Lost on the Lake TABLE ROCK
Lake Lifestyle Magazine
September 2024 - Issue 19
• September Fishing on TRL • Summer 2024 Memories • The G.O.A.T. Crisco • What Lies Beneath • & More
Float ON!
The kids are back in school and the lake is quiet. Hopefully we have a few more weekends in the water, but regardless, there are always opportunities to enjoy the lake. The cooler temperatures are the first sign of things to come. Fishing picks up, the lake is calm and the nights are perfect for chats around a fire.
With fall on our heels, this will be my last issue for the season. I‘ll be back in April to prepare for Summer 2025 Thank you all for sharing this time with me, its been the best summer ever
See you on the lake....
Be Happy,
Myra Thornton
CREATIVE EDITOR
Myra Thornton
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Eric Prey
The Rogue Chef
Edward Jones
Tom Koob
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Eric Prey
Tom Koob
Residents of TRL
ADVERTISING SALES
Myra Thornton Find us on Facebook
Publisher Myra Thornton
email: hello@lostonthelake.us
Phone: 417-593-1167
Fishing TABLE ROCK
By: Eric Prey Focused Fishing Guide Service
Table Rock Lake in September is a challenge. The good; less boat traffic after Labor Day, the fishing pressure is low due to a lack of tournaments, and the days start getting shorter and hopefully the dog days of summer are over. The bad: it’s still hot and the fish are less active, generally it is dry so a lower influx of fresh water, overall, it can be the toughest month to fish. There are a few things you can do to be more productive in September regardless if you are fish deep or shallow.
Deep Fishing
Table Rock Lake is a deep fisherman’s dream; clear water, deep cov-
er and an abundance of threadfin shad make Table Rock ideal for finding and catching fish in deep water. Fishing 25’ deep and deeper is one of the most productive ways to catch fish year-round, and in September it may be the most productive. Drop shot rigs, spoons and other vertical presentations are good methods for catching bass in September, the key is where to find the fish and how to catch them.
In September any thermocline that may have developed over the summer is in full effect. A thermocline is the layer between the warmer mixed water near the surface and the colder water below. Above the thermocline
September Fishing on Table Rock Lake
the water is oxygen rich and below it is oxygen depleted. Fish will tend to hold just above the thermocline where the water is slightly cooler but has plenty of oxygen. As anglers we can use this knowledge to figure out how deep most of the fish are. On Table Rock the thermocline will usually be right around 30’ deep, to an angler this means the bulk of the fish should be around that 30’ range. Knowing this we look for cover and structure around that 30’ range that will be holding fish.
The most productive pieces of cover and structure during September tend to be deep trees, dock cables and long gravel points. Finding these areas is simple; look for submerged trees on bluff ends and in creek channels, look for dock cables off the ends of big community docks and follow gravel points out from the shallows to 30’ deep. Once you locate these areas use your electronics to find any
fish holding on or around the cover and fish vertically for them.
The most effective presentation when you find these fish is vertical dropping. Vertical dropping is just like it sounds, dropping baits directly on fish and drawing strikes. Effective baits to drop in September include drop shot rigs, spoons and Damiki rigs.
• Drop Shot Rigs: A finesse worm or another small plastic lure on a small hook positioned about12” above a sinker. Drop the lure slightly above the fish you see on your electronics and shake it in place. Less movement is better in this situation. The bite is almost always light to nonexistent so paying attention is key.
• Spoons: Jigging spoons are usually a painted lead body with a treble hook attached. Drop the
spoon just above the fish and start lifting and dropping it about a foot or two to draw strikes. Most of the strikes will come while the spoon is falling so allowing the spoon to fall on a semi-slack line is key.
• Damiki Rig: A soft plastic minnow imitation on a jig head, named for the Damiki Armor Shad that started the technique. Drop to above the fish and shake in place much like a drop shot rig, if interested fish approach the bait and don’t strike, lift the bait a foot or two and let it fall in front of the fish that will sometime draw a strike.
Shallow Fishing
Shallow fishing is a relative term in September on Table Rock, while some fish can be caught in less than a foot of water early and late in the day, shallow fishing in September is usually around 15’ – 20’ deep. Targeting shallow fish in September is sort of a one – two punch; start on the bank and then move progressively deeper.
