Steady decline of the fish population.

[straw hat]

30 years on Stockton fishing for crappie, catfish and bass (occasionally). Kept records on every trip, good or bad and on all larger fish.

From 86 to  2009 catches where up and down but averaged out year to year. Starting in 2009 to now the catches of crappie are down 40% per year, catfish 30% and larger bass by 80% (over 4 lbs). Those numbers are based on hours fishing not total numbers caught per year.

My wife and I always count the number of boats parked where we launch when we get there and when we leave. This has helped us to determine which launches are not busy at which time of year. That way it is less hassle to launch and less pressure on that area when we fish it. Boat traffic up 28% since 1986 at these 'none busy' launches, Probably higher at the busy places.

 

The comment about this starting around the time water started pumping to Springfield is an interesting one. I wonder when they started.

I also see very few fish on my finder anymore either. Unluckily due to health my number of fishing trips over the last two years has declined some.

Just adding to the conversation.

 

[redshad]

That is some great data, Straw Hat.  I have fished Stockton pretty regular for bass over that last 15 years and I have to agree with the number of 4lbs plus fish being down for me over the last 5 years.  My overall fish numbers have not declined much during that time.  My keepers seem to be more in the 15 to 18 inch range and not many fish in the 20 plus range.   What I have noticed is the average weight of a 15 inch fish has dropped by around 4 ounces the last 5 years.  There are still numbers of keeper size fish in Stockton and the tourney guys still catch some big fish bit for me my big fish ratio has dropped.  Maybe it's time to learn some new tricks.    

Old plug there are still lots of big bass in Lake O.  Look at the tourney results.  The weekend before the big bass bash this spring my buddy and I caught 4 bass over 6 lbs with the largest being 7.28.  The next weekend at big bass bash weekend we didn't catch one over 3.4.     That was my first big bass bash what a zoo. 

 

[Flysmallie]

Starting to sound like a food source issue. Seems like someone else made a post awhile back about not seeing as much shad. And I know that was never an issue in the past. 

[MoCarp]

I am speaking from anecdotal experience, and all good science starts with anecdotal observations, the question is how do you quantify (the fishing is better or worse)

Stockton fishing IMHO is better for numbers of walleyes but worse for trophies today than 25 years ago, largemouth bass is better for numbers and less for Lunkers, Bluegill fishing is better numbers and size, Crappie fishing is about the same, some years better some years worse....so whats different?.... pumping water....bow fishing pressure increased 100 fold and its effect on other fish....more people taking more fish, yet some fish like channel cat and flathead fishing is the best I have ever seen it...the old-timer trot liners seem to have all died off without passing on their knowledge...nothing is ever simple in the dynamics of a fishery like Stockton lake

[Walcrabass]

MoCarp,

 

  You are correct about the Trotlining. The knowledge just isn't there as it used to be. Part of the reason is the expense for gas. It takes a lot of trips to the lake to maintain your lines. Another reason is if it is done correctly trotlining involves a lot of work. I was taught by what I consider to be some of the best. I have passed it on to my children. We do not trotline much any more but it still happens occasionally. One thing about the trotlining where the Flatheads are concerned. You better have a large freezer. A husband and wife team can put a lot of legal pounds of fish in it in a hurry !!!!!!!

I encourage the young fishing people to try this method of fishing. Very rewarding when you pull up one of those 40 pounders. Always remember to use a gaff to lift the line and another one for the fish. It will keep a hook out of your hand and also maybe prevent being pulled over the side of the boat to a watery grave by one of those hard fighting fish.

 

Walcrabass

[Walcrabass]

Big Keene,

  All I can say is this...................... my buddies and I must really be doing something wrong. We DEFINITELY are not catching the 6 to 9 pounders like yesteryear. Maybe all of us older guys need to get retrained in our fishing tactics.

 

Wally

[Mhyde]

This is a very good discussion, and have enjoyed  reading it!!  Let me throw something else in that hasn't been mentioned yet,  "the brush pile program"  In the mid 90's the MDC along with the CoE really started to crank up and crank out new habitat structure throughout the lake. Some of this structure is marked but the green signs you see nailed to trees on the bank but many are not physical marked and can only be found by GPS and your electronics. I wonder how placing these structure has truly changed the fish movements and patterns? I often think once a bass finds one of these structures it will stay until it has to or is forced to leave. i think before this that the fish were force to move a bit more and there for more visible on electronics? also take in account all the structure's that have been sunk by citizens. just thought don't know if its relevant but just a thought.   

[Kramr]

1 hour ago, Flysmallie said:

Starting to sound like a food source issue. Seems like someone else made a post awhile back about not seeing as much shad. And I know that was never an issue in the past. 

I know they have been stocking walleye yearly for awhile now. What other species of fish get stocked?

I'm just wondering here. Is it possible the yearly walleye stocking has had an effect on the shad population which would reduce the food available to other shad eating species.

[waterpossum]

The  bass fishing on Stockton in the early to mid 80s on Stockton was horrible. in 1984 I bought a parcel of land (26 acres) just S of Ruark for a great price mainly because Stockton was so terrible. Grand and Table Rock were considered the  prime fisheries and Stockton not so much. The shad population, especially this year is phenomenal. I was out last Friday night fishing the  Stockton Friday Nighter tournament and have not seen that many shad in a long time. There was around  a total of 1, 200 keeper bass weighed in on Friday night this summer. Of that total about 80 were 4 lbs or better. That figures out to nearly 7%  I don't know is this considered above or below average as opposed to previous years?  No doubt the bass fishing pressure is greater than ever. In June there were 26 bass tournaments. May had 36  Appreciate all the input to this topic. If you check out Missouri State Highway Patrol - Regattas you get an idea of the summer bass fishing pressure from tournaments.

[Old plug]

5 hours ago, redshad said:

  

Old plug there are still lots of big bass in Lake O.  Look at the tourney results.  The weekend before the big bass bash this spring my buddy and I caught 4 bass over 6 lbs with the largest being 7.28.  The next weekend at big bass bash weekend we didn't catch one over 3.4.     That was my first big bass bash what a zoo. 

 

I think your right about that.  If you ocan run the whole lake and fish hours and  hours you might do better. Bur at my age I have no inclation to do that. my estimations are based on this little 3-5 miles I have not left in years.