News
March 10, 2010 - TU's On the Rise Wraps Up Filming on the Lower Mountain Fork
Trout Unlimited's television show On The Rise began filming an episode featuring the 89er Chapter on the Lower Mountain Fork River on Monday March 8, 2010. 89er Chapter Board of Directors member Lou Barbaro fished alongside host Frank Smethhurst and guide Rob Woodruff. On-camera interviews were conducted with Don Longcrier, President of 89er Chapter TU, James Vincent, Streams Management Supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, and Patrick Waters of the Lower Mountain Fork River Foundation. Filming wrapped up on Wednesday, March 10. The episode should air next season.
On The Rise is a weekly television program that airs on the Sportsman's Channel. For information on TU's On The Rise, go to www.tu.org Keep up with developments on our chapter website, www.89ertu.org.
We would like to thank the following for their help: Trout Unlimited particularly National Press Secretary Erin Mooney; On The Rise and Barrett Productions, Justin Karnopp, Producer; Frank Smethhurst, Host; Bob Ambrose, Production; Jake and Brian on cameras and Conner on sound equipment; Rob Woodruff of Rob Woodruff Guide Services; James Vincent, Streams Management Supervisor, ODWC; Patrick Waters of the Lower Mountain Fork River Foundation; and 89er Chapter members Lou and Wanda Barbaro and Main Hutcheson.
February - TU's On the Rise to visit the Lower Mountain Fork in March 2010
Trout Unlimited's television program On the Rise will film an episode on the Lower Mountain Fork River in early March 2010 featuring the 89er Chapter of TU. The 89er Chapter Board has chosen Lou Barbaro to fish alongside host, Frank Smethhurst.
Historically, the 89er Chapter was the first organization to support what has become a truly unique, year-round, trout fishery on the Lower Mountain Fork River in southeastern Oklahoma. Since our initial commitment, 89er Chapter has continued to work in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and other organizations such as the Lower Mountain Fork River Foundation and Oklahoma Chapter of TU, to enhance and maintain this fishery. We are proud of our role as “Charter Members” of this ongoing partnership.
We welcome the opportunity to tell this story and share our unique trout fishery.
January 2010 Meeting
Special thanks to Ken Richards and Kevin Calhoun from Just Fishin' Guides for their wonderful presentation over their drift boat guide service in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
On top of taking their time to visit with us, they also donated a full-day guided fishing trip for two that will be auctioned off at our annual banquet along with a DVD about driftboat fishing.
Additionally, Ken discussed his involvement in Reel Recovery, a fly fishing retreat for men with life threatening cancer. Links to this organization, and it's sister group, Casting for Recovery, have been pemananently added to our Community page.
November 6, 2009 - Trout Unlimited National Leadership Council Changes
The Indian Nations Council's leadership positions have recently underwent some changes. Mike Scott has resigned from the Trout Unlimited NLC position citing personal reasons. Jeff Hartmann was voted in as Council Chair along with Scott Hood as National Leadership Council Representative. Additionally, Keith Yarger was voted Treasurer. We would like to thank Mike Scott for all his effort as part of the National Leadership Council.
Your Trout Unlimited Indian Nations Council is now currently made up of the following:
Scott Hood - National Leadership Council Representative
Jeff Hartman - Indian Nations Council Chair
Keith Yarger - Treasurer
October 13, 2009 - Chapter Meeting
If you were unable to attend the October meeting, you missed a wonderful presentation by Bob Williams over his summer float trip in Southwestern Alaska. Additionally, we elected officers for the new year. Jerry Walker stepped down as Vice President and was replaced by Jeff Hartmann, and Bob Williams was added as an additional Board Member. All other positions remain unchanged.
October 5, 2009 - LMF Restoration Funding
Don, John, and Jerry appeared before the Wildlife Commission on Monday, October 5 (pictured above) to donate $5000 for the restoration project on the LMF. With this donation, and matching funds by the Lower Mountain Fork Foundation, the ODWC should have Lost Creek on the Lower Mountain Fork restored and ready to be fished by the end of November, 2009. Also presented were Didymo signs provided by 89er TU for posting on the LMF, LIR, and Blue Rivers. Thanks to the 89er TU leadership, Lower Mountain Fork Foundation, ODWC, and all 89er TU members for making this restoration possible.
