Steady decline of the fish population.

[Flysmallie]

41 minutes ago, Terrierman said:

Mainly cause you're not in Mississippi or Minnesota for two.

Yep. Same reason we can't have bass like they do in Texas and tarpon like they have in Florida. 

[waterpossum]

19 hours ago, Walcrabass said:

Waterpossum,

  Interesting about the 4 pounders from the tournaments. I can tell you that 30 to 40 years ago it was not uncommon to catch 5 or 6 fish that were over 4 pounds in the same day/evening.

Mhyde,

 Concerning the genetics thing.............. Missouri is not interested in improving the "Genetics" of their Bass Population. Other states around us are doing just that and with great results. Here in Missouri we seem to be just concerned with the fact that people can catch a fish. Hence the lack of attention to the swelling Kentucky Bass population in our lakes. Just read this forum and see how many more of these Bass are being caught in Stockton now that just three years ago. Their growing population will not stop............... as they rarely reach the 15" length limit so they can be legally removed from the lake. Wait until you see what the next ten years brings................

 

Walcrabass

There's a lot of obvious factors involved in the decline in fisheries, such as fishing pressure, loss of shoreline structure  and a general decline in lake fertility. Stockton does not have a lot going for it as far as large feeder arms that supply massive amounts of water. Think Grand i.e. Elk River, Neosho River, Spring River, any of which pour more water into the lake than the two Sac Arms. Table Rock, supplied by the White River run off from Beaver, Kings River, Long Creek, James River are major arteries. Don't get me wrong, I bought and built on Stockton because of it's untamed shoreline and remoteness. I think the lake has gotten better starting about the early 90s. The forage base is more than adequate. 

[MoCarp]

9 hours ago, Terrierman said:

Mainly cause you're not in Mississippi or Minnesota for two.

 

8 hours ago, Flysmallie said:

Yep. Same reason we can't have bass like they do in Texas and tarpon like they have in Florida. 

let see..Stockton has produced a walleye right at 17# 16-10 or something like that, the strain of walleye in the lake originally was a river spawning native strain, and the lake strain was stocked from whatever source the MDC gets them from..those it seems are rare to hit 8# ..its a genetics issue..not just a food issue....I remember when the walleye pros had he 1st big time tourney on Stockton, and was keen to see what monster they could catch...nope no giants, I think big fish was like 4-6 pounds..don't think they ever came back to Stockton for that tourney.

Stockton has also produced a WORLD RECORD green sunfish and state record smallmouth bass....Truman lake almost broke the state record Largemouth over 13 pounds...as far as tarpon....your not catching hammerheads in elk river anytime soon or shooting elephants in mark twain ether 

I was told two thats right two state record class largemouth bass had been sampled out of Lamar Lake in the late 80's....the lake caretaker at the time was a tad salty that the MDC had sampled and trap netted the lake without his knowledge as the state dis not have authority over the private city lake!..I know TR has produced ten pound plus LMB from the roaring river side of the lake..perhaps bolstered by a diet of rainbow trout wash outs.....

 Terrierman and flysmallie..I don't expect ether of you to have grown into my 6-4 size, perhaps your mommies didn't wean ether of you soon enough to let your reach your size potential past the napoleon like stature you both enjoy ......ether way fish like people grow into what their parents genetics allow  them too, its why rosie o'donnell no matter what she eats will always have been bigger than say ariana grande....

I content state hatcheries people should try to have a share a Lunker program, bass both small mouth and largemouth and walleye...or when those exceptional fish are electro sampled or trap net sampled keep them for spawning genetic reasons, bull shoals produced a 22 pound walleye, imagine keeping the spawn off that monster....worth while? thats a no brainer...why on earth that hasn't been done????

 

6 hours ago, waterpossum said:

There's a lot of obvious factors involved in the decline in fisheries, such as fishing pressure, loss of shoreline structure through and a general decline in lake fertility. Stockton does not have a lot going for it as far as large feeder arms that supply massive amounts of water. Think Grand i.e. Elk River, Neosho River, Spring River, any of which pour more water into the lake than the two Sac Arms. Table Rock, supplied by the White River run off from Beaver, Kings River, Long Creek, James River are major arteries. Don't get me wrong, I bought and built on Stockton because of it's untamed shoreline and remoteness. I think the lake has gotten better starting about the early 90s. The forage base is more than adequate. 

Stockton also doesn't have the numbers of coves or undulating shoreline like TR does, as far as fertility perhaps an old dairy operation up stream no-longer operates? it seems the water doesn't have the planktonic life it once had..perhaps leading up to providing water to Springfield they abated potential nutrients entering the lake from what had been entering the system?

hard to say....

[MoCarp]

This is what a 20# walleye looks like

[MoCarp]

A 13 pound bass

[MoCarp]

and 8 pound smallie...we should be getting this type genetics from fish that already have come from our waters

[MoCarp]

you can pick brood stock..so if you were in charge what would you chose?

[Old plug]

Someone mentioned the Mississippi.  That was one fine fishery back in the yeasteryear as my wifes grandmother use to call it. . Have spent numerous fine  winter days below Clarksville Dam. I understand its crowded now.  More than being more fisherman there are more that know how to do it. Me saying that does not mean I support in  any way or fashion the bombardment of information into the  anglers mind today. It is all  a commercial endeavor to get into your pocket.. It can lead to more confusion that help. I will say again there are only 3 things that really matter. RIGHT TIME, RIGHT PLACE and RIGHT WAY.  None of this has to do with expensive tackle. boats, electroics Rainbow of bait and colors that your told is what " catches them" Knowing your lake and how the fish behave is really what is important.

[MOPanfisher]

I can only imagine the outcry if MDC started keeping all the large fish they shock.  I think a lot of their walleye eggs come from below Truman when they shock in the spring.  Are those lake or river fish, they certainly run up the river to spawn, can't go past the dam.  Missouri is not at the prime point to produce many if any record fish.  A few giants come from the big rivers, and a few from ponds.  Yes genetics do play a role, but that is not the whole picture.  Food amount and quality play into it, habitat, fishing pressure etc.  Maybe all we need is for the big head and silver carp to infest the lakes and provide a high protein diet of baby carp for them to eat.

[Old plug]

The very fact that we are into stocking is absolute evidence to me of the fishimg pressure increase.