duckydoty

Let the games begin… This week’s clients scored with a change in the weather and the first kickoff of Kings. Joe Andruzzi and buddy Cade Morgan, 11, show off their Nushagak fair catches with pride. 10 extremely competitive fishermen all caught fish, from healthy Chums to sizeable Kings. The latest stats for the group have Joe in first place with the 30.8lb. King. Drew Anderson, 13, is a close running second with 27lb. King. After the lunch huddle, the teams will be out rushing to intercept more fish with a sweep extending well beyond the line of scrimmage. Some officiating maybe needed through the remainder of the week as young Cade, along his teammate Marco Rivera, pulled a blitz, leaving Cade's dad Bruce, napping on the sidelines, so they could get a head start on the fishing. Also, some of the team members are fumbling with sabotage plans for Joe, who will now be keeping strong possession of his rod and reel.

Fins and Feathers in the downtown area is the best guide service going. Priest Lake is great for lake trout and is only about an hour north if you plan on venturing out anywhere else.

The Missouri Department of Conservation says LMBV fact page The effects of LMBV appear to be short term, with bass populations recovering after even a large kill in two to three years. The effects you are feeling on Table Rock Lake are more likely from the effect of mortality rates with catch and release. With increased Tournament pressure and more people spending longer hours fishing on Table Rock Lake even with catch and release, the mortality rates are more likely the cause of the effect that you are feeling rather than a fish kill 10 or 11 years ago.

I had nothing better to do for 3 days (All fishing gear is packed and heading to Alaska later today) so I decided to educate myself.

This is some information that I've been finding on the internet. A lot of it applies to tournaments. Some is about growth rates and longevity of bass. Taken from In-Fisherman website out of an article called "Growth and Abundance". Largemouth bass, like other species, may well live much longer than we previously thought, as shown by recent tagging studies and new aging techniques. One largemouth bass from New York was 23 years old when recaptured, while a New Hampshire smallmouth of 26 years was documented in 1999. Analysis of bass otoliths (ear stones) shows the age of older fish more accurately than the traditional scale method, particularly in warmer climates and for bass more than 8 years old. That method has shown some 10-pound bass from Florida to be 10 years old. Yet a captive largemouth in a Texas aquarium grew from 14 to 19 pounds in 2 years Taken from Country Fish Farms website off the page labeled "Largemouth Bass". Young bass grow rapidly when food is plentiful. Usually a 2"- 4" bass will reach 6"- 8" the first year, 10"- 12" the second year and will be 12"- 14" or more after three years. Largemouth bass usually live 6 - 10 years but some will live as long as 15 years. In Missouri, largemouth bass usually reach spawning size in their second year at 9"- 12". Taken from Field and Stream website. The top 96 waters from coast to coast. Article by Bob Marshall. Uploaded on December 14, 2006 Table Rock Lake. "It has a largemouth bass population with excellent size structure every year. The management biologist credits good water quality and fast bass growth rates."-Mike Colvin, Division of Fisheries, Missouri Department of Conservation. Taken from Southern Regional Aquaculture Center SRAC Publication No. 722 Species Profile Largemouth Bass As with most fish, the growth rate of largemouth bass is highly variable and depends on food supply and environmental conditions. Largemouth can grow to more than 2 pounds their first year under ideal conditions, but in nature about 0.5 pound is normal. Taken from MDC website Facts Page on Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth bass have a maximum life expectancy of about 18 years; however, only a few ever live even half that long. Biology page Growth in reservoirs is typically better, with smallmouth bass reaching 15 inches or greater in five years. Missouri Black Bass Fishing page A 5-pound smallmouth will earn an angler bragging rights. A 5-pound spotted or Kentucky bass is even more rare. However, 5-pound largemouth bass are relatively common. Introduction to Missouri fishes Life span of the spotted bass is only 6 years. Life span of the largemouth bass is 10-15 years. Life span of the smallmouth bass is 10-12 years. All three of these fish become adults at around 10 inches LMBV fact page The effects of LMBV appear to be short term, with bass populations recovering after even a large kill in two to three years. The Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Biologists have calculated growth rates. Largemouth Bass 6.9 inches 1 yr. 10.6 inches 2 yrs 13.3 inches 3 yrs 15.4 inches 4 yrs 17.2 inches 5 yrs Wikipedia states The Largemouth bass lives 16 years on average. Taken from lakemanagement.org website Managing largemouth bass article Average growth rates for largemouth bass have been calculated and are as follows · Age I -8 inches · Age II -12 inches · Age III -15 inches; · Age IV -17 inches · Age V-18 inches Taken from Bassfishingangcatching.com/largemough-bass Here in Tennessee, where I and my bass bum™ buddies primarily fish, a largemouth (northern strain) can reach 10" in two growing seasons, 17" in three and 18" in four. Taken from Data provided courtesy of Aquaculture/Fisheries Center, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff - (Dr. Peter Perschbacher) Largemouth can grow to more than 2 pounds their first year under ideal conditions, but in nature about 0.5 pound is normal. Again found on the internet pertaining to catch and release… mortality rate is 22% reported by Myers & Poarch (2000) Myers and Poarch (2000), found that the occurrence of bleeding in hooked fish was related to both mortality and hooking location. Of 19 bleeding fish, 47% died, whereas only 20% of non-bleeding fish died. and 38% mortality rate reported by Rutledge & Pritchard (1977). Although bass caught in recent tournaments can have high survival rates (Edwards, Neumann, Jacobs & O’Donnell 2004a), other recent tournaments still exhibit mortality rates that exceed 50% (Neal & Lopez- Clayton 2001; Gilliland 2002; Wilde, Larson, Redell & Wilde 2002). Retention of bass in livewells coupled with angling related stress during competitive angling events could lead to an increased prevalence of largemouth bass virus (LMBV) and ultimately increased mortality rates. Schramm & Davis (2006) observed extremely high rates of mortality in adult largemouth bass 5 days after simulating common tournament conditions. Although mortality was slightly lower (75%) in livewells obtaining treatment (i.e. water cooled 3 _C from ambient, 0.3% uniodised salt) compared with control livewells (85%) Catch and Release Fishing Effectiveness and Mortality Summary of Results of Catch and Release Mortality Studies LM Bass test ponds ponds 5.80% Seems like the studies are all over the place. Tournament mortality rates are anywhere from 2% to 85% with catch and release methods depending on water conditions, treatment of the fish, where the fish was hooked, how long played, how long held out of the water and how released. None of the studies say a 0% mortality rate. 100 anglers in a tourney bringing in 6 fish with a 2% mortality rate = 12 dead fish 100 anglers in a tourney bringing in 6 fish with an 85% mortality rate = 510 dead fish Pretty scary???? We can carry this over to the people that spend 1000's of hours fishing Table Rock Lake each year and catch 1000's of fish. Lets say it is only 2000 fish that they catch and release each year on Table Rock Lake. With the last study I posted... Catch and Release Fishing Effectiveness and Mortality Summary of Results of Catch and Release Mortality Studies LM Bass test ponds ponds 5.80% 2000(bass) X .058(mortality rate)= 260 dead bass per year. Been doing this for 20 yrs????? 5200 specimens will have fallen from the grasps of others all from the fishing of one person. 6 dead bass by one angler per year looks way better than those numbers. Catch and release is a good thing..... The range of 15 to 98% survival rate is way better than a 0% survival rate. When a couple of fellows that fish 1000's of hours catching 1000's of bass get upset over the loss of 6 fish a year by someone else????? Makes me wonder. Seems growth rates are all over the board too. Anywhere from 1/2 pound per year to 2 1/2 pounds per year. MDC stated that Table Rock Lake had a high growth rate. What does that really mean? Longevity seems to be all over the place too. Who do we believe. These scientist and biologist cant even agree.

