*Light up the Lake*

Missy Fourcault shared some of her pictures from the Pontiac Fireworks with us. I think this one in particular is really cool!

Lost Dog

This dog/puppy showed up at the dock today, and someone said they've seen her (pretty sure it's a "her") wondering around Pontiac for the past week. Do you know this dog? Do you want this dog? Please come pick her up at the dock if you do. Thanks. :)

Milton Hoefle, 1938-2009

Many of you know by now, but for those who don't, Milt Hoefle passed away July 2, at his home in Pontiac. Milt was a long-time customer and friend of PCM. I personally don't remember the first time I met him because I've known him my entire life. Before he made Pontiac his permanent home, Milt kept a boat at PCM for many, many years. In fact, he kept the same slip in the oldest dock we have until earlier this spring when we broke the news to him and the other renters near him that the old dock would have to be torn down. I can tell you, he wasn't too happy about it. He really loved that old slip - he had been a dock customer since at least the '60s, possibly in the same slip, as that dock was 50+ years old. He took some time to think about it, and finally he agreed to let us move him, but only if he and his buddy, Chuck Maguire, could stay next to each other. Sure, no problem, we said. So, we moved Milt and Chuck's boats side-by-side in the first and second slips right behind the store - a prime location, and not very far from his old dock. We put Chuck's boat in the second slip, Milt's in the first. A month or so later, Milt's wife, Chris, told me how much he loved his new slip. She said he was pretty proud of the fact that he was in that #1 spot.

Milt will be missed by all of us at PCM.

Here is a clip from his obituary from Clinkingbeard Funeral Homes:

Milt was employed by National Supermarkets in St. Louis for 30 years where he served as Vice President of Information Services. He loved to fish, hunt, work in his wood shop and “living at the lake”. He was a member of St. Williams Parish in Gainesville, MO where he provided the music for Sunday mass, fried fish for the fish fries, made crafts for the craft fair and anything else he could help with. He was a “lake father” to many of the young people in Pontiac and was said to be the “go to guy” when someone needed help, tools or spare parts. He was loved be many and will be missed by all.

Firework Fun Day

Here are a few pics from last Friday... the day and night of the Pontiac fireworks... I'm sad to say I didn't get any of the actual fireworks! Anyone out there have any cool pics of the display? If so, and if you'd like to see them on the blog, e-mail them to me at info@pontiaccove.com. Cheers!

Fishing on the Fourth

Rodney Harper and his son Jared (Beebe, Ark.) had a great time fishing over the Fourth of July weekend at Bull Shoals Lake. Fishing was best during the early morning hours. That seems to be the trend here lately... early morning, late evening and after dark are when the most fish are being caught. Walleye on spoons and bass on jigs. That's what I've been told!

Blowout 31

The 31st annual BLOWOUT is going to be Saturday, August 1. This is our annual PCM customer appreciation party for our dock customers and their families. More details to come soon. For now just mark your calendars!

5, 4, 3, 2...

ONE day left until we *LIGHT UP THE LAKE* over Pontiac! Be here!

(By the way... a side note... this is my 400th post on the PCM blog. Thank you to all my faithful readers!)

Happy 4th of July! :)

And the winner is...

We did the drawing for the "First 15" this morning, and the winner of the $100 gas card to Pontiac Cove Marina is Chris Geroff. The winners of the $100 gift certificate to Just Jackie's are Don & Jeannie Looper. Congrats to all of you! And thank you very much for your support!

First 15 for the Fireworks

I'm pleased to announce we got our 15 contributors for our first "First 15" for the fireworks. Just to recap: fifteen people bought $100 in raffle tickets (that's 12 raffle tickets each for the big drawing on July 4), and we're going to draw for $100 to Just Jackie's and $100 gas card to the marina from those 15 names. THANK YOU to everyone who got in the "15" drawing. I'll announce our two $100 prize winners this week!

Five days and counting 'til the sixth annual Pontiac Fireworks. Are you ready?!

Spearfishing Tourney Results

We had a great turnout for our annual spearfishing tournament last Saturday. Forty-nine divers entered, and more than 30 fish were weighed. Check out some of the pics above! These are the results:

1st place catfish: 28 lbs, 5 oz
Timothy Lawson, Bradleyville, MO

2nd place catfish: 16 lbs, 15 oz
Bert Benton, Flippin, AR

3rd place catfish: 16 lbs, 14 oz
Bryan Bell, Mountain Home, AR

1st place rough fish: 48 lbs, 0 oz (carp)
Jeremy Manier, Highland, IL

2nd place rough fish: 8 lbs, 13 oz (carp)
Don Heskett, Centerview, MO

3rd place rough fish: 7 lbs, 15 oz (carp)
Mel Manier, Eureka, IL

Biggest walleye: 5 lbs, 7 oz
Bob Benson, Imperial, MO

Spearfishing Preview

Great turnout for the spearfishing tournament! Forty-nine divers entered. First place catfish was 28 pounds, 5 ounces. First place rough fish was a 48-pound carp. No kidding! More details and pictures to come soon...

Summer is here...

It may not be official until Sunday, but by the looks of this 10-day forecast... summer is already here. Hot, hot, and more hot. Yessssss.

Fishing Report

I've been hearing lately that fishing is best early in the morning and late in the evening... and besides that, it's sort of slow. I'm not sure what time they caught them, but Skip and Angie Dechau and Pat Godwin came in at about 8:00 this evening with a mess of nice fish. They said they were out early this morning, too, before the thunderstorm, and also did really well.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, June 20
Don't forget the annual Pontiac Spearfishing Tournament is this Saturday. Registration begins at 7 a.m. Take-off at 9 a.m. Weigh-in from 1 to 3 p.m. at Hollingsworth Cove in Arkansas. Even if you're not involved in the tourney, come on down for the weigh-in to see some (hopefully) BIG fish! Winners will be recognized and prizes handed out on the deck at Just Jackie's at 4:30 p.m.

Friday, July 3
The sixth annual Pontiac Fireworks display is coming up in just a couple weeks. We'll be hanging out and grilling hot dogs before and after the fireworks right on the dock, so be sure to stop by!

Pontiac Spearfishing Tournament

The annual Pontiac Spearfishing Tournament is coming up on Saturday, June 20. Anyone is welcome to enter. Registrations are taken from 7 to 9 a.m. the day of the tournament at the marina. Shot-gun start at 9 a.m. from the marina. Weigh-in will be at Hollingsworth from 1 to 3 p.m. You must check in by 3 p.m. if you wish to have your fish weighed. No exceptions will be made for those who are late.

All state regulations, length limits and daily possession limits must be adhered to.

