Channel Cats

[Wayne SW/MO]

My thoughts were, will they spawn because they do like warm water for the process.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I hate to think how many trout those herons eat each day.

Probably very few to none. the smallest trout I know are below Powersite and I've never seen any indication they are eating any there. The Eagles seem to like them however.

[Trav]

Wayne,

That would be my main concern as well. They prefer to spawn in 70 to 80 degree water. There is some areas that warm to that in Taney but probably so little it would limit the success of a self sustaining population. Im afraid most will go into bullshoals during spawn that being the case.

[Trav]

Taxi,

Upon further review, Musky would be the ultimate add on, but they will harm the current warmwater populations that struggle to spawn as it is.

Northern Pike would be out of the question. They will decimate the warm water species and in the winter they will gobble up more bows than even the brownies and tourists combined. I have fished the Pike runs in Iowa rivers and know that they are ruthless. Although they will weed out the white sucker population which is the number one problem why Smallmouths and Walleye are struggling in numbers. In fact the suckers are the biggest threat to warm water species in the lake due to thier constant disturbance of spawning areas.

Granted both species (pike and Musky) will thrive and be self-sustaining after just one stocking in Taney as long as they continue to stock bows. But you have to think about the MDC's favorite child. What ever is added will have to be of minimal effect on the trout population. The prime choice would be yellow perch. Not exactly a species known for its trophy size. Like the white bass in the lake they would self-sustain. The entire idea of a new species(or two/three) in Taney would be to turn the lake into something other than a fish tank for trout.

So I am exploring ideas for species that will spawn in the lake and be able to cohabitate the resources. As well as be self-sustaining with minimal stocking.

The whole reason there is trout in Taney anyway is because the native fish all shocked out after the cold water started to flow. And trout wouldnt be here if they didnt transplant millions of Freshwater shrimp.

If they cant spawn they cant survive. Heck! We all know that the trout dont successfully spawn in Taney but thier survival rate after being stocked is off the charts. Warm water fish dont adapt to Taney the same way with an intitual stock. Its only after generations of adaption that warm water fish can do that.

So stocking anything new has to meet criteria. First criteria being that they can spawn in the lake. Second, they must not harm the trout population or thier food source, Third they must be able to be kept in check. Probably by stocking low numbers. You have to keep in mind that if fish need warm water to spawn and have to compete for those areas they will just dive off powersite dam. Bringing out another logistic. We cant stock anything that Bull Shoals cant except. We do have an overflow dam! It would be like a venereal disease if it cant.

I have always wanted more than a trout lake out of Taney. I know it it can sustain populations of fish other than stockers. Its finding the ecological mediam and convincing the ones in power it is needed that will always be a challenge for this lake.

If I can find viable species or two, I am confident I can lobby to get it done.

[Greg]

I can't remember where I read it but there was a recent article in one of the fly fishing publications about how introductions of pike to a trout fishery can decimate trout populations. The article stated that has happened in several areas to the point where the lake or river has to be systematically poisoned and restocked with trout.

Channel cats are an interesting idea. I would doubt they would have a huge affect on the trout population. But I wonder if they have been stocked in tailwater like Taney? And if the affect was studied? You know the bigger ones would probably snack on small bows and browns occasionally but probably not enough to hurt anything.

Greg