Speedwell

[z06]

A few weeks ago, I spent a few days on the Cocalico Creek above Ephrata hunting arrowheads, net weights and other stone artifacts. Before I headed home I swung by Speedwell. I was impressed, either PAFBC or some local club has set out about a hundred cribs, rock piles and other assorted trash. I personally think the majority of them were placed in water too deep to be of any value to the average fisherman, or for that fact, most of them were too deep for spawing cover as well. But then again, what do i know. If you ever intend to fish that lake, get your camera & photo map the bottom of that place.

I started fishing there after it was impounded back in the late 60's, and have fished it quite often over the decades, I thought I knew the lake bottom fairly well. WRONG. There were some things in there that really surprised me. There had been some questions as to when it would be refilled, or even if it was going to be filled at all. I'm sure that PAFBC wouldn't have sanctioned all that work if the lake wasn't going to be refilled.

Artifact hunt yeilded two quartz points, one sweet & complete, another with the corner notch knocked off.

[tracker]

Unofficially it could take seven plus years till we see water in Speedwell again, if ever. Fish Comm. has no money. They are having a problem with the overflow gate so they will be breaching the earthen dam to allow water to go through, and piling the dirt over in front of the cement spillway. This is an emergency quick fix to the reason for draining it in the first place. "Unsafe Dam". The wooden structure's you see will have rotted away by the time the lake is filled, again, if ever. The lake also has a problem with "silt". No mention on what to do with that at this point. Very sad situation.

[z06]

While at the lake, I stopped into the PAFBC office and asked about the projected re-fill date. When I got the blank mouth breathing stare, I knew it wasn't going to be anytime soon, several years could be right.

Those wooden structures looked like they were some type of hardwood, probably Oak, I really doubt if they'll rot. But, unless they really have them anchored down, they will probably float. The creek still runs through the basin, and it's surely going to flood sooner or later.

As far as the silt, that's the result of lancaster county deep till aggriculture methods. Any lake in that county is very prone to silt. Octorara is another silt factory. At Speedwell, it's really a non issue, before they re-fill it, usual parctice is to de-silt as well. And from what I saw, the majority of the silt was trapped upstream of the bridge. After it's dried for a couple years, they'll probably get a couple of D5's with swamp pads and push it to the old shoreline & haul it out. It's that easy.

If you were out there did you see the big stump directly under the bridge? talk about a classic piece of structure. Current, shade & cover all rolled into one. I'll bet Bass fight over that one. Never knew it was there & I've ran a deep diver under that bridge many many times.

[tracker]

I am retired and live about 10 min. from the lake and fished it two, three, and sometimes four times a week. We were told at a meeting that if everything (funding, permits, and bits) fell into place, it would be a minimum of seven years before we see water again.

Once they breach the earthen dam the lake will not flood. Water will have a straight shot down to the Hammer.

As far as the silt goes, they have no plan for it at this time. "They have no money" They made that clear at the two meetings that they put together. They are hoping that there might be a market for it. They are checking into that angle.

Did I see the stump under the bridge? Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I walked the whole lake and I was amazed at the stuff I would be setting over while fishing other structure I knew about.

Like I said, I'm retired and 65 years old. I looked at Speedwell as part of my retirement. I have a small tin boat that is just perfect for trolling motor lakes. 65 lb. 12/24 MK. and a 25HP Merc.

Well nuff said. MC is about an hour drive for me, and so is the river. I think that the smallies will win this battle.

[z06]

Mr. Tracker Sir, I have a question. Seeing as Speedwell's in your backyard, were you bank fishing it after the drawdown? did you see them electro-gathering? And did you see or hear of any giants coming out of there during that process?

It was very weird to see the sign that proclaimed " all sizes and creel limits have been removed" or something to that effect.

Another SSSSHHHH. I know you spied that killer stump row along the old roadbed at the south ramp, I never had the slightest clue it was there, did you? Man, the fish that thing could have produced.....

thanks in advance for answering

[tracker]

Mar 4, 2012 20:10:10 GMT -5 z06 said:

Mr. Tracker Sir, I have a question. Seeing as Speedwell's in your backyard, were you bank fishing it after the drawdown? did you see them electro-gathering? And did you see or hear of any giants coming out of there during that process?

It was very weird to see the sign that proclaimed " all sizes and creel limits have been removed" or something to that effect.

Another SSSSHHHH. I know you spied that killer stump row along the old roadbed at the south ramp, I never had the slightest clue it was there, did you? Man, the fish that thing could have produced.....

thanks in advance for answering

No, I just could not go over when the people were taking out fish by the buckets. I talked to a guy from the fish comm. that was helping and he said they took out a few bass pushing 6 or better. I know I will not see fishing like we had it at Speedwell in my lifetime. About the stump row at the south ramp, heck no, I was surprised by the tires strung out at the south ramp and up near the bridge also. Like I said, if I only knew. Here is another "shhhh" moment for ya, go down to the dam breast at the south ramp and look across to the cove on the other side (bring your binoculars). I will give you a hint, "rock pile" Nuff said.