Species Differentiation

[Wayne SW/MO]

I was kinda wondering the same thing. How exactly would "putting Kentuckies in their own category...hugely improve Bass fishing here in Missouri?"

Simple, they don't conform to the lengths used to manage black bass. They will will run shorter in length and if you put in a slot limit for managing overpopulation they will screw it up.

[MOPanfisher]

Have any lakes been ruined or even badly damaged by an over population of spot/kentucks. I have caught them on most lakes but never to the point of seeming to be over-populated.

[Walcrabass]

LVN2Fish, Powerdive, Mopanfisher and others,

I did not realize the Kentuckies had their own length limit on Lake of the Ozarks. That is great news. They also have different regulations on some of our streams......because they are taking over the Smallmouth and crossbreeding with them. I am just wanting to see this differentiation State Wide.....that's all.

As far as the benefit of different regulations is concerned.....these Bass grow slower, attain 15" length slower, breed at a smaller size, compete for food and nesting, and the big one is......cross with Largemouth and Smallmouth. The offspring are said to grow slower than either parent...compounding the 15" length problem. You have ask where would the hybrids fall in the new regulations??? That is EXACTLY THE PROBLEM WE ARE HEADED FOR.......a fish that we cannot tell to which species it really belongs.

These regulations would improve Bass Fishing by lessening the Bass that eats a lot of food in the lake, takes up a lot of spawning areas, has a hard time making the 15" length limit, and crossbreeds with the Largemouth and Smallmouth and screws up the gene pool. Table rock has a big problem in this area. I know of 6 ( maybe7) of these hybrids being caught in one weekend by just one party of fishermen recently.

Straw Hat took part in a discussion of these fish a while back and I think you can find it in the history of this site. He is a VERY KNOWLEDGABLE person in this area and sent in various studies and scientific proof to support the things we are talking about.....

I really hope Adam Boman sees this and replies with some info for all of us.

Yours Truly,

Good Ole Walcrabass

[Walcrabass]

ADAM??????????

[kwall]

Isn't there a bass problem on Beaver Lake? herd they may change regs cause of to many little Kentuckies

[Wayne SW/MO]

Way back they weren't as common in the Osage as in the White. Any length differential should depend on their affect in the total population of black basses.

I think the reason there was so much opposition on TR was because of all the tournaments and guides. More fish, even if smaller pleases a lot fishermen and that isn't a criticism because the majority do fish to catch "keeper" fish, not to target bigger fish.

[Walcrabass]

Kwall,

If you are correct (and you probably are) it sounds like History is repeating itself. In another light we have other problems that could be heading our way...... Snake Head fish.....Asian Carp.....let's not wait until we have 6 or 8 problems to deal with all at the same time. Fellow Fisherpeople...Please do your homework on these Kentucky (Spotted Bass) Bass. They spell trouble with a capital T in a lake system.

[Brownie Whisperer]

I'll go one further.... Spots, in all they're forms are trouble in any system. They are the trashy kin folk you don't want to claim of the bass species.

As far as I'm concerned they need to be removed as often as possible from all smallmouth habitat....and any good Smallie enthusiast should do what he can to help this issue out as the opportunity presents itself.