My Flw Experience

[J-Doc]

So does Lake Ouachita and it produces large bass. I agree that stripers can impact the bass population but.....small bass are abundant in Beaver. Not the larger bass and stripers are not affecting the larger bass I don't think. Not anymore anyway. I used to feel that way. Truth be told, I think the bigger bass hang out with the stripers and feed on the same forage.

[Champ188]

J-Doc, I beg to differ. Lake Ouachita in no way compares with Table Rock or Grand. I grew up in Hot Springs and cut my fishing teeth on that lake. Fished it darn near weekly all my life until moving here 12 years ago. That whole chain of lakes ... Ouachita, Hamilton and Catherine ... have been plagued by stripers for decades.

About 10 years ago, a group of fishermen got together and formed the Arkansas Black Bass Coalition and were able to convince the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission to take some proactive steps toward restoring the black bass population in Ouachita, but it remains a darn sight short of being anywhere near the fish factory that Table Rock is.

The BFL Arkie Division season opener was held March 2 on Ouachita. Took 15 pounds to win the boater division and 10 pounds to place 10th. Big bass was 5-1.

A week later, BFL Ozark Division season opener was held on Table Rock. Two guys tied with 22-14 for first and it took 16-12 to finish 10th. Big bass was 8-11.

What about Grand? Nichols Marine team derby (5-bass limit) over there this past weekend produced TWENTY-TWO sacks over 20 pounds. They paid 73 places and it took 16 pounds and change to get the last check.

There are a few big bass in Ouachita that swim around with the stripers. Every so often — like once a year — one of the striper guides will catch one. But there is more than enough evidence, circumstantial as it may be, that stripers are not conducive to a healthy bass population.

That's my opinion.

[J-Doc]

I stand corrected. :-)

[jeb]

Good points, Champ. Thanks for your thoughts on this one.

[Champ188]

Hope I didn't come on too strong. Probably not a good idea to post from work when under duress from other sources. But Ouachita is near and dear to my heart. My parents and grandparents lived a quarter-mile from the Twin Creek launch ramp for several decades.

Another factor that contributed to the demise of its LM population is the Corps' repeated failed efforts to effectively manage the lake's hydrilla/coontail/milfoil content. In their last foray, they released some sort of Egyptian gnat larvae that ended up totally eradicating every stalk in the lake. I'm told it's finally starting to come back, but the lake was barren of it for several years, eliminating a major source of cover for bass, crappie and other gamefish. Nothing like letting the Corps get involved with a fishery. Far as they are concerned, fish are a nuisance. Or at least that's what their actions would lead one to believe.

I do not believe stripers actively forage on LM. For the most part, they are rarely in the same water. I do believe they will eat a fair share of crappie during the times of year (summer mainly) when both are occupying open water. My primary objection to stripers is I do believe they consume a huge amount of baitfish and sometimes enough to affect other species. For years, we were told that bass rarely eat gizzard shad, instead preferring threadfin. We know different now ... there is no better example than Table Rock of a lake where it is pretty much commonplace to catch a good-sized LM with the forked tail of a big gizzard shad sticking out of its throat. So the notion that stripers help clean the lake out of unwanted gizzard shad is just wrong.

Not saying there shouldn't be stripers in certain lakes for some to enjoy. Everyone has a right to our resources and to enjoy them. I am only saying that I do personally believe that stripers and extraordinary LM/K/SM fishing cannot co-exist.

[Stump bumper]

If you want to see where a lot of big bass in Beaver go, lift a trout line or limb line once in a while and see how many dead bass are hanging there. Most fishermen abide by the law but Beaver has a lot of limb lines, jugs and troutlines put out weekends that go unchecked all week and IMO that hurts the bigger bass population and there is not enough law enforcement (unlike Table Rock) to police these people who kill big fish for no reason other than they didn't have time to take up lines.

Sorry to get off track....

Congrats on your fist FLW Derick!!!

[1969Larson]

So I guess it is fair to say Beaver Lake is a tougher fishery, right? Anybody can drag a plastic worm around Lake Fork and catch 20 lbs of LM bass in a day.... Beaver is a challenge. There were pros here last weekend who came up empty handed and some who brought in a strong limit 4 days in a row. I would say some people didn't get it dialed in each day.

[Guest]

Hope I didn't come on too strong. Probably not a good idea to post from work when under duress from other sources. But Ouachita is near and dear to my heart. My parents and grandparents lived a quarter-mile from the Twin Creek launch ramp for several decades.

Another factor that contributed to the demise of its LM population is the Corps' repeated failed efforts to effectively manage the lake's hydrilla/coontail/milfoil content. In their last foray, they released some sort of Egyptian gnat larvae that ended up totally eradicating every stalk in the lake. I'm told it's finally starting to come back, but the lake was barren of it for several years, eliminating a major source of cover for bass, crappie and other gamefish. Nothing like letting the Corps get involved with a fishery. Far as they are concerned, fish are a nuisance. Or at least that's what their actions would lead one to believe.

I do not believe stripers actively forage on LM. For the most part, they are rarely in the same water. I do believe they will eat a fair share of crappie during the times of year (summer mainly) when both are occupying open water. My primary objection to stripers is I do believe they consume a huge amount of baitfish and sometimes enough to affect other species. For years, we were told that bass rarely eat gizzard shad, instead preferring threadfin. We know different now ... there is no better example than Table Rock of a lake where it is pretty much commonplace to catch a good-sized LM with the forked tail of a big gizzard shad sticking out of its throat. So the notion that stripers help clean the lake out of unwanted gizzard shad is just wrong.

Not saying there shouldn't be stripers in certain lakes for some to enjoy. Everyone has a right to our resources and to enjoy them. I am only saying that I do personally believe that stripers and extraordinary LM/K/SM fishing cannot co-exist.

I had no idea the grass was gone at Quachita.

So, it was treated like the Bella Vista lakes?

I heard that place was full of grass years ago.

Its too bad that people belly ache about the grass until its killed off to appease a few folks.

[Feathers and Fins]

If you want to see where a lot of big bass in Beaver go, lift a trout line or limb line once in a while and see how many dead bass are hanging there. Most fishermen abide by the law but Beaver has a lot of limb lines, jugs and troutlines put out weekends that go unchecked all week and IMO that hurts the bigger bass population and there is not enough law enforcement (unlike Table Rock) to police these people who kill big fish for no reason other than they didn't have time to take up lines.

Sorry to get off track....

Congrats on your fist FLW Derick!!!

Yes sir....seen many of them

[Quillback]

"Egyptian gnat larvae" - You gotta be kidding!