September 8, 2009 - Chapter Meeting
Paul and James from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation were gracious enough to each speak at our first meeting of the new season. Paul started by discussing work at the LIR to grant better stream access to anglers. They began working on this plan about two years ago and hope to have "something on the ground" by the first of next year. Notes on this plan can be viewed on our Conservation page.
Additionally, Paul discussed the use of "bubble diffusers" in Broken Bow Lake that will cool the water discharged from the reservoir and into the LMF. This past summer the ODWC conducted an experiment to test the viability of this option. The abbreviated test showed promise, and in the summer of 2010 the Department plans to run a full season test to see if the diffusers will be worthwhile to install on a permanent basis.
James talked on the damage to Evening Hole and Lost Creek and the Department's plans to reconstruct the latter. Though the flood caused quiet a bit of damage, the new Lost Creek promises to be better than before. Changes include adding 200 - 250 feet of additional streambed and deepening the channel. Both of which will increase trout habitat. The ODWC plans to have this completed by November 2009. However, in order to finance this project the Department will need $7,500 to $10,000 in donations from individuals and organizations.
June 13, 2009 - LIR Cleanup
Thanks to all those who attended the Trout Unlimited Stream Clean-up Day on the Lower Illinois River last Saturday, it was a great success.
Along with about a 100 bags of trash our 30+ group of volunteers were able to pull a microwave oven, a double door stove, a hot water heater, numerous tires and believe it or not, not one but two toilets that littered the river and rivers edge. Watch for a report on our clean-up efforts in the Outdoor section of the Tulsa World, it will also be on the Tulsa World web site. There will also be photos showing up on the Oklahoma TU web site... WWW.TULSAFLYFISHERS.ORG soon, check them out.
Thanks again to all those who attended from the 89er Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
FISH ON!
Scott Hood
Trout Unlimited Indian Nations Council Chair
June 6, 2009 - Update on LMF Flood Damage
Don recently got word on the damage assessment at the LMF. Some spots fared pretty well while other not so much. The good news is that, at least in some spots, some pretty good habitat was created. Thank God for small miracles. To read the full report see the attachments below.
LMF Update: pdf
May 21, 2009 - Report on the LMF Flood Damage
Our President, Don Longcrier, just returned from the Lower Mountain Fork Coordination meeting. What was supposed to be a day devoted to fishing, eating, and discussing upcoming projects turned into a report on the damage done when the Army Corps of Engineers opened all eight flood gates on the dam of Broken Bow Lake. The flood caused extensive damage along the river, and we will not know how bad it really is until the waters recede. To learn more about the meeting and the damage, follow the links below.
Coordination Meeting: pdf
Flood Summary: pdf
May 12, 2009 - Didymo on the Lower Mountain Fork. Signs Needed!
Didymo has been found in the LMF River. ODWC would like to have signs with prevention methods/warnings made, ASAP (see below).
Once we get the estimate, we can have a vote to go ahead with this project.
View the Sign: .doc
May 6, 2009 - Fishing Derby (2010)
I got a call from Bob Martin, Fisheries Biologist with the Oklahoma City Parks Department. He is trying to plan a Fishing Derby for next summer, June 4-5, 2010. He is looking for co-sponsors for the event and wondered if our chapter might be interested. I gathered the following information.
• Event date scheduled for Friday and Saturday, June 4-5, 2010• Event is in the very beginning of the planning stage.• Possible formats: 1. Friday clinic at Putnam City Gym Saturday Fishing Derby at Dolese ParkOr2. Two day “Boat & Bank” Fishing Derby at all three OKC lakes with weigh-in at Will Rogers Park• OKC Parks Dept. can no longer solicit donations of prizes directly, so he is looking for co-sponsors to solicit, and or provide prizes.• Volunteers to work the event• Volunteers for a possible fishing clinic.• Has a commitment from NOKC Bass Club for co-sponsorship• Welcomes ideas and suggestionsI told him I would make the board aware of this, but we would not actually meet again until September. He said that would be plenty of time. He will keep us posted.
