Root Admin Phil Lilley Posted October 30, 2011 Root Admin Posted October 30, 2011 I think I've posted this and wrote about this a few times... September 2008 - 10 flood gates - 75-80 degree water or more. We've had many flood gate events over the years but only one in September when Table Rock's water is that warm. We've had a couple in May and June but the water is only in the 60's. Current doesn't hurt fish. There are plenty of places to get out of it if needed.
Outside Bend Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 Don't know what the dissolved oxygen has been like down there over the past several years, but low DO tends to hit the largest fish hardest. <{{{><
Dylan Cluver Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 Assuming you guys are all correct, which i don't doubt, how long until we started seeing fish like those again? No one gripes about obese fish.
laker67 Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 I think I've posted this and wrote about this a few times... September 2008 - 10 flood gates - 75-80 degree water or more. We've had many flood gate events over the years but only one in September when Table Rock's water is that warm. We've had a couple in May and June but the water is only in the 60's. Current doesn't hurt fish. There are plenty of places to get out of it if needed. With those facts, 08 could have very well been a fish killer. If I remember correctly, a handful of 25 to 32lb fish were found dead or dying on the white and norfork at that same time. A 25 and Scott's 28lber have been caught since 08, and a huge brown was in #3 last season. If 5 or 6 were killed during the flood, then that would probably be the total number of thumpers in taney at any given time. What I can't understand, would be "why" are the 7 to 9 year old fish, like the one Micheal K. caught, not showing up?
Root Admin Phil Lilley Posted October 30, 2011 Root Admin Posted October 30, 2011 We've had low DO since the dam was constructed... I don't see that being a factor, at least in this conversation. I don't think we'll even know exactly what happened and when but since 2008 the brown trout numbers have been way off. Comeback - how long? I takes a brown probably 6-8 years to reach 15 pounds. That's just a guess.
laker67 Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 We've had low DO since the dam was constructed... I don't see that being a factor, at least in this conversation. I don't think we'll even know exactly what happened and when but since 2008 the brown trout numbers have been way off. Comeback - how long? I takes a brown probably 6-8 years to reach 15 pounds. That's just a guess. I have always made the same argument about the DO factor. It wasn't a factor when we did not know about it. I think you are right on with the age and weight assessment.
Feathers and Fins Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 I am not sure how much this is on Taney, but I had this talk with a friend of mine in California years ago. We had a trout stream that produced excellent results. We use to catch some very nice Browns and Bows out of it, then over the course of several years noticed a decline in larger fish. We searched for a reason such as food source not as plentiful, farming practice changes upstream, etc. The two things we overlooked were the Internet and Population of the area. First is the population it grew and with its growth so did the amount of people getting outdoors. The second was the Internet. When we started fishing the area very few anglers knew about it or fished it. Then the word got out on a few forums and we would start seeing more and more people and people keeping fish. It use to be anyone on the stream was releasing unless they kept a couple for a shore lunch. But now masses fishing and keeping fish and the ones that were not kept were not well handled and would float up shortly after. We started fishing higher upstream where it was a major hike to get to. Fish were there and still a few big ones. I talked to my old friend a few months back and I asked him about the stream. He said it’s mostly stockers now and a few holdovers but nothing like the fish we had been catching. Now it never had 20lbs+ fish but a 4 pound bow was not uncommon and on occasion 4 to 6 pnd Browns were possible. After reading the post above and seeing the last 5 years the crowds growing day and night on Taney and seeing more and more post on the internet about it combined with the regional growth I just have to wonder if it is seeing this very problem? https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beaver-Lake-Arkansas-Fishing-Report/745541178798856
Bman Posted October 30, 2011 Author Posted October 30, 2011 I think I've posted this and wrote about this a few times... September 2008 - 10 flood gates - 75-80 degree water or more. We've had many flood gate events over the years but only one in September when Table Rock's water is that warm. We've had a couple in May and June but the water is only in the 60's. Current doesn't hurt fish. There are plenty of places to get out of it if needed. I can’t help but wonder why higher temps set back the big Browns and not so much the big Rainbows. I’m no expert on the subject by any means, but it’s always been my understanding that Browns tolerate higher temps better than Rainbows. I noticed the water temps this year up at the Dam were running about 58 degrees. The run this year was the run of the big Rainbows IMHO. The only good line is a tight line
laker67 Posted October 31, 2011 Posted October 31, 2011 I can’t help but wonder why higher temps set back the big Browns and not so much the big Rainbows. I’m no expert on the subject by any means, but it’s always been my understanding that Browns tolerate higher temps better than Rainbows. I noticed the water temps this year up at the Dam were running about 58 degrees. The run this year was the run of the big Rainbows IMHO. All but one of the rainbows appear to be river fish, but I guess it is possible that they could be brood stock from soh or neosho, released after the flood gates.
laker67 Posted October 31, 2011 Posted October 31, 2011 "]After reading the post above and seeing the last 5 years the crowds growing day and night on Taney and seeing more and more post on the internet about it combined with the regional growth I just have to wonder if it is seeing this very problem? Branson has certainly grown since the mid 70's, and the number of anglers increased at an alarming rate. Spencer Turner, Jim Lowe, and Mike Kruse have done alot to promote taney through the conservationist magazine. Feature articles about Dave Betherm, Chuck, and some others put taney in the spotlight as early as 1980. Field and Stream, or maybe it was Outdoor Life, listed taney as the lunker captital of the continental USA back in the mid 70's. Now ,the internet, can take you through the complete history of the things I just mentioned, including what has happened in just the past few hours.
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