Could Taneycomo Be A Smallmouth Lake?

[eric1978]

Really, I just don't know. I would assume that smallmouth could survive in a lake that supports trout in the upper parts and LM in the lower parts. Couldn't smallmouth survive somewhere on the lake, and wouldn't that be a more befitting species to spend money on supporting?

Why aren't there any smallmouth in there? Or are there?

[Dutch]

I have caught smallies in the upper part but not lately.

[wily]

there's a bunch of silt and vegetation in the lower end. not much gravel down there...I'm not sure but i think smallmouths prefer gravel.

[Greg]

We've discussed this here before. I don't think there's any doubt that there are a few smallmouth in Taneycomo. But it's just not managed as a smallmouth lake.

Greg

[eric1978]

We've discussed this here before. I don't think there's any doubt that there are a few smallmouth in Taneycomo. But it's just not managed as a smallmouth lake.

Greg

Right. It's not managed as a smallmouth lake, but if it was, would they thrive?

[Dutch]

Here is a good read http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/wdb/pub/hsi/hsi-036.pdf

[Wayne SW/MO]

There area few, but they have been there since before Table Rock and there aren't a lot. There's a reason they don't do well, I just don't know what it is. I suppose it could be spawning gravel, but there is some, maybe not enough.

[ozark trout fisher]

Really, I just don't know. I would assume that smallmouth could survive in a lake that supports trout in the upper parts and LM in the lower parts. Couldn't smallmouth survive somewhere on the lake, and wouldn't that be a more befitting species to spend money on supporting?

Why aren't there any smallmouth in there? Or are there?

Let me preface this by saying that I know nothing about Taneycomo, so I wouldn't take this to mean too much.

But here's what I've noticed. It seems to me that in really cold water, largemouth bass actually tend to do better than smallies. I know that's opposite to what most people would think, but I'm convinced it true. Just as one example, with a couple exceptions, almost every bass I have ever caught out of the Red Ribbon area of the Meramec has been a largemouth. Now upstream, and downstream of this area, where the water is warmer, I have caught mostly smallmouth. Also, while I'm not sure this really applies here, if you look at the cold-water lakes in Montana or Colorado for example, if there are any species of Black Bass present, it is usually largemouth.

Here's my opinion on it... Smallmouth have a really thin water temperature niche where they can reproduce. As everyone knows, smallmouth like cool, but not too cold of water. While largemouth certainly prefer warm water, I find they can survive and reproduce in all but the coldest of waters, even lakes in Northwest Montana lakes at 7000 feet. The water temperature niche of a largemouth is just extremely wide, and they can survive most anywhere, while a smallie's temperature niche is pretty thin. They are simply not as adaptable. Now, there may be areas of Taneycomo that would work well for smallies, I don't know. But I wouldn't be all that sure. I think introducing them is worth a try though.

[Greg]

Let me preface this by saying that I know nothing about Taneycomo, so I wouldn't take this to mean too much.

But here's what I've noticed. It seems to me that in really cold water, largemouth bass actually tend to do better than smallies. I know that's opposite to what most people would think, but I'm convinced it true. Just as one example, with a couple exceptions, almost every bass I have ever caught out of the Red Ribbon area of the Meramec has been a largemouth. Now upstream, and downstream of this area, where the water is warmer, I have caught mostly smallmouth. Also, while I'm not sure this really applies here, if you look at the cold-water lakes in Montana or Colorado for example, if there are any species of Black Bass present, it is usually largemouth.

Here's my opinion on it... Smallmouth have a really thin water temperature niche where they can reproduce. As everyone knows, smallmouth like cool, but not too cold of water. While largemouth certainly prefer warm water, I find they can survive and reproduce in all but the coldest of waters, even lakes in Northwest Montana lakes at 7000 feet. The water temperature niche of a largemouth is just extremely wide, and they can survive most anywhere, while a smallie's temperature niche is pretty thin. They are simply not as adaptable. Now, there may be areas of Taneycomo that would work well for smallies, I don't know. But I wouldn't be all that sure. I think introducing them is worth a try though.

I'm not an expert on this but I've noticed almost exactly the same thing. In really cold waters where trout thrive - smallmouth generally don't seem to. But Taney is a pretty big lake and I'm sure there are areas of the lake where they could do pretty well. But Taneycomo is first and foremost a trout lake (thank goodness IMHO). MO has literally hundreds of miles of streams and acres of lake habitat where smallmouth will do well. But comparatively speaking much fewer areas where trout can live. IMHO those few areas that trout can thrive should be managed for trout. Even if the trout are not "self sustaining".

Greg

[Wayne SW/MO]

In really cold waters where trout thrive - smallmouth generally don't seem to.

Unfortunately this theory doesn't fly on the Niangua. I don't know about the eggs survival in relation to the temperature, at least in regards to a larger window. Smallies do seem to be more particular when it comes to spawning locations. Smallies do better overall, or so it seems in Canadian lakes, Maine, and northern New York lakes, to name a few, which are cold.

If you want a reason for Taney being more Largemouth friendly, I suspect its simply a lack of good spawning areas for the Smallies.