Proposed Striper Stocking On Hold

[Champ188]

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

2 Natural Resources Drive

Little Rock, AR 72205

May 17, 2012

Proposed striped bass stocking proposal for Bull Shoals Lake on hold

LITTLE ROCK – Over much of the past two years, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission have been working together to collect public input on a proposed stocking plan that would enhance the striped bass fishery in Bull Shoals Reservoir along the Arkansas-Missouri border. The proposed stocking plan has been placed on hold.

The proposed striped bass management plan calls for stocking a limited number of striped bass fingerlings in Bull Shoals to improve a quality striped bass fishery and complement the existing game fish population in the lake. The proposed plan calls for stocking 22,000 fingerling striped bass in Bull Shoals every other year as well as aligning white bass, hybrid striped bass and striped bass regulations between Missouri and Arkansas in Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes.

The MDC recently approved regulation changes set to go into effect on March 1, 2013 to better align the fishing regulations between the two states for white bass, hybrid striped bass and striped bass. Both agencies will collect additional fish community information and public input on the proposal.

Striped bass are native to the Atlantic Coast, but have been stocked in numerous lakes around the country, including a select few in Arkansas and Missouri. Because of their size, their fighting qualities and their well-flavored meat, striped bass provide a popular “bonus” fishery where they are introduced.

Bull Shoals, Norfork and Lake of the Ozarks currently comprise the striped bass fishery in Missouri. The current Norfork Lake striped bass population is maintained through annual stockings on the Arkansas portion of the lake by the AGFC. The current Bull Shoals striped bass fishery is the result of an AGFC stocking in 1998. Lake of the Ozarks in central Missouri also receives periodic stockings of striped bass using fish raised in Department hatcheries.

The AGFC and MDC will continue to work together to manage border waters like Bull Shoals for the citizens of both states. Future efforts include additional fish community sampling and public outreach efforts to share information and gather public input on the stocking proposal. A final decision on stocking will be a part of these future efforts.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Once again this area gets a back hand because of off the wall stats from a special interest group.

[Wayne SW/MO]

You mean $tripers?

[Fishin Hodge]

In the meetings about this, it really seemed that the MDC and Missouri residents were the biggest pushers of this. While a portion of Bull Shoals is in MO, the vast majority is in AR. MO only has 3 lakes with any real striper populations; AR has a bunch on striper lakes within 2 hours of Bull Shoals.

If the folks from MO want to stock stripers in a lake why not just stock Table Rock if there is no effect to the bass fishery???? Anybody have an answer for this question???????? I didn't think so.

Again, take a drive over to Beaver Lake if you want to striper fish. There is a bunch of them and it is fun. I enjoy bass fishing Beaver, I really do, but it is the least of the White River Lakes when it comes to bass fishing. We can debate that, but just look at the tournament results. Beaver is always lighter than Table Rock and Bull Shoals, always. Coincidence??? I think not.

The Elite series comes to Bull Shoals this year and say it is unbelievable; 4 anglers fail to weigh a 5 fish limit of bass and I think they must have been trying to hand line them, cause if you had a bait in the water you were going to catch them. FLW goes to the Rock, big weights and happy anglers. FLW goes to Beaver and some of them catch them, but a lot of them absolutely hate the lake.

I am thankful for the AGFC's decision.

[Quillback]

I agree Beaver is the worst black bass lake compared to Bull or TR, but is it due to habitat or striper predation? Every fisheries bio I've heard talk about stripers and black bass will tell you that they have little or no effect on black bass populations.

Has anyone cleaned a striper and found a black bass in it's stomach? Just curious.

Ouchita has stripers but yet has a healthy black bass fishery.

But I can see the other side of the argument, if Bull is fishing well for black bass why risk screwing it up with stripers.

[Wayne SW/MO]

It is environmental impact on the habitat. It wasn't long after BS was filled that there was a major flood and every tree up to the flood pool line died. Eventually trees that could stand the high water grew back and the lake lost its dersert look. The thing that doesn't exist is shoreline cover because the lake never stays at power pool long enough to let it become established. That is why the lake is feast or famine in the spawn department. It's full of small bass right now because of the long high water last year, steady high water=wet brush=healthy spawn. The fact that they keep the walleye population high doesn't help because they are direct compertitors for the same food source and are at the top of the list for fish predators.

The stripers on the other hand tend to stay in open water and hunt down shad, when they aren't in deep water. If there is any link between the temperate bass and the sunfish bass it's in reducing the shad population and increasing the small bass's food supply.

If the folks from MO want to stock stripers in a lake why not just stock Table Rock if there is no effect to the bass fishery???? Anybody have an answer for this question???????? I didn't think so.

YES! TR has an economoc base that would be hard to improve on, but the same can't be said for the ares around BS. Any fish stocking that would attract more visitors will improve the lives of many in the area and striper wouldn't hurt that.

