Lake Trout In Missouri?

[Sherwood Flycaster]

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

That aint just curiosity mister, thats a gen-u-ine prayer......LOL! Admittedly, I would like to second a motion to have an answer to that question. Thanks for the insight to ole George, rest his soul. VERY interesting! Still curious, though, as to the thought process that led to those decisions/species. May never know! 25-30 years ago it may have simply been wishful thinkin'!

[Al Agnew]

Smallies...don't know for sure, but I would think it would depend upon the character of the lake. Smallmouths need reasonably clear water, and they need a lot of gravel and rock substrate to spawn. And windswept banks should not silt up from wave action. And probably the thing about the deeper water in smaller lakes at this latitude being likely to have depleted oxygen levels. There's probably a reason why the only lakes at this latitude that have a lot of smallmouths are big, rocky reservoirs fed by good-sized streams.

[Bman]

Used to watch George Carson outdoors all the the time when I was a kid. He always made mention of "his lovely wife Millie"

He was a member of our church, and taught me how to paddle a canoe and float Mo streams.

Oh ya, and he taught me how to shoot the aspirin tablet with my BB gun, wow this all brings back some great memories.

[ozark trout fisher]

I know this topic is way old, but I just saw it and HAD to reply. I live in this lake community you mentioned, (I'm pretty sure, based on your screen name, and the description of the lake), my uncle regularly caught pike the first four or five years after they were stocked, I know it is true, because he has shown me pictures. The biggest he ever caught was a 29", and the lakes had a 30" minimum, so that kind of made him mad. It seems like muskies would have been a better pick, as they survive in a nearby Busch Wildlife Lake, but based on the fact that they were caught for several years after stocking ended, they must have been able to tolerate high water temps. I haven't heard about the Lakers, but it seems that the may have survived a few years, given that the lake is 60 feet deep, and has several springs submerged in it that could have provided necessary cold water and oxygen to make it through the summer, at least if the Lakers could find these underwater springs. But I seriously doubt they could reproduce. I have heard rumors of people catching pike out of this lake in the last few years, but I don't really believe that them. Yes, smallmouth were stocked here in the lake, according to someone I talked to that used to play some part in managing the lakes. They didn't make it though, I heard it was mostly because of the lack of shad or shiners being present, and competition from other species, but warm water could have played a roll as well. I will say that I have seen some bass swimming around that did appear to be smallmouth, so I believe a few did survive and reproduce, but not enough to be significant. But I have never caught one, and I fish for bass in the lake probably 100 or 150 days a year, so I would think I would have caught one by now if they really exist.