True, but still legal.......

talapia are very good eating. Cheap too!

Oh, and by the way....This post looked like it was going to be a lot of fun and that was a great story Bill. I dont think it can be topped. I was originally thinking 20 or 30 minutes. 1 minute just blows my mind.

Hmm???? A couple of things come to mind.....There are laws that protect hunters and fishermen from the harrassment of legally taking and persuing game, including fish. These laws might have been violated in black and white , written as public knowlege on this forum????? That is kind of scarry. Education in a polite and respectful manner might have been more appropriate. This forum is used to educate others on where and how to catch fish with opinions, facts and reports. Maybe some more reasonable opinions, facts and reports on the benifits of catch and release could help change the mind sets of others that catch and release is the way to fish. It is a very touchy subject but those that practice other than you yourself believe will never listen by being hit with insults and shunned. Does the fact that the fish were used in a benifit help at all???? Maybe to some but probably not to others, it is all just a matter of opinion. We have laws that govern when we can keep bass in the rivers in Missouri. I am sure this is to protect the spawn. Should we push this law to cover the lakes? In Alaska, you can not even fish in certain rivers till the trout spawn is over. Should we push to close all fishing in lakes and rivers till the spawn is over to protect them???? What are the actual percentage of catch and release fishing vs. catch and keep? Does anyone have these numbers? I understand getting upset when you feel like something has been taken. I hate seeing big browns being kept at Taney. I am doing no good by attacking the person that keeps the fish in a confrontational manner. After all they have every right to keep the fish. It is a shame that someone well within thier rights of the law is made to feel like a criminal. Change the law, and make it a crime. Then it is ok to make them feel like a criminal.

The root wad on the flats between outlet one and two got me. I was standing on them, had my light on and changing up a fly. Switched my footing and I was in. That is a great refernce place for getting a good drift right next to the line of rocks going out and the one big rock that most peoples stand on just below there. We are doing graduations this weekend and then again on Thursday, our last evening in the area. Might get out and fish again Sunday through Monday if the generation is favorable. See you in the Fall.

