Could Taneycomo Be A Smallmouth Lake?

[eric1978]

Eric as far as the Scuds go, I simply can't see a smallie hanging around Scud habitat. It just isn't normally their their type of water.

I'm sure you're right. I don't know what I'm talking about. I just figured if a little shrimpy crustacean creature limped in front of a smallies face, he'd open his mouth and eat him.

[Ned Kehde]

The folks who mentioned that they are interested in the history of the stocking of reservoir-strain smallmouth bass in Oklahoma can contact Gene Gilliland at GGillOkla@aol.com. He is a fine angler and fisheries biologist. And he might render an opinion about smallmouth bass in Taneycomo.

For anglers who have expressed an appreciation of the smallmouth bass on this forum, I would like to note that John and Roger Kehde, of Sedalia, Mo., and I have been petitioning the Missouri Dept.of Conservation to stock reservoir-strain smallmouth bass into Truman Lake. We have witnessed what has transpired with the stocking of reservoir-strain smallmouth bass in several reservoirs in eastern Kansas, and one of these reservoirs, which is Melvern Lake, Kansas, lies at the headwaters of Truman. Some folks have argued that the limnology of Truman isn't favorable to smallmouth bass. But we have seen smallmouth bass flourish in Eufaula Lake, Okla., producing state-record-size specimens, and the limnology of Eufaula doesn't fit the classical definition of a smallmouth bass waterway, and neither does Coffey Lake, Kansas, which contains an impressive population of smallmouth bass.

To our chagrin, we haven't been able to motivate the MDC to stock reservoir-strain smallmouth bass. Therefore, we are hoping that some of the smallmouth bass devotees who participate in this fine forum will contact the MDC and ask them to stock reservoir-strain smallmouth into Truman

[eric1978]

To our chagrin, we haven't been able to motivate the MDC to stock reservoir-strain smallmouth bass. Therefore, we are hoping that some of the smallmouth bass devotees who participate in this fine forum will contact the MDC and ask them to stock reservoir-strain smallmouth into Truman

Do you have any idea why that is? Is it purely monetary or do they have some ecological or biological reason to be unreceptive to the idea?

[Flysmallie]

But we have seen smallmouth bass flourish in Eufaula Lake, Okla., producing state-record-size specimens, and the limnology of Eufaula doesn't fit the classical definition of a smallmouth bass waterway,

Yeah, Eufaula just doesn't seem like a smallie lake to me but they have pulled some monsters out of there the last couple of years.

[Ned Kehde]

Do you have any idea why that is? Is it purely monetary or do they have some ecological or biological reason to be unreceptive to the idea?

The initial and only response from the Missouri Dept of Conservation was that they have never stocked reservoir-strain smallmouth bass in Missouri, fearing that they would adversely affect the stream-strain smallmouth bass in the Ozark region. In addition, they said that they don't want to stock species that aren't native to the waterways.

After several more petitions to several MDC fisheries folks, one biologist, who has now retired, responded and said that our requests would be pondered by the appropriate folks in the MDC. But many months have transpired, and we haven't heard a word.

They also failed to answer our ponderings about why they have stocked muskie, wipers and striped bass, which aren't native species, as are the trout that are stocked in various Missouri waterways. What's more, many of the small feeder creeks to Truman and Lake of the Ozarks, such as Deer Creek, Big and Little Buffalo creeks and Cole Camp Creek, were stocked with smallmouth bass by anglers and one MDC employee in the early 1950s. Therefore, the smallmouth bass that abide in those tributaries aren't natives in the classical sense.

It is not a monetary factor, because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has offered to give Kansas an ample supply of reservoir-strain smallmouth bass to stock in Corps reservoirs, and, of course, Truman is a Corps reservoir. Therefore, if Kansas can get them, why can't Missouri get them and stock them in Truman?

[Wayne SW/MO]

and the limnology of Eufaula doesn't fit the classical definition of a smallmouth bass waterway,

I admit I haven't fished Eufaula since the 70's, I would assume it has changed its bottom structure. Texoma wasn't a smallmouth type lake either, but evolved over time.