Cash prizes are awarded in three categories: catfish, rough fish and walleye. Winners will be recognized and door prizes handed out on the deck at Just Jackie's beginning at 4:30 p.m. Pizza buffet to follow for divers and their families.

Questions? E-mail info@pontiaccove.com or call 417-679-3676.

She fed the fish... and then she caught them!

This is Lacey Kunz, granddaughter of Wilfried and Linda Roder. This was her first time fishing, and she was pretty proud of her catch! (So were grandma and grandpa, I'd say.) Oh, and check out her shirt! :)

Check it out!

There must have been an air show at Bull Shoals last Friday... Anyone know for sure what was going on? I snapped these pics in front of Bull Shoals Boat Dock.

Some things in life really are FREE!

Free Fishing Days in Missouri this Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7. From the Missouri Department of Conservation, and I quote: "Anyone in Missouri can sample the state's fishing for free, thanks to an annual statewide promotion designating June 6 and 7 as Free Fishing Days. Fishing permits, including trout permits and daily trout tags, are not required on those days, but all anglers must obey size and possession limits for the waters they are fishing. Free Fishing Days is part of National Fishing Week, which promotes the benefits of fishing."

HAPPY FISHING!

Quite the little fishergirl

Caroline Lednick, granddaughter of Butch and Pat Williams, caught this 17-inch smallmouth on a live bass minnow over the holiday weekend. (Shameless plug: She got the minnow from PCM!) Caroline will be 10 years old in June.

"First 15" drawing for the fireworks

In an effort to meet our fireworks fund-raising goal so we can put on a spectacular show again this year, we've come up with a quickie promotion that we hope will help us sell some tickets fast - and allow us to give something back in return. Here's how it's going to work...

We're giving away $100 in fuel plus a $100 gift certificate to Just Jackie's! How can you win? Be one of the first 15 people to buy $100 in raffle tickets. That means not only will you have a 1 in 15 chance of winning one of the two $100 giveaways, but you'll also get 12 raffle tickets (for your $100 donation) in the pot for the GRAND prize drawing to be held on July 4.

Please contact Jabet Wade (417-679-3676) or Bill Bauer (417-679-4734) for more information. As soon as we have our First 15, we'll draw for those two $100 prizes. DON'T MISS OUT!

(Check or cash only, please. Mail checks to Pontiac Fireworks, c/o Pontiac Cove Marina, HC 1 Box 600, Pontiac, MO 65729. We'll fill out the tickets for you and put your name in the "First 15" drawing.)

Ready, set... GO to the lake!

Good Saturday morning, everyone! Just a quick note to say, it's a lovely morning in Pontiac, and we hope to see you at the lake today! Have a fun and safe Memorial weekend. Cheers!

FYI...

Just Jackie's will be open full time (8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily) starting this Thursday. Woo-hoo!

Blessing tee re-order is in. If you ordered shirts, please pick them up at the dock the next time you're down. Cash or check only, please. Checks should be made out to "Pontiac Fireworks." Thank you!

We still have boat slips and boat rentals (believe it or not) available for this weekend. Walk-ins welcome.

Reservations at the Pontiac campground are full; however, a few sites are available for walk-ins. Call 417-679-2222 for more info. As of last week, some of the resorts also still had availability for this weekend. Visit our website at pontiaccove.com for a listing of all Pontiac lodging.

The park is OPEN!

Campers are welcome at Pontiac... finally.

We have two new park attendants this year - Dorothy and Lou (hope I'm spelling that correctly). Go easy on them. They are good friends, who are brand new to this hosting business. Super friendly gals. The campground looks great. Enjoy! :)

MarineMax Sea Ray Bull Shoals Getaway

Attention all MarineMax customers and Sea Ray owners: For the second year in a row, MarineMax is hosting a Bull Shoals Getaway on July 11. This is the info from the flyer:

"At 11 a.m. we'll gather at Pontiac Cove Marina and enjoy lunch at Just Jackie's. After our chance to visit with friends old and new, it's a relaxing afternoon of fun in the sun. We'll cove out, hang out, wakeboard, tube and ski until the sun is done. This is a day you won't want to miss! Please RSVP to 800-852-8402 before July 3.

MarineMax has locations in Nixa, Lake Ozark and Osage Beach. Visit marinemax.com.

Severe Weather Report

In case you're wondering, PCM made it through last night's storm without a hitch. For those of you who don't live nearby, we had severe weather in our area again last night. Ozark County was under a tornado warning at about midnight. As far as I know there weren't any actual tornadoes reported, and not any damage locally. Last Friday morning a wicked batch of weather moved through the Ozarks - and it was super fast and furious. No damage from that storm either. At least not here. Areas north of here were hit harder - huge trees were snapped in half and roofs blown off houses and barns. We're thankful PCM was spared both times - if the dock has nine lives, it just spent two in one week.

Pretty as a butterfly...

...but, it's actually a MOTH. When it flew away, it looked like a bird!

Last call for t-shirts!

I'm wrapping up the Blessing tee re-order today. It's not too late to order. If you want a shirt, call 417-679-3676 or e-mail info@pontiaccove.com by the end of the day.

Cheers!

Campground/Lake Level Update

Well folks, the campground is almost ready to welcome campers again. Last week the tags were removed from all the trees, and yesterday, a crew was here mowing - it looks great! AND... new park attendants moved in. I haven't met them yet, but looking forward to getting to know them this year. I spoke with Carrie at the Mountain Home Corps office this morning, and she informed me they are planning to open May 15. I'm not sure why they're not going to open sooner, as it appears to me everything is ready to go. Who knows. But, that's the official word I got this morning.

The lake was at 660.4 yesterday, and it is predicted to crest at 662.7 on Friday. Hopefully we won't get any more significant rainfall in the next week. Right now, the water is over the lower road, so parking is limited to the top road. While it's definitely a manageable level, we're just hoping once it crests it will start back down toward normal pool.

The weather forecast for this week and early next week is much better than last... still chances of rain, but not as much, and a lot warmer.

Blessing pics... finally!

Okay, sorry it took me so long to get these posted... but, here they are! I tried to post one of each boat that was blessed, so there are lots of boat pictures in the beginning... and a few from the picnic as well. Watch the slideshow here if you'd like, or click on the album to view them at your leisure. Enjoy!

Blessing t-shirts... want one?

For those of you who did not see them, these are what the Blessing tees look like this year. We sold out Saturday evening, but if I get enough people wanting more, I can do a re-order and have them in pretty quickly. They are $12 each. I know several people told me the night of the Blessing that they wanted shirts if I did a re-order, but naturally I have forgotten who you are! Please e-mail me at jabetwade@yahoo.com or info@pontiaccove.com, or call 417-679-3676 if you want a Blessing tee. I need to know how many and what sizes. I'd like to get the order in by Monday, if possible. So, let me know asap! THANKS!