Start on the Bank
Early in the day there are almost always fish up close to the bank, many of them were feeding overnight and haven’t been chased off the bank by bright sunlight and high temperatures. Even though these fish may have been feeding all night, they are still active and in search of forage. Shallow running lures like buzz baits, squarebill crankbaits and topwaters are all excellent choices for these
fish. Position your boat so you can make casts parallel to the shoreline, make long casts and keep the bait tight to the shore. Points and transition areas on channel swings are key areas, they allow fish to move from the shallows to the safety of deep water quickly and will hold more fish.
Move Deeper with the Sun
As the sun rises and there is no longer any shade on the bank start moving out deeper to the first drop off you find. Some of the best areas are “roll off” banks where a flat drops off into a river or creek channel, fish will group up in these areas. Once they move off the bank fish will tend to hold close to or right on the bottom so lures that work the bottom over are the most productive; Texas or Carolina rigged plastics, football jigs and deep diving crank baits are all excellent choices.
• Texas or Carolina rigged plastics: Plastic worms and creatures baits fished on the bottom with either a Texas or Carolina rig are great choices. They stay in the strike zone a long time and are hard for a fish to resist. Throw the bait out and allow it to sink to the bottom and simply drag it back to the boat, a simple but effective way to cover a variety of depths and find fish.
• Football Jigs: Like rigged plastics, football jigs cover water quickly and efficiently. The nature of the jig is more compact and can be fished with a hopping or scooting action that can draw strikes where a rigged plastic can’t.
• Deep Crankbaits: Once a group of fish is found the best way to put them in the boat in a hurry isa deep crankbait. Deep crankbaits get down and stay down in the strike zone faster than anyother bait. More casts can mean more fish so when a school is found a deep crank bait allowsmore presentations than just about any other bait.
Don’t ignore cover
One other key thing to look for when fishing shallow in September is cover, brush and rock piles, docks and standing timber will all hold fish. Targeting these areas with jigs and Texas rigged plastics will produce throughout the day. When targeting
shallow cover be sure to make multiple casts from different angles to ensure your lure is seen by all the fish in the cover.
September fishing on Table Rock can be tough, but after fishing with heavy boat traffic all summer it’s nice to have a few calm days on the water. Fish deep or fish shallow there are still plenty of opportunities to catch fish in September on Table Rock Lake.
Eric Prey is the Owner/Operator of Focused Fishing Guide Service on Table Rock, Taneycomo and Bull Shoals lakes
To book a trip or contact him: www.focusedfishing.com or Call: 417-860-4743
Financial FOCUS
Watch out for investment scams
Provided by: Grant Beasley
When you invest, you’ll find that knowledge is power. The more you know about your investment choices, and who is offering them, the better prepared you’ll be to make good decisions. And this diligence can also help protect you against investment scams.
How widespread is this activity? Consider this: Investment fraud losses totaled more than $4.5 billion in 2023, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report.
Here are some common types of scams:
• Cryptocurrency – Not all cryptocurrency offers are scams, but many are. The scammers will contact you via social media, claiming they’ve made a lot of money in crypto and are willing to help you do the same. They may direct you to a website or app to invest, but the “company” taking your money may not even exist, and, after taking your money, may disappear.
• Investment programs – These programs claim to have “proven” strategies that can enable you to get rich by investing in financial products. But these strategies are dubious at best and can cost you thousands of dollars that could otherwise go into an investment plan based on your goals, risk tol-
erance and time horizon.
• Real estate – Typically, a real estate scam tries to get you to invest in a “world-class” or “luxury” property development, but these properties may take years to build, if they’re built at all. Also, various real estate “seminars” claim they can teach you how to get wealthy by buying and selling real estate, but these programs are expensive and usually worthless.
• Gold and other precious metals – Scammers who call themselves “rare coins” merchants may try to sell you gold coins, bullion or other types of precious metals, claiming that these assets will always go up in value (which isn’t true) and that “now is the best time to act.” You can find legitimate ways to invest in precious metals, possibly through mutual funds, but you’ll need to determine whether these assets can be an appropriate part of your investment portfolio.
