Mdc Structure Restoration Project

[Sam]

Now I know where you're talking about - that's some serious smallmouth country there.

Right or wrong, it seems like Conservation is trying to help the bass fishery and they actually know where some bass live. I was afraid they were building crappie brushpiles where they don't belong. I wish they'd take some advice from top Tablerock guides, including Bill, before they do such things - because then they'd get the knowledge of folks who make a living finding and catching bass every day. That might be a lot different from the book learning, sampling, and maybe diving that biologists are basing their information on.

[Bill Babler]

Thanks Phil

Just what we suspected. Placing debris on long flat points and gravel, that had previously had none. Jeremy there is your answer, not replacing lost structure where it had been, but creating a complete new enviornment.

I know threadfin shad just love to hang out in stump fields.

They have observed blackbass species on the areas they have added sturcture too. How vague is that. How many and how many were there before the adding of the structure? I would love to see species specific counts on the surveys.

Just for a minute say we as local fishermen are right, and it breaks the feeding, seasonal patterns and recruitment of the SM that are present on these locations, then what? Do you just say OOP'S we made a mistake.

Has not Table Rock had enough of this. Especially since Table Rock must live completely on native recruitment with no additional stocking.

I just cannot understand messing with the strongest part of this fishery in what is with out a doubt, considered to be the "Mother of the smallmouth area on this lake."

I'll end this here for me. You all know how I feel about this lake and the wonderful resourse we have here.

The smallmouth bass in Table Rock are precious to us all.

[glennL]

I'd bet it doesn't have anything to do about habitat. That sounds good in a meeting. Probably closer and easier for the dump at that location, than say driving all the way down to the Kings or White River sections.

If it had to do with Habitat, you'd think they'd talk to the people who fish. So, some one made a decision in the name habitat and keeping expense down for the hauling company.

[Champ188]

I'm with Bill on this one. Although I am not a smallmouth expert like he is, when I do go looking for the brown fish, it's always on slick pea gravel points or banks. Glad they're building habitat but wish they'd do it elsewhere.

[Phil Lilley]

I'd bet it doesn't have anything to do about habitat. That sounds good in a meeting. Probably closer and easier for the dump at that location, than say driving all the way down to the Kings or White River sections.

If it had to do with Habitat, you'd think they'd talk to the people who fish. So, some one made a decision in the name habitat and keeping expense down for the hauling company.

You should see where they are dumping before posting. See the map on MDC's site. It's not just where this map shows. They are dumping all over the lake.

[Phil Lilley]

Got to ask... is putting a pile of rocks on a bank in one place going to ruin the whole stretch of bank. The sm banks I fish are from 100-1000 yards long. Plus, all of the banks I fish for sm on in the dam area don't yellow dots.

I can see where putting a pile on a point would affect that point but to say a whole area - bank- stretch- is damaged, even if it was true that it's bad for the sm, by a pile of rocks.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Plus they stated it will only cover 10% of the area. Still 90% untouched.

[skeeter]

We were fishing the flats across from Baxter in Nov. 2008 and watched the MDC pontoon boat dump pile after pile of brush on the right hand bank ( going in ) of Flint cove which is the first cove right around the end of the bluff from Baxter Dock. The problem, IMHO, is they dumped the brush in such shallow water it ain't gonna' do squat. Relatively shallow bank and the brush is plainly visible from a distance in your boat. Maybe 5 to 8 feet deep at the most. To my knowledge, those numerous bush piles are still unmarked on the MDC map. Those MDC fishery Biologists may be "qualified" but after seeing this brush placement I wonder about their knowledge of Table Rock conditions. Maybe habitat for minnows ?? Just don't understand it.

Had to grin at Bill's comment about "long in the tooth". Back in the early 70's it was almost a news item fit for print when an angler caught a SM. Most I was aware of came from around the islands up the James arm. Sure is nice that they have done so well since then.

[Phil Lilley]

I bet what you saw in 08 was MDC putting in Christmas trees. They do that every year, not part of this project.

I thought putting in trees was supposed to attract or give shelter to minnows and other small fry as protection, esp right after spawn. I'm not sure... I'm NOT an authority on the big lake or bass fishing at all. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[Chief Grey Bear]

I thought putting in trees was supposed to attract or give shelter to minnows and other small fry as protection, esp right after spawn. I'm not sure... I'm NOT an authority on the big lake or bass fishing at all. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

You are on the right track. It also provides as a host for forage for the minnows and small fry as well as other aquatic species. It really is a win-win opportunity for all.