D.O. Watch

[Danoinark]

Shepherd wants to create a youth/handicap fishery there east of the new expansion in the way of a short stream and pond at the base of the stream. #4 would be the pipe that now exist about 200 yds below #3 oulet. But this plan is not yet funded.

That is stellar news. A great project if TU was still active. That is a very positive move and I sure hope it comes about. Dano

[LostMyWife]

Phil,

It's good to hear that consideration is there for the children and the handicapped.

LMW,

Wait until you start fighting trout after the lake turns and the DO rises. They will have alot of more fight in them and you will hear your reel scream a little longer than usual.

Can't wait.....Don

Hearing the reel scream would imply that one is catching fish. BUt I am looking forward to hearing that sound. Like at the end of this month.

[Phil Lilley]

Got an email from James at the hatchery on 12/19 - said there was some silting in the hatchery. Table Rock's temp down to 70 feet is 54 degrees. Another 4-5 degree drop, we should see turnover.

This is one of the latest turnovers I've seen.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Speaking of late turnover. I was telling my daughter how we used to skate across Creve Coeur Lake in St. Louis County years ago. It's a 320 acre lake and now it rarely freezes over at all. What are we doing to this planet?

SIO3.

[Tightline]

I know what you are saying SIO3,my father who lived in Forsyth most of his life talked of Taneycomo freezing alot back in the old days.My parents rode with another couple in a Model A Ford from Rockaway to Forsyth on Taney in 1930,it was froze over a foot thick.And again in 1940 it was froze the whole month of January.

Can't say I ever remember it freezing,of course Table Rock dam being built may have something to do with it.

TL

[Kicknbass]

Speaking of late turnover. I was telling my daughter how we used to skate across Creve Coeur Lake in St. Louis County years ago. It's a 320 acre lake and now it rarely freezes over at all. What are we doing to this planet?

SIO3.

Creve Coeur Lake used to freeze over regularly prior to St. Louis County parks dredging the lake in the late 70's changing the average lake depth from 2' - 3' deep to a 12' average. I am sure the deeper water has more to do w/ the lake not icing over than any other single occurance. It still ice's over, just not as often.

[Bill Butts]

One of the most important factors about DO (dissolved oxygen) that I don't recall being mentioned is the negative affect low DO has on growth rate of the fish in the river.

Most fishermen that have fished Taney over the years have at some point heard or read discussion about the fast growth rate of the trout. This varies each year due to a variety of factors. One of the largest factors is how long the river experiences low DO rates in the fall. Why?

Phil previously quoted one of the hatchery staff as saying they target 11 ppm (parts per million) as the ideal DO for water entering the hatchery raceways. And another quote from Dano in a previous thread on the topic stated the MDC Hatchery folks get concerned if the water coming into the hatchery dips below 6 ppm. So, what's the difference?

First of all, 11 ppm is at or near the maximum level of DO that can be acheived (they call it "saturation"). It helps maximize their metabolism....eat, eat, eat, grow, grow, grow.

One interesting side note is that during periods of extremely high lake water when the flood gates are opened to help reduce lake level faster, the very turbulent water then created in the "stilling" basin below those gates reaches what I've heard termed "super-saturation". This is O2 at maximum level, plus the additional factor of nitrogen created from the extreme turbulence.

Many of you know there are lots of very large trout, and other species, that reside in the stilling basin legally untouchable by fishermen. When the flood gates are opened, the resulting nitrogen factor has an undesirable affect on the fish I've heard called by one MDC staffer as "kind of scrammbling their brain." Obviously a non-scientific phrase, but made the point that they will flee that area to escape the affects.

Over the years, there have been some extremely large trout caught around the outlets during these periods. Does it make sense where they might have come from?

Zero ppm is obviously fatal, and 1 to 3 ppm can be fatal in some cases where fish are hooked and played and/or handled too long. This point has been well made by several experienced fishermen on this forum.

But, even levels below 6 ppm are not desireable for our beloved trout. The MDC folks explained to me years ago that when levels go below 6 ppm it affects metabolism including disgestion rate of the fish, therefore they do not feed as often. If they don't feed as often, they will not grow at their usual rate, either. That also explains why the MDC Hatchery folks want high DO water, to grow trout in the optimum time. It also explains why the trout's total annual growth rate is ultimately affected by the length of time the river experiences low DO rates.

This has been a very unusual year, with the lake not turning by this time.

Another interesting factor that was shared by an MDC staffer some time ago, is that the Corps of Engineers has a legally binding obligation to maintain the DO of the water entering the river at no less than 5 ppm. They of course do not do this. My understanding is that this was one of many aspects of the mitigation they agreed to upon daming up one of this countries greatest warmwater smallmouth fisheries, the White River. Another aspect of the mitigation is the annual supply of trout from a Federal Trout Hatchery.

Hope this sheds further light on the importance of Dissolved Oxygen.

[crappiefisherman]

iVE ALSO HEARD THE MODEL A STORY.I was wonderin who told you.Was it A Gloyd or a moldenhaur?I am interested maybe I even know who you are Tightline

[Phil Lilley]

?????

Crappie- are you posting on the wrong topic?

[Tightline]

Sorry Phil,we kinda got off the subject of DO. Crappie I will PM you.