Weirs Closed

[hewes]

if the weir has to be closed make a boat lift to give the public access to the marsh. I have seen many days boat bay closed and gates open letting water into the marsh. no one can explain that one. the reason being they don't want the public back there.

[biglaketiger]

I say it is because of in the field experience, my family has roots on the island here. I spent summers out here as a kid. All I know is when the weirs are open and the water is flowing in and out the fishing is great, when it's locked up tight the fishing declines dramatically. That's all I know...

[Smalls]

Originally Posted by biglaketiger

I say it is because of in the field experience, my family has roots on the island here. I spent summers out here as a kid. All I know is when the weirs are open and the water is flowing in and out the fishing is great, when it's locked up tight the fishing declines dramatically. That's all I know...

That is probably because all of the bait species being funneled through certain locations. If the weirs and levee had never been put there, the fishing probably wouldn't be that good because you wouldn't have mass movements of multiple species at one time.

Hewes, As far as the boat bay, I don't know about that. Is it just at a certain time of year that it is closed, or are you talking about at different times it will be closed and other times open. I know they close it for a period when duck season opens.

[biglaketiger]

Originally Posted by Smalls

That is probably because all of the bait species being funneled through certain locations. If the weirs and levee had never been put there, the fishing probably wouldn't be that good because you wouldn't have mass movements of multiple species at one time.

Hewes, As far as the boat bay, I don't know about that. Is it just at a certain time of year that it is closed, or are you talking about at different times it will be closed and other times open. I know they close it for a period when duck season opens.

I know that's the reason the fishing is good or bad depending on the weirs, bait equals fish, simple...No one here doesn't know that. That's what we are all complaining about

[hewes]

no sir I have seen it at different time of the year boat bay closed and gates open. it was done in the spring, summer and fall. I would call to complain and nothing would change. why doesn't the refuge build a walkway and dock for people to crab and fish on the inside? why does the refuge have to be closed when boat bay is closed?

[Natural Light Kid]

Originally Posted by biglaketiger

I say it is because of in the field experience, my family has roots on the island here. I spent summers out here as a kid. All I know is when the weirs are open and the water is flowing in and out the fishing is great, when it's locked up tight the fishing declines dramatically. That's all I know...

Would completely removing the weirs solve the fishing/crabbing problem?

[noodle creek]

Originally Posted by Natural Light Kid

Would completely removing the weirs solve the fishing/crabbing problem?

That along with a few other changes. Look at Sabine lake, it's black and white. Put all scientific data aside and just use common sense, weirs closed=bad fishing. It doesn't take an expert to figure this out. Boy i love how scientists like to discredit observations made by people who fish the lake at least 100 times a year for last 10,20,30 years.

[Duck Butter]

Originally Posted by noodle creek

That along with a few other changes. Look at Sabine lake, it's black and white. Put all scientific data aside and just use common sense, weirs closed=bad fishing. It doesn't take an expert to figure this out. Boy i love how scientists like to discredit observations made by people who fish the lake at least 100 times a year for last 10,20,30 years.

does Sabine have a ship channel like Big Lake? therein lies your answer

[mr crab]

Originally Posted by Duck Butter

does Sabine have a ship channel like Big Lake? therein lies your answer

ummm yes

[Smalls]

Originally Posted by noodle creek

That along with a few other changes. Look at Sabine lake, it's black and white. Put all scientific data aside and just use common sense, weirs closed=bad fishing. It doesn't take an expert to figure this out. Boy i love how scientists like to discredit observations made by people who fish the lake at least 100 times a year for last 10,20,30 years.

Sabine lake is a different system. Major differences between the two.

For one, there are two freshwater inflows into the Sabine, the Neches and Sabine Rivers. Big Lake has one, that also happens to be disrupted by a saltwater barrier.

It has nothing to do with discrediting fishermen. Fishermen see fish, and crabs, and shrimp and say the marsh is fine. A wetland scientist looks at the plant community and sees rapid changes occurring. Changes that, if left unchecked, will result in massive expanses of open water where marsh once existed. It has happened, there is proof.

Sabine and Big Lake are different systems. You can't compare the two without considering the major differences. There is definitely more freshwater flowing into Sabine than there is into Big Lake.

BTW, back in 2002, plans were put in motion to install water control structures on the east bank of Sabine.

[mr crab]

Originally Posted by Smalls

Sabine lake is a different system. Major differences between the two.

For one, there are two freshwater inflows into the Sabine, the Neches and Sabine Rivers. Big Lake has one, that also happens to be disrupted by a saltwater barrier.

It has nothing to do with discrediting fishermen. Fishermen see fish, and crabs, and shrimp and say the marsh is fine. A wetland scientist looks at the plant community and sees rapid changes occurring. Changes that, if left unchecked, will result in massive expanses of open water where marsh once existed. It has happened, there is proof.

Sabine and Big Lake are different systems. You can't compare the two without considering the major differences. There is definitely more freshwater flowing into Sabine than there is into Big Lake.

BTW, back in 2002, plans were put in motion to install water control structures on the east bank of Sabine.

saltwater barriers on the neches and the sabine. Also the main determining factor for the freshwater flowing into Sabine is he dams on Rayburn and Toledo. When they ain't generating power at those dams, the water don't flow. And the gulf pours directly into sabine...straight shot. It doesn't sit off to the side of the channel like B.L. does, so if anything, I would say Sabine receives more of a direct saltwater influx from the gulf?

