Champ188

No sir, one man's findings/opinions does not end a debate the magnitude of whether stripers arm harmful to the black bass fishery in Beaver and other freshwater lakes. I doubt that Notropis would claim to be the final authority in that debate, which spreads nationwide. I don't have all the answers by any means. I don't have the knowledge or experience of Notropis or other fisheries biologists. But if he was the district biologist for Beaver Lake, I presume that means he worked for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and throughout my years with the statewide newspaper, I never, ever, ever interviewed a single AGFC person who would even entertain the thought that stripers might be harmful. Can't exactly blame them ... I'm sure they would have been called on the carpet and possibly have lost their job for going against the flow, so to speak. I base my opinion that stripers are likely harmful on personal experience ... lakes Ouachita, Hamilton and Catherine near Hot Springs all have stripers and black bass fishing in those lakes is relatively poor. Same for Texoma. Lakes Wylie and Norman in North Carolina also have only so-so black bass fishing. In short, anywhere I have ever been that had stripers had unremarkable black bass fishing. Missouri is reluctant to stock pure in its larger freshwater fisheries, although Truman and Lake of the Ozarks have hybrids (wipers). This is still the United States of America and I'm still entitled to my opinion. And on this topic, my opinion is that stripers in freshwater are probably detrimental to my primary angling interest, which is black bass and crappie (winter). Not here to argue. We'll just have to agree to disagree.

Very good info, Notropis. Thanks for explaining.

I say kudos to the guy for realizing he might have killed the fish by putting it into an inadequate livewell and choosing to release it on the spot.

How about one to make me look smaller?

I hear ya, Old Plug. Got one of them, too. Actually, we have six. All full-time in the house. But this one is my special buddy ... all 20 pounds of him. His name is Henry.

Hate to hear this, Plug. BPS has ripped off more boat owners than the law should allow. And I share your opinion about JM taking over Ranger and others ... probably just a matter of time until they are nothing more than Tracker/Nitro is now. Since I tend to keep a boat 10-12 years, glad I bought my Ranger new a couple of years ago before Johnny gets ahold of them.

Stunting occurs when there are more predators than the forage base can support. Beaver Lake is anything but short on shad. I've read that right here. Many times.

I thought maybe the knife was to cut his losses when he ditches Duke and becomes a Razorbacks fan.

I'd take it to Ulrich Marine in Branson West. Period.

Sounds like a really nice rig. Congrats and have fun with it.

From the position of the tape measure at the nose, looks more like 11-12 inches. What a hog!

Great report. Glad you guys had such a good day.

Indeed, thanks for the very detailed report. Good stuff. And refreshing for someone to freely admit they didn't catch 'em. No one gets them every time. No one.

We called them "titty bream" in Hot Springs coz you had to hold them against your chest to unhook 'em. Very nice report with lots of detail. Thanks for posting it.

Donna and I pulled up to Old 86 ramp one day last spring and there were two kids fishing off the dock. I took a minute before launching the boat to rig up a couple of Neds for them, then went on to have a great day on the lake. So yes, I can be nice. Sometimes. Shut up, denjac. You too, abkeenan. And dtrs5kprs. And Babler ...

I'm afraid you may be headed down a stony path, my friend. Gotta say, though, this is one of the best posts I've read here in a while. Right up there with 5bites' recent report from the upper end.

That does it. I'm gettin' a Rocket! I'm thinking it might double as a holder for my Ned rigs while the superglue dries. And don't tell me you've never laid one down immediately after glueing and had it end up stuck to your boat carpet!

Now that's funny right thar, Jerry!!!! You nailed me to a T. :XD:

They just never learn, hunter. Go jersey or go home!

Thanks for the report. Good to hear there's still a good bite in that area given the water conditions.

Hope the fish cooperate for you guys, Tiger. Please be careful in the heat. Hopefully it won't be 100 every day you're here.

Nice day, Alex. You do as good a job with a crank bait (in all seasons) as anyone I know on Table Rock. Very good work in August.

Increasingly, I seem to need a RAB system when I get up in the morning.

Nice! (There's an echo in here)

My favorite movie ever. Honest. How about when Maverick comes out and hands Goose's locker belongings to Meg Ryan and she says, "He loved flying with you."