Lake: Memorial Day weekend draws big crowd
By TOOTSIE SNELLING
Marion County Park & Lake Reporter
Gosh, we had a busy weekend — almost as busy as Memorial Weekend. I guess the nice, hot weather brought everyone out to fish, swim, and boat. Some try to avoid the big weekends because of the crowds and come after, and I think that's what everyone did this weekend. It was a nice weekend until Sunday when the wind kicked up. But that didn't stop the swimmers, boaters, and jet skiers, who were out in force.
Fishing was good with lots of channel cat taken. Jim and Laura Kowach and sons from Silver Lake and Claude Wolf, a former lake resident, now from Salina, camped here all last week. They caught their limit in channel several days. Carl Wolf and his family, also from Salina, joined them Friday night and stayed through the weekend. They all came especially for the "WHOS" reunion which was held Saturday in the lake hall.
Getting back to fishing, the bass boat fishermen did well Saturday. One fisherman reported he had caught 11 bass ranging from four pounds down. He is a "catch and release" fisherman.
Several wipers were caught on liver and some on lures. No one brought one up for a picture. A few crappie were caught around the banks along with some drum, perch, and bluegill.
The water temperature is running around 73 degrees now at the public dock. Worms and minnows continue to be the best selling baits.
The Marion Girl Scouts camped out here last week, Tuesday through Thursday night. They didn't have as many as before, but all reported having a good time.
Chat and Dine met Saturday night in the hall. They had their annual cook-out and it looked like a good crowd attended.
The Lamb reunion was held in the hall on Sunday.
We are getting quite a collection of lost and found items. We have a pair of binoculars, a boat bumper, ski vest, black bicycle helmet, Peabody class ring, and a bicycle. We did have some wedding rings someone claimed. If you have lost any of these, please call and identify and you can have them and I can get them out of my window.
I didn't get around to talking about the stolen coolers on Memorial Weekend. Seems someone drove through the campground and took four of them. One was full of pop and beer. Another had groceries, meat, and cleaned channel cat. The one camper said he would have gladly given them the pop and beer if only they would have left his cooler.
The same thing happened last year both here and at the reservoir. I guess it's time to start tying everything down. No wonder some of the campers have BIG dogs!
We didn't get to attend any of the Chingawassa Day events, but several campers attended them because I saw their buttons. Some of my kids attended the concert and said the music was awesome and they enjoyed it. I had good intentions of going in to listen after I locked up at 10 p.m., but was too tired by then. Maybe next year. Several of the band members of "Synergy" were in the office and bought fishing permits so I did get to visit with them.
Someone complimented me on my flower garden, how beautiful it is. I know I looked shocked, then she laughed and said, "the lake wild flowers." I laughed and said, "Yes, they really keep me busy." If you haven't been around to see them, now is the time. Even the drive to Florence on U.S.-77 highway is pretty. The green grass, with the yellow, white, and purple flowers mixed in is a sight to see. Wished my flower garden looked as good.
If you have any news items be sure to call me.