[Natural Light Kid]

Originally Posted by noodle creek

That along with a few other changes. Look at Sabine lake, it's black and white. Put all scientific data aside and just use common sense, weirs closed=bad fishing. It doesn't take an expert to figure this out. Boy i love how scientists like to discredit observations made by people who fish the lake at least 100 times a year for last 10,20,30 years.

I'm afraid some aren't seeing the big picture. If u dynamite the weirs the fishing will be great like right after Rita. Problem is it won't last. The marsh will die and all the things that make it great when the weirs are open will no longer be there. When the weirs are open, and bait enters the lake, it's great for the fishing. If the marsh is dead, and their is no bait entering the lake when the weirs are open, then you will not have good fishing or hunting. I think we (me included) need to try to look at the big picture and come up with a solution to solve the problemS, not the problem like we've been doing. Things are cyclical. You cannot have great fishing 24/7/365. Im sure back in the day before the ship channels, there were good times and bad times, but man wasnt there to freak out if they didnt load the boat up one day with fish. The estuary is dependent on lots of things including certain levels of salinity, freshwater flushings, thriving surrounding marshes, etc. I wish there was a way that we could return things back to as original as possible.

[noodle creek]

Originally Posted by Natural Light Kid

I'm afraid some aren't seeing the big picture. If u dynamite the weirs the fishing will be great like right after Rita. Problem is it won't last. The marsh will die and all the things that make it great when the weirs are open will no longer be there. When the weirs are open, and bait enters the lake, it's great for the fishing. If the marsh is dead, and their is no bait entering the lake when the weirs are open, then you will not have good fishing or hunting. I think we (me included) need to try to look at the big picture and come up with a solution to solve the problemS, not the problem like we've been doing. Things are cyclical. You cannot have great fishing 24/7/365. Im sure back in the day before the ship channels, there were good times and bad times, but man wasnt there to freak out if they didnt load the boat up one day with fish. The estuary is dependent on lots of things including certain levels of salinity, freshwater flushings, thriving surrounding marshes, etc. I wish there was a way that we could return things back to as original as possible.

I get the whole picture, a lot needs to be done. We need oyster reefs back and to rock off the ship channel, i get that. I'm just saying that fishing sucks when the weirs are closed. Bottom line.

[biglaketiger]

Like today, the wife says hey lets take the kids behind the weirs and see if we can get some crabs to boil tonight, nope, can't go hun, no fun,

[Duck Butter]

Originally Posted by biglaketiger

Like today, the wife says hey lets take the kids behind the weirs and see if we can get some crabs to boil tonight, nope, can't go hun, no fun,

There are several places you can go catch crabs in Cameron Parish and not even need a boat to do it

[biglaketiger]

Smalls the gates are Closed majority of the time now. If it's closed now it will be closed most of the summer when the Lake gets the most salinity.

[Smalls]

I decided a long time ago that there was no convincing anyone of the importance of the weirs, because people only want to look at the fish and what they do. That is not the purpose of the weirs. But people will always say they don't see anything wrong with the marsh, it looks fine.

I've never said I agree with how they have been operated, only that they are now needed to maintain the marsh. I don't know how to convince anyone of that when everyone wants to believe there is no problem, except that fishing is not good when the weirs are closed.

[hewes]

all im asking for is access to the refuge.

[Cripley]

Originally Posted by hewes

all im asking for is access to the refuge.

I agree this is a management of access issue recreational shrimping is being strangled out over the years used to be able to grab a cast net and shrimp anywhere over the years they have kept reducing it

First the nature trail well they wanted a tourist spot with no shrimpers

Second north line that's for crabbers they said

Third hog island shrimpers are trashing it up

Then all road sides

The blue crab

So people got boats to shrimp in refuge now no boat parking in the opening by bridge ( where shrimp are)

So now the weirs one week before they meet on shrimping season

And Smalls yes I do know what shrimp eat appreciate the effort there as well as your attempt to belittle everyone having a discussion on this civilly yet you are not even aware of what they are opening or closing this goes a lot deeper than making sure we have ducks for the hunters it's about total management of the ecosystem not just one group of animal in ecosystem

[Smalls]

Originally Posted by Cripley

I agree this is a management of access issue recreational shrimping is being strangled out over the years used to be able to grab a cast net and shrimp anywhere over the years they have kept reducing it

First the nature trail well they wanted a tourist spot with no shrimpers

Second north line that's for crabbers they said

Third hog island shrimpers are trashing it up

Then all road sides

The blue crab

So people got boats to shrimp in refuge now no boat parking in the opening by bridge ( where shrimp are)

So now the weirs one week before they meet on shrimping season

And Smalls yes I do know what shrimp eat appreciate the effort there as well as your attempt to belittle everyone having a discussion on this civilly yet you are not even aware of what they are opening or closing this goes a lot deeper than making sure we have ducks for the hunters it's about total management of the ecosystem not just one group of animal in ecosystem

Dude, you haven't been here long enough to know what I stand for. I've been making that argument for over a year now. I know all about the ecosystem approach, I've been the one arguing that here. Ask W, me and him have been going at it over the weirs for a long time now.

I conducted research and worked in that marsh, and all the marshes in Cal/Cam for 2.5 years. I was not trying to belittle anyone, merely pointing out what many apparently neglect.