Lake Trout In Missouri?

[Sherwood Flycaster]

This weekend talking to a guy who has lived in my community for years indicated that lake trout had been stocked in our biggest lake some years back. Of course I was skeptical and investigated. Well, sure enough the Board President confirmed the story. Northern Pike had been stocked as well. This is a 140 or so acre lake with a max depth at 65 feet or so. If true, the questions I have of all you knowledgeable peeps are: A) Could they survive longterm? Would they reproduce at this latitude? C) What kind of age limits do these fish have? Obviously Id like to go after either of these species, especially 5 minutes from my front door!!! But if the chance of them being in there still is nill, no sense in getting that gear purchased. I'm fairly certain no one has even attempted to fish for the lakers especially.... Thoughts?

[Al Agnew]

I'm betting the lake trout died out the first summer. A lake of that size in this latitude gets too warm in the upper levels, and gets too depleted of oxygen anywhere that's deep enough to stay cool enough for lake trout. As for the pike, if you can't catch one every now and then while fishing for bass or even crappie, chances are they aren't there anymore either.

[Trav]

I agree with Al.

[Sherwood Flycaster]

Two of the guys I most wanted to hear from..! Thanks much- confirms my own thoughts on the matter. What a shame though, eh?! You know, it's strange too, there was a gentleman by the name of George Carson who was a sport journalist on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He was hired by the developer to help decide what to stock. Wonder what he based those decisions on. Ever heard of him, Al?

[Wayne SW/MO]

Chars require colder waters than trout, not to mention a large body of water. Temperature isn't the only requirement, all fish have oxygen and food needs that must be met also.

[rainbow]

Two of the guys I most wanted to hear from..! Thanks much- confirms my own thoughts on the matter. What a shame though, eh?! You know, it's strange too, there was a gentleman by the name of George Carson who was a sport journalist on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He was hired by the developer to help decide what to stock. Wonder what he based those decisions on. Ever heard of him, Al?

Carson wrote an outdoor column and appeared on local fishing shows. I believe he has been dead for years.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Chars require colder waters than trout, not to mention a large body of water. Temperature isn't the only requirement, all fish have oxygen and food needs that must be met also.

Sorry Wayne but Al's post has been seconded by Trav. Sherwoods post makes it unanimous. Therefore it is fact.

[patfish]

Do y'all think that Smallies would thrive and survive in these waters? Just askin out of couriousity......

[skeeter]

George Carson was the outdoor writer for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat and was replaced, after his retirement, by Bill Seibel, his Son-in-law. I had the pleasure of knowing both gentlemen. When the Globe was "absorbed" by the St. Louis Post-Disgrace, they had an "outdoor" writer ( Tim Renken I believe ) already on staff. George passed away and Bill went on to become an N.R.A. instructor and more of a fisherman of the modern type than George had been. George was actually more of a shooting enthusiast who would put on his annual demonstration of shooting aspirin tossed into the air with a BB gun at the original St. Louis Sports and boat show held at the Arena on Oakland ! That is a fact and I witnessed it several times as he could hit 9 out of ten airborne aspirin. He had an entire theory about "pointing" a gun, not aiming it that he passed on to many. I can't imagine where George would have come up with the idea of Lake Trout in Lake Sherwood but Northern Pike would have made it but not been able to reproduce.

[rainbow]

George Carson was the outdoor writer for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat and was replaced, after his retirement, by Bill Seibel, his Son-in-law. I had the pleasure of knowing both gentlemen. When the Globe was "absorbed" by the St. Louis Post-Disgrace, they had an "outdoor" writer ( Tim Renken I believe ) already on staff. George passed away and Bill went on to become an N.R.A. instructor and more of a fisherman of the modern type than George had been. George was actually more of a shooting enthusiast who would put on his annual demonstration of shooting aspirin tossed into the air with a BB gun at the original St. Louis Sports and boat show held at the Arena on Oakland ! That is a fact and I witnessed it several times as he could hit 9 out of ten airborne aspirin. He had an entire theory about "pointing" a gun, not aiming it that he passed on to many. I can't imagine where George would have come up with the idea of Lake Trout in Lake Sherwood but Northern Pike would have made it but not been able to reproduce.

skeeter, I believe you have the facts laid out very well. When I was a kid we all read Carson's column and if he said use this product we all did. I too saw him at the old boat show. I remeber when Bill took over and I have met him on a couple of occasions at NWTF banquets. Haven't heard much about him in the last few years. those were the good old days of fishing and low tech information. There were no fourms to read. This post brings back a lot of good memories of those days.