What Factors influence the Smallmouth population

[Hog Wally]

There is a real situation at hand   Majority of the folks can't tell the species apart.   I'm not kidding. 

[Jim Spriggs]

I would guess most mistakes would be thinking a hybrid is a Smallmouth; and that most people wouldn’t confuse a Smallmouth for a Spot.   So, the error would be for people to not take a hybrid because they think it’s a smallie—reducing the effectiveness of the effort   

So, we should combine the Spot campaign with a flyer that describes in easy terms how to recognize a hybrid. 

 

[Hog Wally]

51 minutes ago, Jim Spriggs said:

I would guess most mistakes would be thinking a hybrid is a Smallmouth; and that most people wouldn’t confuse a Smallmouth for a Spot.   So, the error would be for people to not take a hybrid because they think it’s a smallie—reducing the effectiveness of the effort   

So, we should combine the Spot campaign with a flyer that describes in easy terms how to recognize a hybrid. 

 

People generally mistake a largemouth for a spot   Or vise versa 

[snagged in outlet 3]

I've caught above a bunch of spots and I've let every one go.  I've only CnR'ed for so long I don't even give it a thought to keep a fish no matter what it is.

[Dan Kreher]

The following appeared in an issue of Bronzeback News, the official newsletter of the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance, back about 5 years ago.

As a bit of background: MSA has sponsored a Spotted Bass Round Up fishing 'tournament' on selected streams across the Meramec Basin off and on for the past 20 years or so. During this event, MSA members hold a good natured fishing competition to catch and keep as many spotted bass (up to the legal daily limit of 12), have a total stringer weight weigh-in followed by a fish fry. We've done this over the years on Big River, Bourbeuse River and Meramec River, but the event has been on hiatus for the past couple of seasons. We could easily resurrect the event if folks were interested in bringing it back for a fun day on the water and festivities thereafter. Plans to hold one were in the works last year but the flooding damaged our event venue so it was postponed.

The other info, obtained from discussion with the MDC, might be of interest to readers of the OA Forum.

Meramec Basin:  Spotted Bass Management Update

 

The Missouri Smallmouth Alliance recently held its annual Spotted Bass Round Up – this year targeting stretches of upper Big River.  During this one-day event, MSA members seek to catch – and keep – up to the legal limit of 12 spotted bass while fishing in a tournament-type format.   We hold this event to bring awareness to the influx of this non-native species in the Meramec and its major tributaries and to encourage anglers -- both MSA members and not – to harvest spotted bass on these streams.  This year we ‘weighed in’ and ate about 30 spotted bass ranging in size from 9 inches up to 16.5 inches with most running about 10-12 inches in length. 

 

I also experienced a highly productive two-day trip on middle Bourbeuse River (Noser Mill to Reiker Ford) in early September which produced great bass fishing for a mixed bag of smallmouth, largemouth and spots for Matt Wier and myself.  On this trip we caught about 150 bass in total with about 35% being spots, 40% smallmouths and 25% largemouths.  We harvested a good number of the spots – frying up about 10 or so at our gravel bar campsite one night and taking another 20+ fish home for later use at Spotted Bass Round Up a few days later. 

 

Having just caught more spotted bass than I’ve taken in several years, I thought I’d run a few timely questions by the MDC fisheries staff responsible for sections of the major stream fisheries within the Meramec River Basin.  Their collective responses are noted below.   

 

1.       What trends in the relative populations of spotted bass has the MDC seen in their electro-fishing surveys conducted over the past decade on the streams in the Meramec Basin  - Meramec, Big, Bourbeuse, Courtois, Huzzah? 

 

The MDC has seen little change since 1998, which may have marked the height of spotted bass expansion into Big River (lower/middle).  Spotted bass catch rates via electrofishing (>7”) have ranged between 11/hr and 23/hr, averaging 15/hr.  Spotted bass densities appear to increase during periods of low flow and decrease during normal flow years.  Smallmouth bass appear to do just the opposite.  Biologists report similar (though weaker) relationships to flows in the lower Meramec River (Jefferson/STL counties).  Spotted bass size structure has also remained relatively unchanged since 1998, with few fish over 12” and none > 18”.

 

2.       Have spotted bass numbers been increasing, decreasing or holding steady?

Spotted bass numbers in the Meramec[O1] [DK2]  Basin have been holding steady based on electro-fishing surveys.

