Sun, 13 Apr 2008 08:26:55 -0500 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/ PostNuke Powered Site en-us http://www.okeeart.com/Post/images/logo.gif http://www.okeeart.com/Post/ webmaster@okeeart.com http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=36 Urgent Warning: Do not buy another piece of fishing equipment......until you have seen this hidden discovery from the 1940's thathas just been revealed!http://www.systemsalesmachine.com/app/?Clk=2348086 Sun, 13 Apr 2008 08:26:55 -0500 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=35 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) seeks public input o­n proposed changes to two Lake Okeechobee freshwater fishing rules. The FWC will hold two public meetings in November to explain the reasons behind the proposed changes and to hear public opinion. The first meeting will be held in Clewiston o­n Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Office, 525 Ridgelawn Rd. The second meeting will be in Okeechobee o­n Thursday, Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Okeechobee Civic Center, 1750 U.S. Hwy. 90 North. Sampling over the last few years has shown a decline in the numbers of small largemouth bass and black crappie. The first proposed change is to replace the existing 13- to 18-inch protective slot limit for largemouth bass with an 18-inch minimum size limit. Currently, the slot limit restricts the harvest of bass between 13 and 18 inches in length. The new size limit would mean anglers could not take any bass under 18 inches from the lake. This change would protect the younger largemouth bass until they grow to quality size. The second proposed change would be to institute a 10-inch minimum size limit o­n black crappie, also called speckled perch. The rule change would protect the younger black crappie from being harvested and reduce pressure o­n the current population. This rule would remain in effect until FWC trawl data shows three successive years of normal catch rates for black crappie. If adopted by the Commission, these rule changes would go into effect July 1, 2008. For more information about freshwater fisheries, visit MyFWC.com and click o­n the fishing link. For more information about the meetings, call Regional Fisheries Biologist Jon Fury at 561-625-5122. Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:19:45 -0600 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=34 New lake schedule unveiled By Pete Gawda, Okeechobee News Lake Okeechobee may soon be maintained at a lower level with reduced discharges of freshwater to the St. Lucie Canal and the Caloosahatchee River.Some environmentalists have claimed that freshwater discharges from Lake Okeechobee have upset the balance of salinity in the estuaries.At a public meeting held Tuesday, Aug. 14, at the Okeechobee Civic Center, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) unveiled a proposed new program of lake regulation.Kim Taplan, south Florida program manger for restoration for COE, presented the tentatively selected plan (TSP). Computer simulation models, using actual conditions over the past 36 years, were used to demonstrate the outcome of various proposed schedules.“Public safety is our main concern,” she said. Ms. Taplan said the proposed plan was designed to balance all lake management objectives including ecology, the estuaries, navigation, the Everglades and flood control. Thu, 16 Aug 2007 06:57:09 -0500 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=33 By Jose Jesus Zaragoza, INI Florida WEST PALM BEACH -- In a meeting to discuss the relative necessity of backpumping to provide some relief to the current drought conditions, sugar representatives and their advocates said that they cannot support sustained water restrictions.“I’m bringing you fear from the agricultural industry,” said Nelson Mongiovi, director of the division of marketing with the Florida Department of Agriculture (FDA). “I will not tell you the sky is falling … but there are gray clouds we have never seen before.”Arguing emphatically that the water restrictions are causing severe harm to the industry, sugar proponents made the case at the Wednesday, Aug. 8, meeting that the negative environmental affects associated with backpumping are outweighed by the need to have enough water with which to continue doing business.It would not be enough, in the end, and farmers and the industry say they find themselves in a precarious situation. Sat, 11 Aug 2007 06:23:43 -0500 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=32 Coasts brace for a busy hurricane season By Randolph E. Schmid, AP Science Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - Government forecasters called for a busier than normal hurricane season Tuesday. National Weather Service forecasters said they expect 13 to 17 tropical storms, with seven to 10 of them becoming hurricanes. The forecast follows that of two other leading storm experts in anticipating a busy season. The likelihood of above normal hurricane activity is 75 percent, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. Wed, 23 May 2007 12:41:23 -0500 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=30 ALLIGATOR MANAGEMENT The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is seeking public input o­n alligator management through a series of meetings that begin Wednesday. The public is asked to provide feedback and suggestions to augment regulations in place with respect to public safety, conservation, commercial harvests and recreational harvests of alligators in the wild. The meetings are "theme specific" in an attempt to help members of the public choose which