Slammin' the Swinging Door Rodman Reservoir Camp Reports
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In This Issue: Fish Tails Slammin’ the Swinging Door Archeology of the Silver Glen Rodman Reservoir Boating Law Change for 2018 Camp Reports Day Trip – Blue Spring State Park Thanksgiving Camp Nuisance Gator Taken from Boil New Years Camp Love’s Labour Lost Main Camp Lost & Not Found MGM Camp Slammin’ the Swinging Door YADA, YADA, YADA. It’s time to read the latest edition of the Swingin’ Door! We get to pay Florida Sales Tax! Oh joy! Rapture! It could always be worse… Lee Porter spearheads Juniper’s efforts to battle the dreaded disease that causes our citrus orchard to produce inedible fruit. Citrus greening disease is transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, was first described in 1929 and first reported in China in 1943. Eventually, it affected the United States, reaching Florida in 2005. Within three years, it had spread to the majority of citrus farms. The rapid increase in this disease has threatened the citrus industry not only in Florida, but the entire US. As of 2009, 33 countries have reported infection in their citrus crop. Experts visited Juniper with Lee to speak with Gene, President Steve and Board Page 1 of 9 The Swinging Door Winter 2017 Members Tom Reichard, Mark Eley, Paul Bickel and Walt Kunau. We will keep you informed of the progress we are making but it appears that we will destroy our current orchard, re-work the irrigation system and begin replanting a smaller one with different fruits that ripen during our camp season. Thanks for the help Lee! Bob Sehlinger has been working on a REVISED History of the Juniper Club and it is close to completion! Look for more information about this important book that recalls our past and our traditions as the Juniper Club moves into her second century! This new initiative would not happen if it were not for the willingness and expertise of Bob! Thanks!! The Almost Famous Game Dinner is on and food will be on the table on June 21st. Mark your calendars! I need your help! Camp Captains, please send me your Camp Reports and Pictures – both make the website more interesting and the Swinging Door fun to read. Members send me your pictures and ideas on stories. If you write one, I will publish. Let me in on those funny fish tails so we can all enjoy a laugh and I can blame some of the bad jokes on someone other than me! The website is updated. I update the site with the latest camp reports and new photo galleries most every month. In the Members Only Section there is a floor plan for camp captains provided by Joe Kelley. Thanks Joe! Remember the Website password is Juniper1909. If the website is acting up please let me know. Check it out! http://juniper.club Finally, Don’t let the Swinging Door hit you on your way out! Walt Rodman Reservoir Joe Kelley suggested that I write about Rodman Reservoir because it was ranked #8 on Bassmaster’s Top Ten list of fisheries for 2016. While many Juniper campers fish Rodman, many of us do not know its history. The Florida Wildlife commission describes Rodman Reservoir as a premier largemouth bass fishery located in north Northeast Florida, covers 9,500 acres and is about 15 miles long. It is located south of Palatka off of Hwy 19. The reservoir was created in 1968 when an earthen dam was built across the Ocklawaha River. A four-gate spillway (Kirkpatrick Dam) controls the water levels of the reservoir. The reservoir from its headwaters at Eureka Dam to Paynes Landing consists of flooded woodlands. The transition section from Paynes Landing to Orange Springs consists of flooded standing timber and areas of floating vegetation. The pool section from Orange Springs to Kirkpatrick Dam, including the river channel and the Cross Florida Barge Canal, consists of floating and submersed vegetation, dead standing timber and submersed and partially submersed trees and stumps. The Barge Canal and river channel have water depths up to 30 feet deep. Submersed vegetation (hydrilla, coontail and eel grass) is common in the pool section of the reservoir. Drawdowns are conducted every three to four years on the reservoir for aquatic plant control and fish and wildlife habitat enhancement. Page 2 of 9 The Swinging Door Winter 2017 On the Bassmasters.com website, Bernie Schultz writes, “And besides supporting a healthy population of fish, Rodman is also home to countless other species of wildlife, including alligators, turtles, otters, turkey, deer, black bears, eagles and a wide range of waterfowl. The reservoir is fed by the Ocklawaha River, which in turn is comprised of runoff from the Harris Chain of Lakes and Silver Springs. Although