Mussel Report

[JRay]

Not a good topic, but I caught 2 rocks (not many would brag about that) on Bull Shoals in the Lead Hill area that had zebra mussels attached to them. I contacted AGFC and they said sightings were becoming more common on Bull Shoals. Just a reminder for us, the signs we see at the area loading ramps warning about the spread of zebra mussels and taking preventative measures with our boats and trailers is unfortunately very real.

[rps]

I guess I should expect BS and TR will be super clear, despite the outhouse and other effluents, in the next several years? OK. As a slip and lift person, what else does that mean?

[Mike Worley]

A friend of mine has told me that almost every stick or branch he snags up in the Tucker Hollow area has little zebra mussels on it. I think it's a pretty much done deal that the entire White river system has zebra mussels to some extent. Hopefully it will have some kind of positive effect to off set the negitive effects. Like was mentioned before fast growth of septic & water treatment facillites up stream have had a negitive effect on the water quality in the lake that I have personaly seen in my 30 years on Bull Shoals. If you think Bull Shoals is clear now you should have seen it before Branson took off. I don't think the zebra mussels are a good thing, I wish they weren't here. The fact is that they are here so clean your boats & trailers before you move them to another body of water and try not to spread them. As for the effect on the fishing we will just have to wait and see, but I don't expect it to be drastic.

[SgtChuck64]

If there are sheephead in the lake, they will feed on the zebra mussels. The charter captains on Lake Erie used to kill all the sheephead they caught, but when they found out they eat zebra mussels, they now release all sheephead. They also discovered the walleye are actually using the zebra mussel beds as a spawning ground. Mike, it was a blast fishing with you in October, hope to do it again in May.

[Martin]

A quick observation: The walleye pro's (PWT) that I was lucky enough to get to fish with at Bull Shoals called what we call a Drum, a sheephead. One in the same I guess....?

[SgtChuck64]

Yes Martin, same fish. Sorry Mike it was the first week of November, my buddy got a 7 lb. eye the first ten minutes we were out with you on a jigging sppoon.

[Mike Worley]

Yes Martin, same fish. Sorry Mike it was the first week of November, my buddy got a 7 lb. eye the first ten minutes we were out with you on a jigging sppoon.

SgtChuck. It's good to hear from you. Your pictures are on my website now. Tell your buddy the stripers are bitting on Bull Shoals now with many in the 30 - 40LB class. I'm on my way out the door right now to try and catch a few.