerial shot!

Pictures

(Above): As you can see, this picture was taken from the hill above the gas storage tanks. What would be all the parking for the 800 dock obviously is under water now, and the 800 dock is attached to the 200 dock via a walkway.
(Left): Before long we'll be able to step right off the walkway and on to Just Jackie's deck! That's actually pretty handy. :)

The latest forecast...

4-10: 688.76 (I guess I was right the first time...)
4-11: 691.6
4-12: 692.8
4-13: 693.5

4-15: 694.9 CREST (we'll see)

Correction

Bull Shoals is actually 689.6 now.

Lake Level Update

We already had one tornado warning this morning, but all is well at PCM. The guys are checking cables and making some adjustments to the walkway now, as the lake continues to rise. It rained all last night and this morning -- 3 inches is what I was told. Wow. The skies are blue and birds are chirping now, but there is another threat of severe weather later this afternoon.

For those of you curious about how high the lake has been in past years, Tim did a little research and found that Bull Shoals has only reached maximum capacity (695) one time, and that was June 1957. (Which means very few people have ever seen it that high.) The second highest level was 691.5 in June 1990. (Some of you may remember that.) And most recently it went to 688.8 in June 2002.

Today we're at 688.7. As of Monday the forecast for B.S. was 690 on April 15; however, with all the rain we just got and are supposed to get later on today, that will most likely go up.

So what does that mean for PCM customers? Well, fortunately for us and you all, we are in pretty good shape, compared to some of the other marinas. For starters, the campground here is situated high enough that it's all above water, whereas the campgrounds at Theodosia and Oakland are all under water, from what I've heard. The shoreline around our cove is steep enough now that as the lake continues to rise, the dock will just rise up with it. We have enough walkways that you can and will be able to get on and off the dock, even if B.S. reaches maximum pool. (I heard some marinas on Bull Shoals and Table Rock are already having to ferry customers to and from their boats.)

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to call. We'll keep you posted as new information is available.

Fishing Report

Chuck Benson (St. Louis) caught this 30-pound striper Saturday morning not far from PCM. He and his buddy, Steve Ponzar, were in town for the weekend pre-fishing for a tournament on Sunday. They went out Saturday morning, and it couldn't have been an hour later I saw them coming in. They motored up to the main dock and said, "Get your camera!" I think they were pretty excited when they pulled that thing out of the water.

Speaking of fishing, a few people have called to ask for a fishing report. From what I've heard it's been a little tough since the lake is continuing to rise; however, there are people catching fish. I talked to a guy a couple days ago who said he caught a limit of crappie recently--and like a typical fisherman, he wouldn't tell me where or on what! Jeannie Looper said yesterday she caught a couple largemouth on Saturday afternoon. The water temp is about 54 degrees F.

Are you ready to walk the plank?

All roads lead to... WATER

Sorry I haven't written sooner, or taken any more pics. I will snap a few shots tomorrow and post them. The lake is up to 680 today. That's 26 feet above normal pool. This is the latest forecast from the Corps of Engineers:

Wednesday: 682.1
Thursday: 683.3
Friday: 684.1

Bull Shoals is expected to crest on April 12 at 688.7. However, at this point we really aren't very hopeful about that, as there is still more rain in the forecast.

FYI: Both the 500 and 800 docks are connected to the main dock now. So if your boat is on either of those docks, you'll have to come on the main walkway to get to them. The top road is completely under water, so the only parking to speak of is below Jackie's.

I know it sounds bad... but really... it's not that bad. I've had a few folks call to ask if we're open and if the lake is navigable. Trust me, we are open and we will be no matter how high the water gets. It's been higher than this before. We can handle it if you can handle it. The lake is just a little bigger than what we're all used to. And so far, it doesn't seem to be an issue, as folks are going out daily from Pontiac.

Call if you have questions.

Lake Level Today = 673.7

(Top left): As you can see, the water is starting to creep up on the top road now. (Top right): This shot was taken from the dock near the dive shop... you can see the launch ramp is... well... barely there. But it is functional! (For now.) The latest forecast from the Corps for when we can expect B. S. to crest is 678.6 on April 6. We'll see!

Fishin' Gooooood

Gabe and Matt both caught their limit of whites this evening. I'm not supposed to tell where they caught them. I guess they're afraid everyone will flock to their honey hole. But here's a clue: It sort of rhymes with string cheese... uh-huh... think about it. Yep, you guessed it. It's not that difficult to figure out. Lots of people go there to fish for white bass. Anyway, Gabe also caught a nice largemouth. You could say fishing is good!

Lake Level Update

I reported earlier today that Bull Shoals is supposed to crest at 680.4 on April 11. That's the info we received via e-mail from the Corps office in Mtn. Home yesterday. However, if you click here, you can see the lake level forecast, which shows B.S. cresting at 675.2 on April 4. They do update this forecast daily, so I'll be checking later in the week to see if that changes again.

Yes, Bull Shoals Lake is navigable.

Hi folks. I'd like to dispel any rumors you may have heard that Bull Shoals Lake is not fishable, nor is it safe to navigate because of the high water. This is simply not true. At least not in Pontiac. There are people fishing every day out of this marina. Now, the condition of the lake certainly is not ideal. We're used to clear water, and right now the clarity is just terrible. But there are still fish being caught by our local fishermen. Also, I would advise boaters to watch for debris in the water (something else we're not used to having to worry about). But other than that, you can certainly go out on the lake. If you're looking for a place to launch your boat, our ramp is still accessible as well.

Current lake conditions: Bull Shoals is currently at 672.4 (18 feet above normal pool). According to an e-mail we received from the Corps of Engineers office in Mountain Home, Ark., yesterday, the lake is still going up another 8 feet, where it should crest at 680.4 on April 11. This does not take into account any rain we may get in the next few days, so that could very well change. We'll keep you posted.

PCM is open daily: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Thursday; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday & Saturday; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Keep Left :)

In case you're wondering, we survived all the rain! So far, anyway. Matt and Josh did have to take a boat to get on the dock this morning! But everything is fine. Just a little extra water. The lake is about 664+ now. By the time I finish writing this it will probably be even higher than that! It's coming up about 4 inches an hour today. A rep from the Corps called this morning and told us Bull Shoals will crest next Thursday, March 27, at 675 -- that's 21 feet above normal pool. And that's ONLY if we don't get any more rain between now and then. Yowzas. Get ready to say bye-bye to the top road. By the time this is over we'll be able to walk right off the dock and onto Jackie's deck! Some of you have seen it that high before. Others haven't. Get your cameras ready!

FYI: Our hours are 8 to 5 Monday to Thursday; 8 to 6 Friday and Saturday; and 8 to 4 on Sunday. As you know, that will change as the days get longer and we get closer to summertime.

Despite all the rain we've had the past couple days, Easter weekend looks to be promising weather-wise. The sun is already out this afternoon. By tomorrow we should be in the upper 60s and sunny, and staying that way through the weekend! Hope you're staying dry, where ever you are! Cheers!

Fish Tales

(Above left): Chris Geroff caught this largemouth Saturday afternoon. His fishing buddy (who I won't name here, because I don't want to embarrass him) caught the little white. (Above right): Bob Gunkel caught a mess of whites Saturday afternoon.