Reports

[PigSooner]

I'm sorry F&F has left, I always appreciated his advice and opinions.

I'm still relatively new to the forum, and I admittedly do "lurk" at times, but I also try to post reports if I have anything that is worthy. This site is a great resource, and while it may be abused by some at times, I have to believe the good far outweighs the bad.

It may sound strange, but I sometimes live vicariously through the members, especially when I'm not able to get out. I also enjoy learning what's working & what's not, so when I do get out I can use knowledge gained through posts to hopefully have a better chance. I'm personally not looking for specifics, but patterns that I can use during similar situations. I've went back years and read reports and tutorials- thank you all that have contributed.

I know some have come on the site, asked for advise, then never came back and posted their results- shame on them...but how do you determine who that is going to be- we were all first time posters once. I don't know how you would filter reports- if it's public domaine then we can't really gripe when someone uses the information provided.

I've made a commitment to try to get out of the house more and enjoy the resources of this beautiful state; more fishing and hunting than sitting and dreaming. I'll keep reading (and learning) as much as I can and posting ( keeping it a little more vauge) when I get out.

[Tanderson15]

I guess champ knows everything. Stripers are eating everything. I hope they don't eat the walleyes. Champ some have been in this business a while. You do not have to cast a lure to know the fishery.

[Tanderson15]

This is like hands up don't Shoot. Let the ones who know the facts speak out and not just assume.

[J-Doc]

PigSooner,

Post up any report you want. For that mattracts this forum is for discussions about the lake and not solely for reports.

You're right. Everyone was once a first poster. I have noticed that there are a lot of lurkers and a lot of veteran members that do not post here as often as they used to. Multiple reasons I'm sure.

The forum is owned and operated by a truly nice fella and I'm for one glad we have it. It serves multiple lakes within the area.

Work has kept me pretty busy this summer and the boat traffic has kept me off the water as musician have as I usually fish in the summer. I've been out most every week but not for long trips. Hasn't been worth it either to be honest.

[uofastudent]

No sir, one man's findings/opinions does not end a debate the magnitude of whether stripers arm harmful to the black bass fishery in Beaver and other freshwater lakes. I doubt that Notropis would claim to be the final authority in that debate, which spreads nationwide.

I don't have all the answers by any means. I don't have the knowledge or experience of Notropis or other fisheries biologists. But if he was the district biologist for Beaver Lake, I presume that means he worked for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and throughout my years with the statewide newspaper, I never, ever, ever interviewed a single AGFC person who would even entertain the thought that stripers might be harmful. Can't exactly blame them ... I'm sure they would have been called on the carpet and possibly have lost their job for going against ok flow, so to speak.

I base my opinion that stripers are likely harmful on personal experience ... lakes Ouachita, Hamilton and Catherine near Hot Springs all have stripers and black bass fishing ithose lakes is relatively poor. Same for Texoma. Lakes Wylie and Norman in North Carolina also have only so-so black bass fishing. In shortcomings, anywhere I have ever been that had stripers had unremarkable black bass fishing.

This is still the United States of America and I'm still entitled to my opinion. And on this topic, my opinion is that stripers in freshwater are probably detrimental to my primary angling interest, which is black bass and crappie (winter).

Not here to argue. We'll just have to agree to disagree.

If we're Looking for an example, I can say that I have experienced first hand remarkable striper, smallmouth, and black bass fishing all within a mile of each other on Kentucky lake, and the lake itself is one of the countries best across the board, and has a self sustaining, non recently stocked striper fishery.

[Chillfish]

Seems legit

[J-Doc]

Not here to argue. We'll just have to agree to disagree.

You're entitled to your opinion. And I understand your point of view of it being a nationally debated issue. That is true but most of the debate is one sided and by bass anglers only. I've not heard any crappie anglers or walleye anglers (very rare) complaining about stripers. So my opinion remains (being a previously 100% bass guy myself) that it's soley bass guys who argue the debate. Not labling anyone here.....just stating my perspective. You've said here before on this forum previously that no one will ever convince you otherwise to how you believe. That's fine. I just prefer to follow what Notropis has shared based on his years of research and findings.

