Size Of Stocked Fish?

[ruthead]

Wouldn't have to leave the birds on the bank. I saw some good lookin feathers in those pics that might make some dandy flies!!

[Big Brown Trout]

So our pike and goldfish are in big trouble? Only one rainbow?

lol your kidding right

if a heron can eat fish that size of course it can go to town on trout. they aren't that cautious a lot of the time. I have literally petted the broods at Neosho fish hatchery many times. they easily could have been in my bill.

[Wayne SW/MO]

while all that may be true herons fish in very shallow water and I have a hard time believing those areas 12" or less right at the bank are that full of trout. All things are possible, but that doesn't make them common or consistent.

Back in September we watched and eagle light on a small bar across from us, probably 100yds<>. He went a few feet out on a log and within a couple of minutes had a meal. Not sure what it was, but about 6" and probably not a trout. he ate it and then returned to his perch, but after a long wait he went back to the bar and then to the upper end and started his vigil all over. He stayed about and hour and then gave up and went up river. He replaced a heron that spent a could of hours in the area and went hungry.

For all whose waters have been decimated by herons, Taney, Bennett and the Niangua are still healthy and they're cooking more to replace them.

[Big Brown Trout]

true, all im saying is I hope good Neosho trout aren't getting shipped down there to feed birds. (we could use them here gladly )

[Wayne SW/MO]

Actually given the fishing methods in Taney I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't a good number of flatheads in their that will die of old age, fat on trout.

[hknfsh]

How many of us have caught a trout and released it only to watch as it goes belly up and sinks or just floats away on the surface ? That's even a lip hooked fish !! I can't imagine that the herons are putting a dent in the trout population when its stocked with 800,000 fish annually. Not to mention the 4 fish limit imposed a few years back....leaves 1 fish per man in the lake instead of keeping 5 like you used to.

[laker67]

How many of us have caught a trout and released it only to watch as it goes belly up and sinks or just floats away on the surface ? That's even a lip hooked fish !! I can't imagine that the herons are putting a dent in the trout population when its stocked with 800,000 fish annually. Not to mention the 4 fish limit imposed a few years back....leaves 1 fish per man in the lake instead of keeping 5 like you used to.

Did you count that dead fish in your daily limit?

[hknfsh]

I'll keep that fish if I've got a stringer going. Otherwise its a wasted fish if one is just fishing for fun. What else can a guy do ?

[Wayne SW/MO]

I'll keep that fish if I've got a stringer going. Otherwise its a wasted fish if one is just fishing for fun. What else can a guy do ?

Nothing and it really isn't lost in the stream, say like a freezer burned fish dumped in the garbage. At least that one will reenter the cycle.

[hknfsh]

Wayne...I try and.figure its gonna feed something.....whether a mink bird or crawdad. Hard to do catch and release the conventional way without harming the fish (trout) sometimes. Best thing with bait fishing is set the hook at the first sign of a nibble instead of waiting til he runs. By then he's gut hooked. Be quick about it and hes usually lip hooked. Miss him ???......he'll be back.