By Glynn Harris 

She’s old, gotten fairly long in the tooth and like most of us, we tend to slow down once this happens to us. There is hope, however, for one of this area’s favorite lakes, Lake Claiborne.

I was fortunate to live in Homer when the lake was constructed and watched water begin trickling over the spillway half a century ago, indicating that at long last the lake was now what it was designed to be, a brand new 6400 acre body of water that would provide recreational opportunities not only for the folks living in Claiborne Parish but around north Louisiana as well.

I found a lot on the Beaver Creek branch of the lake, put my money down and purchased the lot so I could enjoy what this new lake had to offer, and boy, did it offer some good stuff. 

After purchasing the lot, clearing it off, I did something then I couldn’t think of doing now. With the help of friends, I built a pier and boat house where I kept my ski boat and fishing boat and there weren’t many afternoons after work that I was not out there taking my kids skiing and searching for some of the best fishing holes.

One particular hot spot for bass was a row of green willows that grew in the middle of Beaver Creek just a long cast from my pier. This was one of the hottest spots on the lake to ease up early morning before the sun began to peak over the distant trees to the row of willows, cast out a Tiny Torpedo next to the greenery. I’ve had successful fishing trips since but nothing to me was more fun than being close enough to be able to glance over my shoulder at my boat house, cast the lure and watch a bass explode on it. Man, that was some genuine fun.

I eventually moved from Homer, sold my lot and my trips back to the lake became fewer and further between and it was just as well because the red hot fishing Claiborne had offered was starting to wane. The lake began acting like most lakes with some age on them as vegetation died away and things just weren’t the same any longer.

Something has happened to this half a century old lake over the past few years. First off, the Lake Commission arranged to purchase and release in the lake a species of bass that would hopefully add a shot in the arm to the lake, Tiger bass. Genetically, they’re a special combination of native largemouth and those of the Florida strain that while not having the potential of growing as large as pure Florida’s, tend to be more aggressive and more likely to strike a lure.

I recently visited with Fisheries Manager for Northwest Louisiana for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Jeff Sibley, who is responsible for the management of Lake Claiborne.

“In addition to the Tiger bass that have been released in the lake over the past five years or so, our department is also releasing pure Florida bass which may not be as easy to catch but have the potential of growing quite big,” Sibley said.

Another shot in the arm for Claiborne took place a few weeks ago when the Major League Fishing circuit was in Louisiana fishing on Caney Lake and Bussey Brake. This group has a habitat project they fund on lakes in the states where their tournaments are held.

“They choose a lake not on the tournament circuit and this year they chose Claiborne and contributed some $25,000 to improve the fishing habitat. Special fish attracting structures were put together and placed in the lake in several locations, mainly around the State Park with coordinates available so anglers could locate the structures that should attract fish,” he said.

Time will tell if these “shots in the arm” will return Lake Claiborne to one anglers will be hitting more frequently with the real possibility of bringing in bragging sized fish.   

A forest gem by the name of Briarwood lies just north of Readhimer, a short 33-mile drive from downtown Winnfield. Curator Bayli Quick told Rotarians on May 24 when she talked about the Caroline Dorman Nature Preserve.

Caroline Dorman was a world-renowned naturalist whose grandparents settled in the area before the Civil War.  The preserve currently encompasses 212 acres of fields and woodlands that have remained protected and untouched for some 200 years.  It boasts a diverse collection of rare and native plants.  This includes the oldest collection of Louisiana irises in the world, which put on an impressive display of colors for a brief period each spring.

Quick explained that that a rose garden was an early plan for Briarwood.  But all of the bushes died so the irises became the preserve’s hallmark.  In the only “manicured” garden on the property are some 150 different iris hybrids.  Most were collected since 1972, some taken from other parts of the preserve from the early 1930s.  The bog garden is fed by a natural spring.  Another preserve resident is the Louisiana Bluestar.  A rare wildflower elsewhere, it shows off in a “sea of blue” in season at Briarwood.

One of the stipulations of serving as curator is living on the preserve, as do Quick, her husband and infant Clovis.  They are assisted by another worker.  She is working to fill the shoes of Briarwood’s venerable predecessor, Richard Johnson and his wife Jessie.  The site has been open to the public as a nature preserve since 1972.

The speaker told Rotarians that nature takes its course when no chemicals are used, and caretakers plus volunteers work hard to remove invasive species.  Trails are maintained from fallen timber and such for hiking and golf carts.  The property is mowed only once annually, just after the first frost.

Quick said the preserve receives several thousand visitors a year and is fortunate to have a host of volunteers to assist.  The Friends of Caroline Dorman program, a 501(c)3 established in 1970, is the main source of funding for Briarwood.

To get to Briarwood from Winnfield, simply drive north of Hwy 167 to Dodson, turn west on Hwy 126 to Readhimer, then north on Hwy 9 for about a half mile.  The preserve is open to the public Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. in March through May and again in October and November.  Quick said a phone call (318-576-3379) ahead of time is helpful for planning purposes.  Guided tours are conducted by the curator only.  Off-season tours are available by appointment only.

American Flags, more than 100 of them in all, flew proudly along the five-lane overpass
by the Post Office and throughout the downtown area on Memorial Day, a tribute to the
men and women who through the years, have given their lives in defense of our nation’s
freedoms.

The Lions Club here in Winnfield takes on this task on various patriotic days throughout
the year and in 2023, reached the milestone of putting on this service project for a
quarter century.

“The Lions do this out of love and respect for our country,” said member Mike Kennedy.
“But we want to stress that it would not be possible without that same love and respect
by the many sponsors, both businesses and individuals, whose giving allows us not only
to continue this display but also to grow it a little each year.”

The Red, White & Blue display is put out seven times each year. Those days are Patriot
Day, Veterans Day, Presidents’ Day, Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day and
Independence Day. In case the weather is bad on any of those planned days, make-up
days include D-Day, Labor Day and Pearl Harbor Day.

This local effort is called the “Dobber Brazzell American Flag Project” in honor of
a longtime member of the Lions Club who supported the club and the community.

ALEXANDRIA, LA – The Rapides Foundation has released a new Healthy Behaviors Mini-Grant funding opportunity for community programs encouraging individuals to make healthy choices.

Consistent with the Foundation’s mission to improve the health status of Central Louisiana, the grants of up to $25,000 will be used to fund new or expanded community programs that increase physical activity, increase healthy eating, prevent tobacco use or promote tobacco cessation, or prevent substance and alcohol abuse. Community programs funded by the grant can include workshops, classes and events that impact residents within the Foundation’s nine-parish service area of Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon and Winn parishes.

Proposals must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Monday, August 14.

Interested applicants are invited to an informational webinar at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14, to learn about the new grant, including the online proposal submission process. Registration is required for the webinar. Follow the link to register.

Full details about the funding opportunity, including the types of projects to be funded, are available on the Foundation’s website at www.rapidesfoundation.org under the Grants tab.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to schedule a call or a meeting with the Healthy Behaviors Initiative Program Officer to discuss the alignment and feasibility of their proposal before submission. Contact Dallas Russell at dallas@rapidesfoundation.org or (318) 767-3005 to request a meeting.