Justification for Rainbow Trout stocking reduction in Lake Taneycomo, 12/2017

[Phil Lilley]

Shane Bush, Fisheries Management Biologist

Lake Taneycomo was formed by the construction of Powersite Dam (Ozark Beach Dam) in 1913 and is Missouri's oldest hydroelectric reservoir. The lake is riverine in nature, 22 miles in length and encompasses 2,080 surface acres. Prior to 1958, Lake Taneycomo supported one of Missouri's best warm-water fisheries. This changed in 1958 when Table Rock Dam, located in the headwater of Lake Taneycomo, began discharging cold hypolimnetic water into Lake
Taneycomo. The discharge of cold water changed Lake Taneycomo into a cold-water environment, providing good conditions for trout.

<Read More>

View full article

[Travis Swift]

Interesting read, I for one am all for bigger trout no doubt.  I do have doubts that "angling pressure has decreased".....last couple of years the lake has seemed busier than ever to me but maybe that's just my observation alone.   Lastly the year of the die off wasn't there a bunch of shad that came thru the dam?  That no doubt has a lot to do with the trout growth rates that year and the health of the fishery.  Again, I'm all for bigger rainbows....I also hope they continue to stock these megafast growing browns, it's very exciting have them in the lake now and seeing the big ones show up more frequently!

[ollie]

And here I thought they stocked less due to budget cuts at the federal level.  I know Neosho hasn't supplied that much this year due to flooding and reconstruction of the ponds.  They haven't been at full capacity for several years now.

[snagged in outlet 3]

56 minutes ago, Travis Swift said:

last couple of years the lake has seemed busier than ever to me but maybe that's just my observation alone

I agree.

[Travis Swift]

1 hour ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I agree.

I've been coming ever year for 30 plus years with multiple trips each year.  There are times I come down during the week when school is in session thinking it will be "slow" but the boat traffic has been crazy the last 3 or so years.  It's busier than I've ever seen it.  At times you about need a stop light at monkey island and short creek......a bit dramatic but in all seriousness it's been really packed the last few years. 

[oneshot]

Years caught many Big Trout went every weekend. But Branson was Small it was all about fishing. Branson was about 300, one Theater.

 

oneshot

 

 

[tjm]

Catch and release equals reduced pressure. The report did not make it clear to me whether the creel survey involved just the trophy area or the entire lake, but it showed more catch and release of legal fish than they had  supposed. Boats don't necessarily mean trout fishing and trout fishing doesn't always mean catch and keep. 

If catch and release is always successful it would  mean long term very little restocking based on natural  mortality. But in the trout parks the C&R mortality is such that it requires fairly frequent stocking to maintain the numbers satisfactory to the winter fishers.  

That report suggested to me that the study was just the trophy area. Made me think in terms of further restricted limits in that area. Time will tell. 

[Travis Swift]

I can tell you first hand that report was lake wide.  I was stopped twice this year both times well below the trophy area although I did see them in the trophy area as well.  they went all over the lake, I enjoyed getting stopped as they were friendly and I like being asked my opinion as well.  Kudo's for MDC listening to the folks fishing and pay the money to do so.  you guys have a great wildlife department in your state!

[Phil Lilley]

The creel study is lake wide.  Their questioners are both on foot below the dam and in a boat.  We see them all the time.