What Happens When You CAST NET a DRAINING LAKE??? -- We Can't Believe How It Looks...

[@johnroberts5602]

We drove down to Little Rock from Bentonville a couple of weeks ago. It was an erie sight when we got to Lake Conway.

[@mikeelder6298]

Never underestimate the AGFCs ability to screw up a wildlife area.

[@AngieWolfK72]

When the state figures out how much they’re losing in taxes and tourism, they may rethink this BS. I hope so anyway. Such a shame.

[@kristineguetschow9134]

@@AngieWolfK72- In typical “any” agency fashion, once the damage has been done, if they don’t try to place the blame on everyone else, they will finally acknowledge it was a mistake. Then it will be determined that since the damage has been done, let’s use the property for apartment and housing developments so we can recoup our losses and the people will realize that this is much better than restoring the water on the drained property. Of course, using the property for housing is probably the intention all along. To stop the complaints, they’ll take the path of least resistance and everyone will have to agree with the outcome.

[@AngieWolfK72]

@@kristineguetschow9134 yeah my first thought was housing. Very sad. I hope the people who live there do something. I can’t believe what they’re doing to begin with. It doesn’t take draining an entire lake for boat lanes. Ugh…….

[@HoytT-p5o]

I know. Where I live, we have some 0retty hard woods and then just started logging them, and it has turned up to a briar forest. You can't even hunt them now.

[@ebomoreno8119]

That sunk, sinker cypress, makes Great art and furniture.

[@MsKindaSorta]

That’s cool, Cole. Maybe feed those trapped bass in the channel you were catching the other day. That lake has had so many shad it seems like you could walk across them at times.

[@randy1ization]

that old cement wall would be a great place to check for spawning crappie in the spring,., it also makes a good choke point for largemouth and sandies to corral shad up against.

[@MSmith-jf5wo]

At 11:30 in your video, you didn't know what the "Little Dam" was? There used to be a pipeline going across there back in the early 90's. All rusted away, now! (Used to fish with Boogey H. there, and catch a LOT of good Crappie!).

[@SlicksOutdoors]

Thanks for the explanation. I have wondered what that was since it emerged. I have fished the lake for 50+ years and never even realized.

[@kevincox3422]

Nice to see update on your lake over there.Happy New Year.

[@BobBohner4851]

Wow. That’s shocking. Can’t wait till it’s back some day

[@willmallory9085]

Excellent video Brother

[@williamgahman5028]

HI Cole, Jay, Cyprus and Summer. Lake looking terrible. Thanks for taking us along. God bless and love yall ❤❤

[@MsKindaSorta]

I’ve been saying if they would flip the stumps upside down to have the roots sticking up, no artificial fish attracts would be needed. Bulldoze a pile of about 5 stumps with roots up… Wow! That would make great cover for spawning!!

[@carltonbailey3498]

This lake already appears to have about 90% more structure than most of the lakes !

[@williambenner701]

I would have kept some of those shad for sure! Great cut bait and chum.

[@josephpecoraro2788]

Like you showing your lake and do you all know if they are planning to build a new type of dam for the future or just planning to tread the hold lake. Thanks for the update and can't wait for 2024 videos.

[@jacobfelton6948]

I’m headed there tomorrow (Friday) morning. Any suggestions on where to fish?

[@Thepondguy85]

Your boy is here for it let's goooooo

[@torstenmisner1872]

That's crazy me and my buddies we're out there at the damn when you posted this video cast netting as well

[@JRtryanfollowhisdreams]

Lots shades in that area

[@4reelz9999]

Hey guys, yall more than welcome to come here to Dallas/ft. Worth to fish!!!

[@John-pn7bh]

It was an interesting video. Would be nice to show some before and after comparisons.

[@captainmystikalz6439]

Oh wow are you at Lake Conway and I'm from Central Arkansas here

[@FishingwithROOKE]

W video man!!

[@papat7770]

Good afternoon my friend s.

[@gregoryparks210]

Must of missed it. Just how soon will the state return these waterways back to "normal" ? Thank you...