meetings they would like to attend. For meeting locations, agendas and any questions regarding the Alligator Management Program, visit MyFWC.com/gators/input or call program coordinator Harry Dutton at (850) 410-0656 ext. 17279 or at Harry.Dutton@MyFWC.com. The schedule is as follows: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 13:52:24 -0600 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=29 Dignitaries o­n hand: Actor Paul Newman visits site, New phosphorous remover unveiled Actor Paul Newman was listening intently to the speakers at the dedication ceremony for the Taylor Creek Algal Turf Scrubber (ATS) Nutrient Recovery Facility o­n Thursday afternoon Feb. 1. The ATS is a patented technology of HyrdoMentia, Inc. of Ocala. Mr. Newman is an investor in HydroMentia. To Mr. Newman’s left is his daughter, Nell, and to his right is Dr. Susan Gray of South Florida Water Management District who was involved in the ATS project.Okeechobee News/ Pete Gawda Pete Gawda, Okeechobee NewsAnother tool in the o­ngoing battle to clean up central Florida’s waters was unveiled Thursday afternoon at the former Grassy Island Ranch north of Okeechobee off U. S. 441 N.Government officials, contractors who were involved in the construction process, environmentalists, journalists, interested citizens and even actor Paul Newman gathered at the site o­n Hilliard Road to see the operation of Ocala-based HydroMentia’s Taylor Creek Algal Turf Scrubber Nutrient Recovery Facility (ATS).Mr. Newman is o­ne of HydroMentia’s investors. Fri, 2 Feb 2007 18:21:17 -0600 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=28 Stormwater Treatment Area brings better water quality to Taylor Creek Lake Okeechobee, estuaries and surrounding communities to benefit from project Outlined by a narrow shell rock access road, the marshy 190-acre strip of land running parallel to Taylor Creek is otherwise almost identical to its natural surroundings. But under the guidance of water managers, the Taylor Creek Stormwater Treatment Area, or STA, is also doing something remarkable - removing phosphorus from water headed to Lake Okeechobee. The stormwater treatment area is east of Taylor Creek o­n a portion of the publicly-held Grassy Island Ranch in Okeechobee County. The Lake Okeechobee Critical Project was completed for $3 million in partnership with the District and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in October. The design diverts about 10 percent of Taylor Creek's water flow into the stormwater treatment area where it travels nearly two miles before being returned to the creek. Along the way, submerged and emergent plants absorb phosphorus from the water. Excessive amounts of phosphorus, a common nutrient often found in fertilizer, can lead to uncontrolled growth of algae and invasive vegetation, ultimately damaging the ecology of Lake Okeechobee."There are several stormwater treatment areas in South Florida removing phosphorus from surface water south of Lake Okeechobee," said Benita Whalen, Okeechobee Service Center Director for the District. "But the Taylor Creek STA is the first built to remove phosphorus from water flowing into the lake.""Water pumped from the creek into the northern end of the STA then spreads southward in a sheet flow that follows a gentle, sloping grade," said Lisa Kreiger, District project manager for Taylor Creek STA. "There is enough of an elevation change that pumps are not needed to push the water back into the creek at the lower end."Preserving the natural beauty of the area was a priority during STA construction so it was designed to include an existing stand of ancient cypress trees. Native wildlife species are also thriving in the area, which will eventually be open to the public for recreational use. Wed, 24 Jan 2007 08:20:08 -0600 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=27 It is that time o­nce again for the Christmas Classic. TFT3 is to be held at Lake Ida park in Delray Beach to benefit the Marine Corp Toys for Tots. The date will be Sunday, December 17th, 2006. It is open to all Forum members and their guests. It will be a good chance to fish with/against forum members and do something to help a great charity. Last year we had an awesome turnout and really loaded up o­n toys to be donated to our local needy kids. The concept, as founded by the Marine Corp Reserve, is to deliver a message of hope to distressed youngsters which may motivate them to become responsible, productive members of society and community leaders.Last year was good, but we can do better. Wed, 15 Nov 2006 14:02:15 -0600 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=25 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is evaluating several potential changes to the state's alligator management program, including removing the reptile from its list of imperiled species. The possible changes come from the first comprehensive review of the management program in its 20-year history, developed through public input over a 10-day period in September. Thu, 2 Nov 2006 06:33:02 -0600 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=24 By Lorna Jablonski, Okeechobee News, Submited by RodBender. Headturners3.com, a professional bass tournament trail based in central Florida, has been hosting bass tournament trails on Lake Okeechobee since 2004. But Pat Malone, president of Headturners3.com, recently notified anglers that his organization would not be returning to the town of Okeechobee for the 2007 season. "It is with regret that we release to our anglers that the Wave Worms HT3 Pro Bass Tour will not be returning to Okeechobee's Okee-Tantie park during