By Peggy Bullard | Special to the Advertiser

This year, like many years in the past, HOBO (Home Owners Boat Owners) of Lake Mitchell joined with Alabama Power to bundle and drop old Christmas trees in strategic locations around the lake to create a habitat to keep the fish happy and in turn make for some happy fishermen.

There were about 160 trees bundled and deposited on the lower end of the lake on Feb 3. The process involves the delivery of trees, concrete blocks and other supplies in order to prepare the trees to be placed into the lake. After they are tied together in a bundle of three or four trees, there is a float attached to the top and a concrete block to the bottom. The idea is to sink the trees but have them stand upright with the tops barely under the water.

They plan to place about 100 more trees in the upper end of the lake on March 25.

When the trees are placed, Alabama Power puts the location on a GPS, and it is later put on their web site. These should be on the website by April.

If you are interested, visit www.alabamapower.com/community/lake/fishing-information.asp and get the exact location for what could be a better fishing trip.

Mike Clelland has and will be heading up these efforts since Doug Powell’s retirement. Over the years, HOBO has enjoyed working with Doug, and he will be missed. Mike has been working alongside Doug for years, and we are confident he will do a great job. We send out a hearty “thank you” to Doug for the many years he has been so faithful to work with us here on Lake Mitchell.

Coming at 8 a.m. April 13 at Higgins Ferry, we will have the spring cleanup. HOBO and Alabama Power team up twice a year to clean the lake.

We are hoping for a good turnout and good weather for this event. We need more people to come out with their boats so that we can clean more areas. Everyone who attends seems to be very gratified by the work that is accomplished.

The scholarship applicants, who have participated in the past, have always commented on what a great time and adventure they had even though they were sometimes cold and tired—not to mention dirty—when they returned. After all the hard, dirty work, we enjoy fellowship over a picnic lunch of hotdogs and cookies.

When you have worked hard and are hungry, even hot dogs taste good. We invite all of those who love Lake Mitchell to come help keep it clean and beautiful.

–Peggy Bullard is a community columnist for the Lake Mitchell area.