Wonderful Fishery

[Bill Babler]

As far as we know, Phil and I were talking, We don't believe Game and Fish Stocked them, but don't really know how they got there. Also don't know the size or limit status. Biggest one Scott at K-dock has seen is one about a pound and a half. Pretty nice size. The two we caught last week were one small one, and 1 about a pound.

With the various sizes we are seeing, it is a almost forsure bet, they are spawning.

Found a little more info. They were originally stocked in Arkansas By USGS in 1920 by O'Malley. They were later Extirpated throughout Arkansas, and don't ask me how, for eating trout eggs. They were also stocked heavely into the Missouri River Can't find any regulations about them by Arkansas Game and fish.

"UPDATE" The reason we are having a hard time finding out about them is Arkansas is calling them a Yellow Bass, rather than a Yellow Perch. NO LImits or Sizes. I think they consider them a egg predator and they are not indiginest to the area. Don't take my word for it, but I believe you can keep all you want.

[powerdive]

Last year I caught and released a 4-lb. rainbow near the mouth of Bear Creek in May. Trolling a crank at 30 feet.

I imagine there are at least a few trout in the lower story of the lake pretty much all year.

[Wayne SW/MO]

It seems the best theory on the Yellow Perch is that there were a few mixed in with some out of state Walleye that were stocked.

[Ham]

WOW, I'll have to change my opinions about the AGFC if they have Yellow Perch confused with Yellow Bass.

I have been somewhat surprized we don't have Yellow Bass up here along with the White Bass. Yellow Bass look very much like White Bass except they are smaller and oddly enough have a lemony yellow tint to their silverish sides. Yellow Perch look more like a walleye than they do a White Bass.

My Dad swears that Yellow Bass taste a LOT better than White Bass. I'll don't keep White Bass because they taste pretty strong to me.

I'm with Wayne on this one that I think a handful of Yellow Perch came in with walleye some time ago and the prolific little buggers are established now.

[Ham]

http://www.landbigfish.com/fish/fish.cfm?ID=39 To Look at Yellow Perch

http://www.landbigfish.com/fish/fish.cfm?ID=76 To Look at Yellow Bass

[Bill Babler]

You guys are absolutly right on the Yellow Bass thing. And that is a pretty good theory on the Yellow Perch. My question, is why is there not a limit on the Yellow Bass?

If this is a good tasting sought after fish, I would think there would be some regulations on it. Has anyone caught any of the Yellow Bass in Bull?

[Ham]

Hey Bill, I think it is because the Yellow Bass are so small compared to White Bass that people throw all the yellows back and keep the Whites.

In some places, the yellow run so small as to hardly be worth cleaning.

But my Dad swears they are almost as good as crappie IF you eat them fresh NEVER frozen AND don't mix them with crappie. Eat one or the other, but they are stronger tasting if you try to eat a mixed bag.

Beware : Yellows are awful pokey fins and SHARP gill plates. Your hands will be sore the next day.

[Ham]

http://www.agfc.com/wildlife-conservation/...-bass-fish.aspx

Yellow Bass on the Sabine River in the spring are plentiful and large enough to bother with keeping.

[Sam]

"I know, for the most part we all keep our yapps shut about Bull Shoals, but I believe this may be a breakthrough year for the lake. We may see some of that old 60's type of stuff, and it has been a long time coming. Us old hardback locals should not be bitter, and share this wonderful old fishery with some new blood. Help our local marina's and bring BS, back to the prominence it once held, as one of the best fisheries in the US."

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Bill, first off I've really enjoyed your posts here for years. I appreciate all the information, and your efforts to improve everyone's fishing experience around here.

Also, I'm real glad to hear about the new owners of K Dock Marina. I didn't know about them, and I've avoided that business since the day a couple of years ago when I ended up offering to throw the owner off his own dock. I hated to get upset like that. I go fishing to relax, not to fight with someone - but the way he was cussin' at me, I think anyone here would have responded the same way. I'll be sure to go by and spend some money with the new folks now.

Upper Bull Shoals is my stomping grounds - I know about every foot of it from Powersite Dam to Horseshoe Bend. I sure missed fishing it in 2008, but there's not much you can do when the water's 40 feet high and the fish are out in the woods. I figure 2008 gave the fish a good break from fishing pressure, let them grow bigger, and let a lot of little ones get hatched out and survive - so I WAS really looking forward to Spring, 2009 there. Well, I still am.

But dang it Bill - 534 people have read your report at this point, and you said there were 47 rigs parked at K Dock in January. I knew what was going on down there, from friends, before you posted it - but how many more people have those 534 told by now, and your post will stay up from now on and it'll be read for months to come.

Maybe we oughta all chip in and rent a billboard on 65 in Branson with a big arrow pointing at K Dock and a full fishing report? Giant pictures of productive lures could be included, in case folks can't figure it out for themselves.

I understand your point of view and I'm sorry we disagree on this - but I sure wish you hadn't done it. Folks like me have spent thousands of hours and a bunch of money getting to know that stretch of water, and now I just hope I can find a parking place and that there'll be some fish left for me to catch, too.

Things like this make me think that, unlike the way I've done in the past - when I find some good fishing somewhere, I better keep real, real quiet about it or it'll get ruined.

[Phil Lilley]

BS- upper BS- seems to be a "private" spot for alot of people, more than most waters. But the fact is it's all public and news of hot fishing spots gets around on other forums, other internet fishing reports, magazines, radio and TV shows. Can't blame (or give credit) OA for all of it.

On BS, as well as alot of our area lakes, fishing is going to be real good because of last years high water. I think there's enough room for everyone. Problem with upper BS there aren't enough ramps and parking to hosts all the people who want to fish and that's something you should take up with the Corp. But people will make a way if they want to go fishing bad enough.

As for taking exception to anyone's report on this forum, may be you shouldn't read it. It absolutely amazes me when people get upset about a report, especially for a professional guide- he's giving out info he could keep to his self and charge people to catch these fish, not to mention the heat he takes from guides who don't share the passion he has for sharing with everyone his knowledge about fishing- in detail.

By the way, In Fisherman called Bill the other day after reading his report and was all excited to hear about walleye being caught on BS in good numbers and size. They're going to print something in the next issue about BS's walleyes so I guess we'll have all those people from the north heading down to crowd up our ramps even more.

It's such a terrible thing having such awesome fisheries right in our backyard!