Don
April, 28, 2009 - OSMP Lower Mountain Fork Coordination Meeting
The Oklahoma Streams Management Program will host a lower Mountain Fork River coordination meeting on 21 May 2009 at 11:30 AM. The event will be held at the Group Camp 1 dining hall in Beavers Bend State Park. A fish fry and trimmings will be provided along with brief words of appreciation and some information about ongoing projects.
Directions to Group Camp 1: travel about 6.2-miles north of Broken Bow on US Route 259. Then travel 4.4-miles east on State Route 259-A (south entrance to Beavers Bend State Park) to the stop sign near the Forest Heritage Center. Then continue straight (northeast) about 0.7-miles, past Beavers Bend Restaurant, to Group Camp 1 (left side of road).
We would be honored to have you and your guest(s) in attendance. Our streams management staff are proud of the cooperative partnerships that have been developed and we want to show our appreciation of your support. This fishery could not have progressed to its current level without you! Hence, it would be our pleasure to have you along to enjoy food and fellowship at the river. Since I don't have E-mail addresses for everyone at each office, please pass the word on to others that have been involved in our efforts at the lower Mountain Fork River. We would like to have them along, too.
Please RSVP so we know how many folks to expect. Our secretary, Leah, can be reached by e-mail or phone (580/924-4087). Let me know if you have questions. We look forward to seeing you and come hungry!
April 22, 2009 - Summary of ODWC Meeting
ODWC will begin work on the proposed Stream Improvements and Habitat Project on the Watt’s Property on the Lower Illinois River in the Fall of 2009. The budget for this project is $120,000.
ODWC will begin a four month study beginning June 2009 through September 2009 on the Lower Mountain Fork River with projected cost of $80,000. The study will use a pump-bubbler aeration system to determine if such a system will be viable to help bring colder water to the intake and provide colder water in the river in the during the summer months when the water in Broken Bow Reservoir is stratified.
With a successful completion of the study in September, and positive results, the ODWC would plan for a permanent implementation of such a system for the following summer.
ODWC plans for clean-up and repair of the Re-regulation Dam on the Lower Mountain Fork in the future. This project is NOT in the 2009 calendar/2010 FY budget.
ODWC is not the appropriate agency to implement any sort of warning system on the Lower Illinois River. A warning system would need to be installed and controlled by the agency responsible for releases from the dam, i.e. U.S. Corps of Engineers and Southwest Power.
We discussed with Barry the issues that Mike Scott (TU National Leadership Council Rep) had brought up about a long range plan to establish constant flow rates on the Lower Illinois River. This would be an interesting thing to begin work on, understanding that this is a very long-term project involving building relationships necessary to bring about such a goal.
Arkansas has been working with some of the same people on the White River, and there is interesting information available on the Arkansas Fly Fishing Forum.
The issue of transportation of water from the Arbuckle Aquifer to Northwestern Oklahoma was discussed. This would affect spring-fed streams in Southeastern Oklahoma such as The Blue River, Pennington Creek and others. We will have to get with organizations working on this issue and try to find out more information.
April 22, 2009 - Clean-up Day at the Lower Illinois
In celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of Trout Unlimited, TU is hosting a National Stream Clean-up Day on June 13, 2009. The Oklahoma Chapter (Tulsa) of TU has invited us to participate with them for a few hours of clean-up on the Lower Illinois River.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Southwest Power have agreed to a no water release day on June 13 on the Lower Illinois River. Trash bags and gloves will be provided, and ODWC will provide hauling of collected trash.
Please make plans to participate. Further plans will be made available. There is talk of lunch, drinks, and fishing the Watt's Property.
89er Chapter Board member, Greg Mann will coordinate our efforts with Scott Hood, TU Indian Nations Council Chair and the OK Chapter TU.
Please contact Greg Mann for further information and to RSVP, so we can have an idea of the number of people that can help.
Scott Hood, on the LIR