Blessed and ready for summer!

The fourth annual Blessing of the Fleet has come and gone... and it was a huge success! THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the boat parade - about 45 boats were blessed. Deacon Joe, from Ava, was here for the second year in a row. He told me he really enjoys giving the blessing and would be glad to come back again next year. The Pam Hicks crew - the Thriller bunch - won all the awards by a landslide: Best Costumes, Most Original Theme and Best in Show. They worked on their theme and dance moves for months! They are such a fun group, and I want to give a special shout out to them for taking the time to dress up and decorate. We also had a great turnout for the picnic in the park. We served about 130 dinners. A big thanks to all the workers who cooked and served and collected the money - Bill, Bob, Roger, Matt, Gabe, Debbie, Lois, Mary Beth, Vita... couldn't have done it without you! As always, Revolver provided great entertainment throughout the evening. Overall, I think a good time was had by all. :)

I'll write more and post lots o' pictures soon.

Two in one week?!

It seems we aren't the only ones enjoying this warm weather... Look what I spotted crossing the road this afternoon! He slithered out of the ditch on the marina side and was headed toward the park side... I had just come up the hill from the lower road at the dock when I saw him. Harmless black snake? Perhaps. But, it was large one, and I most definitely did not get out of my car to take a closer look...

I kept trying to get a shot of his head, but he was moving fairly quickly...

It looked like he was headed toward the "outhouse" on the hill just above the marina... yet another reason to avoid that place. Thank goodness the "nice" restrooms are now open in the park, eh?

Nice Catch

Glen Hegger caught this crappie while fishing the Verne Cubbage Memorial Fishing Tournament on Saturday... too bad it was a bass tournament. :)

New Hours

We are now opening at 7 a.m. daily. Our latest hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday through Thursday; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday.

Tournament Results

Thomas Lloyd, Springfield, and James Lloyd, St. Charles, (pictured above) took first place in the third annual Verne D. Cubbage Memorial Fishing Tournament on Saturday at Pontiac Cove Marina on Bull Shoals Lake. They are the grandsons of John and Del Lloyd, of Pontiac. They won with a total weight of 11 pounds, 8 ounces. They also won the Big Bass pot with a 3-pound largemouth. Mark and Ofelia Sanders, Ava, took second place with 8 pounds, 13 ounces. Buck and Bob Comstock, Protem, took third place with 8 pounds, 8 ounces. Rodney and Jared Harper, Beebe, Ark., took fourth place with 7 pounds, 15 ounces. Bob Gunkel and Justin Avery, Pontiac, took fifth place with 6 pounds, 5 ounces. The tournament is held in memory of Verne Cubbage, who enjoyed fishing on Bull Shoals Lake for many years. A portion of the entry fee was retained for Gainesville High School’s extracurricular activities clubs.

Unwanted visitor...

Josh caught this little guy slithering around the parking lot out in front of the marina this morning. We tried to determine whether it was poisonous, but we concluded it was just a harmless water snake... anyone beg to differ?

It's BLESSING week!

Only five days until the fourth annual Blessing of the Fleet. Check out the weather forecast for this week... fannnnntastic! Looks like Saturday should be a glorious day to be on the water and a fabulous afternoon/evening in the park. Just a reminder that the Blessing ceremony begins at 2 p.m. If you plan to participate in the parade of boats, you should be outside the breakwater a little before 2:00. Afterward, there will be some downtime before the picnic in the park - an opportunity for you to cruise the lake and soak up some much-needed sunshine. Food will be served in the park starting around 5 p.m. Cost is $8 for adults; $5 for kids under 12. All proceeds go to the Pontiac Fireworks. We'll also be selling raffle tickets, t-shirts, caps and memberships to the "One Minute Club." (Did you know it costs approximately $300 for one minute of fireworks?) Revolver will provide live music for the evening.

As always, our #1 goal is for everyone to have fun and have an excuse to come to the lake (as if you need one!), and also to help us raise money for the Pontiac Fireworks. We hope to see you there!

Tournament Update

Well, we had 20 boats enter the Verne Cubbage Memorial Tournament, which took off without a hitch at 7:00 this morning. So far the weather seems perfect for fishing. It's warm, cloudy, a few rain drops here, a few there... just perfect. This is the third year we've hosted this tournament, and so far this is the most entries and the best weather we've had. If you're in the area this afternoon, you're welcome to come down for the weigh-in at 3:30 p.m. on the 500 dock (that's our newest dock, out by the launch ramp). The walkway is connected to the shore at the launch ramp. Hopefully there will be lots of fish to weigh!

Latest Park Update

This is the latest Pontiac park/campground update from the Mountain Home Corps project office, as of yesterday...

-Tree-trimming crews are still working, close to finishing
-The "nice" restrooms/showerhouses in the park will be open before the Blessing on April 25, per my request
-Campground will for sure be open by May 15, and hopefully sooner than that
-If there are still no park attendants by May 15, the park will open regardless, using the "honor" system for collecting fees
-Bottom line: The campground will be open this year!

That's all I know, folks! If you want to speak to someone at our local project office personally, please feel free to call 870-425-2700 and press 1 for park and campground information.

A good day fishin'

Matthew Edmondson caught this 13-inch crappie while fishing with his grandpa, Milt Hoefle, on Saturday.

A few updates...

Just a reminder that the Verne Cubbage Memorial Bass tournament is this Saturday. Take-off is 7 a.m., weigh-in at 3:30 p.m. There will be lots of prizes handed out at the weigh-in, as well as cash prizes for the winners. Cost to enter is $100 per boat, plus an additional $10 per boat for the big bass pot. A young fisherman award will also be handed out. A portion of the proceeds will go to Gainesville High School's extracurricular activities clubs. There will be a pizza buffet afterward at Just Jackie's.

A tree-trimming crew has been working in the Pontiac park since the middle of last week. I still don't know when the park will be open to campers, but hopefully very soon. I will check with the Mountain Home Corps project office mid-week to see what the status is. If you'd like to speak with someone at the Corps office, call 870-425-2700.

As I write this, the guys are moving the walkway to the 500 dock (newest dock out by the launch ramp) from the main dock to the shore. If you'll recall, that's how the walkway was set up before the high water last year. There is a gate on the 500 dock, and only annual stall customers are allowed beyond the gate. The first 10 slips on that dock are for short-term renters.

The fourth annual Blessing of the Fleet is coming up on April 25. If you are planning to decorate your boat and/or yourselves, you should be thinking about your theme now! You don't have to decorate, but it has been fun in the past to see what folks come up with. The blessing ceremony will take place at 2:00 Saturday afternoon, then a picnic in the park will follow at 5:00 - money from the food sales will go to the Pontiac Firework Fund. Revolver will play live music that evening until closing. We'll be selling t-shirts and hats the day of the Blessing as well.