You threw your challenge, how about you come up with a lake that has suffered a decline in black bass, after stripers were introduced?

[Fishin Hodge]

Wayne,

That is very easy. As stated, Beaver. Another that comes to mind is Greer's Ferry, given they are hybrid stripers. You can blame a couple years of better fishing on Table Rock and Bull in comparison to Beaver on water level, but at some point I think you have to give that arguement up. Beaver is consistently the lesser of these lakes for all 3 Black Bass species and Beaver is consistently stocked with stripers. And let me tell you the lack(in comparison) of quality bass is not due to the lack of food at Beaver, the shad population I witnessed last week is unbelievable.

My opinion, like it, love it, or hate it is that lakes with grass can handle the two species, but lakes with little to no shoreline structure, like Bull Shoals, it really takes a toll on the Black Bass population. I believe unique circumstances and environment greatly effect the habits of any given species of animal. Just look at us stupid humans.

4 inch black bass with no shore line structure + striper = fewer black bass, we can argue the exact % but how can you disagree with that statement???

You have the best arguement I have seen as for the economic arguement for Table Rock.

The majority of Bull Shoals is an Arkansas lake and a lot of us Arkansans like it just the way it is. I will give you the vast majority of people on this site disagree with me and likely dislike me because of this one thing. I agree more business is needed for lots of the local business, but I believe the Elite Series event that just occurred will do just that.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I fished Beaver the first time right after it filled and off and on since and it started tough and never changed. You're right about the lack of structure, but it isn't the stripers and that is why BS suffers the same way. I suspect Beaver is the same way, except lately it's been low.

I don't know about the lower end, but the little 4-6" bass are so thick up here they're a nusiance. They grab everything that comes by, but fortunately they seldom get hooked.

[Feathers and Fins]

I agree Beaver is the worst black bass lake compared to Bull or TR, but is it due to habitat or striper predation? Every fisheries bio I've heard talk about stripers and black bass will tell you that they have little or no effect on black bass populations.

Has anyone cleaned a striper and found a black bass in it's stomach? Just curious.

Ouchita has stripers but yet has a healthy black bass fishery.

But I can see the other side of the argument, if Bull is fishing well for black bass why risk screwing it up with stripers.

It is due to Habitat!

And every Biologist I have spoken to says the same thing

Never found a Bass in any of the THOUSANDS of Stripers I have cleaned.

Ouchita has much better cover also

The last statement you would have to prove Stripers would screw it up and the science contradicts it so what harm is there?

Wayne,

That is very easy. As stated, Beaver. Another that comes to mind is Greer's Ferry, given they are hybrid stripers. You can blame a couple years of better fishing on Table Rock and Bull in comparison to Beaver on water level, but at some point I think you have to give that arguement up. Beaver is consistently the lesser of these lakes for all 3 Black Bass species and Beaver is consistently stocked with stripers. And let me tell you the lack(in comparison) of quality bass is not due to the lack of food at Beaver, the shad population I witnessed last week is unbelievable.

My opinion, like it, love it, or hate it is that lakes with grass can handle the two species, but lakes with little to no shoreline structure, like Bull Shoals, it really takes a toll on the Black Bass population. I believe unique circumstances and environment greatly effect the habits of any given species of animal. Just look at us stupid humans.

4 inch black bass with no shore line structure + striper = fewer black bass, we can argue the exact % but how can you disagree with that statement???

You have the best arguement I have seen as for the economic arguement for Table Rock.

The majority of Bull Shoals is an Arkansas lake and a lot of us Arkansans like it just the way it is. I will give you the vast majority of people on this site disagree with me and likely dislike me because of this one thing. I agree more business is needed for lots of the local business, but I believe the Elite Series event that just occurred will do just that.

The shad population is very healthy, so by all reasoning there should be a healthy and large Black Bass population. There is not according to you but I beg to differ, Beaver is a tough lake yet I do very well on it day in day out. I put my work in and pay attention. The Bass live in one habitat the Stripers another… Beaver needs better Habitat but it’s a ACE Lake and we all know ACE puts fishermen low on the priority list.

Here is how I see it… Name me the fish that were NATIVE to the Ozark Lakes ( Beaver, TR, Taney and Bull) and then tell me the introduced fish! Then tell me why any 1 introduced species is more important than another except some people like to fish for one species and others for another~!

[rangerman]

I cleaned a few walleye last year with bass fry in them. I had caught a couple of nice blacks over the past couple of years in the 6 pound range however, they were caught about 30 foot deep trolling large cranks. Last week I had countless kentuckies over 15 inches, all of which were in 20 foot plus of water. There were also a couple of spots near the bluff at Lead Hill uplake of the flats that were covered up with nice smallies. Don't think there is any shortage of bass in BS whatsoever.