Trout stocking cutback

[Gatorjet]

Quote

The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) coldwater hatchery system is recovering from this spring’s record flooding. This network – which consists of Shepherd of the Hills in Branson, Roaring River near Cassville, Bennett Spring near Lebanon, Montauk near Salem and Maramec Spring near St. James – produces more than two million trout for the state’s trout areas annually. Flooding and flood-related water quality issues at some hatcheries claimed about 30 percent 

To adjust for this loss, stocking rates at the state’s trout parks and Lake Taneycomo will be slightly reduced for the remainder of 2017. This is similar to last year’s adjustment after the 2015-2016 winter floods. 

Here is the article from MDC. 

https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-adjusts-2017-trout-stocking-compensate-flooding

[Phil Lilley]

Not surprising - expected.  And from the sound of it, the reduction will be ongoing.

The creel study being conducted on our lake right now is showing anglers want to catch bigger trout even if it means sacrificing numbers.  Bigger, less.  It's the same findings they saw in the last study, and the results was reducing numbers and increasing the average size to 11.5 inches.

What I find amazing (pleasantly amazing) is that even though Taney's seen adverse conditions for 2 straight years now, our fishery is at its best right now, numbers and quality.  Then, throw a few bass in and it's perfect!  But it won't last... it all cycles.  We'll see a decrease at some point.  Looking to this fall, we're in for some poor water quality like we had in 2015.

[Gatorjet]

I would also be very much in favor of a minimum length lake wide. Let those fewer, larger fish get even bigger. Say 12" or so. That's what we also told the creel census people when they talked to us in February. Not sure how many others mentioned it.

[Phil Lilley]

But you can't really have a length restriction without a bait restriction, like the trophy area.  Too many trout would be caught/released/killed on bait.  The stat is 25% die when caught on bait.