Update: Pontiac campground

A tree-trimming crew began work yesterday cleaning up the Pontiac park. The last I heard, the Corps is shooting for April 15 to re-open the campground to campers. I'll keep you posted on their progress. For more information or to make reservations at the Pontiac campground, call 877-444-6777.

Another good fishing report...

Tony Allbright (right) and Lloyd Hunter caught several nice crappie last week...

Is it skill? Or is it just good luck? You be the judge...

Justin likes to go fishing in his spare time...

And lately he's done quite well...

Poker Tournament Results

I haven't had a chance to talk to Vita or Mary Beth, but I did hear the Ladies Club Texas Hold 'Em tourney on Saturday raised about $500 for the Ozark County Food Pantry. Great job, everyone!

Good-to-know Info

Here are a few safe boating tidbits from Seaworthy Magazine, as summer draws near...

Five Reasons to Change Your Prop
Everybody knows to change the engine oil, swap out the impeller every year or two, change belts, etc. but the prop is much more likely to be overlooked. Choosing the wrong prop or continuing to use a prop that is damaged can not only cause your boat to perform poorly, it can increase your fuel consumption and even damage your engine and transmission.

Trailer Tires
Here's something for trailer boat owners to think about this summer when they're zooming down the road with thousands of pounds of boat bouncing along behind the car: If you're traveling at 50 mph, the trailer's 12-inch tires will be going 60 mph; 10-inch tires will be going 70 mph; and 8-inch tires will be going 90 mph! This spring you can avoid a lot of headaches by taking a few minutes to make sure your tires are healthy. Most trailer tires are left outdoors and fail because they "rot" over time (look for spiderweb cracks on the sidewall). That's true even if the tires are rarely used.

Life Jackets and Kill Switches
A man in Arizona was taking his 18-foot bass boat out onto a lake by himself one night, as he had done many times before, when he struck a jetty that had recently been built. In an instant, he was catapulted off the bow and landed, unconscious, in the water... Prior to getting under way, he attached the engine's kill switch to the life jacket he was wearing. If he hadn't bothered with the life jacket or the kill switch, he would likely have been run over by his own boat, cut up by the prop and drowned. Instead, the engine was stopped before he hit the water and he floated quietly beside the boat until he regained consciousness. Despite a few broken ribs, he was able to climb back aboard, start the engine, and return home. It could be argued that there is no need for a good swimmer on a boat to always wear his or her life jacket in all conditions. But when you're by yourself, especially at night or in foul weather, a life jacket certainly makes a lot of sense. As for the kill switch, it should always be attached to whomever is at the controls when the boat is under way. Always.

Fishing Tournament Details

The third annual Verne Cubbage Memorial Fishing Tournament is April 18. Any two-person team is welcome to enter. Entry fee is $100 per boat, plus $10 for the big bass pot. I expect that as good as fishing has been this spring we should have a pretty good competition this year! Those of you who were around the past two years have surely not forgotten the challenging weather conditions the fishermen/women have faced. Maybe the weather in two weeks will be a little nicer. :)

As usual there will be tons of prizes given away at the weigh-in, plus cash prizes awarded to the winners. A Young Fisherman award will be given to the boy or girl 16 years old or younger who catches the biggest fish. Rodney Harper - Harper's Pure Country Taxidermy - has offered to mount the big fish for the young winner for free. After the weigh-in there will be a pizza buffet open to all the fishermen and women and their families and friends at Just Jackie's. Entry forms are available at PCM and can also be downloaded here. For more information, call us at 417-679-3676.

Computer Issues

Just wanted to let you know I've been having problems with my computer, thus I haven't been able to be online much the past week or so, which is why I haven't been updating the blog as frequently as I would like. I will hopefully be back on track by the end of the week, writing more regular updates and posting pics again. Bear with me. :) Thanks!

Poker Tournament this Saturday

The Pontiac Ladies Club is hosting a Texas Hold 'Em Tournament at 6 p.m. this Saturday at the Pontiac fire house. Anyone is welcome to enter for a $20 buy-in. All proceeds will go to the Ozark County Food Pantry. The ladies will serve refreshments. Call Mary Beth Roberts at 679-3609 or Vita Curvey at 679-4688 for more details.

Fishing Report

Pictured above is Paxton Lovan (Rogersville) - he and Matt caught their limits on Sunday - on jerk baits and swimming minnows (if you can believe that). Not only are folks catching white bass and black bass, but the crappie fishing has been great, too. If you're itchin' to go fishin' you better get on it - you're missing out!

Updates

FYI: The water is now turned on at the dock.

Also, I spoke to our park attendants for this year - John and Guyla (you may remember them from two years ago...) - this afternoon, and they informed me that the water and electricity are turned on in the park. However, the "no camping" signs are still posted and will stay up until the Corps is able to get a tree-trimming crew in the park to take care of all the broken limbs in the tagged trees. John and Guyla are planning to move in to the park around April 1 - hopefully campsites will be available to rent by then or shortly after.

Reminder: Benefit for Clines this Saturday

Just a reminder that the pie auction and live music event for Tom and Mary Cline is this Saturday - auction begins at 4 p.m.; music by Revolver at 6 p.m. Questions? Call Jackie at 417-372-1625 or Pam Guidorzi at 417-679-3070. (Scroll down and click on "older posts" to see the original post with details from March 3.)

Pontiac park update

I spoke with someone in the Mountain Home Corps office, and she confirmed what we thought about the "No camping until further notice" signs. They posted the signs because they are going to be coming in soon to work on removing the broken limbs from the tagged trees. She said the goal is to have all the parks re-opened by April 1. We'll keep you posted.

Notice these signs?

Apparently the Corps posted a couple of these signs at the entrance to the Pontiac Park a couple of hours ago. Tony Allbright just alerted me of it about a half hour ago, so I ran up there and snapped this picture with my phone. We knew nothing of any plans to restrict camping here, so I immediately tried to reach the Mountain Home Corps office, but it was already closed for the day. You may have noticed the Corps has also tagged several trees in the park with white or orange ribbon - again, we're not sure what those are for, but we're assuming the orange trees are going to be removed (they seem to be in the worst shape) and the white trees are going to be trimmed because of broken limbs. We're just assuming the newly posted signs are related to the tree tagging. I'm sure it's only temporary and the park will be open soon for campers. (The park officially opens April 1 with water and electricity.) Between now and Monday I will be looking in to this and let you know as soon as I know more. Thanks for your patience and cooperation.

A story from this week's Ozark County Times...

