Could Taneycomo Be A Smallmouth Lake?

[eric1978]

Not so sure about your theory OTF. How do you explain smallmouth doing so well in Canada? It's pretty cold up there. I lean toward the problem being more to do with spawning habitat than water temp.

[Phil Lilley]

Not so sure about your theory OTF. How do you explain smallmouth doing so well in Canada? It's pretty cold up there. I lean toward the problem being more to do with spawning habitat than water temp.

I agree.

The smallies caught by Leonard and others below the dam was a freak deal. Only when the gates opened wide in 08 did we see walleye and smallies there in those numbers. Never before since I've been here (1983).

The best smallmouth are on the lake is the Landing area and up in Bull Creek. That's what I've seen from others catching smallies on Taney.

[Wayne SW/MO]

OTF a problem with Beaver causing a drastic change doesn't account for the James arm, which also seems to have less smallies. Personal I think its because the fish have a choice, and they like the environment of the lower lake.

I don't belive there is any scientific evidence that Largemouth have a broader range of temperatures to hatch their eggs, in fact they like a warmer temperature. I think the problem in many lakes is that the window of temperature that smallies prefer is short lived, more so than the warmer temps preferred by largemouth. I don't think that's the only difference, I believe a good spawning bottom is important. LM's will nest on a hard bottom of clay, rocks, etc. Smallie on the other hand seem to prefer pea gravel and deeper water to spawn.

[ozark trout fisher]

Not so sure about your theory OTF. How do you explain smallmouth doing so well in Canada? It's pretty cold up there. I lean toward the problem being more to do with spawning habitat than water temp.

I researched a bit to see what was going on here, and everything I have read points to the fact the smallmouth do not begin spawning until the water temperature reaches 65 degrees, while largemouth begin when it hits 55 degrees. I do believe, based on this, that largemouth can, and will spawn in colder water than smallies.

The main difference between the Canadian lakes and Taneycomo, is that Taneycomo has a relatively stable water temperature throughout the year. The lakes in southern Canada, while they become very cold in the winter, probably do warm up to 65 degrees on a regular basis, year in and year out. Lake Taneycomo probably reaches 65 some years, but it's probably not consistent enough for basis for the bass to really get used to it, and it probably occurs too late in the summer as well. Now it may reach 65 some years in the creek arms during the spawning season, and that would be the areas where smallmouth would have the opportunity to get some spawning done.

On the other hand, if I'm correct, Lower Taneycomo does reach 55 degrees, the minimum for largemouth bass spawning most years, and probably many years during the spawning time. That would explain why largemouth are more prevalent in the lake. I'm not saying bottom substrate doesn't have anything to do with it, it probably does. But water temperature is probably a big factor also.

[Wayne SW/MO]

OTF I did some research last night also, and I'll look agains, but I didn't come up with figures you did. I did come up with some information supporting my comments concerning spawning habitat. They also point out that apparently largemouths will push smallies from spawning areas, and in a limited opportunity area it could be the largemouths take up most of the successful areas.

I still stand by the fact that Taney isn't prime smallie habitat, has few spawning areas and extra predators to eat the fry. Bull creek and Roark could supply the lake with a lot of fish, but the apparently don't probably because the fish aren't interested.

[Gavin]

Nature finds a way...and since smallmouth arent in Taneycomo in abundance...I'd have to conclude that its not a good place for them. Cheers.

[ozark trout fisher]

OTF I did some research last night also, and I'll look agains, but I didn't come up with figures you did. I did come up with some information supporting my comments concerning spawning habitat. They also point out that apparently largemouths will push smallies from spawning areas, and in a limited opportunity area it could be the largemouths take up most of the successful areas.

I still stand by the fact that Taney isn't prime smallie habitat, has few spawning areas and extra predators to eat the fry. Bull creek and Roark could supply the lake with a lot of fish, but the apparently don't probably because the fish aren't interested.

Just out of curiosity, what did your research tell you as far as spawning temps for largemouth vs. smallmouth bass. I'm honestly curious about how much it varied with what I found... I'll admit that I was in a hurry when I did my research (I also am now, so I don't have time to check up on it), so I only got to look at a couple sources.

I totally think bottom substrate (and nest raiding trout) have something to do with the lack of smallmouth, I'm not arguing with you on that one. But they just may not be the only factors.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Could Taney be a smallmouth lake? Its a weird question, kinda like asking if Oprah could do NFL pre-game analysis with Terry, Howie, and Jimmy.

lack of rocks (big and small)

lack of right kind of food base (crayfish)

consistently low water temps = very slow growth rate for smb

[Wayne SW/MO]

For the most part the accepted range was 60f for smallies and 62 for largemouth to start and extending to about 65 for smallies and 70 for largemouth. There doesn't seem to be a consensus but those seem to be the most popular. Most sources point out that daylight has to also be right and not just the right temperature. Many give the smallie credit for spawning deeper at times. Most feel that smallies are more particular about the bottom makeup where they prefer small gravel, but will accept gravel and/or sand.

I always think about lake Texoma in southern Oklahoma, which was void of smallies until the lake bottom changed. Over many decades it became more of a clean rock and gravel bottom and the largemouth population declined. They stocked it with smallmouth and it is now a lake that rivals the Rock in smallmouth.

By the same token, it is obviously not scientific but Taney simply doesn't look like a smallie lake. Its not their habitat. It is to some degree a silt basin.

[ColdWaterFshr]

no rocks = no crawdads

smallmouth like to eat at Red Lobster pretty often