Another Huge Striper.

[Samkam1]

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I think Missouri is like 56lbs? But, I can't be certain.

yep, 56 lbs. 5 oz.

[Dutch]

Dont know how much truth there is to this, but i heard about 9 or so years ago AGFC had a truckload of Stripers heading over to Beaver and the pumps on the truck failed, so they ran down to Bull and dumped them in real quick before they all died, dont know how much truth there is to this, just some local talk at the time, maybe someone else knows more about it.

I heard the same story a few years ago. There were supposed to be about 40,000 of them in that truck.

[Wayne SW/MO]

yep, 56 lbs. 5 oz.

Caught below Powersite. I don't know about 40K, that's a lot of fish and one would think that a lot more of them would show up below Powersite when they try to spawn and the shad spawn.

I would like to see them stocked deliberately. The old negative of traveling and ending up in the White is a moot point because of Norfolk. If you've seen the Osage below Truman when they are running, which is often, you would see that they are a big attraction. They would also most likely be an addition to the economy because I can't see any competition with trout fishing occurring.

[Bill B.]

Back in the '70s and early '80s, Arkansas did deliberately stock stripers in Bull Shoals. There used to be some fun fishing below Powersite in the late fall.

[taxidermist]

Years ago when the AGFC stocked stripers in Bull Shoals regularly. there were a lot of 30 lb fish caught. even some near 50lbs.

I mounted one for the Late Bob Sutton that was on the wall at Lead Hill Boat dock wehn Bill Nay sold it. that fish was 47lbs

Last year several over 50 lbs were caught a man last name Sanders caught two over fifty.

Since there are not many who remember the old days when stripers were stocked the man at Forsyth Bait shop coul dhave told you about them. the fish on his walls came for the water of Bull Shoals.

[Bassinman74]

I'm not sure if I can get the striper pic to show up...My uncle caught one this week that the AGFC was going to weigh. Hopefully, the image will come thru. It took him 50 mins to land and it was caught on 8lb line....

[Wayne SW/MO]

I repeat it would be a great fishery, maybe the squeaky wheel needs less grease so it can be heard. I think they should consider it, maybe a joint effort between MO and AR? I hate sound like a broken record, but I think they could lay off the "Eyes until they show more promise of a real fishery. The biggest economic impact of their stockings seem to be in the form of hatchery employee salaries. The biggest return seems to be for the shock boats.

[taxidermist]

This spring we caught hundreds of short eyes. but thats ok.

With the amount of bait fish in the lake the stripers could do very well.

AGFC only stock around 20,000 rainbow trout now days per year. So I too have to wonder why the trout in Bull Shoals.. why not 20,000 striper fingerlings.. Few would become food for other fish species.

Maybe its something to do with the MT home chamber of commerce?

Anyone remember the lake trout project? they did very well in Bull Shoals, but few people could tell the bows from the browns from the lakers!

Stripers do occupy an area of the lake few other fish use!!!

[Bill B.]

Anyone remember the lake trout project? they did very well in Bull Shoals, but few people could tell the bows from the browns from the lakers!

I remember. Early '80s, maybe?

Up north, lake trout can live for several decades. Why not down here? There may be some 40-50 pound pigs swimming in Bull Shoals even today. I wonder.

[rangerman]

It would be unreal if they would start stocking lakers. Those things fight like nothing else and are phenominal to eat.

The perch in BS are apparently taking off really good, why not put some other "northern" species in there and make it a REAL interesting fishery. I hope the walleye fishery remains as good as it is. I almost bet the next world record will come from there within the next five years.

Wayne, I don't think AR cares as much about the walleye fishery as much as MO does, but I could be wrong. MO has dusk to dawn laws protecting spawning eyes in the streams. I have seen fisherman on the AR side of the Kings River keeping multiple giant eyes in the 13 pound and above class that were caught at night tightlining live bait. Granted the spawning success of these fish is low, you are still taking a very large fish out of the system. I hope the Table Rock eyes keep coming on as strong as they are as well.

Who knows why state game and fish agencies do what they do.