Pontiac/Price Place VFD lowers ISO rating
by Jabet Wade - Special to the Times

Members of the Pontiac/Price Place Volunteer Fire Department were ecstatic to learn last Tuesday that they lowered their ISO rating from a 9 to a 5, which makes them the lowest rated volunteer fire department in Ozark County.

The ISO collects and analyzes information relating to an individual fire department’s ability to respond to calls in their district, then assigns a Public Protection Classification (PPC) from 1 to 10 — 1 being the best and 10 the worst.

In Missouri, the only department with a Class 1 designation is the St. Louis fire department. Only seven departments in Missouri have a Class 2 designation, including Springfield and Columbia. In Ozark County, the only department with a better rating than a 9 is Gainesville, which is a 7. Nearby Oakland/Promise Land volunteer fire department is a 6.

A couple of the members I spoke to said they would have been thrilled with a 6, and many expected to receive a 7. They never dreamed it would go as low as a 5.

For the better part of this decade, the PPPVFD has tossed around the idea of trying to lower its ISO rating, in an effort to help its members save money. Board chairman Bob Kirgan says the biggest hang-up was always equipment. One of the ISO requirements they would have to meet before a lower rating would even be considered is the ability to pump 250 gallons of water per minute for two hours. That wasn’t possible until last May, when the department acquired a high-volume pump that would allow them to quickly refill the fire trucks.

After months of practicing, the PPPVFD was tested in October. Volunteer firefighters ran through drills that demonstrated their ability to work as a team, handle equipment and refill tankers to keep a continuous supply of water flowing at a staged “fire.” Now, five months later, they finally have the results.

On the heels of recent devastating fires in Ozark County, including the one that destroyed the home of Tom and Mary Cline, of Pontiac, the department wants to be sensitive about this announcement. They want their members to understand the purpose of lowering the rating is not for bragging rights for the department, but rather to help its members save money. The PPPVFD is still a rural, volunteer fire department, and responding to and putting out fires will always be a more difficult task than it is in districts with full-time firefighters.

The Pontiac-Price Place Volunteer Fire Department recently qualified for an ISO rating of 5, the lowest in the county, after the department and their equipment was tested in October.

So, how will the lower rating help members save money?

Many insurance companies factor in ISO ratings when calculating premiums for their policy holders. Therefore, a lower rating should translate to lower premiums for most members, depending on the company and individual policies.

A couple members have already called their agents to find out how much the lower rating will save them in the future. Roger and Debbie Lee learned they are going to save about $200 yearly, while Kirgan says he is going to save about $275.

Marlin Wallace, American Family insurance agent, says a Class 5 designation should lower rates for American Family customers by about one-third.

While most members will likely see a decrease in their insurance rates, it is important to note that not all insurance companies factor in the ISO rating. The ISO simply evaluates risk and offers their findings to the companies; each individual company chooses how or whether to use the information.

The new rating will take effect July 1. In the meantime, the PPPVFD is preparing and will mail a formal letter to all members who have paid their dues. Members are encouraged to present the letter to their insurance agents and request a lower rate.

The PPPVFD would like to thank all the local fire departments in Missouri and Arkansas that assisted with equipment, manpower and record-keeping during this process. They’d also like to thank the Pontiac Ladies Club and the Pontiac and Price Place communities for their continued support of the fire department. “The PPPVFD is totally dependent on member participation,” says training officer Al Davidson. “These dues-paying members will now see a return on their investment.”

For more information on the ISO rating and the PPPVFD, call fire chief Bill Richardson at 679-4674 or Kirgan at 679-3432. Or, visit iso.com.

Catch of the day?

Thanks to Jeannie Looper for sharing this photo of her son, Jared, and his BIG catch over the weekend. This is what she wrote... "Just had to share this photo of Jared and his big catch this past Saturday. We are not quite sure how this little guy took the lure... In all fairness to Jared, he did catch his fair share of keepers on Saturday, but this shot was just too good to pass up."

Ethanol and boat motors just don't mix

You've all heard stories about ethanol ruining boat motors. But why, exactly, is it so harmful? In a recent magazine article, Captain John N. Raguso, Marine Products Editor with The Fisherman and a licensed USCG Master and charter boat skipper with more than three decades of offshore experience writes the following:

PHASE SEPARATION
According to Frank Kelley, Mercury's Fuels and Lubricants Manager, public enemy #1, and the one thing to avoid at all costs when using an ethanol blended gasoline, is the presence of water. Once water gets into the fuel (it can occur via condensation from a half-filled tank, a loose fill cap, deck water and/or spray sneaking into your vent line, among other ways), you get a nasty situation called phase separation. Only one ounce of water introduced into 100 ounces of E-10 gasoline can cause 10 ounces of ethanol to "separate" from the petroleum base and combine with the water to sit on the bottom of your tank, creating a lethal witch's brew that will choke your engine. The bad news, according to Frank, is that once phase separation occurs, it is very difficult to get the ethanol back into the gasoline. "Sooner or later a slug of essentially ethanol and water with little or no gasoline tries to go through the engine." Bottom line is that no manufacturer's engines, inboard or outboard, were meant to run on this nasty ethanol and water mix.

An even bigger problem is that running phase-separated gas through your engine can potentially void your warranty, as stated in many new engine warranty manuals. Dean Corbisier, Suzuki Marine Press Manager, mentioned that all Suzuki four-stroke outboards are compatible with the new ethanol-blended gasoline, providing that the ethanol mix is strictly regulated at 10 percent or less. There was an interesting section in the Suzuki manual that mentioned that they, "Highly recommend the use of alcohol-free fuels whenever possible."

Yet another problem brought to my attention after interviewing various boat mechanics was there had been an initial surge of carburetor and fuel pump rebuilds, due to the lack of compatibility of the alcohol in the ethanol-blended gasoline, compromising the neoprene components of the O-rings, gaskets, diaphragms and seals of older engines that were developed prior to the wholesale distribution of the E-10 fuel.

Note: Pontiac Cove Marina sells ethanol-free gasoline only. We pay extra to keep ethanol out of our fuel. Be aware that when you fill up your boat at a highway filling station, you are getting 10 percent ethanol in your fuel.

Spring is in the air

These guys have been trying to bloom all week...

It's Official!

Starting tomorrow we are officially open for the season! (Not that we've been closed all winter, but our hours have been pretty limited for the past three months.) This weekend we'll be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. With the time change on Sunday we may stay open later the following weekend... it will depend on the weather. I'll keep you posted week by week as the hours change, but for now you can count on the hours listed above. We've already gotten in some of the new merchandise - including t-shirts, sweatshirts (great for this time of year!) and hats. We're also working on filling in our snack section and soda and beer cooler. Just bear with us as the season gets going! And feel free to make requests. Have a great weekend, everyone! Hope to see you soon at the lake.