[@SlicksOutdoors]

Supposed to be a 5 year draw down 🤦‍♂️

[@BlueLinerMedia]

Have you seen any carp in the shallow flats areas?

[@davidbennett7800]

What are they going to do to renovate the lake? Not sure what the means.

[@wallacev2267]

Cole, what will happen to all those cypress trees? Will they die or can they live without being in water.

[@SedwinG]

They should make it just fine

[@AnnBrown-k6b]

We watch. Every show we have family that live on lake Conway. Keep it p with draining project on your show .grandson. He’s 4 any watches you guys with kids. . Gotta meet you when we come visit family. We have daughter. That was raised on lake Conway

[@davidpeightal4918]

Do people eat shad? If so, how do they handle it?

[@Forgive7x70times]

Hope you do the cast netting again.

[@markeldridge5723]

How deep was that lake before they started draining it?

[@COLE_and_JAY]

Average depth of 5-6ft. It’s not a very deep lake.

[@patrickhartman6818]

​@@COLE_and_JAY looks like the creek channel is the spot now.

[@thehikingbird249]

We have a ton of alligator snapping turtles that bury themselves under the silt that will not ever see the light of day again… so sad

[@anthonyfoutch3152]

You ought to make some shad gut stew.

[@bigcountry15151]

I have a question, when they are draining a lake like that do they allow you to keep any and all fish you catch at that lake only or do you still have normal state limits and they leave all the fish that do not meet regulation to die as the water dries up?

[@davejones3477]

No Limits Currently

[@davejones3477]

Pretty sure that's what He's said in Previous Vids

[@SlicksOutdoors]

They lifted the length and creel limits not long after they opened the gates. There are several deeper holes in the lake that are not accessible because the mud is so deep that I would love to fish. Wish I had a helicopter. Lol

[@philipkirk6488]

I'm sorry to hear they are draining your lake

[@camwinston5248]

I just wonder where the giant Croc-o-saurus has got off too now ??

[@JodyHunts]

That's what I was wondering.. Have you guys seen any sign of the gator??

[@jerrywhitehead503]

Watch out for the gator as it warms up. It buried up in a old beaver hut somewhere out there. A gator can survive in frozen over water as long as it keeps its nostrils above ice level 🎅 Santajerry

[@budatkins5917]

Cole, I have wondered about the fish leaving the lake as they think they will also. Hopefully they will bring in an excavator and tear out those concrete walls in front of the damn so more water can drain and fish can escape. About 3 weeks ago I went down to the ramp where you, Daniel and Houston launched at and there were hundreds of small size catfish just boiling the water feeding on shad in that pocket there. I hated to see them do this to the lake but hopefully it will be better in 5 or 10 years.

[@davidpeightal4918]

Cormorant tried to eat the big bass. Choked to death. Right now both are fighting in the afterlife.

[@jamesbarnard928]

You said that there were Alligators in the lake,where did they go?

[@charlescook1720]

Did they relocate the gator?

[@rickpilgrim6773]

Saw a guy lose a net right there early in the spring...he didn't have it tied to his wrist... It's in there stll

[@COLE_and_JAY]

I’ve done that a time or three haha

[@EricJackhammerMorris]

As soon as next week they're planning on getting the two old drain pipes open and it'll start draining about 2-3 more feet. By February it'll be mostly drained. Except for the old ponds and creek channel. Sucks

[@melissajohnson3547]

Need to do operation save big ole bass.

[@darkstar6909]

Dumb question - you verified that there is at least one gator in the lake. Is AGFC planning on relocating the gator (s) or will they be ok during the drawdown?

[@COLE_and_JAY]

They’ll be fine!

[@Mg0936]

Ok… Now let me clarify something. Looks like there is a lot of PETA members or something. Was the lake a good lake? Yes. Should it have been drained from a habitat improvement perspective. Probably not. But, the lake was constructed way beck in the 50s and 60s and the same needed repairs, so they lake was either going to be drained by Agfc or the levee would burst and kill all the fish anyways. Plus even though the lake still had a ton of structure during this drawdown lots of small trees and bushes will grow in the old lakebed and soil will be enhanced leading to a more fertile better lake in the future. Also everyone saying they are destroying the environment. REMEMBER the lake was made by people in the first place. If you really want to preserve the environment, drain the lake and restore the natural creek bottom that was once there.