 

3.       Have the more liberalized regulations had the desired impact on spotted bass populations / distribution on these streams? 

The MDC believes that these more liberalized harvest regulations have not really made much of a difference in population trends since their enactment; however, the apparent stabilization of spotted bass densities may reflect some impact from these regs.  

 

4.       Are anglers taking advantage of these liberalized harvest regs?

The MDC biologists surveyed have not seen much change since their 2002 survey of Meramec River Basin stream bass anglers.  From that survey, the MDC found the average annual spotted bass harvest was only nine fish (maximum DAILY limit = 12/day).  About 78% of anglers said they harvested 12 or fewer spotted bass for the entire year.  Fewer than 4% of those surveyed said they harvested more than 30 spots for all of 2002.  A significant number of anglers (47%) harvested none of the spotted bass they caught.  So, biologists don’t believe the special regulations are encouraging enough spotted bass harvest to make a difference in overall populations.  However, by no means are the liberalized 12/day & no MLL regs limiting anglers that choose to harvest spotted bass.

 

In summary, with regards to spotted bass in the Meramec Basin, it appears that the news is not all that bad.  Their numbers and distribution appear to have stabilized although angler harvest remains rather limited.  Regardless, MSA members should definitely harvest all spotted bass (up to 12 per day) caught whenever they are fishing streams in the Meramec Basin.  Just be sure you know how to properly identify a spotted bass and remember to bring along a stringer and some additional ice.  Judging by the Spotted Bass Round-Up fish fry, spotted bass are quite tasty – even with the occasional yellow grub in their flesh – while reducing their numbers via harvest will definitely help our native smallmouth bass fisheries by removing competition for forage, suitable habitat and spawning sites. 

 

Based on my observations, spotted bass continue to be more numerous on the lower reaches of streams in the basin including Big River below Washington State Park, Meramec River below Meramec State Park and Bourbeuse River below Noser’s Mill.  Not saying that you won’t catch any spots upstream of these locations – because you will – but any “non-smallmouth” bass will much more likely be of the largemouth variety rather than a spot the farther you move upstream.  Thankfully, invasive spotted bass remain relatively rare on major tributaries including Huzzah and Courtois Creeks as well as the Mineral Fork other than near their respective confluences with the main stem rivers.   

 

 

 

 

[MOFishwater]

I'd say the biggest factor is whether or not the great White Snoop is fishing in your neck of the woods or not. Clearly no fish is safe when the Lower Meramec's own KVD is frequenting your watershed. His chest thumping and bravado is more than enough to convince me of his abilities. I dont care if he ever posts a single photo of a fish. 

I think the MDC should revoke his fishing privileges and the smallmouth population will harken back to the days of yore. 

[Jim Spriggs]

I think resurrecting the Spotted Bass Roundup is a great idea. 

[Hog Wally]

24 minutes ago, Jim Spriggs said:

I think resurrecting the Spotted Bass Roundup is a great idea. 

We could fry em up at craw shack. We have a perfect spot ! Pun intended 

[tjm]

Signage at access points might hit the most anglers, I've never been asked for an Email when buying a permit and I expect many anglers don't have one. Try getting a local news paper to front page an article on the subject and provide them with picture descriptions of how to ID spotted and largemouth bass.

How timbered are those stretches of river where the spots are thriving? I have thought a strip of timber over hanging and shading the rivers keep the water a lot cooler and think it is especially needed on south and west banks. Cool water benefits smallmouth more than spotted bass, I think.

" I think resurrecting the Spotted Bass Roundup is a great idea "

Rather than just a club project/event, people in the area with an interest in that river and reducing the spotted bass population could sponsor/promote local-community-town events, perhaps get a few more people interested. MDC might even allow a free fish day for such an event? 

[Smalliebigs]

A few fish over 12 and none over 18???

They just don't seem to get good averages with their shocking and I understand it is what it is.

I have caught 5 this year 17 and above and many many from 13 to 16.

I am not doing part and feel bad....2018 is gonna be a slaughter fest on those bastard for me....unfortunately I am just like Pete....2018 is going to be different.

I do fish the Lower end of the Meramec a lot so I understand my numbers could be skewed but, their are plenty 12 inches and up to 17.

I really need to start killing these things