White Bass Size limit

[shrapnel]

Wind can certainly enhance the bite in a location, but it's not the only factor you should consider.  We point jumped some on Wednesday, pulled up to a couple windblown with flats and or channel swings nearby and caught fish as expected.  Pulled up to others that looked similar above water with direct wind and couldn't get bit.

Had those points that we caught fish from not been in the wind, we would have still caught fish, just maybe not as shallow or quite as many.

[Catchfish82]

On 10/25/2017 at 3:03 PM, aarchdale@coresleep.com said:

I think on Table Rock the white bass are a total mystery to find except in the spring.   Seems like they can show up just about anywhere and you can catch them in a hurry and then they are gone

Gotcha. Thanks for the advice. I think this has been a good feed for everyone to learn a little bit about them. 

[Guest]

Deleted.

[fishinwrench]

6 hours ago, siusaluki said:

Looks like you may have learned some things from a fisheries biologist at some point....but your findings are based solely on conjecture and aren't accurate.  There is lots of variation and hybrids tend to have characteristics of one or both parental species.  Those are the "mutts" you are seeing. 

It's not conjecture at all.  I believe very little of what I hear or read (about anything) until I've confirmed it enough to satisfy myself. 

If what you are saying is true then where have all the pure White Bass gone? Because happening into a school of them is becoming more rare each year in the Gravois arm of LO.   

There's one other thing about the mutts I am referring to....I don't think they grow to typical Hybrid Striper size.  About 19-20" seems to be the limit.    Just for clarity they have not stocked Hybrid Stripers on this end of the lake for over 7 years (more like 10-12 years.. but I'm not 100% sure).   I very seldom catch a stocked Hybrid Striper in the upper Gravois.   Pure Stripers are more likely than Actual Hybrid Stripers.  Most everything I catch is a mutt that is not a White, nor a Hybrid Striper, it just HAS TO BE a cross between the two.    When the Hybrid Stripers were here we stood on the bridge and on the banks and watched them shadow the female whites and blow jizz all over them, then within 2 years we started catching these quivering mutts.....and now that's almost all you'll catch up here.    So call that conjecture if you want, but I'm reasonably convinced that what I'm saying is accurate.  

I love catching them, and they eat just as good as they ever did, but a change is obvious to someone that has been chasing them for awhile, and messing around with the genetics of native species just kinda puts a bad taste in my mouth.   I'm not confident that the change will be for the better in years to come.   And it simply can not be taken back, it's forever.

Since it is known that Hybrids have successful breeding deficiencies in our waterways do we really want those genes spread to native Whites who have done quite well for howevermany years?  I don't believe we do.   That's a gamble that I don't feel comfortable doubling down on, and I'm sad that "educated and experienced" guys like you are just fine with it.   

Even if you disbelieve or give no merit to anything I've said then please answer one simple question..... Why introduce Hybrid Stripers?   What good is going to come from it?

I'm not in favor of it, and I'd prefer to not be forced to help pay for it

[Guest]

H

Deleted.

 

[fishinwrench]

3 hours ago, siusaluki said:

Hybrids are still fish with reproductive organs and instincts and they will try to spawn.  That doesn't mean that it is successful.  There have been numerous studies looking at the potential for hybrids back crossing with the parental species but none have shown that it is occurring.

It obviously doesn't mean that it is not occuring either.

How were those studies conducted ? 

If you're not sure how the studies were done could you please link me to where you learned about the studies and their conclusions?  Thx.

[BilletHead]

15 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

It obviously doesn't mean that it is not occuring either.

How were those studies conducted ? 

If you're not sure how the studies were done could you please link me to where you learned about the studies and their conclusions?  Thx.

        Thanks for maybe being a little more open minded Glenn. I know you are a lover to the whites on your lake. I am hoping you find an answer to your question on the decline in the fishery. I have not seen a problem where I fish. I like whites too but would trade a limit of whites for one of these and the fight with the smile it provides,

   One of some from this summer. Still going to get you one of  those trips buddy,

BilletHead

[fishinwrench]

Oh I totally dig hooking into big hybrids, my only concern is that they might pass on traits of their breeding deficiencies to the native White bass.   

I don't really like being dependant on stockings from hatcheries to maintain a healthy fish population.  There's just something way cooler about catching fish that were born and bred naturally in the water where I'm fishing.   And as MDC has indicated before.....if their budget ever gets cut then they'll gate up the accesses that we already paid for, and I'm sure they'll stop stocking those freight trains for you to play with.  The native fish that are capable of sustaining themselves are all you're gonna have, so I think it's important to not jack them up.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I would give up all other species if I could dial in hybrids year round.  Especially if they were close to my house.

[BilletHead]

27 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

  

I don't really like being dependant on stockings from hatcheries to maintain a healthy fish population.  There's just something way cooler about catching fish that were born and bred naturally in the water where I'm fishing.   And as MDC has indicated before.....if their budget ever gets cut then they'll gate up the accesses that we already paid for, and I'm sure they'll stop stocking those freight trains for you to play with.  The native fish that are capable of sustaining themselves are all you're gonna have, so I think it's important to not jack them up.

             Why do you think the BilletHead's head West each Summer while we can. Catching fish where they should be. Go native!

   So Wrench are you advocating that the MDC quit the trout program too? Another Wrench pet peeve is the Spoonbill stocking. Hey they are just trying to redo what man in his infinite wisdom did with dams to take out the NATIVE spawning grounds. Do you wan the dams removed and go back to a riverine system so native can come back? It would drain your lake and way to make a living? Guess you could move to the salt and work on crusty outboards that or since we will be leaning to a more natural setting you could become a dugout canoe patchier or builder? I know how you feel about that . Since all the condos and hotels along the lake will be high and dry maybe the septic systems will percolate  directly into the ground and there will be less runoff. White bass will become abundant again. I am just getting into a debate mode again. Saber rattling sharpens the sword buddy. I just wish I could kill more carp or go back into time over 140 years ago and stop the initial stocking. That is where it started. Lets start with what MoCarp said the MDC is doing stocking urban ponds with a non native fish . Guess that would be cheaper than providing the city folk transportation to LOZ to catch and eat tournament bass. 

 

   BilletHead