I also find it ironic as a bass angler, that I get disappointed when I catch a 3-4lb smallie or largemouth when I’m specifically targeting stripers for meat (yes, I’m a “knifer”). I laugh at myself when I catch myself saying out loud…..”Dang It! It’s a big bass!” The irony is uncanny. I always net the bass, measure and weigh if large enough, snap a photo and gently release it back into the lake.

But before I do…….. I whisper a secret in their ear and hope that they are not caught in tournaments. LOL!!!!!!

Besides.... if we as a nation can feel Bruce......er "Caitlyn" is a HERO in today's society, you feeling stripers hurts a fishery is such a very small issue in my mind. I'm making a joke here to move on, not belittling your argument. In other words, there are much larger issues that are debatable with massive amounts of passion and conviction. I just don't think this is one of those. Thank God that this country is still free and that anyone can have an opinion on anything thing they choose. I'm thankful for that every day.

So......fish on and tight lines on whatever your species of choice I say.

[J-Doc]

Chillfish........

Let's not throw stones. This thread will turn into an all out war and I don't think anyone wants that. Lots of people have left the forum due to wars on other forums as of late.

I inadvertently derailed it. Let's get it back on track and encourage people to share reports and engage in the forum. If we don't, it will go south faster than the NAACP lowering a Confederate flag....... (too soon?)

[Chillfish]

I'm not throwing stones, I'm simply providing an illustration for our narrative. Levity was all that was meant. If I thought bass were eating my striper and walleye, I would be pissed too!

[Champ188]

You're entitled to your opinion. And I understand your point of view of it being a nationally debated issue. That is true but most of the debate is one sided and by bass anglers only. I've not heard any crappie anglers or walleye anglers (very rare) complaining about stripers. So my opinion remains (being a previously 100% bass guy myself) that it's soley bass guys who argue the debate. Not labling anyone here.....just stating my perspective. You've said here before on this forum previously that no one will ever convince you otherwise to how you believe. That's fine. I just prefer to follow what Notropis has shared based on his years of research and findings.

I also find it ironic as a bass angler, that I get disappointed when I catch a 3-4lb smallie or largemouth when I’m specifically targeting stripers for meat (yes, I’m a “knifer”). I laugh at myself when I catch myself saying out loud…..”Dang It! It’s a big bass!” The irony is uncanny. I always net the bass, measure and weigh if large enough, snap a photo and gently release it back into the lake.

But before I do…….. I whisper a secret in their ear and hope that they are not caught in tournaments. LOL!!!!!!

Besides.... if we as a nation can feel Bruce......er "Caitlyn" is a HERO in today's society, you feeling stripers hurts a fishery is such a very small issue in my mind. I'm making a joke here to move on, not belittling your argument. In other words, there are much larger issues that are debatable with massive amounts of passion and conviction. I just don't think this is one of those. Thank God that this country is still free and that anyone can have an opinion on anything thing they choose. I'm thankful for that every day.

So......fish on and tight lines on whatever your species of choice I say.

Agreed in full on every word, especially the relative importance of stripers vs. black bass when compared to the larger issues this nation is facing.

Beaver does have significant populations of both stripers and black bass, and I'm sure that's not likely to change anytime soon, if ever. Selfishly, I wish the stripers weren't there because I do believe the black bass fishing would be stronger. But that's irrelevant because they are there and black bass anglers, including myself, are not the lake's only angling user group.

As for tournaments, I'm not the big supporter that I used to be. I remember the days when tournament anglers policed themselves, i.e. when the occasional jackass drew complaints from other anglers --- especially the recreational, non-tournament group --- the old guard among the tournament guys would let him know that rude or unsportsmanlike behavior toward anyone on the lake would NOT be tolerated. This in itself created a more sportsmanlike atmosphere around derbies.

Today, the jackasses seem to have grown in number until self-policing is no longer effective. I still believe they are outnumbered by the courteous guys/gals, but there is enough of them that their presence is felt way too often and way too strongly. As has been discussed many times on OAF, courtesy and respect have become endangered species everywhere --- on the roads, on the lake, in the stores, just about anywhere you want to go. Sadly, we have a generation of young adults with far too big a percentage of entitled, selfish and downright rude brats. And some of them are driving bass boats and fishing in tournaments.

Onward, folks.