[@kenf4837]

You need to take a metal detector down there and pick up sinkers and lures! When I lived in south Florida, years ago I would go down in the keys and pick up sinkers under the bridges and offshore around the rocks at each end of the bridges! I'd find more than I could carry in a 5 gallon bucket! I'd have to make several trips to get them all to the car! Lead is becoming a precious commodity in the U.S. now since the EPA closed down our only remaining smelter several years ago! All lead has to be imported now!

[@chuckschillingvideos]

The problem with shad is that it is, in my experience, impossible to keep them alive.

[@gregvanhorn4384]

Do dams block fish passage? Yes, they do, as seen here, even a low wall is a fish barrier. The concept of fish passage is mostly emphasized out west in "salmon country" where salmon runs happen, but it should never be devalued in Arkansas, especially with a dam so close to the Arkansas River where this one is located. But first, let's talk about the sediment/siltation accumulation, the reason given by AGFC for draining the reservoir called Lake Conway. The dam was constructed around 1948 to create the impoundment for recreational purposes. . It's neither a flood control dam, nor a hydro-power dam. Nearly 7000 acres of land was inundated. A couple of creeks were also drowned beneath their own impounded waters, the main one is known as Palarm Creek, a name derived from an early French settler named Baptiste Larme. Some of the very first eminent domain laws were used to obtain the land since some land owners objected to losing their land for this dam construction project that was being championed by the state of Arkansas. The dam, like all dams, blocked the natural transport of sediment. A river's job is to transport that sediment downstream. A river bed works like a conveyor belt. A dam is a wall that disrupts this natural system causing the sediment to settle on the bottom of the reservoir and accumulate instead of drifting downstream. The accumulation increases when populations and development increase due to the coverage by impermeable surfaces. So, the AGFC's plan is to drain the reservoir for 5 YEARS in hopes that this accumulated sediment will become "compacted." They claim there are case studies that prove that compaction will occur, I haven't seen these studies, but it sounds pretty far-fetched. Anyone who has seen what happens to a drained reservoir knows that the former lakebed will revert to what it was prior to the damming. In this case, the land was a cypress and hardwood forest that was being logged and used for farming. Fish passage: "Rivers connect us", but they also connect fish to their native spawning areas. When dams block fish passage, fish populations often plummet, unless and until fish are later stocked into the impoundment, thus replacing a natural fish run with a bureaucratic fish stocking program paid for by us the taxpayers. What we know about dam removal from the hundreds of dams that have been removed is that the natives come back once the dam is gone. Even after long periods of blockage, the fish return and swim upstream and reconnect with where they have lived for thousands of years. Diversity and numbers increase rapidly once the dam is gone and fish are free to move up and down the river system. The siltation and sediment that was trapped is also free to move and that improves the water quality and fish habitat. Once the dam is gone, the system works like it was designed to and the best thing is we don't have to support a bureaucracy to stock fish for fishermen to catch. A river ecosystem is sustainable, natural and ancient. 🤔 Thank you for showing this area returning to its Natural State. It's time to reconnect Palarm Creek to the Arkansas River by removing the remnants of this obsolete dam and restoring our shared natural resource! To the rivers, gvh

[@katfisher67]

Where is this?

[@asadullah6047]

here you go buddy..after steepping on his buddy..lool

[@lorettataylor9902]

What’s the reason for draining the lake?

[@philipkirk6488]

Better than my throw I still can't get it to open up

[@domeshine69]

I shad in the stream.

[@kimmontgomery54]

In my opinion why fix something that’s not broken? That’s ridiculous! Not to mention all the wildlife habitat that they’re destroying! I know that I can get carried away with some things, but my goodness! I just can’t!😮 I’m so sorry, Cole! I know this craziness must be tearing y’all up because it was your dream to live on this lake! Lots of prayers for y’all! Love and blessings from this old Bama girl!❤❤❤

[@kerkleblanc7690]

Why are they draining the lake. What are the plans for it?