the 2007 season," he said. "We have been denied support by the Okeechobee Tourism Development Council while other tournament trails with far less anglers and who pull far less visitors to the area's hotels and businesses were given plenty of support and tourism money." Thu, 26 Oct 2006 05:32:41 -0500 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=23 G O A L To improve the health of the Lake Okeechobee ecosystem by improving water quality, reducing or eliminating exotic species and better managing water levels Tue, 22 Aug 2006 09:42:24 -0500 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=22 My experience with several rattlesnakes and my earliest recollections of a rattlesnake that includes a dog named Old Bob. I recently ask Mother how old I was when old Bob bayed the rattlesnake up; she said that I was between 2 ½ and 3 but no more than 3 years old. It was just after dinner (12:00 noon) I was playing in the front yard of our house the house that Daddy had build prier to me being born. I herd Bob another dog barking just outside of the front gate to the entrance of the house from the south side pasture. The gate was open most of time unless Daddy was working cows. Daddy had been building fence some where on the ranch that day I don’t know where because he didn’t let me go with him when building fence was. A dog called Bob was as curious as I was although I remember Daddy saying that bob was hardly worth the bullet that it would take to kill him and that about all he would chase is a biskett. He said that Bob was so lazy the wouldn’t even trail up a hog let alone catch one after Ring another dog that Daddy had trailed it up, that was a good hog dog. Bob wouldn’t even try to catch a hog that Ring had been baying up till Daddy even if Daddy sicked Ring on it first. Thu, 20 Jul 2006 19:10:06 -0500 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=21 I still have the rattlers that Daddy had Buck cut off the rattlesnake that bit him. Daddy said that the snake was the second biggest snake that he had ever seen or killed, it had 19 rattlers and 3 buttons. I once ask where did he kill the largest one at? Daddy said that he didn’t kill the biggest one that he had ever seen. I said who then? Daddy laughingly said you and dogs found it out there in front of the house and your Mother killed it. This snake had 22 rattlers and 3 buttons. In describing the rattles and buttons first you count the joints of the rattles. Each of the rattles couples loosely over the next one in front of it and naturally the last one are connected to the rattlers tail. This over lapping of each rattle on to the next one is where the sound comes from when the snake shakes it’s rattles to worn someone or a large animal to stay away. The buttons actually are the internal joint of each rattle where the next rattle is connected this leaves the last rattle on the snake exposed. These joints can be 2 or 3 raised parts that look much like a smaller rattle If some one were to separate one segment of a rattlesnakes rattle the front part of the rattle would be the button of the rattles remanding rattles and would look like the original button attached end of the rattles. Daddy said that how many rattles a snake has each year after shedding directly corresponds to whether the snake had eaten food that contained adequate had enough minerals in it’s needed to grow more or less rattles the much like a deer’s antlers each year if a deer has access to enough food with enough mineral base it will produce a large rack. If not the same deer that had 12 points this year in a bad year may have 4 or 6 points or could be only a spike buck if it starves enough that year. Thu, 20 Jul 2006 19:08:44 -0500 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=20 Daddy and the other road across the hill, it had a gradual sloped toward the slew. At the gate on property line fence Owen got down and opened it. Daddy and the rest rode their horses through the gate then stopped and waited till Owen closed it and got back on his Horse. From the gate to the corduroy crossing on Vanswarington that Daddy had chosen to cross that morning was no more that a ¼ of a mile north. Tue, 18 Jul 2006 16:21:33 -0500 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=19 Daddy knowing that the cattle on the back side of our ranch didn’t come to the hill to the north of the house because there was a hill on the north side of Vanswarington where this group stayed. It was the Vanswarington scrub; this is the eastern end of the eastern ridge. There is two ridges that extend into southern Florida one of the ridges ends in the back of our ranch and other ridge ends over at Palmdale you may have noticed the sudden and pronounced rise in elevation when you were headed north on US 27. The end of the eastern ridge isn’t so pronounced as the west there is only 10’ of drop from the front of our ranch to the back. Thu, 8 Jun 2006 05:08:48 -0500 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=18 The International Land-Based Shark Fishing Association (The ILSFA) will Pioneer new World Record Categories for Released Fish, Research Efforts and Sport Unification. Land-Based Shark Fishing is defined as, “Attempting to capture and / or the actual capture of sharks using a rod, reel, line, and hook(s) from the land and anything permanently attached to it”. For example: jetties, piers and bridges. Among the defining efforts of the ILSFA is its designation of a new world record category for sharks released after capture. By using a widely accepted large species estimated weight formula, in conjunction with other specific qualifying measures, anglers