it’s less than 50 years old, the lake has a somewhat prehistoric look. Fields of decaying timber hold giant rafts of hyacinths and water lettuce, and beneath these green canopies lurk some of Florida’s largest bass.” Many of us have spent time at Rodman with the late Nelson Hulvey and have stories to tell – true or not! There are two guides that Juniper members and their guest employ: Sean Rush at Trophy Bass Expeditions, 352-843-0939 FLORIDATROPHYBASS.COM; or Tommy McConnell, Teri Davis’ son-in-law, Reel Southern Charters, 352-239-1468. Some folks trailer their own boat and enjoy the day at this first class fishery but however you fish there, you are in for a treat and can create your own fish tale! Thanksgiving Camp Thanksgiving Camp 2016 was another great camp. The weather conditions the first half of the week were less than favorable. High pressure was prevalent and a strong northeast wind made fishing very difficult. Nighttime lows were in the low thirties which made the fireplace a popular area especially in the morning. Despite the tough conditions the camp still caught 221 bass. Anderson County native thirteen year old Everett Marret caught the most fish with (47) followed by his dad Taylor who caught (23). Davis Tatum (14) and Everett tied for the largest bass in camp which was 6 lbs. Doug Hall did catch a 7 lb bass at Rodman when he went with Tommy. The weather improved midweek and was absolutely spectacular Thanksgiving Day, partly sunny conditions with a light wind and temperatures in the low 70's. The Juniper staff put out a feast fit for a king including Turkey, Ham, Oyster Dressing, Sweet Potatoes along with all the Page 3 of 9 The Swinging Door Winter 2017 fixings. The younger guests capped off the afternoon with a Jeep ride from Captain General(Vic Stutz) which was follow up by a sunset cocktail cruise up and down the Silver Glen on the SS WR Cole which was captained by Wes Johnson and company. What a great way to end the day. Last but not least thanks to the entire Juniper Staff for putting on another excellent Thanksgiving Camp. Cheers! Captain Ray Hundley New Years Camp Campers from Florida, North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, and Alabama enjoyed the most perfect weather ever experienced at a New Year’s Camp. With the exception of one chilly but clear day, it was a whole week of warm sunshine and light breezes. Activities at the camp were varied as usual with fishing being preeminent. Ponder Parks hauled in 31 bass to lead the camp, with Keith Boyle close behind. At least six campers caught their largest bass ever including several 8- pounders. One day our best anglers went with a guide to Rodman where they inflicted a serious blow to the mudfish and pickerel population. Other activities included hiking, paddling, mountain biking, and 4-wheel bear-scouting safaris. The Glen took on the aspect of a boating regatta over the long New Year’s weekend with all manner of craft coming and going continuously. New Year’s Eve was a busy night as we combined picking and singing with NCAA semifinal football games. Overall it was a fattening week and a great seven days for carnivores with lamb, prime rib, corned beef, jerk pork, and steak all making appearances on the menu. Each expertly prepared, by the way. Camp was in wonderful condition and Gene and the crew turned in another flawless performance. Bob Sehlinger Main Camp Twenty-six Campers attended the first week of the 2017 Main Camp. The week began cold, with highs in the 40’s. By the end of the week we had sunny skies and highs in the 70’s. Fishing was tough on Lake George with a significant number of the 343 fish caught for the week coming from Rodman and guided trips. Cy Radford took the award for high number caught for the week with 28 fish. Several 6 pound fish were caught during the week from the St Johns and Lake George. However, the largest fish caught for the week was a 12 pound monster caught by Mark Eley at Rodman Reservoir while on a trip with Tommy McConnell. Page 4 of 9 The Swinging Door Winter 2017 Many stories were shared during the week, but maybe the most believable came from a presentation to the group Thursday night by Ken Sassaman of the University of Florida and Asa Randall, from the University of Oklahoma. Ken and Asa gave a summary of the archaeological findings on the Juniper Club property, including news of findings from the summer of 2016’s dig, where initial tests were done in an area adjoining the Little Juniper Creek. However, maybe the best story of the week came from Jim Siler’s guest, Garvin Deters, who related his personal experience riding with Joe Kelley as Joe tried to set a new top speed for his boat.