[@Jonigmickna]

I can definitely understand why they would drain the lake to clear channels for boating, just safety concerns.

[@mdv2043]

Man we gotta work on your castnet skills..😂

[@COLE_and_JAY]

Haha my net is kinda broke and gets tangled up easy. I usually dont mess with getting it all untangled and just send it. I’m down for a cast net contest 😎

[@mdv2043]

@@COLE_and_JAY grew up throwing a ten foot in texas and threw 20 ' for many yrs in florida . It is an art form for sure .pancakes are always the goal.

[@donaldwatson3822]

Oh

[@melissajohnson3547]

Feel really bad for the big ole big bass that will get left behind😢. Maybe you can catch them and release the biggins out and let them survive to get even bigger. Help save the biggins Cole.

[@rexabrams7352]

Maybe you should communicate with the organization that is doing the work on the lake to see if you can do some video of the work and it's progress so you can educate yourself and your viewers on the who? What? When? Why? Where? of this whole deal. Just Sayin

[@philipkirk6488]

Especially when they didn't really get you a warning

[@curtislackner3286]

Haven’t been keeping up why r they drawing the lake ?

[@allenwilson9656]

Reconstruction

[@nolawarren3560]

What lake?

[@stevem.9670]

Lake Conway Arkansas

[@melaneemortensen3971]

I have a question. I follow you a lot!!! And it will say catch and cook, and you just keep throwing them all back - like white bass, for example. Can you please explain why a catch and cook...and you throw so many back? I'd appreciate it!!!

[@COLE_and_JAY]

If we kept them all we would have too many! Some days we go on meat hauls where we will keep all the keepers to stock the freezer and other times we just keep what we want to eat fresh that day

[@Paul.Casteel]

Why are they drawing that Lake?

[@bobbytodd5846]

Totally hate that beautiful wildlife area has been destroyed. Lots of fish and wildlife being displaced. Thank you for letting us see everything.

[@thomasashe2681]

Why does he carry a bucket if he isn't going to keep any of the fish?

[@bobbytodd5846]

I can't honestly believe they are doing this to improve the area. I believe there is a money behind this.

[@chrischrist7982]

Most definitely!!!!!!

[@ju66alo6]

Think of how beautiful those cypress trees would be right now if they didn't cut them all down.

[@jason6325]

Fish swim upstream They're not going out the gates into the creek. And 5 yrs of no water ain't going to " cook" the soil. I wish i knew what they were really up to. I need to get out there and get some fish before it's too late

[@JamesJones-cx5pk]

You would have done better if the water was running faster.

[@R.L.KRANESCHRADTT]

Say Cole, you're pretty handy with that cast net.... I came across this vid of Roland Martin throwing a Ten footer that pretty cool... he's 81 in this vid kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6aupqKPj7yHqMU ... the mans simply amazing.

[@randylippert6416]

Still hate to see a lake drained 👋

[@randycupit6003]

Silk fill in a lake Time drain remove lot silk floating into lake Once deep holes fill in silk floated in year by year,Time remove dozer,track hoes pull lot silk floating into lake Dig out lay in deeper hole,cut bank down fill deeper water,most fish trap in lake deeper holes creek will come back restock do in big size fish release So fish lot sooner

[@imsowright90]

Still sad that they have done this.

[@stevecorey5035]

SAD to see! Sickens me .

[@lelandshanks3590]

U never know when u cast a spill way.

[@aaron5632018]

Why do you never mention that it’s Lake Conway? like you’re trying to keep some kind of special secret or something, it’s kind of aggravating

[@allenwilson9656]

He has said before it's Lake Conway

[@aaron5632018]

@@allenwilson9656 ohh never heard him , I’ve watched about 20 of his videos from lake Conway and he always just calls it the lake , or our lake. My bad

[@bobbywallace8976]

That really disgust me can't imagine how you feel it's sad

[@Zinnias2go]

Sad…

[@caseylevy7310]

What a shame!!! What kind of A-hole would drain a beautiful lake not realizing the repercussions on the wildlife that depend on it for their existence???

[@LaYarddog]

Just sad

[@chadf1034]

Any gator sighting since the water got low?