Anglers Continue to Hit Southeast Lakes Even with Drought Conditions

       By: Skeeter Products, Inc.
Posted: 2007-09-13 15:00:57
Low lake levels across the Southeastern United States have not affected bass populations, yet, but officials from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources are hoping for rain, and urging anglers and boaters alike to use caution while on the water.

Skeeter Products, Inc., one of the nation's leading bass boat companies, returns to J. Strom Thurmond Lake at Clarks Hill along the Georgia-South Carolina boarder for a second straight year to host one of its Owner's Tournaments, and company officials are confident that its participants will follow lake safety regulations and use common sense while on the lake, which is eight feet below normal.

The company is anticipating more than 200 boats and approximately 400 anglers for the September 21-23 weekend event. "We are encouraging our tournament participants to use caution to protect themselves and fellow anglers and boaters by understanding the dangers of low water levels," says Daren Cole of Skeeter Products, Inc. "We want our owners to have a good and safe time fishing in our tournament," Cole added.

Cole indicated that Skeeter selected Wildwood Park in Columbia County, just north of Augusta, Georgia, for its capabilities of handling and event of this size. Wildwood Park operates eight boat ramps on J. Strom Thurmond Lake at Clarks Hill, including a six-mega ramp system. Columbia County officials extended the length of the park's boat ramp system just last year to better accommodate the low water level on the 70,000-acre lake.

"J. Strom Thurmond Lake at Clarks Hill is currently between eight and nine feet below our normal summer level pool, but these low water levels have not affected this year's black bass population," says Ramon Martin, Fisheries Program Regional Supervisor for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

"The lake is a premier black bass fishery within the state of Georgia, and while the current population is strong, if these extreme drought conditions continue well into this winter, it could have an impact on next spring's spawn," says Martin.

Martin added that the Georgia DNR has an excellent web site that provides information about water levels, lake conditions, fishing license information, and fishing tips for lakes throughout the state at http://www.gofishgeorgia.com.

Sergeant Doyle Chaffin, a Supervisor with the Law Enforcement Division of the Georgia DNR encourages anglers to "fish slow." "Clarks Hill is dangerous to the unsuspecting angler or boater right now," says Chaffin. "Folks who visit the lake should be aware of its conditions, particularly humps of extremely shallow water," says Chaffin. He recommends that people slow down, always wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device, stay within channel markers, and use common sense. "GPS and electronic depth gauges are important, but do not depend completely on this information," Chaffin added.

For more information about Skeeter Products, Inc., visit http://www.skeeterboats.com
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