They did not shut the water off till midnight last night. We got there about 10 p.m. Leonard was at the pavillion waiting on us. I finally got my light back! We all went up to the flats between outlet one and two. It was wadeable enough to be able to really throw a line way out there. The water slowly dropped the whole time we were there and the fish were agressive. I stood back for a while and watched DD'sMC double hauling and slow stripping. She has come a long way in just a short time. We all had several hook ups and fish to hand. Another reminder for those that are gonna try fishing at night......bring an extra set of clothes.....I took a dunk last night. First time in a few years for me down there. DD'sMC and I threw coneheaded white mink sculpins and Leonard was doing great on his black and purple hibinator. We only stayed there till 1 a.m. and caught more than enough fish to ease the need for a fix. No one else on the water again last night???????

We've been hearing them for a couple weeks here in Branson West.

If they shut the water of like the charts and graphs say, DD'sMC and I will be headed down there shortly. Leonard has threatened to show up also. Will post a report in the morning.....

My wife and I spend our summers in Western Alaska guiding for all 5 pacific salmon species, giant rainbows, 40+ northern pike, arctic char/dolley varden, and arctic greyling. Here is a link to a slide show showing some of the fish we chase up there. Bristol Bay Adventures slide show

I hope you can get it arranged, but you definately wont be seeing me. I will be in Alaska starting the 21st and wont be returning till the end of Sept. No worries though, I will be getting some fishing in. Make sure you fish during the day before you go out night fishing. Try to remember where the big rocks, stumps, logs and holes are that might trip you up. Make reference to them by the skyline. That is the only thing you will see at night. Take note on how the water flows and where you need to cast during the day in places you want to fish at night. Good luck to you and I'm sure you will have some fun.

Fished again last night and this was the 3rd time in a week I had the whole place to myself after dark. The fishing has been incredible! Started fishing around 4 p.m. yesterday and there were only a few people there. Drifted size 20 sow bugs at the riffles around the rebar and just slayed them. A fella with his 2 kids came in close so I gave them the spot and moved down to the fallen tree. Picked up quite a few more there and spied on monster bow in the slack water on the other side. Decided to try him after dark and headed up to the flats between outlet one and 2 about and hour before it got dark. Started striping white mink sculpins up there and had fish on just about every cast. Picked up one bow right at 20 inches that had just and unbelievable girth to it. These fish are healthy, fat, and want to chase something. Stayed up there till about 10 p.m. and headed back down to the tree where I spied the big one. That's when I noticed that again I had the whole place to myself????? No one night fishing anymore????? Could not make contact with the big fish but did catch several others from the tree down to the point of the Big Hole. You guys are gonna have to get out and take advantage of this water being off......Try it at night. It has been awesome!

I fished from below the Rebar Hole (The Fallen Tree) to the point of The Big Hole, mainly "The Gauntlet" using a size 10 coneheaded white mink sculpin on a floating line. Most bites came from just casting straight across the current and dead drifting it. Did pick up a few on the strip back in, but most came on the swing. After picking up 37 in that area, I moved up to the flats between outlet one and two. Finished off the night there and left just after day break. The biggest one came right at day break while fast stripping the mink back in. I could see the wake following the fly and just kept stripping faster. The fish finally took it just about the time I was to my leader. I would say it was 21 to 22 inches and just huge fat. Just let me know when you want to get out there. I hope they keep this up as a generation pattern.

Got to the water at 2:30 a.m. and had 44 fish to hand by day break. Many were so large, I could not get my hand around thier body to take them off the hook. Fishing was spectacular! MC and I leave for Fayetteville Ar. on the 20th then fly out of XNA the morning of the 21st to Anchorage.

Any one up for a Thursday Night Strippers Club meeting?

I just fished there on Tuesday and there were plenty of fish. Started fishing about 10 a.m. and fished till 4. Put over 30 to hand. Stripped white mink sculpins on a sinking leader and just killed them. When that slowed down I switched over to a 16 bead head pheasant tail nymph and continued catching lots of fish. Most of the pools looked like they were holding several fish.

I will have to add bowfin, gar, and carp to that list.

Nice work!

The last reports that I've heard is they are still around Blunk hole and on up. Taylor shoals might be a good spot to try. Blunk rd is off 248 just out side Galena. Take it down to the river and there is a boat launch there. Go up stream from there till you find the other boats. That is where the whites will be. For spinning gear I would throw 1/8th ounce jig heads with 3 inch white/pearl swimming minnows or sliders. The limit is 15 whites per person per day. Some people anchor in the middle and throw to the bank and some anchor on the side and throw to the middle. Early morning and late afternoon/evening are both good bites. Parking will get crowded down there so you may want to plan for that and get there super early in the morning or around 1 p.m. to fish the evening bite. Hope you get into some!

Fished Wed, Thurs, and Friday there and did real well on size 16 bead head pheasant tails. Take a few dry flies also. There are some good hatches coming off in the afternoon. Bwo's in 16 and 18 worked great. Also if you like stripping streamers take a 12 ft. sinking leader and some white mink streamers in size 10. Killed them on that in the fly fishing area. The streamers would not get deep enough just using a floating line and the sinking leader really made them turn on! We caught a few on egg patterns and san juan worms too. Black and olive micro jigs caught a few for my wife. Hope some of that helps and good luck!

Fried was very good!