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Well, folks be talking about low water lakes, yuuuup. Took a scouting trip over, and it's down lower than I've ever seen it. Hardly any lake left! The shorelines are a mucky muddy mess, but the birds don't mind.
Don't know if I should let on or not, but . . . appears the big yellow beasties and\\re churning and burning in the upper parking/camping area. And the launch is taking on a new face.
Seemed like loads of ripples in the water, but it's so green and murky, hard to see. Bet if there's any musky left, they've can breath and burp perch at will!
If there's any chance if ice-fishing, last year's climb out will seem like a short rip.
Rumor I heard - is for the new ramp they're gonna charge a fee, and install a wakeless limit on the lake! [  ]
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What, no pics? Thanks for the info John.
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Here ya go.
These pics are from the dam last week. I'll take a ride this afternoon and get a more current photo of the progress.
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Thanks Chugg, what are those pics of? It almost looks they are making a new boat ramp[:/].
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Yes that's correct. New boat ramp. Those pics are the beginnings of the new ramp. As coyote stated new ramp=$fee$ launch. I highly doubt newton will ever be wake less. Maybe during the refill of the lake but not when full. It appeared that they were grading the parking area so perhaps it will get paved as well. Only makes sense if they're going to upgrade the ramp and charge.
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Wow - it's dropped a bunch from that pic, plus - they've made a lot of progress with the earth-moving. Built out a bunch more fill.
Sorry Curt, was trying to say it without coming right out...
I don't know any facts about fees or wakeless regs, I'm just trying to start it rolling!
They have graded out the entire upper parking area, north to the fence. Not sure what the end result will be.
I didn't have my still, but was actually giving my new GoPro a try, but the first Vid didn't take. Haven't got busy with editing software, but here's a little snippet of shaky cam action from the bottom of what will be the new ramp.
Adding a couple screen shots from the video, if you wanna see level without the whole download.
[inline Newton2.jpg]
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I like the idea of the upgraded ramp.
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Got bored and took the ride out to newton. It appears they havent made much progress in a week. They must work for udot! Can they really take more water? This is lower than 2002 when they lifted the regs. I don't see there being enough water left to prevent a complete winter kill. What happened to the agreement with the farmers and dnr. That's 1/8th pool not 1/3rd. So much for tiger muskie in newton. Oh well its bout time to gear up for bear lake and the hunts anyway.
Here are some more pics.
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Dang, how deep is that? I gotta wonder if I should leave the toon home and just walk the bank?
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Thinking the DWR needs potentialy making it a catch and keep if it gets lower and I'm thinking it will...  but better than seeing a bunch of dead fish on the shorelines and floating...only thing we can hope for is a couple years of a huge snowpack...by me one year will make a slight dent need several heavy years in a row...will suck for hard deck but we need all the reservoirs to get back to full pool.
I agree also...that place needs to be wakeless...never fished it on the soft water but just being on the hard deck 1-2 googan rec boaters would ruin a nice trip...awesome on the ramp...that's the one reason we've never bothered to go there.[  ][ ]
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I'd venture a guess and say no more than 12 to 14 feet deep. Considering when I drove around the lake the water is down to the last 1/4th of the entire bowl. Also when looking from the dam above you can see the bottom in most places.
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Newton was made by the farmer for the farmers. I like going out and catching the muskies as much as anyone, but when it comes down to it the water is affecting someone's lively hood and they shouldn't have to worry about a few fish. Its to say but if they need to they should drain it dry in my opinion.
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If I do go up there I might leave to toon home. Also considering a trip to joes valley as well.
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Went out to Newton tonight, really low. Got a decent size largemouth and a couple blue gills.
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This is a picture I took (Sunday morning) of the head gate very low. I saw one dead Tiger Muskie on the shore prob not gonna be the last.
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My girlfriend and I tried newton on kayaks on saturday. We weren't able to even get them on the water without sinking in the mud almost up to our knees. If any of you were watching us, I'm sure we gave you a laugh. Finally we gave up and left, all muddy. I can't wait for the new ramp.
I was there a couple weeks ago and it was very enjoyable and great fishing. I was catching crappie every other cast and caught bluegill, perch, bass, and a muskie. It's too bad that the water has to drop so low.
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I would suggest bringing the toon, and some muddy-muck boots to get to water's edge. Maybe even some planks like we use during harddeck to get out to the water (ice).
Along the dike - you can probably manage to clamber across rocks without sinking to your hips.
Running on empty:
It's a discussion that carried on last year, with the Preston lakes getting run dry. It's one thing for a planted lake to be replanted. It's a der day all around when a lake with protected trophy species is let go to waste. Condie was one such bass lake. Seems Newton will be hard pressed for much of anything to make it through. Guess we'll see.
But as said - the water's for the farmers. Fishing and recreation are just a bonus, but not the primary reason. Too bad.
Wonder if they would lift the regs? Never have tried Pike or Musky, though I hear good things, and lotsa bones.
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I am going to take the toon but not to Newton. I am heading south to Joes valley instead.
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That is less than 12 feet deep. Last summer, at it's lowest level, the deepest spot I marked was 12.5 feet. That is at least 3 feet lower than it was at it's lowest last year. I would feel confident in saying that the deepest spot where I marked it last year is between 9-10 feet deep, according to your pics. That is low for that place. When it was the highest I had ever seen it, that same spot I marked was about 54 feet.
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Nice to hear from ya Ben. I'd bet we could still drop your rig in off the west side - through a bit of mud . . .
I'm seriously thinking on re-patching and inflating the OLD orange kayak. See if I can't scare the crap out of a few musky! Panic some perch schools - now THAT's entertainment!
A new launch willl change things - for sure. The one that was there is - what 10 years old? I'd love to see them mark the pinch to the dike as wakeless. Might help the launch survive wake. Easier to launch/load.
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