KTEM 1400 AM News and Talk Radio
Every Friday from 5-6pm Billy and Rick host KTEM 1400 radio's live the ON THE DOCK show. Aaron Savage is their producer. You can also catch them live at www.myktem.com on the WORLD WIDE WEB. They interview local boaters and fishermen getting all the latest tips on area lakes and coastal waters. Listeners are invited to call in with questions or comments. Toll free call 866/597-1400 or 254/773-1400 between 5 and 6 pm Fridays.
Billy and Rick wish to thank James Harrison and his Talk of the Town Show for giving up his Friday afternoons to the fishermen and boaters of Central Texas. James loves to boat himself and has been instrumental in allowing ON THE DOCK to continue.
Special thanks also goes out to local businessman, former state representative, army aviator and talk show host, Hugh Shine, for the original concept.
Meteorologists, Bill Hecke, should also be mentioned as he came up with the name ON THE DOCK and the slogan: "It's boats and boating, fish and fishing."
KRXT 98.5 FM Real Country
Every Saturday morning from 6-7am you can catch Ricky & Billy On the Dock on Rockdale's Country Station 98.5 FM for the lastest boating and fishing news covering area lakes including Fayette County, Lake Bastrop and Lake Granger. If you have a question please e-mail Rick at rick@marineoutlet.com. We hope to be able to take on the air questions in the near future. Listen on-line at www.krxt985.com.
KCTI 1660 AM, KMIX 1330 AM 7 100.9 FM ESPN Central Texas
Every Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. for the latest in boating fishing and hunting news brought to you by Tightlines Premium Fishing Tackle, BioBor EB, Marine Outlet, Yamaha Outboards and G3 Boats. Streaming on www.1660espn.com.
KNCT 91.3 FM Easy Listening
Listen every Wednesday and Friday at 6:15 p.m. for 5 minute updates of the latest boating and fishing news.
KCTI 1450 AM The Sound of Texas
Every Saturday at 7:00 a.m. and noon for a 5 minute outdoor Texas update.
Zebra mussels invading Texas--Boaters need to use precautions to stop the spread from Lake Texoma.
Sports News Article
25 October 2010
For Immediate Release
On the Dock with Rick Smith
Alien Invaders
It seems that you cannot turn on the news anymore without hearing of someone seeing an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) or having a close encounter with some alien life form. Texas has a real life alien that has already invaded and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is asking for our help in stopping this invader. No, they’re not little green men, but they are little and they rapidly multiple by the thousands causing havoc and financial losses in the thousands of dollars. To make matters worse they look innocent and can hitch a ride to infect other areas of Texas. They are zebra mussels and they are no joke.
The TPWD fisheries division has been waging environmentally safe chemical warfare in North Texas against these invaders. Discovered in Lake Texoma on the Texas/Oklahoma border in April 2009, these fingernail size bivalves propagate rapidly and create real problems with their surrounding environment by clogging water inlet pipes, covering boat bottoms (increasing fuel usage and decreasing performance) and threatening other aquatic life including game fish.
Last month 32 TPWD personnel spent a week trying to stop the expansion of zebra mussels by dosing potassium chloride in Sister Grove Creek that flows through Grayson and Collin counties and empties into Lake Lavon, which so far is free of the mussels. Brain Van Zee, regional fisheries director said “If we don’t stop them before they get to Lake Lavon, the whole Trinity River basin is at risk.” Altogether 21,150 pounds of potassium chloride was systematically poured one coffee can full at a time around the clock to maintain a dosage level fatal to the zebra mussels but not injurious to other species. TPWD workers put in 12 hour shifts, dosing the creek every 15 minutes from 8 pre-selected locations.
The project required permits from the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality since Lake Lavon is part of the North Texas Municipal Water District. Van Zee added “We’re waiting on more data, but we have found some (zebra mussel) mortality at a couple of points along the creek. Right now I’m cautiously optimistic.” Due to research by the Virginia Department of Game it’s known that potassium chloride will kill zebra mussels, but this is the first known experiment in a flowing body of water. Van Zee went on to say “Unfortunately, it (potassium chloride) wouldn’t work in Lake Texoma because it’s too large a body and the zebra mussel population is too strong.
You can join the fight to stop this invasion by learning what the species looks like and cleaning any mussels, vegetation or foreign objects from your boat including draining all water from the motor, livewells and bait buckets. Also dry out the boat and trailer for at least a week before launching back into the water. If you plan a trip to Texoma, Van Zee recommends “Boaters should wash their boats and trailers at a commercial car wash using hot, soapy water or allow their boat and trailer to dry for at least a week to prevent zebra mussels from spreading beyond Lake Texoma.”
For additional information on zebra mussels and other invasive species check out the website www.texasinvasives.org.