Why Are Our Local Alkes So Differant?

[lonkm]

Stockton, Truman and Bull Shoals lakes are so much alike but the fish act different in each lake. All the lakes are man made, deep and have clear water. You check the crappie fishing on Stockton and the fish in Bull Shoals are doing something completely different. It would seem to me that since the lakes are so close and simular that they fish pretty much the same but they don't. Would one of you guys that know about this please explane it to me? Thanks Lonnie

[fishinwrench]

Ok, I'll take a shot at this.....

Comparing those three lakes would be like comparing every 2-10 acre farm pond in the southern half of the state, and expecting them to fish the same on any given day.

For starters, I think "deep" is relative to the specific area of either lake. None of the lakes you mention have thermoclines at the same depth, or maintain their pool level at the same pace.

Water color and how soon it clears up after a deluge plays in to the comparison also, as does the length and number of tributary arms.

North/South/East/West orientation of tributary arms effects how sunlight and prevailing winds effects the fish and the forage.

Concider bottom composition differences also.

Degree of generation through the dams is different on all lakes and effects fish movements mostly in the upper and lower reaches.

That's all I got for now, but I'm sure more food for thought will follow....NEXT !

[eric1978]

I thought this was a thread about the town drunk...

[FishinCricket]

I thought this was a thread about the town drunk...

Me too.. Especially when I noticed the two people who'd responded thusfar.. LOL

looks like Wtench just about covered it though, IMO...

[OzarksRiverman]

I thought this was a thread about the town drunk...

I was thinkin it was because they're on that 'shine.

[laker67]

Ok, I'll take a shot at this.....

Comparing those three lakes would be like comparing every 2-10 acre farm pond in the southern half of the state, and expecting them to fish the same on any given day.

For starters, I think "deep" is relative to the specific area of either lake. None of the lakes you mention have thermoclines at the same depth, or maintain their pool level at the same pace.

Water color and how soon it clears up after a deluge plays in to the comparison also, as does the length and number of tributary arms.

North/South/East/West orientation of tributary arms effects how sunlight and prevailing winds effects the fish and the forage.

Concider bottom composition differences also.

Degree of generation through the dams is different on all lakes and effects fish movements mostly in the upper and lower reaches.

That's all I got for now, but I'm sure more food for thought will follow....NEXT !

You forgot to dwell on snowmelt and the annual migration of longboats.

[RSBreth]

I think those three lakes are very different. Maybe Beaver, Table Rock, and Bull Shoals would be "just the same" as they are all on the White River, but the three lakes you mentioned are all very different in my mind.