So, how can you avoid these scams? Here ae some suggestions from the Federal Trade Commission:
• Don’t be pushed into snap decisions. Scammers will pressure you to act quickly because “space is limited” in an investment offering or a “special deal” won’t last long.
If someone won’t give you time to consider an offer, it’s not worth considering.
• Be suspicious of “risk-free” claims. All investments carry risk, and no variable investments can claim to provide “guaranteed returns.” If an individual or organization downplays the risk of an investment and doesn’t want to provide risk disclosures, just walk away.
• Do some research. You can search online for the name of the company or individual offering you an investment opportunity. By entering terms such as “review,” “scam,” “fraud” or “complaint,” you may well find that other people have experienced problems or been victimized.
To achieve your financial goals, you’ll likely need to invest for decades — so, be wary of scammers who claim to offer a shortcut to success.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones,Member SIPC
• Ask about licensing or registration. Legitimate investment professionals must be registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and be licensed by your state’s securities regulator before they can sell you any investment product. You can check the status of an individual or firm by using FINRA’s BrokerCheck tool at brokercheck.fina.org.
The G.O.A.T.Crisco
Greatest of all Time
I think this is the proper description of Crisco - the official/unofficial, mascot of Table Rock Lake.
Crisco has been sitting above the lake for ages. He is the most sought after celebrity, bringing boats to the border every summer just for a glimpse of him,
Located near the MO/AR Border on
The stories vary about how and why Crisco remains the lone goat of the lake. Rumor is ... once upon a time there was a herd that roamed the cliffs. Then, as the area developed, the herd was captured and relocated. Clearly Crisco was not having it and he hid whenever they came looking. Eventually they stopped looking for him and decided to let him be.
Fast forward to today, Crisco basically cares for himself, along with the help of close neighbors that oversee his environment. The locals are very protective of him and discourage any behavior that might stress him or threaten his happiness.
cont on page 22
Crisco is one of the most popular “sites” on the lake. Many visitors look forward to finding him on the hillside every time they visit. Spotting him can be challenging, but that is part of the fun.
If you’re in the area of Cricket Creek Marina, you are close! Keep your eyes on the bluffs and be patient. If you spot him please be considerate. Cricso is a wild animal, and a one-of-kind gem!
Summer 2024Memories
Walkingsticks
Insects known as “walkingsticks” are brown, tan, gray or green creating the perfect camouflage as twigs.
Antennae, legs, and body are long and slender. All the legs are ap -
proximately the same length. Missouri walkingsticks are all wingless.
Northern walkingsticks (Diapheromera femorata) have very slender bodies, and their antennae
cont on page 34
Photos: Adobe Stock
are two-thirds their length. The males are brown and can reach 3 inches in length, while the females are greenish brown and can reach 3-3/4 inches in length. The pincerlike circi at the tip of the abdomen are not segmented. Immature walkingsticks are green.
For a life in trees and shrubs, walkingsticks are perfectly camouflaged. In addition to looking like twigs, they also sway, mimicking the motion of branches in a breeze. Their camouflage helps them survive from predators such as birds.
Adults feed at night and rest
during the day. You will rarely notice walkingsticks unless they accidentally wander onto the sidewalk or a car.
Walkingsticks do what horticulturalists call “pinching back” foliage. This encourages new growth. Rare surges in walkingstick populations can defoliate trees, since this is their primary diet. The trees usually recover unless they are under other stress or this happens repeatedly.
Missouri walkingsticks, unlike their tropical relatives, manage to survive even with freezing temperatures. They do this by spend-
ing winter in the egg stage. The adults die when it freezes. Then in late summer and fall, the female drops fertilized eggs into the leaf litter below. When the eggs hatch in spring, the young will climb into the trees above.They then molt through a number of immature stages before a final molt when they then emerge as mature adults.
Resources:
www.mdc.mo.gov
Photo: Jim Rathert
Photo: Jim Rathert
A Perfect Night
A perfect night begins at home with the people that matter most. Take a crisp, cool, late summer evening and add a warm toasty fire.
The details and specifics are wide open. Make it a romantic evening for two, invite friends over or grab the kids and gather around. These nights are perfect for making memories.
Some of my favorite things to have when we go out are comfy chairs, a soft light blanket, music or an outdoor movie, snacks and drinks.
