Learn to sail out of Pontiac Cove!

Did you know you can take sailing lessons out of Pontiac Cove now? Dick and Julie Jackson have Lifelines Sailing School, a YMCA affiliated facility associated with the American Sailing Association. They are both certified sailing instructors and are offering sailing lessons on their 25-foot Catalina, docked here at PCM. They have an office set up in the old "dive shop" building. To learn more about the classes offered and to contact Dick and Julie, please visit sailwithlifelines.com.

Lake Cleanup/Cook-off

We are tentatively planning a Lake Cleanup and some sort of "cook-off" for Saturday, Oct. 3. Mark your calendars! More details soon.

*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!