Benefit Pie Auction

I heard from Jackie Klineline today, and she informed me there will be a benefit pie auction for Tom and Mary Cline at 4 p.m. March 21 at Just Jackie's restaurant in Pontiac. Tom, Ozark County prosecutor, and Mary lost their home in a fire on Feb. 20. The fire is being called arson and is under investigation.

Everyone is welcome to attend the pie auction at 4 p.m., then stick around afterward to hear live music from the band, Revolver, of which Tom is a member. (Music starts at 6 p.m.) Jackie said she already has 50 to 60 pies promised for the auction. If you'd like to donate something for the auction, that's great. But, the real need is getting folks to come out and bid on the goodies! If you have questions about the event or would like more information, please call Jackie at 417-372-1625 or Pam Guidorzi at 417-679-3070.

Pictured above: Tom and Mary Cline

March 1 - Hurray!

This picture was taken yesterday - the last day of February, and of course it had to snow! The forecast for the first week of March in Pontiac looks much more spring-like, and hopefully that means spring is here to stay! (It will be official in 19 days and counting...) Today is a beautiful, sunny day, although it is a little chilly - 42 degrees. Fishing is good. The wind has laid fairly low lately. What more could you ask for on the first day of March?

In case you haven't heard...

Fire at Ozark County prosecutor's house was arson
by KY3 News

Published: Feb 24, 2009 at 4:14 PM CST

By Gene Hartley
GAINESVILLE, Mo. -- The Ozark County Sheriff's Department says a fire last Friday night at the home of a prosecutor was arson. There's a reward fund set up to try to help investigators find the arsonist.

The fire at the home on County Road 607 near Pontiac was reported just before 9:30 p.m. It's the home of Ozark County Prosecuting Attorney Tom Cline. Pontiac is about 15 miles southwest of Gainesville at the end of Highway W next to Bulls Shoals Lake.

The Missouri Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention is offering the reward, which is for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone connected to the fire. The number at the sheriff's department is (417) 679-4633.

This story is from ky3.com.

Missouri fishing permits expire Saturday

Just a reminder that your Missouri fishing license expires on Feb. 28. That's this Saturday. If you have already purchased your '09 license, then you're good until next February. If not, be sure to renew that before March 1. We now have the 2009 hunting and fishing regulation booklets at the dock. As far as I know there aren't any major changes - correct me if I'm wrong. Just wanted to let you know in case you'd like to pick up the latest literature.

Quick Update

The lake is about back to normal now - it's off the lower road anyway. We're still in the office every day from 8 to 10 a.m. if you're looking for us. Through the week the dock is often open most all day. Just call ahead before you come over to make sure we're there if you need gas or to pay a bill or pick up ice or whatever you need. Starting around the first of March we will be staying open later daily - weather permitting. I'll keep you posted when the hours officially change. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Save the dates...

SATURDAY, APRIL 4
Texas Hold 'Em Tournament benefiting the Ozark County Food Pantry. Hosted by the Pontiac Ladies Club at 6 p.m. at the Pontiac-Price Place fire house. $20 buy-in. Anyone welcome to play. Ladies will provide refreshments. Call Vita Curvey at 417-679-4688 or Mary Beth Roberts at 417-679-3609 for more information.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18
3rd Annual Verne D. Cubbage Memorial Fishing Tournament. Take off at 7 a.m. from PCM. Weigh-in at 3:30 p.m. at PCM. $100 entry fee; $10 per boat for Big Bass pot. Winners receive cash prizes; a portion of the proceeds will go to Gainesville High School's extracurricular activities programs. Pizza buffet afterward at Just Jackie's. Call 417-679-3676 for more information.

SATURDAY, APRIL 25
4th Annual Blessing of the Fleet. The official kick-off of the 2009 boating season! Blessing will take place around 2 p.m. Picnic in the park to follow, with a fish fry to raise money for the Pontiac Fireworks. Live music. Call 417-679-3676 for more details.

SATURDAY, JUNE 20
Pontiac Spearfishing Tournament. Sign up from 7 to 9 a.m. at the marina. Take-off at 9 a.m. Weigh-in from 1 to 3 p.m. Location TBA. Cash prizes awarded to winners. Pizza buffet afterward at Just Jackie's.

FRIDAY, JULY 3
Pontiac Fireworks. Don't miss it!

Boating Safety Course

Just a reminder that anyone born after January 1, 1984, must complete and pass the Missouri Boater Education course/test before operating any motorized vessel, included personal watercrafts. This applies to both Missouri residents and non-residents.

Click here to see a list of upcoming classes in your area. There is no fee to take the course in person with an instructor. You may also take the course online for a $15 fee. There is also a $15 fee to receive your new boater's safety card once you pass the test - $10 for a replacement card.

Visit the Missouri State Water Patrol's website at www.mswp.dps.mo.gov for more information. If you have questions about the course, you can e-mail the water patrol education coordination at Education@mswp.dps.mo.gov or call 573-751-3333.

It's not too early to start thinking about this now. Boating season is just around the corner!

Fishing is Good

Matt Wade and Josh Barnum (from Ava) each caught a limit of largemouth and kentuckys today.

Catchin' some white bass

Looks like the white bass are running! Thank you to Jessica Blackburn for sharing these photos from a couple nights ago at Gulley. Above left: Matt Wade and Gabe Blackburn; Right: Jessica Blackburn.

Here we go again...

The lake is creeping across the lower road again. If you drive down here you'll notice we have the blue truck parked at the top of the lower road. Please do not try to drive around it, as the cable below it is loose, and we do not want anyone driving over it. You can drive along the upper road and back down the hill, if you want to park on the lower road. Our apologies for the lower road being such a mess - it rained so much in such a short period of time Tuesday night that it washed all kinds of rocks and mud down the hill. As soon as the lake is back to normal, we'll clear it off. As of this morning, the Corps had not updated its lake level forecast page, so I'm not sure how much more it's going to come up - right now it's at 657.4, which is about 3 1/2 feet above normal pool.

Birthday Wishes

Happy birthday to my mother, JOHNNA LEE MORGAN. She's 144 years younger than Abe Lincoln today. Eeeeeek! She might kill me for that one.

Sad News

Ross Iseminger passed away yesterday. For those of you who did not know Ross, you may know his wife, Micky. She is our Pontiac postmaster. Ross's mother, Joan, owns Blue Top - the residential area above the Pontiac-Price Place Fire Station #1. There will be a memorial service at 5 p.m. Thursday at the fire house. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please make any donations to the Pontiac-Price Place Fire Department.