As far as Truman goes, it lies across a vague line that separates it between the South Grand and the Osage. I would think the Pomme, Sac and the eastern end would be smallmouth friendly, but not the west end.

[Phil Lilley]

I asked a MDC fisheries biologist about spawning bass in Taney and this was his comments-

Generally speaking, smallmouth will spawn around 57-64 degrees, and largemouth will spawn around 60-72 degrees. Taneycomo is a little different though. It seems that the bass spawn in Taneycomo is more affected by the length of daylight hours than water temperature. For example, we sampled Taneycomo on May 19, 2008 when the water temperature was about 59 degrees and we saw largemouth spawning everywhere. In 2009 we sampled about a week earlier, water temperature was around 58 degrees and only saw about a fourth of what we saw in 2008. The vegetation wasn’t growing yet and the fish just weren’t on the beds. In 2008, the vegetation was growing very well and they were on beds all around the shoreline. In our samples, the water temperature was much warmer in Bull Creek than the main lake, and I think that makes a difference on timing of the spawn to some degree. Can’t say for positive sure though because when we were there, the water clarity was a lot worse, making it more difficult to see fish. We did sample one largemouth that measured 22.5 inches in 2009, it weighed about 7 pounds. Caught it on the main lake south of Rockaway.

We usually wait for the water temperature in Table Rock to reach 60 degrees before we start sampling. I think you could safely say that the bass will spawn in Taneycomo about 2-3 weeks after the bass in Table Rock. If the water temperature never gets warm enough, they will go by length of daylight.

Smallmouth tend to spawn in more rocky, gravelly substrate, vs. largemouth that prefer woody cover and silty substrate. I think that’s why we get such good largemouth recruitment in Table Rock during high water years (i.e. 2008). Lots of woody cover (buttonbush) and more silt to spawn around when the water is high. It seems to be the trend that we’ll get good smallmouth recruitment during lower water years and better largemouth recruitment during high water years.

We found largemouth spawning in coves by Powersite, in the main lake south of Rockaway Beach, and in Bull Creek. All of the suitable habitat is there in the entire lower lake for the largemouth to spawn. I can’t say for sure about where the smallmouth spawn because our electrofishing gear isn’t effective in capturing smallmouth (they’re usually too deep). I do know that there is an excellent population of smallmouth in Bull Creek, and some nice ones too. Just go wading where the lake turns to creek sometime in the summer and you’ll see them. I have to imagine that those fish use Taneycomo as well. I suspect they spawn more up the creek arms in the lower lake, and if that is the case, there’s plenty of suitable habitat for them there. They may also spawn deep in the main lake, but if they do, we’d never see them in our samples. We don’t even see many smallmouth in Table Rock when we sample, they just stay too deep.

[eric1978]

It would make sense that the bass spawn is greatly effected by photoperiod in Taney, since the water temperatures are more consistent than other lakes, generally speaking.

[ozark trout fisher]

Sorry Eric and OTF, the hypothetical question was okay intially I guess, but the research seemed a bit labored and repeated posts got to be more than I could take, and coming from you and Ozark TF'er who I take don't have all that many hours spent on Taney, am I correct?

Who would support stocking of smallmouth, whatever the strain, in Taney other than you guys and maybe a stimulus package lamppost?

I'm sure smallmouth eat a few scuds, about like I eat candy corn in the jar in the lobby of some office that I have to be in . . . but anyway, not trying to be nasty. Please continue with the research!

Its all good... Yes, I have never been to Taney. These things are interesting to me though.

[Gatorjet]

There have been several threads about various species in Taneycomo. I say let Taney be what Taney is! one of the best Rainbow and Brown Trout lakes there are. Yes, it's not a secluded mountain stream, how many of them are there really? It's not an Ozark stream, It is what it is. A 26 mile long put and take area with the added advantage of o possible record breaking trophy. Bottom line, it's a great place to fish.