Hybrids Stocked in Various Lakes

[rFisherk]

Anglers at some northwest Missouri lakes might find a hard-fighting surprise on the other end of their line. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has stocked hybrid striped bass in several lakes. The stockings are part of an experiment in controlling an over-population of gizzard shad in small lakes, and anglers will also have a new opportunity to catch a specialty fish.

“What’s not to like about a fish that will knock a rod out of your hand,” said Tory Mason, MDC fisheries biologist.

The first stocking of two-inch fingerlings went into the lakes last year, and some of those fish are big enough now at four to six inches to start hitting lures and bait. More hybrid stripers were stocked in June. A five-year study and stocking plan will determine if the addition to the fisheries is successful and if sport fish like bass, bluegill and crappie have been helped by a reduction in gizzard shad numbers.

Lakes receiving the hybrid stripers include: Belcher Branch Lake, Buchanan County; Hamilton City Lake, Caldwell County; Limpp Community Lake, Gentry County; Little Compton Lake, Carroll County; Nodaway County Community Lake, near Maryville in Nodaway County; Willow Brook Lake, near Maysville in DeKalb County, and Watkins Mill Lake, in Watkins Mill State Park in Clay County. Also, five lakes at the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area near St. Louis in St. Charles County were stocked with hybrid stripers. And Sunfish Lake in St. Louis County received hybrids.

[mjk86]

We catch em quite frequently at busch wildlife while crappie fishing.  Usually they are 10-15", although this year we caught several "stockers" they were like 5".  They love to eat crappie jigs.