Most of us who put up a live Christmas tree are not quite ready to take it down, but when you do, there’s a way to recycle it that will not only help the environment, but fish.

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hartwell Lake Project Office will again accept natural Christmas trees for recycling beginning today through Jan. 26, 2020.

The recycled trees will be used as fish attractors in Hartwell Lake.

Trees will be tied in bundles, weighted with concrete anchors, and then submerged in various locations marked with fish attractor buoys.

Corps Natural Resources Specialist Jess Fleming tells WLHR News small trees and brush provide cover for fish, particularly as a nursery for juvenile fish,.

Fleming said in addition, they provide habitat for aquatic insects which serve as an essential food source during the early developmental stages of most fish species.

In our area trees can be dropped off at Big Oaks Recreation Center in Hartwell and at the Poplar Springs boat ramp in Gumlog.

In South Carolina, you can drop off your tree at Twin Lakes and Friendship boat ramps.

Additionally, Mount Lebanon Elementary School in Pendleton, South Carolina, will also serve as a drop-off location beginning today through January 17.

Donated trees can also be picked up by fishermen any time for personal use.

Fleming said trees should be anchored in 8-12 feet of water.

However he said do not place Christmas trees in the main lake channel or around private docks.

Now this tree recycling is for real Christmas trees only – do not bring your artificial tree.

Also, remember to remove all ornaments, garland, lights and tinsel before you bring your tree for recycling.

If you have any questions you can contact the Hartwell Lake Operations Project Manager’s Office toll free at 888-893-0678, or visit their website.

Courtesy MJ Kneiser www.921wlhr.com

The 2019 CATT Lake Hartwell Tournament continues on Lake Hartwell in Townville, South Carolina. Hosted by Academy Sports, the CATT Lake Hartwell Tournament kicks off at the Broyles boat ramp in Townville, South Carolina.

CATT Lake Hartwell Tournament Location

Location
Broyles Recreation Area
Lake Hartwell
Smyzer Rd
Townville, SC 29689

Dates

Qualifier 1 – November 3 – Broyles
Qualifier 2 – December 1 – Broyles
Qualifier 3 – December 22 – Broyles
Qualifier 4 – January 5 – Broyles
Final – January 26 – Broyles

Carolina Anglers Team Trail Website

Mark your calendar today so you don’t miss the 2019 CATT Lake Hartwell Tournament in November on Lake Hartwell in Townville, South Carolina.

Carolina Anglers Team Trail Tournament Rules

MEMBERSHIP – Each SPRING, SUMMER, FALL CATT Trail requires a $35 membership fee. Anyone under the age of 16 will not be charged a membership fee. Anyone disqualified from a sanctioned event for blatant rule violations will not be allowed to enter a CATT event.

PARTNERS – Teams consist of two (2) anglers. Single anglers will be allowed to enter a CATT event and must fish any Final or the CATT Championship single if a partner is not used during the Qualifiers. At least one (1) member must be 21 years of age. Each angler must possess a valid fishing license.

FINAL & CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATIONS – Payment for a CATT event for the sole purpose of Final Qualification and not physically fishing in the event is not allowed. NEW SUBS ARE NOT ALLOWED AT A CATT CHAMPIONSHIP or CATT FINAL. A CATT Championship or Final team must consist of the two (2) original partners or a sub that the team used during a CATT Trail Qualifier.

HOLE SITTING – A team having someone who is a competitor or non-competitor sitting on a location for the sole purpose of holding the location for the team will be disqualified. This rule violation will result in the competitors and non-competitors being banned from any and all future CATT events.

POINTS – Ten (10) show-up points will be awarded at each CATT Qualifier. First Place will receive one hundred (100) points, ninety-ninePlace ninety nine (99) points, Third Place, ninety eight (98) points, etc. CATT Trail point winners will receive free entry and blast-off position #1 at the Final. Second in CATT Trail points receives position #2 and Third in points blast-off #3 at the Final. (Gaston & Old North point winners receive free entry to following year trail. James River Trail Points start at 220.)

