I Need to Bring a Net

[snagged in outlet 3]

Really?   I caught some in Newport RI that were trains. Salt water though.  

[fishinwrench]

I bet that once they get about 24" they could show you your backing, but yeah at 15-16" they aren't all that sporty.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Gotta be better than a trout.  

[nomolites]

They take one good hard run and you gotta let them go then you can start working them; hybrids do fight better pound for pound but the stripes get a lot bigger.  I caught one about 25# form the Gravi as a kid, and there were a good number back then, but in the last decade of two nothing for a good stretch - until 4 years ago when this batch was stocked.  I started catching them at about 12” a couple years ago - I hope folks give them at least another year before taking them out, I love when they stretch my string.

Mike

[fishinwrench]

13 minutes ago, nomolites said:

until 4 years ago when this batch was stocked.  I started catching them at about 12” a couple years

It ain't worth arguing over, but I think when y'all speak to these "biologists" you need to verify for sure WHICH fish you are talking about.   MDC folks probably get used to folks calling hybrids "Stripers" and just roll with it.

Seriously though, Stripers have not been intentionally stocked in Lake Ozark for well over 20 years.   I promise you that if MDC was spawning, raising, and stocking STRIPERS...... they'd be crowing loudly about it.    They aren't. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

I think some the guys at MDC give answers they “think” are right just  to answer so they don’t look uniformed. 
How could every person at the MDC know every detail of what the MDC is doing or has done in the past?

[fishinwrench]

Notice that even in this species discription that MDC specifically mentions that they stock HYBRIDS, but no mention whatsoever of stocking STRIPERS.  

https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/striped-bass

[nomolites]

35 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

It ain't worth arguing over, but I think when y'all speak to these "biologists" you need to verify for sure WHICH fish you are talking about.   MDC folks probably get used to folks calling hybrids "Stripers" and just roll with it.

Seriously though, Stripers have not been intentionally stocked in Lake Ozark for well over 20 years.   I promise you that if MDC was spawning, raising, and stocking STRIPERS...... they'd be crowing loudly about it.    They aren't. 

I don’t much care about intent, but this batch is 4 years old based on their growth rate in fertile fresh water.  I also know I had not caught a true striper from LOZ for over a decade until 2 years ago, and there are enough of them now they are running in schools of just true stripers, all the same size.

Mike

[fishinwrench]

59 minutes ago, nomolites said:

They take one good hard run and you gotta let them go then you can start working them; hybrids do fight better pound for pound but the stripes get a lot bigger.  I caught one about 25# form the Gravi as a kid,

I'd also like to point out that the story of this fish has gained 10 pounds in 5 years  🤣😂😅

[nomolites]

1 minute ago, fishinwrench said:

I'd also like to point out that the story of this fish has gained 10 pounds in 5 years  🤣😂😅

That is a 15# hybrid sir, not a true striper.

Mike