A quiet night just you two? Champagne and charcuterie with your favorite music and twinkling lights is an ideal start. Catch up, relax or maybe dance in the firelight.
Inviting friends? Put a variety of drinks on ice and
share some appetizers. Its almost as good as meeting in the cove! We can all use good company and laughs.
Family night? Bring out the popcorn and pillows for a fun outdoor movie night. Or make s’mores and
tell scary stories. What an amazing core memory for the kids.
No matter who you spend the evening with or what you decide to do, make it memorable. Life is too short to waste a perfect night. Make every moment count.
Fresh Recipe The Rogue Chef
Chorizo Stuffed Clams
Ready in 95 minutes
Serves 10 people
Ingredients
• 20 Fresh Large Clams(10 Lbs)
• 1 Lb Chorizo
• 1 Large Onion, chopped
• 3 tsp Old Bay
• 12 oz Day Old Bread, diced
• 1 tsp Thyme
• 1 tsp Oregano
• 1⁄4 Rosemary, ground
• 1 tsp Basil
• 1 C Water
• Optional: Lemon Wedges & Hot Pepper Sauce
Instructions
1. Fill a stockpot with 2 inches of water.
2. Add clams and chorizo to the pot. Bring to a boil.
3. Cover the pot and steam until clams open, about 15-20 minutes.
4. Remove clams and chorizo from the pot, once the clams open.
5. Set aside 2 cups of the cooking liquid.
6. Allow the clams and chorizo to cool slightly. Discard any clams that did not open during cooking.
7. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
9. Place the clam meat into a food processor and finely chop.
10. Transfer the chopped clam meat to a large bowl.
11. Add the chopped chorizo, onion, and seafood seasoning to the bowl with the chopped clams.
12. Mix in the bread, thyme, oregano, rosemary, and basil.
13. Pour the reserved cooking liquid into the mixture. Add enough water to achieve the desired level of moisture, typically 1 cup.
14. Spoon the clam mixture into the reserved clam shells.
15. Arrange the stuffed shells on a large baking pan.
16. Bake until heated through, 15-20 minutes.
17. Preheat the broiler to 550°F. Broil until the clams are golden brown, 4-5 minutes.
18. Serve the stuffed clams with lemon wedges and hot pepper sauce according to taste.
8. Remove the clam meat from the shells. Keep 30 half-shells for stuffing later.
Go Rogue by placing a small piece of Gruyere or Manchego cheese underneath the clam mixture in each clam shell for a delicious bit of melted cheese with every bite.
What Lies Beneath:
Stories About What Is Buried By Table Rock Lake
That Was a Pretty Farm © Tom Koob
Wilma Rice England at the Rice farm 1940
Wilma (Rice) England was born in 1913 and grew up on a substantial farm on Mill Creek just east of Viola, Missouri. Wilma’s parents Derward (D.H.) and Della (Schreiner) Rice owned the property along Mill Creek where it ran into the White River. Wilma’s grandfather William Henry Schreiner ran the Schreiner Ferry at Shell Knob.
William Washington Rice emigrated from Kentucky in the late 1800’s when his son D.H. was two years old. William built a dog-trot style log cabin above Mill Creek The house consisted of two large individual rooms
connected by a passageway. Shortly after the log house was constructed, a two-room frame structure was added at the back, creating an L-shaped home with a dining room and kitchen. D.H. increased the Rice farmland and developed the family business. With three daughters and no sons, Derward often hired help for major farm work. He employed contract crews to thresh and bale hay, cut cordwood and shear sheep.
Wilma’s childhood home did not have electricity until about 1949. They used kerosene Aladdin lamps for light.
cont on page 44
Cooking was done on a wood stove and later, a kerosene stove. With water drawn by hand from the well, laundry was done using a washtub and washboard. White laundry was boiled in a large cast iron kettle placed on top of the wood stove.
Wilma tended the chickens, helped with household chores and went to school at Hideout. She says the school took this name because “it was a little hard to find”. As children, Wilma and her younger sister Mabel made the Rice farm their playground.
“My sister and I had playhouses all over the farm. Any field that my dad would be working in, we’d build a playhouse on the edge of the field. When he moved on, we moved on, too. Our dog Fritz was often our companion.”