CATT DEFINITION OF A PRO — Any bass angler who has entered more than one bass tournament that requires an entry fee greater than $2,500 in the immediately preceding six months prior to the date of the CATT event being entered will not be allowed to enter. BFL, FLW Costa Series, and BASS Weekend anglers will be allowed to enter any CATT event. BASS OPEN, FLW & BASS Co-anglers will be allowed to enter any CATT event. MLF Anglers will not be allowed to enter a CATT event.

GUIDE – Any angler who has guided ninety (90) or more trips on tournament waters in a twelve (12) month period immediately preceding to the date of the CATT event being entered will not be eligible to enter. Salt water guides are exempt from the guide rule. This rule will be included on the polygraph exam. Both members of a team will be tested. Refusal to take polygraph exam for any reason — health reasons included — will result in disqualification.

Full List Of CATT Rules

Carolina Anglers Team Trail

The Carolina Anglers Team trail was established in 1997 by Brett Collins. Our trail operates Bass tournaments on lakes and rivers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Our tournaments take place on popular recreational lakes throughout the Carolina’s and into Virginia. We take great pride in providing a competitive and fun atmosphere for all of our anglers all while maintaining some of the best payouts available anywhere! BASS Elite and FLW Tour anglers are not eligible to enter a CATT Tournament as we aim to provide tournaments for the true weekend warriors!

Tags: Carolina Anglers Team Trail, CATT Tournaments, Carolina Anglers Team Trail Tournaments, North Carolina Fishing Tournaments, Local Fishing Tournaments, Carolina Bass Fishing, Bass Fishing Tournaments, Team Bass Fishing Tournaments, Bass Tournaments, NC Bass Fishing Tournaments, CATT Lake Hartwell Tournament.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is delaying its plan to raise shoreline dock fees on its lakes and waterways across the Southeast.

In a short, one sentence press release issued late Monday afternoon, Corps spokesman Doug Garman said, “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is delaying the implementation of fee increases for shoreline permits in the South Atlantic region while USACE conducts a national review of the shoreline management program fees. The South Atlantic region will continue to operate the current Shoreline Management Program within its existing procedures and fees until further notice.”

On Monday, 9th District U.S. Representative Doug Collins (R) met with Major General

In a response to the Corp’s decision, said he was pleased the Corps of Engineers took Congress’s concerns on their plan to raise dock fees

seriously.

“Residents of the Ninth District living on or near Lake Lanier and Lake Hartwell—and those throughout the southeast living near Corps waterways—will no longer be hit with significant and unexpected fee increases come January,” said Collins. “I want to thank Major General Holland for meeting with me today to discuss my concerns and explore ways in which the Corps could accomplish their intended goal without placing an undue burden on individuals and families living throughout the southeast. I look forward to continuing to engage with the Corps as they study this issue,” he concluded.

In June,  the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Atlantic Division announced a regionwide increase for all federal reservoir lakes and

waterways in the Southeastern U.S., including Lake Hartwell.

Under the revised fee schedule, which would have gone into effect on January 1, 2020, new dock or facility permits would have increased from $400 to $835 and re-issue permits would have increased from $175 to $835 a year.

The following week, U.S. Representative for the 9th District, Doug Collins joined other Congressmen in the Southeast demanding an explanation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on their decision to raise dock fees at all Corp-operated lakes and waterways in the South Atlantic region.

On June 28, 2019, the Corps responded to Members’ dated June 14, 2019, but Collins said they failed to provide adequate justification for the fee increases, and in August, the Congressmen sent a second letter asking for a more detailed explanation of the fee increases, claiming not all of their initial questions were answered.

“She was in a position. This has been going on for over 10 years and nobody would make a decision. They needed to do something. Unfortunately, it was not vetted as well as it should have been. She was willing to take corrective action and I give her a lot of credit for that. That’s what true leadership is. Leadership is being willing to change course if something is not working. And we’ll see what happens from here,” Collins told WLHR News Tuesday.

WLHR News reached out to the Garmon for a more detailed explanation of their research plans, but was told by a Corps spokesperson in Atlanta that they have no other comment.

Courtesy MJ Kneiser www.921wlhr.com