Loch Lomond fishing dock nearing completion

If all goes according to plan, the Joint Advisory Committee on Lakes will hold their next meeting on the brand new fishing dock near the Loch Lomond Marina on Oct. 19. The announcement was made at the September meeting on Sept. 21.

The Bella Vista Fly-Tyers are paying some of the costs of the dock. Originally members of the Fly-Tyers suggested using a portion of the existing boat docks for fishing, but the Lakes Committee preferred the idea of adding a long gangway to the existing fishing dock, which will move it into deeper water. Anglers will be able to fish from the ramp as well as from the dock. The project should be complete in early October, General Manager Tom Judson told the committee.

The committee also considered wake board boats on Bella Vista lakes. Because the boats generate such a large wake, they can damage docks and shorelines. Rather than ban the boats, the committee agreed to ask lake rangers to tell wake boat operators to stay in the middle of the lake.

A policy that will allow some boat maintenance in parking lots around the lake got the committee’s approval. Judson presented the policy explaining there are some restrictions. The boat owner is responsible, Judson said, if a mechanic leaves a mess in the parking lot. Also, access to the ramp cannot be blocked while work is underway.

The committee asked Judson to put benches for the Lake Windsor dam area in the budget. Judson said he has budgeted the funds, but he’s still hoping that some residents will sponsor a memorial bench.

Lakes and Parks Superintendent Rick Echols said the crappie raised in the pond on the Berksdale Golf Course are being moved to POA lakes, with most of them going to Lake Brittany. The state still won’t allow him to move the walleye that were purchased out sf state and raised in a second golf course pond. Last spring when the state notified Echols that he could not move the walleye out of the pond, they agreed to donate some walleye stock. Those fish seem to be doing well, Echols said.