THE CAROLINA TRACE
T.U.F.F. Club
Sanford, NC 27332
Lake Trace Hotline
919-499-1300
by Miss Libby
Posted on Tue Jan 24 2023
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An excerpt from “Winter Drawdowns for Aquatic Weed Control” from a specialist at the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
“The length of sediment exposure and the number of days temperatures are below freezing determine the likelihood of rhizome, tuber and turion death. Longer, drier and colder periods of exposure will have a greater impact. In addition, frost heaving of the bottom sediments can uproot weeds and aid in their destruction. Ideally, the sediments should be exposed for at least 6-8 weeks, with temperatures below freezing (0°C/ 32°F) for two weeks or more.
The severity of the winter weather can affect the results of a winter drawdown. A mild winter, especially one with persistent precipitation, may not provide the freezing and/or drying required for plant destruction. Conversely, a cold winter with lots of snow might also lead to disappointing results. Snow is an excellent insulator, so exposed bottom sediments that are constantly covered by snow may not experience the low temperatures required to kill overwintering structures. High levels of groundwater seepage may also reduce or negate the destructive effects on target species by keeping the area moist and unfrozen. In addition, some tubers and/ or turions are buried deeply in the bottom sediment, reducing exposure. For example, hydrilla tubers can often be found almost 10 inches below the surface."
A chart in this research article of aquatic plants (page 5) from the Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Conservation and Recreation, EOEA Commonwealth of Massachusetts, shows that hydrilla actually increases in a winter drawdown.
... Read Moreby Miss Libby
Posted on Thu Sep 22 2022
CTA-CTCC Joint Lake Committee 2008 – 2014 PROJECTS
Christmas tree recycling program;
UNC Professors/NC State Professors invited to ascertain ecosystem;
Cliff Edwards (NCWRC advisor) gives free seminar on improving fishery;
Free electroshock by NCWRC;
Sixty acres of bluegill spawning beds were liquid limed in 3 locations;
Permit from State/removal of geese overpopulation;
Boat/Watercraft Registration launched;
Lake Trace Volunteer Rescue Squad training;
NC State Professors invited to advise on erosion control, dredging and silt removal;
Dr. Matt Mathews (global process sedimentologist) presents 9 month silt report;
Build and drop 35 fish attractors; GPS mapping of locations;
Build and drop seven Fish Haven Buoys; GPS mapping:
Lee County Strategic Services generates free Color Fish Haven map;
Flower Power project unsuccessful;
Building Minnow Farms with Palettes and placement (incomplete);
Lake Fest 2008, 2009, 2010;
CTA Lake Trace Fishing & Boating Guidelines and Information March 2014
This last project, a seven page document by Bibb, Bloedorn, Heidinger, Martell, &
Newberry) was approved by CTA but tabled by the CTCC Board of Governors due to the
pending sale of the Club to Escalante.
TUFF Events 2009 - 2019 with blessings from CTCC to use their docks and/or approval from CTA to use Gatehouse turnaround
Barry Butzer Memorial Fishing & Golf Tournament 2009, 2010, 2011;
48 “Fish for Fun” lessons for Trace Kid Casters or Boys & Girls Club
Seasonal TUFF Derby expanded from adults only in two species to four
species in Adult and Youth Division with over 160 Plaques/Fish
Medallions/Certificates awarded for “Lake Trace Fishing Excellence”.
www.carolinatuff.com website launched 2017.
These Projects and Fish ...
Read Moreby Miss Libby
Posted on Tue Sep 28 2021
Thanks to CTA for hearing our concerns and input about the hydrilla in Lake Trace. I support that the CTA POAs voted against an additional assessment in the 2021-2022 budget for lake management issues until the minimal carp introduction of 150 carp can be monitored and evaluated. The following report is from the July 16 meeting... and is probably more than what you ever care to know about carp and its introduction into a fishery. !Libby
Hi Guys,
Clink on the link for interesting reading about sterile grass carp controlling aquatic plants and especially their effects of flocculation in paragraph four. It also contains information about barriers. (Note: Barriers would keep the carp contained so they do not go over the dam and destroy downstream ecosystems.) Thank you Buster for finding this link and info on the cost of building a “spider” fish attractor. But didn't the fish attractor you made have a lot more tubing on it which would make it better for hiding fry, instead of just hiding larger fish like the "spider" attractor? The spider seemed awfully expensive
After speaking with Ernie yesterday, here is an update:
by Miss Libby
Posted on Thu Nov 05 2020
Dear Current CT Fishing Friends and New Trace Residents who like to fish,
I think most all of us will remember 2020 as the year that everything changed. I pray that the "New Normal" will hopefuly return to "Near Normal" next year. TUFF is "on hold" as far as membership, Seasonal Derby, any other tournaments, Outreach community efforts and Youth "Fish for Fun" lessons.
PLEASE NOTE: EVERYONE CAN SCROLL THROUGH EVERYTHING ON THIS WEBSITE. NO NEED TO LOG IN, AS ONLY TUFF MEMBERS HAVE PASSWORDS AND CAN COMMENT ON BLOGS.
The 919- 499-1300 Lake Hotline gets calls with questions, so I thought this update would be especially helpful to new residents about how to navigate this website to find answers:
Edited 9/14/21 Due to interest about Big Lake Trace Bass, check out Page 8 of BlogWHO CATCHES WHAT, WHERE, WHEN AND HOW IN LAKE TRACE? Suggest that you cilck on Derby where there are TUFF Derby winners (Adult and Youth) "Picture Parades" from 2012 to 2016. E-mail me at gofishin247@gmail.com and I will send you the 2017 Picture Parade. Our 2018 and 2019 winners show up in older Blogs when you click on Read More and click on the big pics for details.
HOW HEALTHY IS LAKE TRACE? Click on Blogs, scroll to bottom of page and click on page 8 and 9 for Fish Health, Invasive Plants and Birds (Invasive Cormorants). Speaking of birds, how about those Canada Geese today? Hope this is a migratory way station for these dirty birds.
OTHER STUFF Click on About Us and you can find links for Electroshock report, Building Fish Structures, Color Fish Haven map, and Sediment study. People ask me about water quality here. Don't get me started.
Libby
... Read Moreby Miss Libby
Posted on Sun May 17 2020
At a TUFF meeting at Hidden Lake Pool Shelter, a discussion about the invasion of white perch into Lake Trace took place. (Note: I had participated in the 2008 electroshock survey when this species in the three inch range was deemed by the fish biologist to be “overpopulated”. In September 2018 I fished from shore and caught and culled 40 white perch in four hours that were in the seven to nine inch range! ) Some attendees thought they were harmless (“oh, the bass will eat that size.”) So later I connected with our current NCWRC fish biologist Michael Fisk who sent me this information: “White Perch are bad news. Once introduced they can become overpopulated, outcompete other species, and ruin native fisheries. White Perch will feed on just about anything but do target shad which can have negative impacts on crappie and Largemouth Bass through indirect competition, and they also feed on recently hatched fry (baby fish) which can have negative impacts on recruitment of all species in the lake. There are many examples in North Carolina and elsewhere that have documented drastic changes in native fisheries after White Perch have been introduced. They are actually native on our coast but when they are introduced into lakes, they do lots of damage. Once established in lakes/ponds there is only one way to get rid of them. That is to rotenone the entire water body and start from scratch by restocking. Given the size of Lake Trace, this is likely not feasible as it would be very costly and may not be successful because of the riverine habitat upstream and downstream of the lake. The only thing you can do is to harvest every single one to help manage them. They are a good fish to eat, but unfortunately they are there to stay. ...
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