Monday

Just wanted to write a quick update. Things are fine at the dock. Folks are still cleaning up their yards and property and probably will be for a long time. I know some people on the Arkansas side got power back on Friday - others were still out over the weekend, and I'm not sure what the status is today. The past weekend was another gorgeous one - it wasn't very sunny, but it was so warm, we broke out the flip-flops. :) It's currently raining steadily in Pontiac. The forecast for tomorrow is nearly 70 degrees with a chance of severe weather tomorrow night. It's always something!

A call for volunteers

Volunteers are arriving from out of town this weekend to help Ozark Countians in need of assistance clean up after last week's ice storm. If you're interested in volunteering this Saturday, call 417-679-3002. Or, if you or someone you know need help, call the number. Volunteers are meeting at the Gainesville courthouse around 8 a.m. Saturday. A crew from Americorps (see http://www.americorps.org for more info about the organization) are currently stationed in Ozark County to help organize volunteers and connect them with folks who need assistance. All types of volunteer are welcome, whether you have equipment (trucks, trailers, chainsaws) or none at all, it doesn't matter.

I know a lot of people are still busy cleaning up their own yards, etc. Just don't forget to check on your family, friends and neighbors - especially older folks and others who might be in need of some help.

Lending a Hand

A big THANK YOU goes out to Joe Lewis and his family, who spent the weekend helping Pontiac residents get a jump start on the cleanup after the ice storm last week. The Lewis family is from Seymour, but can call themselves part-time Pontiac residents, as they own a houseboat and cabin here. You may have seen Joe running up and down the road in his big green tractor this past weekend. He was a tremendous help to us, as he pushed some of our biggest downed limbs into huge piles to burn - a job that would have taken Matt and me a whole day or more took him less than an hour. Joe's wife, Cary, also stopped by on Saturday and helped Matt pick up limbs for quite a while.

It was a gorgeous weekend, with temps in the 60s both Saturday and Sunday. The sunshine seemed to bring everyone out of their homes, and everywhere you turned you could hear chainsaws fired up. It's amazing how a community - especially Pontiac - comes together to help one another in a time of need. Keep up the great work, everyone! And don't forget about our neighbors to the south - all those folks in Arkansas remain without power still today.

Back in Business

The power is on at the dock and has been for a few hours. The ice is 95% melted, just watch your step (and above your head) if you go down to check on your boat. Things are looking up! Keep in mind the folks on the Arkansas side of Pontiac are still without power - I've talked to three different residents down there who said they were told by the electric company it could be a month. If you have friends or family down there, be sure to check in on them.

On again, off again

I spoke too soon. The power is out again at the dock. Sheesh. No one was around when I went down there, but I know folks have been trying to call... I'll keep you posted.

Saturday a.m.

As of right now the power is back on at the dock! Josh, Matt and Tim checked all the cables and walked all the docks this morning. The ice is rapidly melting, and the older docks that concerned us earlier in the week are definitely looking better. We sure were lucky this time. We heard of at least two docks collapsing on Table Rock - one at State Park Marina and another at Indian Point. They got a lot more accumulation than we did - 3 inches of ice plus 3 inches of snow. Check this out.

Beginning to thaw out...

Well, not much new to report this evening - I don't have any new pics, but I plan to take some tomorrow, as I'm sure folks will be out in full force starting the clean-up effort. Some have already started - I could hear chainsaws around today. A lot of the ice melted today, as temps reached the lower 40s. It's supposed to be upper 50s tomorrow! That will certainly helps matters. A few people in Pontiac have power at their homes this evening, but so many are still without, including the boat dock. Matt and I are fortunate enough to have electricity at our home. If anyone out there needs water or anything else, please feel free to stop by. We'll be around all weekend.

The Big Chill

Here are a few photos I took yesterday and today. Still a winter wonderland down here - or, should I say winter nightmare-land? Fortunately, our power came on late this afternoon. We are so thankful. Many are still without. The dock had power earlier today - now it's out again. I have talked to several who had power this afternoon, and are without it again this evening. The docks are all still hanging in there. The temp got up to about 38 today, and there was a lot of melting. Tomorrow we're supposed to see temps in the 40s, hopefully more sun, and a lot more melting. Josh and Matt are planning to do some work around the docks tomorrow. If the power is back on, I'll be in the office answering the phone. We will keep the docks closed to the public until all the ice melts and the power is back on for good. Thanks for your cooperation.

Dock Closed to Public Until Ice Melts

Yes, we're okay! But, the power has been out in Pontiac since 11 p.m. Tuesday. Matt and I ventured to Gainesville today, where it seems power in town has been restored, so I was able to get online and write a quick update. We've been checking on the docks every few hours, and so far they're all still standing. A couple of the older, wooden docks are sitting very low in the water, and because of that we do not want anyone on the docks until the ice melts. That means absolutely NO ONE is allowed on the docks until we give the all clear. It's too dangerous. For all we know it may only take one person walking on a walkway or lowering one boat lift to cause a dock to collapse. When we're down there we can hear the phone ringing, but we cannot answer it. If you call the dock and the machine does not pick up, then you know the power is still out. By the way, the pictures in the previous post don't do justice to what the Pontiac area looks like now. I don't want to scare you - if you haven't been down there - but it looks like a disaster area. SO MANY trees are down, it's unbelievable. I have taken many pictures and will post them as soon as I can. If you're in the area and have been affected by this ice storm, I hope you're keeping warm and staying safe. More later.

Ice Storm

It's still raining in Pontiac. Our outdoor thermometer reads 33 degrees. If it were a couple degrees colder I think we'd be in worse shape here. Ice is accumulating on the trees and rooftops and the docks. But a lot of the liquid is running off. We still have electricity at our house, although we heard the Arkansas side is out of power now. From these pics you can see that the trees are taking the brunt of the damage so far...I took some of these photos around our house, the dock, and along Highway W.

Weather Update

Matt went to the dock this morning, and everything looked okay. It's raining now. I suppose the liquid is freezing to whatever it hits. We still have electricity, which is great news! The satellite keeps losing its signal, but other than that, we're in good shape. All the trees look pretty droopy. If you step outside you can hear tree limbs cracking. A huge branch broke off the big cedar tree right out in front of our house. I haven't gotten out yet to take pics because I don't want to get my camera wet. I will get out later, and hopefully I'll be able to post some pics later on today.

Weather

Well, in case you haven't heard, southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas are under a winter storm warning for this evening and tomorrow. Yuck! I just watched the noon news, and we are sort of on the "line" of what they're predicting to be bad vs. worse. In other words, looks like we could get anywhere from 1/4 inch to 2 inches of ice, depending on which direction the weather takes. Yes, that's ice. Not good for roads, not good for power lines, and definitely not good for boat docks. Today we're preparing the dock as best we can - without knowing really what to expect. Snow is much easier to deal with because we can shovel. Ice is a different story. The freezing rain is supposed to start this evening around 6-ish, and end sometime tomorrow. Provided we still have electricity and Internet in the morning, I'll write an update if I can to let you know the conditions in Pontiac. If you don't hear from me for a day or two... that likely means we don't have any power! If you're in the area, we hope you stay warm and safe the next couple days. Here's hoping the forecast is wrong!