Near the mouth of Mill Creek, there was a bluff shelter that the Rice family visited. Wilma says, “That shelter was our favorite spot. We’d go down and have lunch under there. We had no idea we were treading on graves. My mother would go down and build a fire while my father was working. We would have a picnic.” (The shelter was excavated as an archaeological site during the Table Rock Salvage Project in 1952. Seven ancient burials and multiple artifacts including the distinct Rice lobed point were unearthed.)
The Rices grew corn, hay, oats and wheat and ran cattle and sheep on their farm. The mostly cleared farm was fenced and cross-fenced to create pasture and crop land and to separate the cattle from the sheep. There was a large vegetable garden. The livestock were regularly sold at market in Springfield. Much of the farm labor was done with the help of draft horses. D.H. finally bought a tractor in the 1940’s. Wilma says, “He thought he
should have the biggest tractor made. So he bought this huge one. The thing was so big, I could barely reach the brake pedal.”
Prior to 1927, the Rices could cross the White River on the Schreiner Ferry to go to Shell Knob and Cassville. But they most often visited Viola, only a half mile from their home. Wilma’s uncle ran the McKee Mill. Viola had a general store that supplied staples, fabric, work shoes and farm supplies. Many items had to be purchased through mail order. Wilma says, “We did a lot of shopping from catalogs- Montgomery Ward, National Cloak and Suit Co., Sears and Roebuck, Chicago Mail Order. That’s how we bought our clothes. We didn’t get much like that at the local store.”
There was a blacksmith shop in Viola for livery and farrier work and of course, the Christian and Baptist Churches. Most rural churches of this era could not afford a full-time preacher. They relied on traveling preachers who would visit every month or so. On the other Sundays, the congregation would hold their own Sunday school.
Wilma recalls that her father spoke of a Viola town band that existed before she was born. Wilma also remembers, as a child and young woman, watching the Viola baseball team play ball. When asked if the girls ever played baseball, Wilma quips, “I remember my older sister Ella batting balls in high heels.”
The Rice’s neighbors included the Underwoods and the Hoods. Wilma’s mother Della held quilting bees. Women would bring pieced tops and stretch them on a large quilting rack Della had at their home. The ladies would work together to quilt the top to the backing. They would sometimes make a friend-
ship quilt with each person supplying a signed and dated square. There were music parties with musicians and singing and square dances held in people’s homes.
Wilma Rice attended a two-year high school in Shell Knob. It was common at the time for young people to move to town and board with someone while attending high school. They would spend weekdays at school and return to the farm for the weekend. Wilma finished high school in Blue Eye.
After high school, Wilma married George England. George worked for the U.S. Forest Service and then as a civilian for the U.S. Army at Malden Air Base in southeast Missouri. George
moved his family to California in 1946. In 1959, as Table Rock Lake began to cover parts of the Rice property, D.H. and Della sold their farm and moved to Berryville. With their advancing age, the large farm had become too difficult for D.H. to maintain. Wilma says, “My father was a good farmer and manager. My mother was a good manager and housekeeper. It makes me sad to go there now. I remember how it used to be. That was a pretty farm.”
Wilma’s daughter Ann (England) King spent some time on the Rice farm as a child. She reminisces:
“I was heartbroken when my family left here. I did not want to go to California. I hated leaving my grandmother. I loved it on the farm. I loved the look and smell of the kerosene lamps. I felt very safe there. My grandparents could do or handle anything. I loved the farm. Sometimes we’d walk down to White River. I would wade in the river. I loved to go for a wagon ride.”
When much of the Rice farm was buried by Table Rock Lake in 1959, Mill Creek changed from a flowing brook to a large lake cove over a quarter mile wide. The Rice Shelter and the secrets it held were lost forever beneath the lake.
Ann King and her husband Mike purchased a home near the lake in Shell Knob which Wilma and Ann continued to enjoy visiting as often as possible. They appreciate the quiet beauty of the lake and hills, but miss the bucolic life on the Rice farm along Mill Creek.
Tom Koob is a local author who has written several books about Ozarks history. His work is available on Amazon“new”books or by contacting him at: wolpublishing@gmail.com
George England at the Rice farm 1939