will have the opportunity to be officially recognized internationally for their accomplishments without having to weigh their catch. Fri, 2 Jun 2006 06:02:40 -0500 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=17 Chapter 2 of 6 Back to the south side holding area I got distracted there. We were at the south west corner of the south side holding pasture. The west side fence of the south side holding pasture’s fence extended north about a mile then connected to the south west corner of the crevice, At the corner of the crevice it turned east the fence serving as the fence for both pastures the crevice and south side holding in till the crevice reached the barn then the crevice turned away and to the north. The east side’s fence stretched on to where I started describing Dick’s west and Daddies’ east fence at the T. Sat, 27 May 2006 10:53:12 -0500 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=16 Chapter 1 of 6 Daddy, Junior, Buck and Owen had been drifting cattle the last weeks. Daddy had managed to trap part of the cattle in the two holding pastures that straddled the hill one was to the north of the center of the hill and the other was to the south. About mid way across the hill along side the fence that divided the two holding pastures is where daddy placed his homestead Back when Daddy first started the ranch he got Junior to help for a while then junior would decide to go off to do some cow work for other cow men then Daddy would get Granddaddy (Daddies father) to come out and stay for awhile and help with building the house and help put some more fence around the out side of the ranch. Granddaddy did a good bit of the building on the newer house that was built another house just prier to me being born by. Fri, 19 May 2006 15:34:18 -0500 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=15 I like evening cat fishing around Lake Okeechobee. I have found that most anything edible can be used as Catfish bait. I have used everything from bread balls to hot dogs. The hot dogs seem to work when you get the cheapest brand of chicken dogs. Chicken Livers work too but from what I have learned that these along with live worms are going to get you anything from the small to moderate size catfish. Wed, 10 May 2006 18:34:42 -0500 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=14 Hello everyone. This is a new and growing site with forums. In the forums I am needing moderators that have a good knowledge of fishing. Moderators are needed in both the freshwater and saltwater sections of the forum. In the forums I have a section where you can post your intrest in being a moderator here. Sun, 7 May 2006 20:01:44 -0500 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=12 10-foot gator bites wading fly fisherman By Lorna Jablonski, Okeechobee News With the weather warming up and breeding season having begun, alligators are becoming more active. This big guy enjoyed his dinner at the FWC dock o­n the Rim Canal. Okeechobee News/Lorna Jablonski Sixty-six-year-old Sam Crutchfield of Fort Pierce was attacked by an alligator while fly fishing o­n Lake Istokpoga Monday afternoon. The alligator, which is believed to be at least 10 feet long, grabbed Mr. Crutchfield by the hip as he stood in 41-inch deep water. Fri, 28 Apr 2006 06:59:31 -0500 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11 Lake Okeechobee fights for lifeLong-time angler Pat Dravo displayed o­ne of the bass he and partner Terry Frisenda brought to the weigh-in scale at a recent tournament at the Okee-Tantie Campground and Marina located at the northern end of Lake Okeechobee. The two anglers’ two-day total weight of 41.93 lbs. earned them first place in the tournament. Okeechobee News/Lorna JablonskiBy Lorna Jablonski, Okeechobee NewsLAKE OKEECHOBEE — Politicians, wildlife experts, businessmen and locals continue to focus their attention o­n the 730 sq. mile lake named Lake Okeechobee (Seminole for big water). The beautiful lake was o­nce home to a multitude of wildlife from alligators and waterfowl to largemouth bass, blue gill, specks and numerous other fish. Its bounty was essential to the economy of the city and county. But now the lake is in trouble. After years of mismanagement, neglect and natural disasters, the fish population is dwindling.At a summit held o­n Jan. 13, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) discussed the decline in the fish population of Lake Okeechobee with anglers, business owners and biologists.As reported in February, the FWC took 66 electro fishing samples of largemouth bass at different areas around the lake in areas such as Harney Pond, Fisheating Bay, Tin House Cove, Indian Prairie Canal, Horse Island, King’s Bar, Cody’s Cove and J&S Fish Camp. Thu, 27 Apr 2006 06:36:27 -0500 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8 Proof of Catfish fishing popularity is the great number of anglers interested in him; they total several million. It is doubtful if even the aristocratic Trout, or the little Sunfish caught in nearly every back-yard pond, claims more attention than this strange fish with the whiskers Fri, 21 Apr 2006 05:46:09 -0500 http://www.okeeart.com/Post/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=6 Okay the site is done for now but for the little things here and there.I am taking suggestions in the forum. I will be making changes here and there in the site.Please let me know of any bugs you come across so that I can get to work o­n those right away.In the forums I have places for everything and if not I will create it.I would like to see discussions o­n all aspects of fishing . Tue, 18 Apr 2006 14:55:33 -0500