A Curious Catch

Chris Geroff caught this fish a couple weeks ago out of Bull Shoals Lake. It's called a Sun Perch or Northern Perch. They aren't native to this lake, so it's a rare catch. And this one was only a few ounces short of the Arkansas state record! Bill Bauer told me yesterday he also caught one recently, but not quite as large.

"Commercial Zone" public workshop tonight

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is hosting a public workshop tonight from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Quality Inn Conference Room (1210 US Highway 62/65 North) in Harrison, Arkansas. The workshop is for discussion of the Corps' new "Commercial Zone" policy.

Revolver playing at Winter Blast of Blues this Saturday in Mountain Home

The band Revolver (you know them from the Blessing of the Fleet the past two years and from Just Jackie's) is playing this Saturday in Mountain Home's Winter Blast of Blues #9. You can catch them at 4 p.m. at the Exhibition Hall at the Baxter County Fairgrounds. Mike MacPherson says they'll be raffling off a Les Paul Standard guitar, plus they'll be giving away CDs throughout the day. As Mike says, it'll be a day of ... "good beer, good barbecue, good music." According to an article in the Baxter Bulletin, tickets at the door will be $18. For tickets and additional information, call 870-425-2668 or 417-887-6274.

Thank you to Skip and Angie Dechau for submitting this fish pic. Wow! Way to go, Ang! They said it weighed 10 pounds. Brrrr... looks cold.

A Chilly Tuesday

It's cold today. Really, really cold. Can we just skip today and go right into tomorrow? Check out the forecast for the rest of the week. It looks much, MUCH nicer than today. Needless to say, there aren't too many folks around the dock today. I don't know if anyone will go fishing today, but fishing really has been good. Speaking of fishing, we're revamping our tackle aisle this winter - meaning we're going to be restructuring, adding and taking away some things. So, if you have any suggestions or ideas for certain things you'd like to see us carry in the future, please let us know.

Also, I wanted to let you know we have had some slips open up for this year. If you're interested in moving to a different slip, or if you know someone who is interested in an annual slip, please contact us. There are also a couple privately owned lifts on the dock for sale. If you want more information about those lifts, give us a call and we'll put you in touch with the owners.

Winter Hours

For those of you who don't know, Just Jackie's is closed through the end of this month. (She closed last January as well, so this is nothing new.) She will re-open Sunday, Feb. 1. From then until Memorial weekend she'll be open Friday nights, and on Saturday and Sunday. She'll open full time again on Memorial weekend.

Our office hours right now are 8 to 10 a.m. However, we're often here much later than 10, a lot of the time all day. So, if you need something, you're guaranteed to find someone here for two hours every morning, and very likely to find someone here throughout the day. Just give us a call: 417-679-3676.

Happy Friday!

2009 Fishing Permits

FYI: 2009 Missouri fishing permits are available now. If you have a 2008 annual Missouri fishing permit, it does not expire until Feb. 28. However, if you don't have one and you plan to get one for this year, you can buy it now, and it will be good through Feb. 28, 2010. (So, you actually get more than a year!) Good deal.

Rates are the same as last year:

$12 for Missouri resident annual fishing permit
$10 for Border Lakes permit (covers Bull Shoals, Table Rock and Norfork lakes; available to Missouri and Arkansas residents only)
$7 per day for non-resident daily Missouri fishing permit (up to 5 days)
$40 for non-resident annual Missouri fishing permit

A little tipsy?

I don't know about you, but it's driving me crazy that the picture of the Corps sign is crooked... (see below). It's my fault. I scanned it. Ahhhhhh!!

"Commercial Zone" Policy

CORPS ESTABLISHES ‘COMMERCIAL ZONES’ AT MARINAS

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Sept. 26 – In the interest of public safety and the security of visitor property, the Little Rock District of the Army Corps of Engineers has established ‘commercial zones’ around marinas that will restrict recreational activities within 50 feet of all marina docks.

Lakes that fall under the new policy include Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Norfork, Clearwater, Greers Ferry, Dardanelle and Millwood. Examples of prohibited activities within these zones are boating, fishing, swimming and diving. Commercial zones are being marked with signs and buoys.

Fishing beneath boat storage docks has created the most difficulties because hooks and lures sometimes damage boats or docks. People like to fish under marina docks because they act as structure that attract fish. One alternative for anglers is to work with local Corps offices to create fish attractors out of discarded Christmas trees or certain other materials. Many fishing clubs have long been involved with the Corps and state fish and game agencies in creating these.

Boaters sometimes obstruct operations around marinas by boating or fishing too close. Swimming or diving around marinas is always unsafe. Keeping recreational activities away from the docks will also help cut down on thefts and improve safety by reducing boat traffic.

Public access to recreation is still guaranteed at Little Rock District lakes. There are more than 256,000 acres, and the commercial zones constitute only about 1 percent of the total lake area.

It is not unusual for the Corps to restrict recreational activities in certain areas if a need exists. For instance, recreational activities are commonly restricted at locks, dams, spillways, powerhouses, swimming areas, and water intakes to help ensure safety and protection of lives and property. The commercial zones have the same intention.

Restrictions at marinas are not new. No fishing zones have been in place since 1986, and commercial zones have been in place since 2007. The new policy formalizes the commercial zones and establishes the means for Corps park rangers and other law enforcement officers to enforce the policy.

The 50-foot buffer will be used whenever possible to provide consistency from marina to marina. However, with a written request to the Corps that demonstrates a special need, a marina operator might be allowed to place some additional restriction on recreational activities that obstruct ingress and egress to marina docks. Posted signs will indicate an extension of the commercial zone.

Note: I know some of you already know about this new policy. Don't be surprised if you see signs (like the red and white one above) up at local marinas. These are official Corps signs. The Corps will be enforcing this policy. We really haven't had a problem with these activities taking place around our marina, so I don't foresee this being a big issue for us at Pontiac. However, we'd appreciate it if everyone would help us out and follow the rules. :)

Fast forward to spring?

Gorgeous weather we're having today in Pontiac. I'd say it's pushing 70 degrees. Break out the flip-flops! But, don't get too used to them. By tomorrow we'll be back in winter mode. That's the crazy thing about Missouri weather. You've just got to go with it. And try not to get sick. :)

The Countdown

Happy New Year, everyone! Now that the holidays are behind us, it's time to look forward to summer. Good news: There are just 141 days until Memorial weekend. Can you wait? I can't.

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.