60 Years Old and I'm Still Amazed!!

[mixermarkb]

Ever notice the fish tend to be all in groups of similar size? In simple terms, those are the years that the spawn and fry recruitment went well. Like all the big bass may be 5 pounders in a given year, there may be a bunch of 14" bass, and a bunch of 10" bass. The facts are, the 11",12"13", 15"16"17" years all didn't do as well. It's pretty common on the white river lakes to get a good spawn once every three years.

These lakes are MUCH more fragile than most people think, but don't take my word for it, I believe our whole planet is more fragile than most think, and that we humans dont do a very good job of conservation when it comes to anything.

[dtrs5kprs]

Ever notice the fish tend to be all in groups of similar size? In simple terms, those are the years that the spawn and fry recruitment went well. Like all the big bass may be 5 pounders in a given year, there may be a bunch of 14" bass, and a bunch of 10" bass. The facts are, the 11",12"13", 15"16"17" years all didn't do as well. It's pretty common on the white river lakes to get a good spawn once every three years.

These lakes are MUCH more fragile than most people think, but don't take my word for it, I believe our whole planet is more fragile than most think, and that we humans dont do a very good job of conservation when it comes to anything.

Spot on. All has to do with late winter/early spring weather, water temps, and pool fluctuation. Even high water is not going to guarantee a good spawn if the new management policy is to run the lake hard based on a forecasted 918 pool. Just won't stay up long enough, and might cause more harm than benefit. This year might be an example of that, with lots of fish holding eggs into June. They don't like to go up and get things done if the pool is yo-yoing up and down. One of the reasons it is a more fragile system than something like a farm pond.

Stocking largemouth to help recover from the kill would not have hurt a thing then, and would not hurt now.

That aside... I did see an interesting one at the ramp when I was fishing with Terrierman (or Winkiedoodles, can't remember who) in April. Guy was loading up an older Skeeter Starfire, 18' or so. Had it on the trailer, looked OK, but backed it down in again. Gave him the benefit of the doubt, sometimes they load crooked, might have been new to him, whatever.

Got out and shoved on the back of the boat like wild. Pulled it out, walked around it, shoved some more (dry works better?), then dropped it in again. Pressed replay several times. Eventually pulled it out, and drove off like he was mad at it. Boat never moved an inch. Go figure.

[OldMillRoad]

If you frequent ramps long enough, you will see it all. My all time favorite was a couple loading up a new Cobalt. He was yelling at her to back the truck down further and she was yelling at him out the window. She couldn't hear him, so she jumped out to talk to him, left it in reverse, and deep six'd the ol' Suburban. The yelling turned into screaming and crying. Bad deal.

[dtrs5kprs]

If you frequent ramps long enough, you will see it all. My all time favorite was a couple loading up a new Cobalt. He was yelling at her to back the truck down further and she was yelling at him out the window. She couldn't hear him, so she jumped out to talk to him, left it in reverse, and deep six'd the ol' Suburban. The yelling turned into screaming and crying. Bad deal.

Well, she did back it down further. Sort of.

[Longball22]

I recently read the book below, and I think some folks that believe this lake is perfectly sustainable would do themselves a favor to read it:

http://www.amazon.com/Largemouth-Bass-In-Fisherman-handbook-Strategies/dp/0929384113

In particular, there are a few chapters in the book discussing the lifecycle of a reservoir. Basically, the gist is that when these reservoirs were all created in the last century, bass populations initially flourished due to abundant cover and flooded vegetation. As time progresses, the flooded trees become pole timber, bushes and vegetation cease to exist, and the quality/population of fish in the lake decreases.

One interesting part of this, is that they discussed how a lake silting in could promote weedbeds and aquatic vegetation, which would allow some reservoirs to see a sort of "revival". Unfortunately, the Ozark mountain lakes lack the type of surrounding soils necessary for this to take place, so we've likely seen this lake peak and fall into decline. Will it still produce quality fish? Yes, but not like the numbers that a lot of the veterans on here remember from days past.

In Fisherman does preach selective harvest, indeed. However, I think if you take the time to understand their train of thought, part of their selective harvest is to not take bass from a reservoir in decline like Table Rock. It simply doesn't have the characteristics to support that behavior like it once did.

[*T*]

"a reservoir in decline like Table Rock."

? Based upon my couple of weeks on the lake this year, Table Rock bass population is thriving, spots, LM & SM. We also caught some vgood walleye, crappie & giant whites.

[Longball22]

Population is one thing. Quality of fish is another. There have certainly been good numbers to be caught, but finding larger bass is much harder than it has been in years past.

[jmes]

I hate to see that several people on here will quit contributing to this forum in fear of people using their knowledge to catch more fish. I know several people personally that hire guide's and visit Fishing store to learn how to catch more fish to catch and release but also some that have used that same knowledge

to keep the fish as well especially kentuckies to eat. There is NO way you can have a open forum or even a closed forum that you can keep people from doing

what they want to do. But Educating people IMO

[Rickf]

I don't think there's a lack of keeper size Kentucky Bass in TR. fished out of Aunts Creek 6/25 caught over fifty, 7/1 caught 72 my brother kept track with my crappie clicker counter. Fished today slow day only caught 40 off the water at noon all of these days

[Champ188]

Provided your clicker isn't defective, the apparent question at hand is which you'll deplete the Ozarks of first ... Kentuckies or nightcrawlers.

Unfortunately, the nightcrawlers will probably hold up since most of us are skilled enough to fish with artificial bait.